Princess Tutu
Synopsis
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]
Audience Consensus
Princess Tutu is overwhelmingly praised as a unique and engaging anime that transcends typical magical girl tropes. The story, characters, and use of classical music are consistently highlighted as strengths. While some find the initial weirdness and animation style off-putting, the majority view it as a masterpiece of storytelling and character development, a hidden gem that should not be missed.
Strengths
- Unique and well-written story that subverts fairy tale tropes.
- Excellent use of classical music to enhance emotional impact.
- Well-developed and complex characters with compelling arcs.
- High quality English dub.
- Creative and imaginative world-building with a fairy-tale atmosphere.
Weaknesses
- Animation style may appear dated to some viewers.
- Aggressively weird and confusing plot, especially in the beginning.
- The story can get very confusing.
- Soundtrack is not completely classical.