Princess Tutu

Publisher
ADV
Director
Junichi SatoJunichi Sato, Shogo Kawamoto
Production
GANSIS, Haru film Maker
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2002

Princess Tutu

By bunnie
13th Sep 05

I'm writing this review because I believe the current review to be, how shall I say it... terribly flawed. So therefore, I provide a few differences and warnings before reviewing the series at all.

The Storyline
Princess Tutu is one of many series that has a dual personality as an anime and as a manga. I first encountered it as an anime, and later found the manga, and learned to regard both as different entities. Both the anime and the manga have the same general plotline, but differ in how the plot line is presented to its audience.

The anime and manga both revolve around one character named Ahiru, which roughly translates to "duck" in Japanese. She believes herself to be in love with an excellent male ballet dancer at her school named Mytho (pronounced Mew-toe). Ahiru wants desperately to dance beautifully with him, though her skills seem somewhat lacking. Many obstacles stand in her way, including his guardian Fakir, self-proclaimed girlfriend Rue, and the fact that she herself may not appear as she seems.

In fact, Mytho himself is an obstacle, seeing as he is merely an empty shell. That's right kids, he has no heart, and therefore, drumroll please... no FEELINGS! What's a girl to do? Well, transform into Princess Tutu and restore his "heart shards" back to him! Each heart shard represents a different feeling, and in a twist of the plotline, can be stolen by Princess Kraehe before it reaches Mytho!

There are many points in which the anime and manga diverge, but these differences are the result of the anime and manga being manufactured at the same time. Let me emphasize this: BOTH THE ANIME AND MANGA WERE PRODUCED AT THE SAME TIME!! The manga was DEFINITELY not finished before the anime started, and vice versa!

Therefore, they both take different routes to tell the same story. Ahiru, or Duck, appears as a real duck from time to time in the anime version. Ahiru will also appear as a duck soon in the manga (probably around volume 2), contrary to what the previous reviewer has written. Miss Edel is also a character whose role has been changed from the books and the show. The appearance of Princess Kraehe is timed differently, and the "Storyteller," Drosselmeyer (sp?) does not seem to appear at all in the manga. If you are expecting the story from the manga, you should be sorely warned that the anime approaches the SAME story differently. Personally, I prefer the anime.

REVIEW!
Now, to the good stuff!

Each episode of Princess Tutu begins with a prologue to a fairytale. Basically, it's an introduction to the particular episode's story that is about to take place.

From there, you are shown the opening animation set to calming piano music. As usual in anime, this beginning is captivating. The ending animation and theme is just as calming and appropriate.

The story is set in a medieval looking town. Duck, as the anime dub refers to her as, actually lives in a tall tower in the town. This seemed very appropriate to me, seeing as the story in the anime revolves primarily around fairy tales. The animation overall is very clean. The scenery is always beautiful. The characters are mostly animated beautifully as well, unless you are looking at a Duck who is spazzing out on screen.

The story itself is laid out, as I said before, differently from the manga, though in my opinion, seems to be much more planned. Princess Kraehe appears later in the story, so as not to distract the audience from learning first and foremost about Duck. Though the audience finds out much information about Mytho's past in the first episode, much is still left as a mystery. As a person who has watched the bulk of the anime AND read the manga, I believe nothing is ruined for the fans.

My favorite part of the series is the excellent timing of things. The series that I have painted so far seems really dramatic, but there's also a comedic side to it. Duck's friends are constantly landing her in trouble with Mr. Cat, who forces anyone annoying him to marry him! Duck turns into an actual duck whenever she acts "ducklike" or in other words, quacks. Duck as a girl is also a wonderful character, who is always kind and seems to have boundless energy, especially when thinking about Mytho. She seems to fall down, trip, say something weird, or quack at all the right times, providing for excellent comic relief.

The timing not only applies to the comedy. The music, which consists of many pieces of classical music, is also excellently timed. If you're looking for a hardrocking soundtrack, or catchy Jpop themes, however, Princess Tutu is not the anime for you.

The staff takes music from different ballets and from different composers to relay to the audience the overall feeling of being submersed into the old culture of medieval times. When Duck is being silly, the music is light. When there is trouble, the music is heavier and more intense. When the mood needs to be romantic around the characters, the music is whimsical and calm.

Music plays an important part in the anime, and moves the action. In other words, a large part of Princess Tutu is the music that drives it. Without the music, the series is nothing.

If you're a ballet dancer, you'll love the dancing sequences. They're very smoothly animated, and as a dancer myself, I was very pleased in its portrayal of ballet.

Overall, Princess Tutu is very well put together. All of its elements, from lovable characters, to excellent scenery, to mood-creating music, combine to fill the story with life.

Ratings: (1 is worst, 10 is best)

Storyline: 10
Animation: 7
Characters: 8
Music: 9

-- bunnie 13th Sep 05

Princess Tutu Images