Princess Tutu

In a fairy tale come to life, the clumsy, sweet, and gentle Ahiru seems like an unlikely protagonist. In reality, Ahiru is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles that inhabit her town—for Ahiru really is a duck! Transformed by the mysterious Drosselmeyer into a human girl, Ahiru soon learns the reason for her existence. Using her magical egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru can transform into Princess Tutu—a beautiful and talented ballet dancer whose dances relieve people of the turmoil in their hearts. With her newfound ability, Ahiru accepts the challenge of collecting the lost shards of her prince's heart, for long ago he had shattered it in order to seal an evil raven away for all eternity.

Princess Tutu is a tale of heroes and their struggle against fate. Their beliefs, their feelings, and ultimately their actions will determine whether this fairy tale can reach its "happily ever after."

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit

Background

Princess Tutu aired in two parts. The first part included 13 25-minute episodes, while the second part consisted of 24 12-minute episodes with a 25-minute final episode for a total of 26 episodes.

Edit

Related Anime

Adaptation:	Princess Tutu
Summary:	Princess Tutu Recaps

Shiratori, Yuri
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Chung, Jin Ho

Producer, ADR Director

Satou, Junichi

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Sayama, Kiyoko

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Koumoto, Shougo

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Edit

Opening Theme

"Morning Grace" by Ritsuko Okazaki

Edit

Ending Theme

"Watashi No Ai Wa Chiisaikeredo" by Ritsuko Okazaki

More reviews

Reviews

Aug 12, 2008

Valle

Recommended

I remember when I first heard the name "Princess Tutu". First impression: Girly. However, I was intrigued by the praise it received so I looked for a description. Second impression: Cheesy. Still, I was curious about how the show took advantage of ballet suites, so I watched the opening. Third impression: Too pink.

There were few reasons for me to watch Princess Tutu, but I still had a strange feeling about it. Today I regret not having watched it sooner for what I saw was one of the most engaging, clever and downright beautiful shows I had ever seen, overflowing with soul and passion.

... Story: A unique fairytale which goes far beyond it's limitations. Masterfully written, the story is a perfect blend of powerful moments, unexpected twists, comedy and romance. The fairytale structure takes the best out of classic ballets and weaves a story that is both coherent and diverse. The endings to both seasons are particularly outstanding.

Art: The series has a stylized and clean art style combined with great animation. Although I felt it fit the series very well, not everyone feels that way. Some believe the art style is a bit too girly or misleading, but it actually fits the fairytale theme very well. The backgrounds are great and the ballet scenes are beautifully animated (although some use too many stills which, even though beautiful, aren't as good as the animated moments).

Sound: The "coup-de-grace" of the show, the soundtrack doesn't simply support the show: it is part of the story itself. Each episode is accompanied by a certain ballet suite and takes the most advantage of it. The suites were carefully chosen and superbly performed by a bulgarian orchestra. I had heard many of them before and I was amazed by the quality of the performance. Every single note fits perfectly and sounds delightful, even the songs that were composed for the show. Truly mindblowing, the music adds a whole new layer of depth to it. The voices and dialog are also very good and fitting.

Characters: With such a great story and soundtrack, some would think that the development team wouldn't be focused on character development. Wrong. All characters are believable, feel real and evolve throughout the story. Even secondary characters show a glowing spirit that many main characters wish they had. If you allow yourself to, you will be able to feel a strong bond and sympathy for those characters, even those you didn't expect. The multi-layered Ahiru is an amazing and strong main character, and the others will surprise you as well. Not only do characters evolve but they also take advantage of a distinct way to show their "persona": dance.

Enjoyment: A show that you won't be able to put down until you finish it. The episodes are so engaging and fantastic it's easy to get sucked in. A surprisingly rich experience you won't find anywhere else. Surprisingly, I found myself rewatching several scenes shortly after finishing the show. I recommend you to use headphones so that you don't miss a single note of this visual and musical wonder.

Overall, Princess Tutu is a living, breathing anime that, unlike most magical-shoujo shows, truly feels magical. Yes, I may sound cheesy, lame and corny, but don't miss out on this unique gem. A true masterpiece.

Open

Gift

May 9, 2009

zawa113

Recommended

Ok, here's a scenario that doesn't appeal to me in the least, a magical girl series that sound incredibly girly with copious amounts of pink and it's actually called "Princess Tutu". The only positive note I saw going into this was that I really like classical music, it was this and other reviews that convinced me to even give it a shot in the first place and am I ever glad I did, I've seen it through 4 times in less than 18 months and I'm always tempted to watch it again. The first point here is that even if it doesn't sound like your ... thing in the least, this series is a complete shock at how amazing it is, this is the series that changed how I should look at watching potential anime in the future.

Story and Characters:
Well, the series starts off a little cliche and trope ridden. In fact, I had subconsciously made a list of every cliche I expected to play out during the series. But boy by the end of that series was I eating that list right back, this series completely redefines how magical girl series can be done. The series frequently takes plot lines and ideas from ballets and other classical pieces of music and then it takes all of them to make its own original and unique thing. And to anyone as concerned with the girly factor as I was, I really didn't find any of the main plot as overly girly as I was expecting (I found it mildly girly to be fair). The ending has to be one of the best and most rewarding endings I've seen in an anime ever, this is a series that definitely delivers, even if you didn't know what you wanted delivered.

Presentation:
Characters designs and animation are all crisp and beautiful and fit into the world so incredibly well. There's also frequent CGI at times that is never jarring and fits ever so perfectly. But sound is where is where it was really at for me, having been an already existing fan of classical music. The series didn't just use common pieces all the time, it used whatever piece fit, no matter how obscure and the series was made better for it. All the pieces that they picked intensified the mood of whatever scene it was in to make a perfect compliment. I'm not sure if I'll ever find soundtrack usage this perfect again personally. It wasn't only about having a strong soundtrack, but it was also about using it well.

Overall: 10
This is one of my very few 10 series and quite possibly my favorite anime of all time. I think this series should be seen by everyone, you'll find a lovely diamond in the rough with a great and memorable story. I really can't think of anything else quite like it, this is a must watch.

Open

Gift

Nov 5, 2008

Splitter

Recommended

I think the only thing I didn't like about Princess Tutu was the name of the show. With a story that, while original, hails to the great storytellers such as Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, set at a pace that presents itself willingly to ballet, and refusing to pull punches, Junichi Sato's dark fantasy about a duck who wanted to be a girl, and the prince whose heart she wished to piece back together is a fairy tale that children can enjoy and adults can adore.

Like all good fairy tales, the story is most crucial. It must be whimsical yet cautionary, quickly paced, ... and tightly-knit. Tutu follows this formula well, though not so much the "quickly paced" bit. This is because Tutu has an episodic monster-of-the-week nature that can become an irritance, and would have been if every episode didn't, in some way, tie directly back to the main story. Much like director Junichi Sato's other hidden gem Kaleido Star, the story is broken into two distinct parts, which while seperate, are directly connected. This storytelling works best in that it provides two distinct and memorable climaxes while never feeling rushed or out-of-place.

The main story itself is flawless. A fantastic tribute to the forgotten and oft-dismissed power of fairy tales and ballet, whimsical enough to never forget its true nature, and dark enough to invest interest and revoke the idea of it just being a children's show.

It's characters range from the absurd to the sinister and some even manage to play both during the course of the series. The characters alone are uniquely crafted. Though some follow certain Junichi Sato molds, such as Fakir and Mythos, Ahiru stands out as a subversion of the cheerful, determined heroine his works are often known for in that her efforts do not always deem satisfaction, and her ultimate goal is not met with her ideal ending. Everyone interacts sincere to their motives and personalities and no one ever feels like they're doing something they shouldn't be.

Of course the art, provided by Sato's mainstay HAL Film Maker is divine. Every scene is fluid and graceful, especially the dance numbers. Character designs and backgrounds are very imaginative and hold the Germanic fairy tale motif that the series sets for itself.

The accompaniment for the series is a numerous array of classical music and ballet numbers, most of which will be recognizable by ear even if you can't remember the name of what you're hearing. Moreso, the music provides a direct parallel to the conflict in each scene it is used, and often scenes are choreographed around the music, making for dramatic impact mostly unparalleled.

Yes, the title is a turn-off, and I'm sure many of you out there think ballet is for 6-year-old girls, but Tutu takes the most universal and respected elements of the things children love and craft something everyone can and most likely will enjoy. Though it trudges in a few places, Tutu never forgets where it's going. It's magical waltz always catches up and makes sure it ends on the best note it can.

Overall, I give Princess Tutu a 9 out of 10.

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

“Wait, how is your hair that colour!?”

by Atsunome

33 Entries · 13 Restacks

Must-Watch Original Anime Series

by kizumi91

50 Entries · 375 Restacks

Rural Zone

by Rachiba

42 Entries · 117 Restacks

More recommendations

Recommendations

View All

More news

Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases For February

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for February. Week 1: February 1 - 7 Anime Releases Adachi to Shimamura (incl. Mini Anime) (Adachi...read more

Feb 4, 2022 9:30 AM by Aiimee | Discuss (4 comments)

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for December. Week 1: December 7 - 13 Anime Releases Aku no Hana (Flowers of Evil) Complete Collec...read more

Dec 11, 2021 1:22 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (5 comments)

More discussions

Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Princess Tutu Episode 8 Discussion tainteddonut - Apr 7, 2008	20 replies	by Seniika_ilee »» Dec 29, 2022 10:31 PM
Poll: This demographic IS SHOUJO. Change my mind? Chiibi - Apr 5, 2021	6 replies	by rohan121 »» Nov 2, 2022 6:39 PM
Poll: Princess Tutu Episode 3 Discussion tainteddonut - Apr 3, 2008	24 replies	by viol3nty0uth »» Nov 1, 2022 1:54 PM
Poll: Princess Tutu Episode 7 Discussion tainteddonut - Apr 7, 2008	27 replies	by DoubleDrop »» Oct 24, 2022 12:40 PM
Poll: Princess Tutu Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) tainteddonut - Apr 2, 2008	56 replies	by Owzok »» Sep 19, 2022 10:26 PM

Recent Featured Articles

10 Anime Series To Watch With Your Parents

Contrary to popular belief, not all anime need to be shut off the moment your mom enters the room!

by MAL_Articles

230,921 views

Top 20 Most Epic Anime Fight/Battle Scenes

Fighting is bad... but sometimes it can be so bad that it's good, right? Prepare yourself for some serious ass-kicking. We're counting down 20 of the greatest, coolest, and most epic anime fight scenes in anime history.

617,569 views

Spoiler

Recommendation Collection Action Supernatural Superhuman Sci-fi Video

Princess Tutu

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Arima, Ahiru

Fakir

Kuroha, Rue

Myuuto

Uzura

Neko-sensei

Drosselmeyer

Edel

Femio

Lilie

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Princess Tutu

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-