Princess Tutu (anime)/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: At one point, Edel has a tray full of jewels and offers one to Ahiru/Duck. She says its name is "Dream." Ahiru/Duck starts asking what some of the others are... "Hope." "Adventure." "Mystery." "Artistic License." ("Author's Prerogative," in the English dub.)
  • Crowning Moment of Heartwarming: In the second half of the series when Fakir calls out to Ahiru/Duck after she has been taken by Drosselmeyer in order to bring her back.
    • A few of the others are here.
  • Crowning Moment of Awesome: A whole bucket load, particularly in the finales of each season. You can see some fan favorites listed in Tutu's own Crowning Moment page.
  • Crowning Music of Awesome: Considering that the soundtrack is entirely taken from famous ballet/classical pieces, all the music in this show might qualify.
    • Also, it's produced by Kaoru Wada, well known for the music of anime such as Inuyasha. Doesn't that just scream awesome?
    • Particular candidates for Crowning Music of Awesome are the "Waltz of the Flowers", which plays during Ahiru's first transformation into Princess Tutu in the beginning of the series and her final dance at the end of the series, the "Swan Lake Waltz", which plays during Ahiru and Rue's duel at the end of the first season, and setting the Demon Raven's revival to "Danse Macabre".
    • Not in the show itself, but the award-winning "Hold Me Now" AMV (spoilers!) deserves mention for helping to spark interest in the show.
  • Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory: Particularly the short stories at the beginning of each episode and their meaning towards the plot.
  • Foe Yay: Ahiru and Rue's relationship as rivals, and Princess Tutu and Princess Kaehe's relationship as enemies, at least on Princess Tutu's side.
  • Genius Bonus: Rivals Ghost in the Shell for the sheer number of these. Naturally, these are all related to music, dance, and so on, but most people would have to see the translator's notes to get half of these. Big example of Shown Their Work.
  • Ho Yay Shipping: You will get an "abusive boyfriend" vibe from Fakir toward Mytho; and depending on who you ask, there's also subtext between Ahiru and Rue, as well as Autor and Fakir.
    • Outtakes from the dub have the voice actors hamming up the Ho Yay to the max...
    • An in-universe example occurs in episode 17, where a raven blood-addled Mytho temporarily regains control and performs the mime for love...in front of Femio. A good few hearts are broken by this "revelation".
    • Another in-universe example: When Fakir returns to school after being suspended, Mytho gives him a hug. Cue a roomful of girls screaming with delight. One even faints.
    • And an example for Rue and Ahiru: their pas de deux in the first series. C'mon, why would Rue, a girl, want to dance with another girl?
    • Fakir acts like a very possessive, abusive lover to Mytho. When you find out the reason is because Mytho has no self-preservation instinct in his heartless state, it makes more sense and turns the Ho Yay up a notch. Also, during the promotional video, Fakir and Mytho are seen dancing together, and Fakir embraces him from behind. And upon his suspension ending and Fakir returning to school, Evil!Mytho gives him a great big hug in front of the entire class, which they definitely take notice of.
    • Ahiru and Rue get some Les Yay as well, due to their status as rivals and, in their heroic forms, enemies. Not to mention Rue picking Ahiru as her dance partner in episode 2. And telling each other "I love you" in the final episode. Not as romantic in context.
  • Jerkass Woobie: Kraehe, before becoming a flat-out Woobie.
  • Memetic Molester: If he's not already, Drosselmeyer should be one. Children who like stories, come here!
  • Memetic Mutation: Ninjas dueling with guitars.
    • To be more elaborate, the ever-so-epic Guitar Ninjas came into being when somebody posted this image review of the series. No actual guitar-playing ninjas appear in the series, but Anonymous agrees that it is still a very apt metaphor.
    • Courtesy of the Desu Des Brigade, "Real Men Watch Princess Tutu!"
  • Mundane Made Awesome: Tell anyone a show called Princess Tutu is awesome or badass in any way, and prepare to be stared at like you've gone insane. Prepare to be stared at longer for going into the details of how cool a dance-off for the prince's heart shard of love was. Though, most can be converted by viewing an AMV, this troper included. (Spoiler warning)
  • Narm: In Akt 7, Mytho has a nightmare. It involves Princess Tutu dancing towards him on her tiptoes, and him screaming in fear.
  • Non Sequitur Scene: A subversion; Femio actually resists Kraehe's attempt to take his heart in hilariously preposterous fashion. The subversion is the fact that the Raven and Mytho actually use this incident as evidence that no one will ever fall in love with the poor girl.
  • Nightmare Fuel: Drosselmyer's uncanny habit of appearing in the strangest places without warning is really unsettling. Plus, some of the deranged animation used on him is equally creepy.
    • The Demon Raven is more than likely to bring about a few bad dreams for the young-uns, as well.
  • Tear Jerker: The last few episodes brought many viewers to tears. The extras on the US DVDs show Jessica Boone and Luci Christian tearing up, as well.
  • What Do You Mean It's Not for Kids?: Despite its name and coming off as a Magical Girl series, it is surprisingly dark, especially in the second season.
  • The Woobie: Ahiru's friends Pique and Lilie view her as this in the story itself, and particularly Lilie seems to really embrace the disturbing hurt/comfort element to the role.
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