Princess Tutu impressions

[roastedpekingduck]

Quite a magical, whimsical and convoluted experience already...and I've only just seen the first two episodes. I usually despise mahou shoujo, but Princess Tutu did not disappoint, and made me curl up on my sofa and be fully enchanted.

While the show has been optimistic and ideal up to this point (Anteaterina's story predictably had a "I was wrong! I must dance because I am happy" ending), there's a dark undercurrent. I can't place why I feel this way, but despite all the idealism so far, I seem to feel an ominous mood lurking in the background. Whether I am right or just wishfully seeing things remains to be seen.

Another positive for Princess Tutu? There is definitely a pervasive, delightful and nonstandard weirdness floating throughout the show. It sort of reminds me of the Magic Realism found in Latin American literature that I eat up like candy.

Production values are excellent. Great animation, of course. I've also always been a sucker for great classical music such as the Nutcracker Suite and other Tchaikovsky stuff, so the music is quite appealing as well. I like the slight tweaks and variations to the reknowned themes done here and there to make them adjust to the mood of the show. Considering that this is a show featuring heavy involvement of ballet, seeing that they, for the most part, used those pieces is not surprising at all. By the way, the opening and ending are diaphanous. I apologize for using a fancy, elitist, SAT word, but that was the only word I could think of that fit.

Anyhow, a great start. How many episodes are there of Princess Tutu? I hope there's at least 26 for sure. I wouldn't mind comfortably curling up on my sofa for a few more times while watching Princess Tutu.

[Collectonian]

There are indeed 26, over two story arcs: Chapter of the Egg and Chapter of the Duck :) I suspect you'll quite enjoy the rest of the series, especially as it goes to the second chapter, which is darker but also so beautiful and awesome!

Oh, and the lovely box set of the series will be released on the 20th, still in time for DD's sale :neko:

[bkellison]

I think they are actually called the chapter of the egg and the chapter of the fledgling. :) But yes, 26 episodes total, with two 13 episode story arcs. Great show, enjoy!

[roastedpekingduck]

There are indeed 26, over two story arcs: Chapter of the Egg and Chapter of the Duck :) I suspect you'll quite enjoy the rest of the series, especially as it goes to the second chapter, which is darker but also so beautiful and awesome!

Oh, and the lovely box set of the series will be released on the 20th, still in time for DD's sale :neko:
That's good to hear. :) There's been quite a few 24 episode series that could just use those last two episodes to do a bit better. Anyhow, I have the boxset, and while I wouldn't call it lovely, (my mom even raised an eyebrow), it was still an absolute bargain.

[Splitter]

I just finished the Chapter of the Egg over the weekend. Gave a positive Kaleido Star-esque feeling where the show is seemingly broken into two seperate yet compatible parts. Oh, and Ahiru's pas de deux at the end... my god, that was amazing.

So far, I love this series. It has a great mixture of dark fantasy, some lighthearted humor, and a score on a scale of it's own. I'm curious to see the second half which I'll be starting tomorrow. I hear it's even better than the first part X3 X3 X3

Oh well, I love this show and all of the characters... even that whacked-out Drosselmeyer XP

[Collectonian]

Anyhow, I have the boxset, and while I wouldn't call it lovely, (my mom even raised an eyebrow), it was still an absolute bargain.

You got your's early? Lucky! Yeah, its not quite as pretty as the covers as the individual volumes, but lovely because it exists :D

(goes and sees the pictures in the Cover Art forum...okay, not that pretty at all, but still glad they made one. Though that back...glad they face spine out... :sd: )

[TAS]

One of my top 10 shows of all time. I have both the R2 and R1 singles.

The R1 Box is a steal, you even get all the extras. The R1 includes all the R2 on disc extras right down to the easter eggs. Even some of the R1 extras are good!

When I first watched it I was a little worried when I got the the end of egg, great story, good ending how were they going to top that? But they did! and another good ending. There are a lot of good shows with bad endings, but Tutu has two good endings...

[vtr9kvictor]

Quite a magical, whimsical and convoluted experience already...and I've only just seen the first two episodes. I usually despise mahou shoujo, but Princess Tutu did not disappoint, and made me curl up on my sofa and be fully enchanted.

While the show has been optimistic and ideal up to this point (Anteaterina's story predictably had a "I was wrong! I must dance because I am happy" ending), there's a dark undercurrent. I can't place why I feel this way, but despite all the idealism so far, I seem to feel an ominous mood lurking in the background. Whether I am right or just wishfully seeing things remains to be seen.

Another positive for Princess Tutu? There is definitely a pervasive, delightful and nonstandard weirdness floating throughout the show. It sort of reminds me of the Magic Realism found in Latin American literature that I eat up like candy.

Production values are excellent. Great animation, of course. I've also always been a sucker for great classical music such as the Nutcracker Suite and other Tchaikovsky stuff, so the music is quite appealing as well. I like the slight tweaks and variations to the reknowned themes done here and there to make them adjust to the mood of the show. Considering that this is a show featuring heavy involvement of ballet, seeing that they, for the most part, used those pieces is not surprising at all. By the way, the opening and ending are diaphanous. I apologize for using a fancy, elitist, SAT word, but that was the only word I could think of that fit.

Anyhow, a great start. How many episodes are there of Princess Tutu? I hope there's at least 26 for sure. I wouldn't mind comfortably curling up on my sofa for a few more times while watching Princess Tutu.

I LOVED Princess Tutu. And I have to admit I would never have seen it if not for that AMV "Hold Me Now", which is AMAZING. I watched a volume a day until I finished it, and I hardly ever do that. My Dad even got interested in it and watched the second half with me. I learned something about him I had not known in 30-something years of my life: he loves ballet music and wanted to know how to get it for his ringtone on his cel phone.

[The Great Bear]

Ah, Tutu newbies :content:

You're all in for a very, very interesting ride. This is one of my Top 10 shows of all time, definitely. What makes it so good is the quality of the writing. Few shows of any sort (and I mean beyond anime as well) can make me feel for the characters as much as Tutu can. It's really a great show.

[mike.motaku]

Definitely one of those rare series that should never be sold without its extras. While the usual extras included with most series are barely worth viewing the first time through, ADV really steps it up with the ones included here. They are almost worthy of repeated viewing on their own.

[TAS]

My Dad even got interested in it and watched the second half with me. I learned something about him I had not known in 30-something years of my life: he loves ballet music and wanted to know how to get it for his ringtone on his cel phone.

I made a few ring tones for my phone, the eyecatch works well :)
Extra easy since the first three R2 DVDs came with Tutu music CDs (4 had the box).

[Spirit Of The Stage]

Tutu is one of those amazing series that for me I only heard on the grapevine but once I started to watch it, grabbed me and drew into a world that very few shows have ever captivated me before. Beautiful animation, wonderful characters (Ahiru of course, but later on Fakir as well), the dark undertone is definitely there as the series progresses and it's definitely not a mahou shoujo I expected. Wonderful stuff.

[mandisaw]

Princess Tutu is one of the most underrated mahou shoujo shows from the last 10 years or so. The production values are great and are still surpassed by the writing and of course, the music. (Ah, the music...)

I heard about the series through a couple fellow con-staffers back from its fansub days, and managed to catch the first couple eps at Shoujocon. Once I saw vol. 1 on DVD, I was practically drooling for more (more shirtless Fakir, that is :> ), but then came the friggin' 1-year wait for vol. 2. (Argh!) Y'all are lucky you can see the whole thing in a continuous sitting.

"Hold me now" (http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=118208) is one of the best Tutu videos IMO, but check out "Dancing Queens", Pts. 1 & 2 (http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=34730) as well. But "Fakir's Tribute" (http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members/members_videoinfo.php?v=35435) is what made me a screaming-Fakir-fangirl...

[EmperorBrandon]

That's good to hear. :) There's been quite a few 24 episode series that could just use those last two episodes to do a bit better.

Oh, it definitely makes use of them - Princess Tutu makes good use of every single one of its episodes. :)

I've been a pretty big fan of this series for a while. I was interested in it from the start because there were so much of the same staff from Magic User's Club (which was really the first anime series I got to be really crazy about). It's a different kind of show, and I love it for different reasons, but I got to be really crazy about Princess Tutu too. Really happy more people are getting to check it out now. If you are interested in the least, please don't pass it up. :D

[tanahome]

woohoo! Princess Tutu complete collection just came in from TRSI! i discovered Princess Tutu via reading the many threads a while back raving about it.

i have to admit that the cover don't really bother me that much, except looking at it, i get the impression that i'm in for some S&M stuff having to do with cages, adult swings, complicated japanese knots, etc... :P

i'm going to try to get a friend of mine who's into anime and ballet to watch this with me this week!

[HellKorn]

Glad that you like "Utena-lite."

Seriously though, I'm rather fond of Princess Tutu as I mentioned to you a ways back. I'm nowhere near the demographic for the magical girl genre and came away really satisfied after my first viewing.

My only major gripe, aside from the ridiculous title, is that the joke with the cat got old very quickly.

[roastedpekingduck]

Glad that you like "Utena-lite."

It pains me to say that I will probably never be able to watch Utena. It was in healthy supply and I was in no rush to get it. Then over the course of one week, seemingly all that stock got exhausted or something, and to this day I still have not been able to find all three collections of Utena for a decent price.

[ThomasBellman]

There are indeed 26, over two story arcs: Chapter of the Egg and Chapter of the Duck :)

Sometimes you see the number of episodes given as 39. That's because when the second arc was broadcast, they split each full episode into two halves that were broadcast separately. For the DVD release, they put together the episode halves again, as they were intended to be. The ADV DVDs also have the half-episodes joined, so when you have all six discs, you really do have all the Tutu anime there is.

[KK1]

Tutu is awesome, it's just such an all around excellently made show. You can just see the hard work and effort that went into every episode. Obviously it's not everyone's cup of tea and I'm sure the title alone if not the ballet theme has scared off quite a few potential viewers. I'm just glad I was secure enough in my manhood to give it a try as it's one of my all time favorites.

[Redcoffin]

A good show, and an amazingly entertaining use of some fairy tale concepts and material that I would have thought so old and well used that nothing more could be done with them. However, I am one of those who found Drosselmeyer's interjected commentaries increasingly annoying as the show went on.

[Isuzu Inugami]

Quite a magical, whimsical and convoluted experience already...and I've only just seen the first two episodes. I usually despise mahou shoujo, but Princess Tutu did not disappoint, and made me curl up on my sofa and be fully enchanted.

Marvelous, marvelous show. Though actually I scarcely think of it as mahou shoujo, heart shard hunt and transformations notwithstanding. It's more straightforward fairy-tale inspired fantasy.

It also has one of the best "Holy crap, that's what was going on!" moments in anime, when you get to Rue's childhood flashback and remember a particular scene from early on.

There's an episode by episode discussion thread somewhere around here.... :neko:

[Gundamhead]

Well cool. It's always to hear from someone else who finally discovered this great show. It's to bad you won't get to see all the extras from the individual volumes though.

Yeah, I guess I don't really have much to add. Except a little fanboy rant about how all those ignorant Naruto watchers just don't know from good anime, and most fans, let alone people in general will never give this one a chance, and how everyone is so shallow, and how come those kids nowadays are always wearing those hats backwards? and git offa' my lawn, ya smoochers! Why in my day...
:horse:
...
...
...
Uhh, good for you.

[roastedpekingduck]

Hehehe, but we collection buyers DID get all the extras.

[mandisaw]

Hehehe, but we collection buyers DID get all the extras.
I'm confused, the extras were on-disk on the singles. Did they take them off for the thinpak and leave them on for the boxset?

[Isuzu Inugami]

Hehehe, but we collection buyers DID get all the extras.
I'm confused, the extras were on-disk on the singles. Did they take them off for the thinpak and leave them on for the boxset?

The boxset is the thinpack, and the thinpack is a brick!

No extras were stripped in the making of this or any Tutu release. ^^

[Spirit Of The Stage]

Hehehe, but we collection buyers DID get all the extras.
I'm confused, the extras were on-disk on the singles. Did they take them off for the thinpak and leave them on for the boxset?

The boxset is the thinpack, and the thinpack is a brick!

No extras were stripped in the making of this or any Tutu release. ^^


I think the first two volumes alone are worth it for the outtakes, but the singles all have a behind the scenes with the English VAs, and it was just so moving seeing Luci Christian pretty much break down in tears a few times at some of the Duck scenes...so sad but it showed the heart was put through into the show.

[mandisaw]

Hehehe, but we collection buyers DID get all the extras.
I'm confused, the extras were on-disk on the singles. Did they take them off for the thinpak and leave them on for the boxset?

The boxset is the thinpack, and the thinpack is a brick!

No extras were stripped in the making of this or any Tutu release. ^^

Thanks for the clarification. I recall ADV saying some stuff awhile back about releasing collections stripped of extras, and I got worried (unnecessarily, happily).

[tanahome]

I think the first two volumes alone are worth it for the outtakes, but the singles all have a behind the scenes with the English VAs, and it was just so moving seeing Luci Christian pretty much break down in tears a few times at some of the Duck scenes...so sad but it showed the heart was put through into the show.
i was going to default to watching this in japanese dub and english subs. but is there a majority leaning towards english dubs instead?

[EmperorBrandon]

i was going to default to watching this in japanese dub and english subs. but is there a majority leaning towards english dubs instead?

In my opinion, both versions are really good, so it's worth it either way.

[HitokiriShadow]

Thanks for the clarification. I recall ADV saying some stuff awhile back about releasing collections stripped of extras, and I got worried (unnecessarily, happily).

They did say that, but a few thinpacks here and there seemed to keep the extras (like Gantz). It's rare and shouldn't be expected but it does happen at times.

[tanahome]

Thanks for the clarification. I recall ADV saying some stuff awhile back about releasing collections stripped of extras, and I got worried (unnecessarily, happily).

They did say that, but a few thinpacks here and there seemed to keep the extras (like Gantz). It's rare and shouldn't be expected but it does happen at times.
i didn't discover the harsh truth till i started watching NOIR thinpak version. dang it, where were my EXTRAS??? after that, i tried avoid buying ADV thinpak as much as possible.

[HitokiriShadow]

Um, Noir had the extras. The first three thinpacks ADV released (Noir, RahXephon, and Full Metal Panic!) had the on-disc extras, they were only missing any inserts that may have come with the originals. It was after those were released that they started stripping the thinpacks of extras.

[tanahome]

Um, Noir had the extras. The first three thinpacks ADV released (Noir, RahXephon, and Full Metal Panic!) had the on-disc extras, they were only missing any inserts that may have come with the originals. It was after those were released that they started stripping the thinpacks of extras.
oops... i think i meant Elfen Lied! Elfen Lied... Noir... Elfen Lied... what's the diff? :wink:

ok, i'm DEFINITELY sure it was Elfen Lied... i think... yea, i was sorely disappointed there weren't any extras for Elfen Lied.

[roastedpekingduck]

I'd be lying if I didn't say that Princess Tutu has rapidly become one of my favorite shows. I especially love how serious have become by episode 9. Tutu ain't in my top 10, but damn if it is just an exercise in enchanting storytelling.

How well the balance between Tutu's unorthodox whimsicalness and surprisingly rather complex darker side has been executed excellently. In that sense, it reminds me of Latin-American/Spanish storytelling, in which something humorously weird can happen one moment, and something grotesquely weird can happen the moment after, but in a believable progression. Indeed, Tutu does remind me a tad of Pan's Labyrinth and some other literary works. Seeing as Chiaki Konaka contributed scripts for several episodes, he probably contributed a bit to the show's uniqueness.

Fakir, Rue, and Ahiru are just ridiculously captivating at this moment. Fakir is particularly interesting. Seeing how Mythos is now reacting as heart shards are getting added has been real awesome as well. For sure, Tutu is not your ordinary Mahou Shoujo show. I can't wait to see more. I just hope I'm no longer sick when I get my next opportunity. I've been hacking and spurting out mucous for the last week, and having to pause to cough isn't too beneficial for the whole experience.


By the way, Princess Tutu has to be the most "twisted" and complex thing that Junichi Sato has ever worked on. No offense to his other works, but they just seem real straightforward and simple in comparison.

[tanahome]

i'm just curious as to whether you watched it in English/Japanese dub, or both? i'm going to start on Princess Tutu this sunday with a friend. we both prefer Japanese dub, but watching it in English dub has the benefit of being able to enjoy the show much more.

[roastedpekingduck]

Again, it depends. I'm currently watching Japanese w/ subs because there is a subtler, softer, and grimmer feeling to the voice acting. The English voice acting is a bit more emotional, energetic, "bouncier" and plays up to the fun side a bit more. But both are excellent. I can't place exactly why I feel the way I do about each dub. It's interesting how the slightest nuances in voice and change so much.


On an entirely different note, I just have to mention that Mr. Cat and Drosselmeyer are getting on my nerves too. The marriage gag was cute for the first two eps. While the part with the goat did make me laugh, the marriage threat is really wearing thing.

[roastedpekingduck]

Wow, what a glorious ending that was. I'm going to stop for a while before watching the next part of the series to relish in the magnificence of that ending. I really have to wonder what must occur next to start up the next part, since the first 13 episodes were concluded very neatly. The first part was also already quite dark, so I'm going to have to wonder with anticipation at how the second half will be even darker.

[The Great Bear]

Wow, what a glorious ending that was. I'm going to stop for a while before watching the next part of the series to relish in the magnificence of that ending. I really have to wonder what must occur next to start up the next part, since the first 13 episodes were concluded very neatly. The first part was also already quite dark, so I'm going to have to wonder with anticipation at how the second half will be even darker.

Imagine, if you will, a show that has a pretty satisfying ending after a complex tale. Then imagine the world being completely reinvented, an even more complex tale being woven, and then an ending that tops the first one.

That's all I'm going to say ;)

[EmperorBrandon]

By the way, Princess Tutu has to be the most "twisted" and complex thing that Junichi Sato has ever worked on. No offense to his other works, but they just seem real straightforward and simple in comparison.

For the most part, I wouldn't disagree there, though I enjoy Sato's works regardless. :) There is some complexity in other works, though, particularly Magic User's Club TV (which is a bit surreal at times though it takes place in the high school romance/comedy setting).

As far as the Tutu endings go, after seeing ep. 13, I had a hard time believing anything that followed would be able to surpass it. I wasn't disappointed at all going into the new chapter, though, and in the end, I think it did even surpass it. Not everyone will think this. I've seen some posters online not entirely pleased with the "second ending". I ended up being completely satisfied, even though I had some misgivings about where it was heading (a testament to its strength, I think).

[roastedpekingduck]

I did catch the first episode of the new arc today, and I love how everything got turned on its head. Mythos has turned from an innocent child who does not understand his emotions, to a little douchebag thanks to the raven's blood. Princess Kraehe, instead of moping in defeat, bounced back with another sinister plan. Also, I saw it coming after the end of the first arc, but the once-clear feelings between Fakir and Duck are becoming rather muddled in an intriguing fashion. Fakir is starting to feel something for Ahiru, not simply Tutu, and likewise, Ahiru is rather conflicted herself and in the first episode of the new arc, becomes less interested in Mythos as she worries about Fakir.

What I've never mentioned and surprises me is how much rather mature and adult sarcastic humor involving subjects such as adultery appears in Tutu. I believed that Tutu was aimed at children in Japan, but some of that stuff that made me crack a smile would probably fly over the head of even supposedly more exposed Japanese children.

Also, the more I watch Tutu, the more I become confounded by the huge Ahiru/Duck debate that took place a while back when the series was being released. At least from my point of view, it is quite obvious that Duck would be the better translation.

[The Great Bear]

Also, the more I watch Tutu, the more I become confounded by the huge Ahiru/Duck debate that took place a while back when the series was being released. At least from my point of view, it is quite obvious that Duck would be the better translation.

Ah, yes, Duck Season.

We don't have a special smilie for that stupid thing, so I'll leave you with a hamster :noodle:

[TAS]

Wow, what a glorious ending that was. I'm going to stop for a while before watching the next part of the series to relish in the magnificence of that ending. I really have to wonder what must occur next to start up the next part, since the first 13 episodes were concluded very neatly. The first part was also already quite dark, so I'm going to have to wonder with anticipation at how the second half will be even darker.

I felt the same, I was ordering the R2 DVDs 2 at a time to save shipping costs, I had the next disc sitting there but I waited over a week before I put it in my player... then watched the whole thing in one sitting (and cursed having to wait for the final two discs to arrive).

There are a lot of good series with no ending, or a bad ending. Tutu has two good endings :)

[roastedpekingduck]

The show was almost progressing along flawlessly in the second half, with a darker and much more melodramatic tone, until I got to the final four episodes. Huge "world-truth" revelations are really hit or miss with me, and Princess Tutu's revelation about Fakir as a direct descendant of Drosselmeyer and the one person who can break Drosselmeyer's control struck me rather awkwardly. The entrance of the "book-keepers" I felt was quite abrupt. Up until that point, I loved how all the characters had their set, "fairy-tail" roles that they were trying to fulfill, and these destinies that they had to escape. Fakir especially had a tough time as a knight. Passing the villainship from the Crow to Drosselmeyer also didn't go along too well with me. Setting up Drosselmeyer as the final villain was obvious, but the entire time, I could never see him as a villain, despite his craziness and evil character design. I just found him an annoying character who was having fun in his own twisted way.


Still looking forward to the ending, of course, but at this point, I like the first half better precisely because of how it played with the preset fairy-tale flow. Of course, the ending might still blow me away.

[tanahome]

quite proud of myself cause i just finished watching the first half of Princess Tutu with my friend. it was very cute and had us laughing and enjoying ourselves, as well as guess at who ends up with who at the end of episode 13. i keep wanting to say "CHU-CHU" real fast. (BTW, isn't CHU the sound the Japanese use for kissing? or is it for the sound of a tiny mouse or something like that?)

i think the extras for Princess Tutu were really nice, especially the outtakes and clips of the voice-overs in the studio.

anyway, the 2nd half of Princess Tutu will have to wait until after Thxgiving!

[Splitter]

I agree, roastedpekingduck. I didn't have huge expectations for this show to begin with, but after the first half and people saying the second is even better they were high. Granted it did start off amazingly but I got tired with it really fast after it became Mytho's rape target of the week, and even worse when the story became more than that. I groaned massively when we find out Fakir is a direct descendent of Drosselmeyer's as there is absolutely NO EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING THAT FROM BEFORE!!! :susel:

However, I did like that they realized all of this was happening because of Drosselmeyer, but even then, that was only really Fakir's battle, not Duck's, which I had a major problem with as well... and naturally, all of these were forgotten with Duck's sacrifice of her powers. Much like Kaleido Star's second half, Junichi Sato stumbles a lot in recapturing what made the first half so enjoyable, but makes it all worthwhile in the finale.

Regardless of the major flaws of the second half, we got Uzura who I now hopelessly adore, and brought back the delightfully marriage-obsessed Mr. Cat as well as the sweetly sadistic Lilie. If anything, this show excels not for it's plot, but it's band of distinctly likeable and accessible characters.

[Gundamhead]

I to found the second half a little disappointing over all. I mean Evil Mytho was fun and some of the individual episodes were excellent (the "Ghost Knight" one being a personal favorite) and of course Uzura :noodle:

But...I don't know, watching it again it just doesn't have as much charm as the first half. I also don't think that the "soulstealing of the week" episodes are as good as the "heartshard" episodes of the first chapter. Ahh well. Even lesser Tutu is better than %99 of what's out there. And the ending still kicks ass.

[jojo_home]

I don't have a problem with the Drosselmeier revelation. I expected at some point that they would confront him, so it's not a big "disappointing surprise".

I'm on the second half now and I do agree that overall it is weaker, much of it because it's much more "anime-like" than the first season. It's still very enjoyable though, but I felt the first half played out like a true stage ballet fairy tale while the second half, so far, is more like a typical anime magical girl series.

I'm reminded of Giant Robo because it was an anime that was structured like an opera, but the difference is it never once went away from that. The feeling that you were watching an opera was there from beginning to end. But in some of the second half episodes of Tutu I did feel more like I'm missing the passionate theatricality of the the first arc, and some of the revelations were more anime-like twists than fairy-tale like twists.

Watching Tutu also reminded me of how overtly theatrical Sailor Moon could get as well, and the many similarities there are between ballet/opera and the very best magical girl series that there are out there. It's no surprise that I seem to only gravitate towards extremely melodramatic magical girl anime shows, full of passionately emoting characters than just "cute" magical girl shows where the experience is more the equivalent of eating a chocolate truffle. (Not that I have anything against that. I love chocolate truffles, but they taste great for 100 seconds and then melt after 3 minutes in your mouth and nothing more).

Since I know how the show ends (I got spoiled), and I think I will be pleased with the overall outcome, which seems to harken back to what made it strong in the first place (being an anime ballet play). I can't wait to finish it tonight!

[jojo_home]

The show was almost progressing along flawlessly in the second half, with a darker and much more melodramatic tone, until I got to the final four episodes. Huge "world-truth" revelations are really hit or miss with me, and Princess Tutu's revelation about Fakir as a direct descendant of Drosselmeyer and the one person who can break Drosselmeyer's control struck me rather awkwardly. The entrance of the "book-keepers" I felt was quite abrupt. Up until that point, I loved how all the characters had their set, "fairy-tail" roles that they were trying to fulfill, and these destinies that they had to escape. Fakir especially had a tough time as a knight. Passing the villainship from the Crow to Drosselmeyer also didn't go along too well with me. Setting up Drosselmeyer as the final villain was obvious, but the entire time, I could never see him as a villain, despite his craziness and evil character design. I just found him an annoying character who was having fun in his own twisted way.



But Drosselmeier still wasn't technically the villain of the series, and we already knew he was pulling the strings behind the scenes from the very first episode. That the characters would have to confront that fact at some point was pretty evident from the beginning.

Anyway, I finished the show and I actually found the meta elements worked pretty well after all. I actually found the weakest part of the show the middle of the second arc, when Myuto was on his "victim of the day" quest. The lowest point was definitely that effeminate "love love" guy, which felt like some filler episode from Sailor Moon.

It's true that the show had some pains in maneouvering the characters to their assigned roles in the finale, but once that was established, the characters began to "write themselves", so to speak, and everything seemed to click into place from a dramatic standpoint. Love, jealousy, hate, sacrifice, fate--all the essential elements of a solid balletic play are still there when it all came down to it.

[Gundamhead]

Anyway, I finished the show and I actually found the meta elements worked pretty well after all. I actually found the weakest part of the show the middle of the second arc, when Myuto was on his "victim of the day" quest. The lowest point was definitely that effeminate "love love" guy, which felt like some filler episode from Sailor Moon.


Yes, I agree middle of the second arc was definitely the weakest part of the series. However...I'm sorry I have to disagree about the "love love" guy episode. I thought it was one of the few bright spots. Ah well.

[jojo_home]

Anyway, I finished the show and I actually found the meta elements worked pretty well after all. I actually found the weakest part of the show the middle of the second arc, when Myuto was on his "victim of the day" quest. The lowest point was definitely that effeminate "love love" guy, which felt like some filler episode from Sailor Moon.


Yes, I agree middle of the second arc was definitely the weakest part of the series. However...I'm sorry I have to disagree about the "love love" guy episode. I thought it was one of the few bright spots. Ah well.

LOL. :laugh: Okay, he had his moments. But you definitely get the idea--Tutu worked better when it felt more like fairy tale ballet than magical girl show.

[Gundamhead]

LOL. :laugh: Okay, he had his moments. But you definitely get the idea--Tutu worked better when it felt more like fairy tale ballet than magical girl show.


True, true. But it just wouldn't be anime without a completely random comedy ep. tossed in near the end. Yeah if there was four or five episodes like that it would really hurt Tutu's carefully crafted atmosphere, and mess up the flow of the story badly. I thought it worked here because it was just an odd little side story that didn't really have anything to do with anything.

[jojo_home]

Definitely one of those rare series that should never be sold without its extras. While the usual extras included with most series are barely worth viewing the first time through, ADV really steps it up with the ones included here. They are almost worthy of repeated viewing on their own.

Yup. And Mike Yantosca's commentary tracks are extremely NERDY...but well worth listening to.

[roastedpekingduck]

That last two episodes were fucking triumphant. In true Junichi Sato style, everything ended happily, except for the fact that Ahiru remains a duck. Damn, even Mr. Cat got married. It's too bad that Princess Tutu awkwardly dragged a bit before the last two episodes. I am extremely happy that the writers decided to go for something less orthodox (though I saw it coming a mile away) and have Rue become Mytho's prince and Ahiru and Fakir come together. Fakir was the coolest character in the series by the way. My respect for him went through the roof after he stabbed his own hand. Still liked the first half better, but the second half was definitely serviceable to say the least.

Watching Princess Tutu was definitely a worthwhile experience. Tutu was wonderfully special, and special is a word that can only be used to describe a select few things nowadays. (I mean special, and not "special", which is a derogatory term used for certain people.)

[The Great Bear]

I had a feeling you would like the ending. Personally, I didn't think the second half dragged quite as much as other people, but I see how the "girl snatching" of the week format got a little repetitive.

Sato certainly did it again.

[roastedpekingduck]

As great as Tutu was, it likely will be the only Sato work I check out (at least from what he has been involved with for now.) Princess Tutu is unique from most of the stuff in his resume, and the rest of his stuff tends to be too sweet, happy and straightforward for me.

[The Great Bear]

the rest of his stuff tends to be too sweet, happy and straightforward for me.

Well, that's too bad, since some of his other shows are pretty enjoyable. And there's nothing wrong with something a little sweeter and happier now and then :grin:

[roastedpekingduck]

the rest of his stuff tends to be too sweet, happy and straightforward for me.
And there's nothing wrong with something a little sweeter and happier now and then :grin:
I'm currently an angsty teenager. Sweet and happy comes after graduate school. :laugh:

[jojo_home]

I had a feeling you would like the ending. Personally, I didn't think the second half dragged quite as much as other people, but I see how the "girl snatching" of the week format got a little repetitive.

Sato certainly did it again.

I thought the entire last volume was strong--while I have voiced my complaints about the "girl snatching" episodes, I don't see much I didn't like about the last 4 episodes to be honest. Again, I didn't have a problem with the meta-elements, and Fakir calling Duck back was really great stuff--it's just that it was overshadowed by the later Fakir-Duck underwater sequence, which was even better. The scenes with Rue dancing with bird-Myuto in episode 23 (or 24?) were classic.

[jojo_home]

the rest of his stuff tends to be too sweet, happy and straightforward for me.
And there's nothing wrong with something a little sweeter and happier now and then :grin:
I'm currently an angsty teenager. Sweet and happy comes after graduate school. :laugh:

I hate cute and happy (I'm the only one here who isn't crazy about CCS), but I do enjoy many of Sato's stuff regardless. Sailor Moon and Tutu all have a dark edge that I've liked, and Kaleidostar is really a classic sports-mentality anime. If you like sports anime (I do) then KStar is actually worth a look.

[Yukino Miyazawa]

As great as Tutu was, it likely will be the only Sato work I check out (at least from what he has been involved with for now.) Princess Tutu is unique from most of the stuff in his resume, and the rest of his stuff tends to be too sweet, happy and straightforward for me.
His Strange Dawn (http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=357) anime looks cute on the surface, but it is actually pretty dark. Unfortunately, the U.S. release is incomplete.

The Junkers Come Here (http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=13) movie is worth a look. There's a happy ending, but it's one of the few anime that deals with divorce and the turbulent emotions felt during adolescence.

[HellKorn]

As great as Tutu was, it likely will be the only Sato work I check out (at least from what he has been involved with for now.)

Dude, Junkers Come Here (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1090). Don't miss out on it.

Also, Magic User's Club is a good rental if you like some surreal fluff -- Konaka headed both the OVA and television series.

[EmperorBrandon]

I guess I need to check out Junkers Come Here at some point. It's still in print, right? Don't see it at DVD Pacific, but it looks like a lot of other online stores list it.

[HellKorn]

It's still in print, right?

Junkers Come Here is actually OOP. It's easy enough to find a copy online, though.

Personally would recommend it to fans of Ghibli.

[EmperorBrandon]

Junkers Come Here is actually OOP. It's easy enough to find a copy online, though.


Hrmm... dang, I better get it sometime soon (around Christmas) then.

[djanss]

As great as Tutu was, it likely will be the only Sato work I check out (at least from what he has been involved with for now.) Princess Tutu is unique from most of the stuff in his resume, and the rest of his stuff tends to be too sweet, happy and straightforward for me.

Oh, if you think they're all "sweet" and pink-colored, just wait for that OTHER Junichi Sato hit to finally make it to disk...

:frog: :frog: :frog: :frog: :frog:

(In fact, I'd never even realized the connection between Sailor Moon, Duck and Keroro, until I was trying to describe why Keroro's enthusiastic do-or-die incompetence was so infectious, and the only comparison I could make was "Like the early Usagi"...One check of IMDb later, and who knew?
And even then, there's always Sailor Moon S.)

[roastedpekingduck]

As great as Tutu was, it likely will be the only Sato work I check out (at least from what he has been involved with for now.)

Dude, Junkers Come Here (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1090). Don't miss out on it.

Also, Magic User's Club is a good rental if you like some surreal fluff -- Konaka headed both the OVA and television series.
OH Crap. I actually realized I have a copy of Junkers Come Here still sealed that I bought two years ago. Thanks for reminding me to watch it.


I ain't touching Magic User's Club though. Doesn't look like my cup of tea whatsoever.

[bctaris]

I ain't touching Magic User's Club though. Doesn't look like my cup of tea whatsoever.

Well, if you liked or could tolerate Duck, you'd enjoy Sae since they're effectively the same character. (EDIT: Tutu's co-creator and character designer Ikuko Ito is also strongly involved here--she began conceptualizing Tutu while working on MUC.) But it is not your typical magic girl show, same as Princess Tutu. Lot of eichi humor, for one, but there is mystery and some dark corners. For magic, everything is down to earth: no transformations, no little sidekicks, no overt lessons beyond the classic "believe in yourself". Love, sex, magic, highschool. (Plus aliens with mechanical designs by Mahiro Maeda.) The TV series particularly you might find interesting--the series composition is all Chiaki Konaka, who was only an episodic writer in the OVA, and it's much more mysterious than the more straightforward adventure of the OVA. Hate to say it, but don't judge a book by its cover on this one.

[roastedpekingduck]

I ain't touching Magic User's Club though. Doesn't look like my cup of tea whatsoever.

Well, if you liked or could tolerate Duck, you'd enjoy Sae since they're effectively the same character. (EDIT: Tutu's co-creator and character designer Ikuko Ito is also strongly involved here--she began conceptualizing Tutu while working on MUC.) But it is not your typical magic girl show, same as Princess Tutu. Lot of eichi humor, for one, but there is mystery and some dark corners. For magic, everything is down to earth: no transformations, no little sidekicks, no overt lessons beyond the classic "believe in yourself". Love, sex, magic, highschool. (Plus aliens with mechanical designs by Mahiro Maeda.) The TV series particularly you might find interesting--the series composition is all Chiaki Konaka, who was only an episodic writer in the OVA, and it's much more mysterious than the more straightforward adventure of the OVA. Hate to say it, but don't judge a book by its cover on this one.

For certain, it looks good at what it does, but I'm not a fan of comedy or ecchi, and adding those together, even with at ouch of quirkiness I know isn't going to sit well with me.

[roastedpekingduck]

Some weeks after I've finished watching the series, it's still had some impact on me to an extent: Princess Tutu got me back into classical music. After quitting playing piano due to how cutthroat and competitive playing piano can be, I admittedly slid away from classical music and completely forgot about how awesome classical music with me. Over the years, I've become disenchanted with classical music because I hated playing it, but I've slowly come to remember again what drew me to classical music and how beautiful it can be with its melodiousness. Nodame Cantabile helped push me slightly back towards classical music several months back, but Princess Tutu, with its sampling of some of the greatest pieces completely had me engrossed in classical music once more. And this time, I don't have to associate the music with any unwelcome stress. Right now, I've got some Tchaikovsky booming in the background as I study for my last few midterms.

[TAS]

Some weeks after I've finished watching the series, it's still had some impact on me to an extent: Princess Tutu got me back into classical music.
I think it had that effect on quite a few people, I remember back when it was being broadcast in Japan and when the R2 DVD were coming out there was a thread about the music in Tutu with people suggesting the best recordings available for each piece. Some people had never been interested in classical music but wanted to hear more.

[eau]

I just received Princess Tutu Complete Collection from Amazon. Is there any content inappropriate for young children that this show is rated TV-14? I just want to make sure that before I let a 4-year old watch it...

[Pelianth]

I just received Princess Tutu Complete Collection from Amazon. Is there any content inappropriate for young children that this show is rated TV-14? I just want to make sure that before I let a 4-year old watch it...
Hrm...4 years old is a little young I'd think, this isn't a childrens' show. There's some violence, a tiny bit of blood (most notably Fakir's at several different points in the show), and some imagery that might give small children nightmares.

[LelouchLamperouge]

I've been watching this recently, I've done 18/26 of the episodes so far. I don't know how I feel about the series to be honest, usually it hooks me in the beginning, but Tutu hooked me in episode 6-13, then after the story ended, it hasn't hooked me for the last 5 episodes I watched (14-18). I hate having mixed feelings about a series, it gives me buyer's remorse -- hopefully I won't feel that by series end.

[meryl]

Come back and tell us what you think after episode 26. That's the true test of what someone feels about Princess Tutu.

[LelouchLamperouge]

Come back and tell us what you think after episode 26. That's the true test of what someone feels about Princess Tutu.

Well, I've finished Princess Tutu. It was a great series and all, but it felt empty and just overall flat ending. I'll give PT points though for keeping up suspense and the music scores, those were probably the only thing that kept me going. Overall, I'd give it just barely a 8/10, up from a planned 7/10.

[Splitter]

Come back and tell us what you think after episode 26. That's the true test of what someone feels about Princess Tutu.

Well, I've finished Princess Tutu. It was a great series and all, but it felt empty and just overall flat ending. I'll give PT points though for keeping up suspense and the music scores, those were probably the only thing that kept me going. Overall, I'd give it just barely a 8/10, up from a planned 7/10.

I'm not exactly sure how the ending falls flat. The moe meter for Ahiru went off the freakin' scales in the last two episodes. I mean... she lost everything for the sake of her friends. Her Tutu powers, her human form, even the prince's love for her, all so they could have a happy ending. That's what a REAL happy ending should be. Not like Disney ones where everything is gained on what is pretty much a stroke of luck, but from the blood and tears of those who would give anything to gain that happiness.

Junichi Sato, master of the true happy ending. All hail.

[The Great Bear]

I have to agree. It is Duck's sacrifice that makes the ending special. A "conventional" happy ending would have been flat in comparison.

[roastedpekingduck]

I ain't touching Magic User's Club though. Doesn't look like my cup of tea whatsoever.

Well, if you liked or could tolerate Duck, you'd enjoy Sae since they're effectively the same character. (EDIT: Tutu's co-creator and character designer Ikuko Ito is also strongly involved here--she began conceptualizing Tutu while working on MUC.) But it is not your typical magic girl show, same as Princess Tutu. Lot of eichi humor, for one, but there is mystery and some dark corners. For magic, everything is down to earth: no transformations, no little sidekicks, no overt lessons beyond the classic "believe in yourself". Love, sex, magic, highschool. (Plus aliens with mechanical designs by Mahiro Maeda.) The TV series particularly you might find interesting--the series composition is all Chiaki Konaka, who was only an episodic writer in the OVA, and it's much more mysterious than the more straightforward adventure of the OVA. Hate to say it, but don't judge a book by its cover on this one.

I'm actually so glad I decided to ignore my misgivings on this one and buy Magic User's Club. Actually had to pay a decent amount for it (~$50) since it's been OOP for a while.

Anyhow, I'm currently plowing through the OAV, and while the show isn't the most masterful thing ever, beyond the perverted humor, there's a sort of understated beauty to the show that I didn't expect. The music is also pretty nice. Probably my favorite thing about the show is also normal it treats magic and aliens. The message that even the most extraordinary can become ordinary with time reminded me of Niea, with the giant alien spaceship and such. I'm really happy now that I didn't pass Magic User's over.

[EmperorBrandon]

I'm actually so glad I decided to ignore my misgivings on this one and buy Magic User's Club. Actually had to pay a decent amount for it (~$50) since it's been OOP for a while.

Heh, is it really OOP? I still see it listed at RightStuf ("On Order" - don't they usually remove a title if it's OOP and no longer expect to get any more?)

[Isuzu Inugami]

Anyhow, I'm currently plowing through the OAV, and while the show isn't the most masterful thing ever, beyond the perverted humor, there's a sort of understated beauty to the show that I didn't expect.

The TV has more of this and less of the ecchi, so hopefully you'll enjoy it even more.

[roastedpekingduck]

I'm actually so glad I decided to ignore my misgivings on this one and buy Magic User's Club. Actually had to pay a decent amount for it (~$50) since it's been OOP for a while.

Heh, is it really OOP? I still see it listed at RightStuf ("On Order" - don't they usually remove a title if it's OOP and no longer expect to get any more?)
Rightstuf lists quite a bit of OOP stuff as still available, but I think you still should be able to get it. I decided to take my chance and buy it new on Ebay. The last few auctions for it have all gone over $50. While new copies are scarce, there are some cheap used copies floating around at Amazon, but then again, supplies of even the used boxset has dwindled.

[EmperorBrandon]

It's listed as "Low Stock" on DVD Pacific, so they have at least some new copies it seems.

[bctaris]

I'm actually so glad I decided to ignore my misgivings on this one and buy Magic User's Club. Actually had to pay a decent amount for it (~$50) since it's been OOP for a while.

Anyhow, I'm currently plowing through the OAV, and while the show isn't the most masterful thing ever, beyond the perverted humor, there's a sort of understated beauty to the show that I didn't expect. The music is also pretty nice. Probably my favorite thing about the show is also normal it treats magic and aliens. The message that even the most extraordinary can become ordinary with time reminded me of Niea, with the giant alien spaceship and such. I'm really happy now that I didn't pass Magic User's over.

Cool! You made my day. ;)

Again, and as Shimauma intones, you might find the TV part of the story, when you get to it, to be even more intriguing.

[roastedpekingduck]

Finished the last two episodes, which were really sublime. Magic User's Club was short, straightforward and sweet, and didn't really waste any moments. My two favorite moments of the series were when Nanaka confessed to Aburatsubo and Sae's "transformation scene" in the last episode. That brief moment between Nanaka and Aburatsubo was just really genuine. There was no angst, which was a welcome sight. In other romantic series, sometimes confrontations are so overplayed that the meeting between Nanaka and Aburatsubo was quite refreshing. Aburatsubo simply said that sometimes feelings just can't be returned, and Nanaka didn't react in anger, but rather with bittersweet poignancy. Finally, while Sae's dressing scene at the end may be misinterpreted as fanservice, I personally felt that it was the most important scene in the entire show. That Sae had to put on her uniform herself without any sparkling transformation directly stated that while she could use magic, she was by no means a "magical girl," but an ordinary person. I really liked that touch.

[bctaris]

Finally, while Sae's dressing scene at the end may be misinterpreted as fanservice, I personally felt that it was the most important scene in the entire show. That Sae had to put on her uniform herself without any sparkling transformation directly stated that while she could use magic, she was by no means a "magical girl," but an ordinary person. I really liked that touch.

Which is precisely why MUC is my very favorite "magical girl" show. And is similarly why, well beyond my expectations, I got so into my second favorite in the category, Cardcaptor Sakura.

And there will still be more to be said on the relationships explored here, in the TV.

[EmperorBrandon]

Finally, while Sae's dressing scene at the end may be misinterpreted as fanservice, I personally felt that it was the most important scene in the entire show. That Sae had to put on her uniform herself without any sparkling transformation directly stated that while she could use magic, she was by no means a "magical girl," but an ordinary person. I really liked that touch.

That was one of the most memorable scenes for me in Magic User's Club. I like some of the ecchi-ness in the series (and that includes seeing Sae change clothes :) ), but I never really felt MUC is overboard with it. The whole point of that part of the episode is her determination to save her friends who switched places with her in the Bell, and I think it's nice how you can see her determination well in the scene. It's not the kind of scene, like you said, that should just be interpreted as "fanservice".