Geekery Part Deux (For the PT 10th Anniversary)

[opalescentegg]

When, exactly, do the events of “Princess Tutu” take place? Depending on which fanfic you read or which fanart you view, it could be anywhere between the turn of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st.

However, I believe that there are enough clues, both shown and implied, that the likely general timeframe of “Princess Tutu” can be

Comments

[haleysings]

This is pretty interesting! I've tried to come up with a date for Princess Tutu's time period myself but never got quite as far as you did. I do think it's interesting to note that there's a lot of technology in Tutu like motorized cars and electric lighting that would indicate it's got to be set in at least the 20th century, and I've heard the clothing in Tutu described as "1960ish" so I think 1970-95 is a pretty reasonable assumption.

It's possible that Princess Tutu is meant to be set in what would've been the "present" for when it aired, too. Since the town is implied to be somewhat magically cut off from the rest of the world, it's reasonable to assume that there's a lot of anachronisms happening inside the town itself, which is why the town might seem a bit "old fashioned" even if it's set in the early 2000s.

[opalescentegg]

It's nice to know you approve of this, thank you!

[haleysings]

Haha, I approve of any and all analysis and in-depth geekery, that's my favorite part of fandom!

[insaneladybug]

**claps!** I applaud you for taking on this task! This is one of the questions which has intrigued me since realizing there seems to be a conflict with the popular idea that Tutu takes place, say, a hundred years ago. Another notation is the presence of the pizza parlor. According to my research, Germany didn't even have those until the 1950s.

I think my general conclusion is that Tutu most likely takes place in the present day, and therefore could be seen as the 1990s or even today, and that the town just seems older in some ways because of being sealed off for so long, with only more modern things creeping in now and then.

I devoured your entire essay with relish and will be adding it to my Memories. Definitely something to read and re-read. You have really been thinking this out and doing your research!

[opalescentegg]

Wow, you really liked it that much?! *blushblushblush* Thanks so much! And good catch on the pizza parlor, that wasn't even something that I thought of.

[featheredspring]

Wow, good job! :D I agree that if there's a specific time-period at all, it's most likely in relatively modern times (as opposed to centuries ago, as some have suggested). Besides what you said in your post, and the pizzeria Ladybug mentioned, there's also what looks like Groucho glasses and PET bottles in episode 20; the latter of which weren't used until the seventies either.

Clearly it's all very vague on purpose, though X-D

[opalescentegg]

Yeah, the vagueness of the timeframe is probably there to emphasize the timeless, fairy tale feel of the town. I'm glad you were pleased with it!

[opalescentegg]

Thanks so much, I'm glad this was useful! And, yeah, it might be more fun to think of the show taking place during an earlier, simpler time, but at least this way no one has to deal with the horrible irony of escaping Drosselmeyer's story just to wind up smack-dab in the middle of either of the World Wars.

[haleysings]

I've been tempted to write a fanfic like that--where the characters in Tutu somehow get caught up in the chaos surrounding WWII--but that's pretty cruel even for me...

[moonshadowmagic]

Interesting and a lot of research! I hadn't realized about A Midsummer Night's Dream-- I'd been thinking of Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet as the latest works represented, due to Prokofief's music. However, I had it placed in the present day also on the basis of the Duck Suit (middie shirt, shorts, clunky shoes-- not before the late '60's, but anytime since) and-- in the 'party' thrown by Pique and Lillie-- Groucho glasses (plastic) and especially 2- liter plastic bottles of drink, which came along only in the late 1970's. And the genealogy. The boys' bell- bottoms and white shoes are also a 1970's look. But in fashion, once it comes, it will cycle 'round again in 20 or 25 years-- and it has. For something like a school, of course, the uniform might be set for a decade or two just because designing new ones costs money or no one remembers that it might be nice to update the look

[opalescentegg]

Thanks for the compliment! I actually wasn't aware of A Midsummer Night's Dream either until I happened to come across the information in something I was reading. I also thought about adding observations about Ahiru's non-uniform outfit, the Groucho glasses, the school uniforms, and even what Paulo wore in ep6 (it looked like a T-shirt, sweatpants, and sneakers). I even had notes for some of it, but the essay itself got to the point where I couldn't add things like that in without making the entire piece clunky and confusing.

I also thought the same thing about the boys' school uniform. The shoes, especially, remind me of something right out of "Saturday Night Fever"!

Your head canon sounds fun, too, and I totally approve!

[moonshadowmagic]

For the past several weeks I have been following the "Mark Watches" Princess Tutu posts. In a post for an episode showing Fakir researching fiction- writing, someone posted not only a translation but discovered that the page was a quote from a work on stories, and that the quote referred to The Neverending Story (1979- ish.) So, the series takes place post- publication of that critical work (the title translated to something like The Book of 1,000 Books.)

aaarrrrgh! Wonderful catch!

[opalescentegg]

I remember seeing that post too! The (German) Amazon.com page for the book gave its publication date at 2002, so I guess that means that the series takes place in the early 21st century--which actually makes a great deal of sense, but it's still a little mind-boggling.