anime rec ❦ Princess Tutu
genre ❦ magical girl, comedy, drama, romance, ballet
episodes ❦ 26 (DVD), 38 (TV)
Once upon a time, there was a man who died.
This man's work was to write and tell stories, but he could not defy death. The man's last story was about a brave and handsome prince who vanquishes a crafty raven. But now, their battle will go on for eternity with no end.
"I'm sick and tired of this!" cried the raven.
"I'm sick and tired of this!" cried the brave prince as well.
The raven escaped from within the story, and the prince, in pursuit of the raven, did as well. Then the prince took out his own heart and sealed the raven away by using a forbidden power.
Just then, from somewhere: "This is excellent," murmured the man who was supposed to have died.
Princess Tutu is the story of a duck who dreams of a prince. The prince is beautiful and elegant, but he has lonely eyes, and the duck wishes she could do something for him. So a strange old man gives her the chance to become a girl, and the power to become a princess who can rescue the prince.
But she's still just a duck.
Princess Tutu is probably one of the most beautiful anime I've seen. It's just plain good. What Nanoha subverted, Princess Tutu perfected: this is the magical girl genre at its best. It's basically a fairy tale, told through ballet, told through animation. It's about the powers of writing and dance: conveying with your body what you can't say aloud, and making real with words what is out of your reach.
But mostly it's about a girl who's a duck who wants to dance.
You'd never think an anime by the name of Princess Tutu is badass. Well, it is. It's epic. And if you don't want to take my word for it, you can go watch this.
Kapitel des Eis
episode 01 ❦ Ahiru and the Prince ~ Der Nußknacker: Blumenwalzer
episode 02 ❦ Pieces of the Heart ~Schwanensee: Scène finale
episode 03 ❦ A Princess's Oath ~ Dornröschen: Panorama
episode 04 ❦ Giselle
episode 05 ❦ On the Eve of the fire Festival ~ Bilder einer Ausstellung: die Katakomben
episode 06 ❦ Aurora Dreaming ~ Dornröschen: Prolog
episode 07 ❦ Raven Princess ~ An der schönen blauen Donau
episode 08 ❦ The Fountain of Warriors ~ Fantasie-Overtüre zu "Romeo und Julia"
episode 09 ❦ Black Shoes ~ Bilder einer Ausstellung: Alten Schloß
episode 10 ❦ Cinderella ~ Aschenbrödel: Walzer-Coda
episode 11 ❦ La Sylphide
episode 12 ❦ Banquet of Darkness ~ Scheherazade
episode 13 ❦ Swan Lake ~ Schwanensee
Kapitel des Junges
episode 14 ❦ Monster Raven ~ Blumenwalzer (Part 1)
episode 15 ❦ Monster Raven ~ Blumenwalzer (Part 2)
episode 16 ❦ Coppelia (Part 1)
episode 17 ❦ Coppelia (Part 2)
episode 18 ❦ Prayers of a Maiden ~ Gebet einer Jungfrau (Part 1)
episode 19 ❦ Prayers of a Maiden ~ Gebet einer Jungfrau (Part 2)
episode 20 ❦ Crime and Punishment ~ Carmen Aragonaise (Part 1)
episode 21 ❦ Crime and Punishment ~ Carmen Aragonaise (Part 2)
episode 22 ❦ Wandering Knight ~ Egmont Ouvertüre (Part 1)
episode 23 ❦ Wandering Knight ~ Egmont Ouvertüre (Part 2)
episode 24 ❦ A Midsummer Night's Dream ~ Ein Sommernachtstraum (Part 1)
episode 25 ❦ A Midsummer Night's Dream ~ Ein Sommernachtstraum (Part 2)
episode 26 ❦ A Forgotten Story ~ Die verkaufte Braut (Part 1)
episode 27 ❦ A Forgotten Story ~ Die verkaufte Braut (Part 2)
Kapitel des Junges (cont.)
episode 28 ❦ The Spinners ~ Lider ohne Worte (Part 1)
episode 29 ❦ The Spinners ~ Lider ohne Worte (Part 2)
episode 30 ❦ Crown of Stone ~ Das große Tor von Kiew (Part 1)
episode 31 ❦ Crown of Stone ~ Das große Tor von Kiew (Part 2)
episode 32 ❦ Marionettes ~ Rusian und Ludmilla (Part 1)
episode 33 ❦ Marionettes ~ Rusian und Ludmilla (Part 2)
episode 34 ❦ The Prince and the Raven ~ Danse Macabre (Part 1)
episode 35 ❦ The Prince and the Raven ~ Danse Macabre (Part 2)
episode 36 ❦ The Dying Swan ~ Romeo und Julia (Part 1)
episode 37 ❦ The Dying Swan ~ Romeo und Julia (Part 2)
episode 38 ❦ Finale~ Der Nußknacker