Princess Tutu English Sub & Dub

About Princess Tutu

Looking for background on Princess Tutu (プリンセスチュチュ)? This drama, fantasy and mahou shoujo series by Hal Film Maker (2002) starts out like this. At its core: In a fairy tale come to life, the clumsy, sweet, and gentle Ahiru (Japanese for 'duck') 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!

Also worth knowing: Transformed by the unexplained 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.

In a drama series like this, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Voice work is led by Nanae Katou as Ahiru Arima and Takahiro Sakurai as Fakir. If you count yourself among viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action, put it on your list. The run is 38 episodes in total, so you know what you are signing up for.

Production & Appeal

Hal Film Maker is the studio behind Princess Tutu, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Because it leans on drama, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Viewers rate it 8.1/10, which signals strong word of mouth. On the casting side, Nanae Katou voicing Ahiru Arima gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2002, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.