Princess Tutu: V.1 Märchen (ep. 1-5)
The broadcast seriesPrincess Tutu(2002) combines elements of Hans Christian Andersen,Swan Lake,Sailor Moon, andRanma 1/2into ashojo(girl's) fantasy. Duck (Ahiruin Japanese), a typically maladroit anime heroine, attends the Gold Crown Academy of ballet, although she's not one of the better students. A strange man who may be Drosselmeyer fromThe Nutcrackergives her the power of transformation: when she says, "quack," she turns into a duck and requires water to change back into a human. But she becomes the exquisite Princess Tutu when she needs to aid Mysto, the best male dancer in the school, who's literally lost his heart. Duck, Mysto, and their friends may also be the characters in Drosselmeyer's last fairy tale,The Prince and the Raven. A mixture of broad comedy, balletic poses, and syrupy romance,Princess Tutuwill delight adolescent girls. (Rated TV 14: brief nudity, cartoon violence)--Charles Solomon