The Book I'm Afraid To Write

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "The Book of my Life" by Sting
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme: Fakir & writing
Spoilers: Yes

Review: This. All of this. It's beautiful.
First of all, the combination of the clips and the tune of the song really compliment each other well. Fakir's story is portrayed in a subdued manner, and while he is quite adamant and insistent in his own way, he always does so quite calmly. It's when he starts yelling at Mytho that we realize Fakir's losing his cool. The song goes with that kind of emotional range really well.
The lyrics... I don't think I can talk enough about how awesomely the lyrics match up in the short amount of time I have today, so just go and read the lyrics. And then rewatch the video. The... I don't know how to say it; the 'complimentarity' is striking and really quite obvious. If you're feeling lazy, then make a note to do it later. It is worth it.
The timing and effects are also really nicely done here. Not a lot of effects needed with this type of song, and the overlays are used well. Everything flows really nicely, and I really like this a lot!
I will say, though, that it doesn't 'grip' me. Maybe it's the lull of the song, or something... I like Sting, and this video is expertly made. But this isn't something that I'll be daydreaming about while I do other things, or obsess over. So while I highly recommend this video, I can't quite give it a perfect rating.
Unfortunately, I've not got a lot of time to expound upon things today, so this is what I can do for now.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Carol of the Bells

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: Carol of the Bells (piano version) - EDIT: likely the version by George Winston (as per the creator)
Theme: dance throughout the series/series teaser
Spoilers: No (no context given)

Review: I love this song, and this version is especially well chosen for this series. The focus on dance is exquisitely executed, and flows gorgeously throughout~
Ballet and instrumental music like this just go well together; Princess Tutu just goes right along with it. The piano music highlights a simplicity that the show puts forth, like a fairytale. Sweet and innocent, simple to identify. But then there are background flourishes, accents of emotion, tunes twirling together. It's a blend of all these things, so that something supposedly simple becomes intricate, complex, and even more beautiful.
The scenes chosen are never 'filler'; they all have a purpose, they all say something. One of my favorite parts is from 1:19-1:24, where parallels between Rue and Duck are just striking. There are many other dance parallels pointed out as well, such as in some of the clips before with Mytho/Rue and Fakir/Duck (1:07-1:18 specifically). I love the overlays, the poignancies with the piano's rhythm... And the beginning/ending flourishes with the shoes from the opening narrations just set it all off perfectly.
I feel like the video will probably mean more to those who have already seen the show, but this is a pretty good video to show friends who are (or will be) interested in watching. There isn't any real context given, other than a lot of ballet and that certain characters dance together at some point. While it isn't the most exciting video, and so may not be the best for those who want a flurry of action and suspense, it is a good exhibition of the beautiful dancing involved, and the amount of dedication the creators put into the show. It also shows different sides of all the characters without really attributing anything permanent to them. For those of us who have watched it all, specifics will be quick to recall and enchanting to watch again. For those who haven't, this is a great introduction to the possible intricacies awaiting~

Overall Rating:10/10

Call of the Sirens: Dark AU

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Siren" by Theatre of Tragedy
Lyrics: songmeanings (there are some 'translations' in the comments on the page)
Theme: Alternate storyline of Princess Tutu: Rue and Duck are written as sirens by Drosselmeyer, and lure Mytho and Fakir to their fates through dance as Kraehe and Tutu, against their own wills. (creator description in Youtube description)
Spoilers: Yes (mild)

Review: This is a very intriguing story that is shared quite effectively! As an alternate universe, it is portrayed excellently. I like how the song's words just flow into its music, aiding to weave the story yet still being mysterious and almost indistinguishable. The almost waltz-like tempo mixed with a ballad of sorts contributes nicely to both the dance and fairytale elements.
Rue and Duck are written into crow/raven and swan sirens by Drosselmeyer. The girls aren't aware of their natures at first, but eventually find out; however, they fail to overcome their author.  Mytho and Fakir are haunted by Kraehe and Tutu in their dreams, eventually pushing the 'real' counterparts away in their obsession. The girls want to fight against their written nature, but find it impossible to do so, and lose the ones they love. (meahwhile Drosselmeyer sits back and laughs... fine, have your tragedy!)
While the overall idea of can't-fight-the-author is the same as the series, the character roles are slightly different, as are the execution and final result. These are shown very elegantly with the clips. It can be difficult to properly put forth an AU via a video, especially when the words/lyrics are such a small part of the experience. The lyrics do go well, don't get me wrong, words-wise and as part of the song - but they are rather difficult to understand, not only because of the melodic voices but because they're in some form of old English. It's beautiful, but the meaning behind them is conveyed through the clips used more than the words themselves. And that was done very well.
My only quibble with it is the length of the song at such a slow tempo. It is gorgeous song, but when paired with video, 6 minutes is a long time with no climax. Now there are visual climaxes, in the storyline given, but you kind-of have to be aware to catch them.
I really love that the theme of this AU keeps in mind the original author-character dynamic, as well as takes advantage of fairytales. The clips used are very well chosen and placed, and I get entranced whenever I watch it. I keep thinking that the effect isn't really that great, but then I watch it and become fascinated once again. Maybe this video has more in common with sirens than I thought~

Overall Rating: 9/10

The Writer

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "The Writer" by Ellie Goulding
Lyrics: azlyrics (note: the third verse isn't in the video)
Theme: Duck and Fakir
Spoilers: Yes

Review: Ah, that first awkward dance in costume. How appropriate to start there. I really do like how the video shows the relationship's growth over time. (It doesn't give a total overview, but that's what the series itself is for. XD) But really, this video does a great job showing how at first there's tension between them, not really sexual or romantic, but more of hostility and insecurity. Then, things begin changing after that pivotal episode when Duck encounters Fakir's other side.
And then there's Fakir. Not nearly as oblivious as the guy in the lyrics, but it takes him a while to see that Duck is changing him. But they both change each other, "casting shadows." While Duck is noticing changes, she's practically more oblivious than Fakir. Nevertheless, something grows between them. Shadows are an appropriate metaphor for how things change subtly. I also really love how the lyrics mimic the give-and-take that both parties have. She asks for his help in giving her words and form, and he fulfills that for her, as long as she asks.
Interestingly enough, while she always asks for help, sometimes very directly, Duck never asks Fakir to make sure she "will be there at the end." She wants to help Mytho, and they decide how to do that in general, but she never asks him to make sure she survives, or even remembers anything; she just asks for help. It's interesting that the lyrics say "Only it's too hard to ask/ Won't you try to help me?" Surely she wanted to be there, but she couldn't just outrightly ask for it. Thankfully, Fakir understood her enough to gather that without words.
The editing with this video is gorgeous as well. When needed, there are ample accents in a timely manner. I don't notice any 'filler' clips, and everything is used poignantly. The song is a wonderful tune for this anime: consistent enough for the dance clips, classy enough for the fairytale elements, and melodic enough to embrace the characters and viewers.
This video is a wonderful illustration of the relationship between Duck and Fakir. I really love the song, and how well it works here. It's a song I don't mind getting stuck in my head, especially with these visuals. This video gets a lot of plays on my playlist, to say the least~

Overall Rating: 10/10

Don't Cry Out

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Don't Cry Out" by Shiny Toy Guns
Lyrics: metrolyrics
Theme: Duck/Mytho/Rue
Spoilers: Yes

Review: I am fascinated with this song, and it really fits the 'main' struggle between Rue and Duck over Mytho nicely~ (I say 'main' because that's the way it's supposedly/perceived to be, even by the characters at times, but there are waaaay more and deeper things going on than that. But I won't get into that now~)
The opening is a great segue for the show's fairytale setting and the modern tone of the music. The lyrics really speak for both Duck and Rue, as the clips show. I find it really intriguing that the first line is so accurate: "I don't get you." Duck doesn't know what is wrong with Mytho, but she can sense that something is missing. And she wants to help. Then there's the second verse concerning pretending. Both Duck and Rue are guilty of this; Duck wants to believe that she can dance with Mytho, help him without problems, and Rue thinks that Mytho will always be hers and hers alone without any hindrances. While Duck engages in this rather naively, she recognizes that it's a bit out there but still want to believe anyway. With Rue, she is acutely aware that her pretending is just that, but she still fights it every step of the way.
The editing is done really very well. Accents are mostly on time, which is saying a lot for this music, and the clips used for them are relevant. Overlays are used very appropriately, and there aren't too many other effects except for the accents. Nothing distracts from the video, and it all builds together very nicely.
The most poignant part I think was around 2:35-3:20. I know the scenes in and of themselves are also pretty amazing, so that helps, but they are placed wonderfully. With all the crazy action and back-and-forth that's been going on, and constant music with a heavy beat, the dramatic silence is perfectly accented by Rue's lonely despair. And then the yell with her rescue(r) is great~
The ending is also fairly emotionally charged, but it throws me off a bit. It could be read as Duck  'losing' to Rue for Mytho, and smiling because she's alright with that. But still, the emotional charge of that particular scene overpowers the 'ending' given to the video and leaves me almost on a cliffhanger. Maybe it's just me, because in context of the video it's perfectly fine - but I can't separate that scene from the anime's context enough to leave it alone at that collapse and be happy. (although if that was the point, then they were successful)
Also, while the boy's part of "Don't cry out/Cease fire" is a constant part, as is Mytho, the only place I really saw the two meld well together was during the yelling around 2:51-3:10. I know the focus of the video was more on Rue and Duck, but I feel like Mytho could have gotten more interaction. He is paired with them repeatedly and effectively when making points about the girls, but things don't generally seem to match up as well with him by himself as they do with the girls except at that one part. So I would have liked to see a bit more work with that.

Overall Rating: 7/10

Nevermore

All you who love stories, gather round...

 Song: "El Tango de Roxanne" (from the movie 'Moulin Rouge!', originally by The Police) and pieces from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
Lyrics: metrolyrics and The Raven
Theme: An alternate narrative of Princess Tutu
Awards: Best in Show & Best Drama in Anime Vegas 2012 AMV contest
Spoilers: Yes

Review: This video always blows my mind, always entrances me. Every. Time. It's just so fantastically put together, seamlessly combined, and so powerful! I'm not even sure I have recognized all the levels of awesome to this, but I'll try to explain a few of them.
First off, the idea of a rivalry between Fakir and Mytho that Fakir is distraught over is very intriguing. I have seen a number of AMVs that have that kind of a theme, that Fakir is the one who wants Duck, but this video really just pulls it together. And then there's the fact that she seems to be choosing Mytho over Fakir, in front of his face without saying no to Fakir... Also possible to put forth with the show, as seen with the clips, but magnified so much with the song and lyrics!
If you have seen Moulin Rouge!, then this takes on another layer of crazy, because of the relationships of the main characters. In essence, Satine/Duck (an actress/performer) is choosing The Duke/Mytho, but not because she wants to. It is the 'best' choice, a choice made for her by others, even though her deeper feelings are for Christian/Fakir (who is a writer in the movie as well). This could be seen as Drosselmeyer convincing Duck that who she really wants is Mytho, and she should be willing to give her life to him, even if she has other ideas.
The tango was a great piece to use; not simply this particular one, but even just a tango in general. Two people dancing, showing their feelings, fighting them out between each other and themselves... And more than just the same two people. Plenty more. This is all over in Princess Tutu.
And then there's the Raven. Both the poem and in Princess Tutu. Interestingly, the fact that Kraehe, crows, and the Raven himself are kind-of used interchangeably here isn't as big a deal one would think. They are all antagonists of the relationship Fakir is trying to understand and gain with Duck/Tutu, arguing with him and goading him about the whole situation. The ominous quote, "Nevermore," just fits so perfectly. And using classic poetry? That's so very relevant? Even more awesome! (and also just realized that Fakir is writing this - the creator did some wonderful editing at some point to actually put some of the words on the papers he's writing on. More layers~)
There are layers more focused on Rue/Kraehe and Mytho (in all forms), but there are just too many things for me to delve into, if I've even found them all myself. You will want to watch this multiple times, not only for its awesomeness, but to gain new layers of understanding as well. There are so many things that you just can't catch them all in one watching, or even two. This is definitely a video you'll want to keep on hand and watch every now and them, especially when you just want a dose of epicness.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Princess Tutu Presents Let Me Be Your Wings

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Let Me Be Your Wings" & the Reprise (from the movie Thumbelina), sung by Jodi Benson (Thumbelina), Gary Imhoff (Prince Cornelius), and Gino Conforti (Jacquimo)
Lyrics: stlyrics
Theme: Duck & Fakir cast as Thumbelina & Cornelius
Spoilers: Yes

Review: Note 1: I'm a sap. I love this video. It makes me smile so much, and fills my heart with warmth!
Note 2: The lyrics won't be true to all of the video because the video uses bits and pieces from different points in the movie.
I will say that this patching together is part of what makes this video so wonderful and unique, though! We start off with Thumbelina's dedication to her lost love, melancholic and heartfelt. Fakir appropriately 'dies'. Then we skip to Jacquimo trying to help Thumbelina find her love again, but she's in such denial that she has to be convinced. And then Cornelius (Fakir) steps into the light and makes her soooo happy! (and Fakiru shippers get a marriage proposal)
And it doesn't even end there! It continues with them singing to each other, promising to be together and give each other what they have.
I really like the symbolism that Duck gets/discovers her wings with Fakir. It's like with him, she can do anything, whether fly or simply believe. And then, of course, Fakir can conquer even death for her. (in a way)
Of course, some might say that this is casting Fakir as too assuming, powerful, that he doesn't give Duck her due as an individual. But that's looking juuuust a bit too deep. This is a fun movie casting, and any problems with the relationship are with the original movie's characters, not Fakir.
That being said, I would have liked to see a little more working with the Duck/Tutu dynamic. Duck gets her 'wings' by transforming into Tutu, but the footage throughout the video still mixes the two of them interchangeably. While I realize this was probably because of content matching easier by using both, it still would have been cool to see that developed more.
And that all aside, I just have to say how perfect it is for Femio to play Jacquimo!! XD LOVE. IT. You know he fits is so well.
This is a really sweet video that will play to your nostalgia factor if you're familiar with Thumbelina, and fulfill some Fakiru feels.
Oh, and yes, this song will be playing in your head for the rest of the day now. Your welcome. :3

Overall Rating: 9/10

The Walk

Note: Yes, I'm a bit late again... I wrote for a number of hours, and that seems to have aggravated my arm injury... It's doing better now. Hopefully it stays that way~

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "The Walk" by Imogen Heap
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme: Rue/Duck/Mytho/Fakir & 'general angst'
Awards: 2nd place in NuitSongeur's P.T. AMV contest (also known as Night Thoughtful Productions)
Spoilers: Yes

Review: While the video seems to focus on Duck and Rue, there are moments with Fakir and Mytho near the end which are fairly obvious. And if you look hard enough, the boys also have a say in the previous clips, such as during the sword fighting scenes. And then when we get to Kraehe holding the knife above Mytho, "Don't make it harder than it already is," can go for both of them. Kraehe/Rue asking Mytho to quit beings so awful, and Mytho asking Kraehe to stop being so problematic and just do her duty. Actually, that latter part goes both ways... Interesting.
Anyway, the lyrics overall go quite well with the whole dynamics of the main 4 characters. They all have weaknesses made evident throughout the series, and try to blame them on someone, usually Tutu/Duck; even Duck herself does this. Nothing goes according to anyone's plans. Duck ends up being far more involved than she intended, Rue is losing her battle for the Prince, Fakir is having his failures (perceived or not) brought to light, and Mytho is finding out that he can have a say in his life, only to have to battle himself for that right.
Effects-wise, the video's usage is pretty effective. I really like the use of the background rhythm as an emphasis for the effects (although that is how they're supposed to be used; it's done well). There are a few times when it seems a bit overwhelming, or there isn't really enough of a glimpse for the desired effect to happen. Example: 2:22-24 there are some glimpses of what I think are Tutu, simply because of the white, but they're not long enough glimpses to be sure. Also 2:39-42 gets a bit hectic for effective comprehension. (unless the mood was hectic intentionally, which could be. Wouldn't have been my choice, though.) Now I know that the tempo and keeping up with it makes it difficult to get all the clips in that one wants or tries to. There are plenty of other times it works great, but these instances are not them.
Then, at around 4:35, after looking at Mytho and Rue under the tree for a while, the video kind-of looses its power for me. I like the happy ending in the series, of course, but after all the build-up and angst in the video, it feels a bit... anti-climactic. But the rest of the video does some pretty awesome build-up!

Overall Rating: 8/10

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Note: Sorry about missing the past two days. Ended up working more than anticipated, and then an old injury with my arms decided to act up. XP

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Glee cast (originally by Bonnie Tyler)
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme Rue and Mytho, Rue's POV
Awards: 2nd place at Anime Oasis 2011 AMV contest
Spoilers: Yes

Review: I had never heard of this song before watching this video, so I may be somewhat biased in my evaluation. But seriously, I thought the song was made for Rue! I mean - "Once upon a time I was falling in love, / now I'm only falling apart..." Can you get more accurate? (ok, it's possible, but this is still pretty dang awesome!)
First of all, I really like how Mytho is there the entire time, an echo that repeats the same thing over and over, but she always gets different messages from it. Near the beginning, it's like he's telling her to look away while he goes after Tutu, that he doesn't need her anymore. She doesn't know what's going on, and she can't do much about it. Then, he tells her to turn and look at him in his monstrous state, the state she brought him to. She did this to him, and she can't forgive herself for it. (whether that was his intended message or not) And then at the very end, he tells her to turn around, look at him, and see that he's still there. He wants to be there for her, and he always will! He rescues her, and will never leave her alone again. And she finally recognizes that. <3
Then there's Rue. She can't control what's happening, even though she's trying so very hard. She wants to keep Mytho close to her, but he seems to be pulling farther and farther away. So she accepts her inner demon, her more powerful self, in order to try and steal him back. "Now there's only love in the dark." But it doesn't not work. She still can't keep him from thinking constantly about Tutu, from being mentally distant from her. So she ends up in tears, again and again. Then she sees what her love has done to him, and blames herself, letting herself fall into the depths of Despair inside the Raven. But Mytho/Siegfried comes for her, embraces her. She sees that he finally loves her, fully, despite everything.
(ok, maybe I went into a bit of a ramble about the series in general instead of the video itself, but it fits~!)
Ok, back to mechanics. The effects are actually used more frequently than I'd expect, but they're still very successful. The song lends itself to brief bursts of poignancy, which happens a lot with these two. The flashing with white wasn't overused, and the changing of scene/angle fit well with the tempo.
Also, the scenes picked were awesome. I mean, yes, a lot of them are awesome in and of themselves, but they are paired wonderfully with the lyrics, song atmosphere, and in context with surrounding clips. There were no abrupt changes that threw off the groove of the video, and it all fit seamlessly together.
I really love this video, and it's a great tribute to Rue and Mytho, from Rue's POV.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Cosmic Love

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme: Rue/Kraehe & Mytho, focus on Rue/Kraehe
Spoilers: Yes

Review: This song is wonderful, and it really just fits fantastically with this couple!
I love how it emphasizes the fact that Rue loved Mytho enough to follow him anywhere, or take him with her, as was sometimes the case in the first season. Even when he was in the darkness, no matter how deep, she stayed with him. Even if she was scared, she would never leave. This obsession sometimes frequently altered her viewpoint, so she would do awful things to ensure his safety and continuance with her. But it was always for him. (yes, with selfish desires fueling that, but she always was thinking first of him) Now, he doesn't always think of her first; actually quite frequently he doesn't (he focuses on his feelings and then getting a heart more). But she doesn't let that stop her.
The lyrical match-up is pretty good with this video. It's not always emphasized, but when it is, it's done quite well. Ex: "in the dark" = dancing with Raven!Mytho. Also, "but then [your heart] stopped, and I was in the darkness, so darkness I became" = Kraehe holding Mytho hostage, back to his doll-like state. She coos at him to smile once more, but when he can't respond, she accepts that it is probably for the better and embraces what she has turned him into. And then it segues immediately to evil!Mytho accepting a heart sacrifice, switching the perspective to Mytho becoming darkness. (although less willingly) Very nice use there, although the transition is a little abrupt.
Also: "in the shadow of your heart" = The first time, it's a reflection of Kraehe in Mytho's eyes, disappearing into shadows. The second time, she's dancing with the heart shard of Love, literally a shadow of Mytho's heart. Third time is when Mytho's angry and yelling at her in the classroom, only a shadow of his former self in some ways, of what she wanted. The last time is when Mytho's embracing her and telling her to kiss his heart before feeding it to the Raven, her shadow on the floor. (that one's not quite as straightforward, but still there)
Sometimes, it does feel like the creator is fishing for footage, though. What they used isn't bad, but doesn't have the same fluidity with the video that other clips do. Perhaps somewhat during the first chorus of 'ooo's. (Maybe I'm just being picky. :/ )
While I like the ending, I thought it felt a bit abrupt. All the angst and tension, and then suddenly it's all fixed at the end! The clips fit well, but it just felt... a bit rushed into. On closer looking, I do like that the 'wedding' scene was used before the finale's kiss, which slipped my notice for quite a while. But I still feel like it could be a bit smoother.

Overall Rating: 7/10

Blinding

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Blinding" by Florence + The Machine
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme: lies and fairytails; focus on Rue/Kraehe and Tutu
Spoilers: Yes (minor)

Review: This song. I can't believe I never made the connection. But it's so perfect for this series! I love the relationship betwixt the lyrics and both girls, their situations... Rue tries to fool herself about her identity to keep everything the way it's supposed to be, to preserve the fairytale she's used to and wants. Tutu was never really part of the story to begin with, but tries to make a place in the fairytale. Both are delusional and eventually realize that they are just puppets in the story (figuratively and not). Rue recognizes that fairytales won't help her, and she accepts her identity in order to take what she wants. She will no longer deceive herself about trying to keep things the same - she has woken from her reverie and will attack to stake her claims in the broken fairytale. With Tutu, she sees the framework. She begins to understand that the fairytale will work its own strings, regardless of her desires. As she acknowledges this idea, she loses belief in herself or that she can make any changes for herself. The ending of a limp marionette accentuates both the loss of control Tutu feels, and the taking of control Kraehe commands. Both have had their visions of the world changed, and it affects not only their whole bodies, but their actions therein.
Note: I especially love the use of the marionette illustrations from some of the opening sequences! They are used beautifully, effectively, and poignantly.
The effects are also wonderful. Emphasis on points in the tune are aptly placed, and the lyrics emphasized in lettering are fantastic. Not only are the words themselves chosen well, but even the font fits perfectly! I really like the use of sepia, black and white, and color alternating. It's varied enough to be noticeable, and very effective, but not so much as to seem too haphazard or random. Especially balancing with the marionette illustrations, which are more or less monotone to begin with.
Honestly, the biggest disappointment for me is the fact that it's not the entire song. But it ends in such a way that if you didn't already know the song, you wouldn't know there was more to it. Definitely kudos there. But I still want more~

Note: I think this would be a pretty good intro AMV for Princess Tutu if you want to give someone something without tons of major spoilers. This captures the overall tone of the series strikingly well, and I think will create intrigue if nothing else.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Fakir Will Try

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "I'll Try" by Jonatha Brooke (from the movie 'Return to Neverland')
Lyrics: stlyrics
Theme: Fakir and his struggles with himself (and others somewhat)
Spoilers: Yes

Review: I loved this song since I first heard it with Peter Pan 2: Return to Neverland. In fact, since we had the DVD, I went to the special features and played the song over and over and over again while my parents were at work. (though I'm sure they heard it enough too XD) I had kind-of forgotten about it again until this video popped up. And it fits perfectly. The pacing of the song, the smoothness of the clips, the lyrics... Just everything. I'm pretty sure I cried when I first watched this video. If not the first, then at least the second time. Just... YES.
Ok, more analytically, why exactly do I love it so much?
Well, for one thing, the lyrics fit Fakir's situation to a T. He was too good to believe in stupid things like faith or trust, too mature; he knew better. The world is not that simple or kind. But he saw people who still believed. He thought them foolish. Over time, though, that changed. And so did he.
For another thing, the tune of the song goes really well with Princess Tutu as a series. The slower ballad or waltz-type songs I feel lend themselves more to the anime's atmosphere in general than a lot of the faster-pace AMVs. Why, exactly, I'm still figuring out. Perhaps it's the grace of ballet, perhaps it's the deeper emotions I feel with some of them. Either way, it works for me.
Then there's the video editing/matching. I don't even know how to best praise it. If I really need to explain, go watch it again! It's right there! Not only do the lyrics fit, but the scenes chosen illustrate much of it perfectly! And some effects are used frequently, but not overwhelmingly, and to specific purpose! Highlighting who he is thinking about or referring to, what exactly his problem is or isn't... Even the simple (ha) dance scenes fit in great! In series, dancing is his thinking time, his forget-the-world or focus-on-something time. The musings of the chorus fit wonderfully with that. And then there's the final chorus. And then there's the last few words. With a major turning point for Fakir in the clips. I just... *flaps hands* I love this.
About the only reason I think someone might not like this would be because of the style of music. I'm not going to get into people's preferences of styles, or try to assume too much, but even if you don't like the rhythm or tune, you cannot ignore the powerful message the lyrics and clips send out. It resonates beautifully, and it will hit your heart every time you watch it.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Erutan Sally's Song

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Sally's Song" by Danny Elfman; sung/arranged by Erutan (katethegreat19) (originally from the movie 'The Nightmare Before Christmas')
Lyrics: stlyrics
Theme: Duck/Tutu and Mytho (mostly Tutu)
Spoilers: No

Discovery: I love The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Princess Tutu. It was only a matter of time before I found a version of this I liked a lot.

Review: Sally's Song is the perfect one-sided ballad for a character like Princess Tutu/Duck, in terms of forlorn fatalism as well as a moderate waltz-like tempo. However, the while I love the original song, it doesn't quite fit with the atmosphere of Princess Tutu. But this version completely changes that. Erutan's arrangement with ethereal chimes and haunting echos just fits perfectly with this anime. It's beautiful to see them paired so well together!
The editing is great, though. The work with the clips chosen is wonderful. There's not a lot of flashiness or unneeded breaks/blinks. The simplicity of  the song and the clips themselves are left to do the communicating, with effects simply acting as enunciations.
The choices of clips varies in quality. Sometimes, it's really nice to see the lyrics and clips match up. Other times, they just don't mesh all that well. Now if the singing wasn't as obvious or central to the overall tune and tone, I think not aligning them would work better. Or even if the feeling of randomness simply happened less frequently with the current version, I would like it better. As it is, though, the video varied just a bit too much to connect as much with the song as I thought it was capable of. So while very pretty and nice, it didn't resonate with any deep chords.
I do like that the video focused on the first 'season' though (up til episode 13). Especially with the very last bit. That could have gone so many ways, but the clip chosen was very fitting for the atmosphere already established.

Overall Rating: 6/10

Hold Me Now

Gather round, all you who love stories...

Song:  "Hall om Mig" by Nanne Gronvall (English: "Hold Me Now")
Lyrics: lyricstranslate
Theme: Summary of the show (as the creator says)
Awards: Best Action and Best in Show at Anime Boston 2006, Best Free Form at Fanime 2006
Spoilers: Yes

Discovery: Another AMV a friend showed me to get me interested in Princess Tutu. Very, very influential in convincing me to give it a shot. Because it's just that epic.

Review: This has pretty much become the classic 'No really it's awesome!' promo video that people show their friends to get them interested in the show. And there's a reason. Despite having some huge spoilers all over the place (or maybe it's because it does), the video is gripping, and fantastic, and wonderful, and shares enough of the show's craziness to get you intrigued without scaring you away! Albeit, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. Especially if listening to songs in other languages bothers you. (not I, but that's me) But it's generally a good bet if you want to showcase the series.
Right, back to the video itself.
I've not looked up the lyrics before now, and while I will say that the song overall could apply to the series, I don't think that the translation and clips necessarily match up all the time. But what's interesting is that the tempo and lyrical nature are so epic that they go fine with the clips even if you don't know what they're saying! Or despite what sentences they may be forming! (note: nothing bad, and some of the match-ups are really awesome; just generally not as epic as the video itself)
The editing here is fantastical. There are overlaps I didn't know could happen, and as mentioned before, the matching of the tempo with the clips is simply epic~! The video clips keep up with the energy of the song without either one getting repetitive, or feeling overdone.
And otherwise... I'm not really sure what to say. There are plenty of fan cosplay performances using this song, and a number of them are quite good. (especially considering the tempo - ballet is difficult enough when you have a slower tempo!) This video is the root of that. And this video will be, if not amazingtastical for all, at least one of the main sparks of interest for getting into the show for most. That, along with the epic editing skills and catchy tune, make this a true Tutu classic.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Beyond

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Fairyland" by Angelzoom
Lyrics: lyricsmania
Theme: series tribute of sorts; life within a story crumbling around the characters
Awards: Best Romance/Sentimental at Anime Evolution 2007
Spoilers: Yes

1) Discovery:
One of the first Princess Tutu videos I saw, a friend showed it to me to get me interested in the series. I thought it was fantastic even before seeing the show. After dithering around and finally getting to watching it all, it'd been long enough that I'd forgotten the obvious spoilers seen in here. Going back to the video after watching the series, I love the video even more. Each time I watch it, I can't help but smile and be captivated by it.

2) Review:
I love this video a lot. The opening is beautiful. I was worried about the lettering at first, but it's just fanciful enough for a fairytale and still legible. The 'opening' is also brief enough not to encroach on the video as whole. Each time I watch this video, all of it just seems to resonate more and more, as I see the connections everywhere. First of all, the choice of song is perfect. Even if you can't understand all of the words, the tune and suggested subject matter just match up so well. Once you know the lyrics, it's even better! Second of all, the video editing is excellent. Fast-paced, but fluid. The effects aren't overdone, and give just enough pop to emphasize important points and scenes, and there are some pretty important pieces used! But not overused, even when overlapped. Actually, the overlapping is what gave the poignancy to some places. The smoothness of the music really helps even out some of the drama, or at least connect it all more smoothly, while also giving the grandeur due to such a production. I also love the fact that the video uses scenes from the pre-show mini-stories. The artwork from those bits is so lovely and stylized, and it really gets so little attention or use from in videos. In this video, it's a bit hard to see sometimes, but there are pieces used in faded background in a few important places, and then more obviously some other places. I really appreciate their use, and they are used quite well~
I will say that the ending is a tiny bit rushed, but that makes up such a small portion of the actual video that I can easily overlook it. Once Mytho/Siegfried comes to Rue, it's a bit like 'hey just wrapping things up here.' The pacing of the song tapers off a bit too much to support the pace of the clips, even if they're similarly timed as earlier sequences. But if anything, it gives you a bit of time to go through a reality check and remember 'oh, right - that was a single video that was made by a human.' XD
But I also really love how they did the credits. The piano music really fits wonderfully, and having Duck there... Just lovely~

Overall Rating: 9/10
(disclaimer: I'm not sure how good I am at rating things, especially when I haven't set up an overall standard, so ratings may get more critical as I go on with this)

Akt 1: IntroDucktion

Haha, yes, I'm so clever. Now, aren't you curious as to what you're actually delving into?

Gather round, all you who love stories...

I have an intense love for Princess Tutu. Since I do not have many skills of my own to convey that love, I indulge in others' talents. As a result, I have accumulated quite a collection of Princess Tutu videos on Youtube. I have a specific playlist for it, but I want to share all the wonderful videos I have found! So I'm going to try to update at least once a day with a new video and some commentary on it.

That being said, there will undoubtedly be spoilers if you haven't seen the entire series. Since the series is around 10 years old now, though, I don't feel the need to put WARNINGS on every single one of them. Because really, having seen quite a number of Princess Tutu videos, I can count the non-spoilery ones on one hand. I will note them in my posts, of course, so if you wish to share a video that won't completely give everything away, there will be some of those. But mostly it will be for those who already know what has happened, although that's not to say those who don't know won't enjoy the videos. There are quite a few that, even without context, are quite beautiful (or fun or what-have-you). But things carry more meaning when in context, so if you haven't finished, maybe these videos will give you incentive! And then you can go back and enjoy them even more!

The variety of videos I'll be posting range from the deep and heart-rending, to the silly and hilarious. I'll be posting my personal opinion/take on them as I post them, and you can comment on your take in the comments! That'll make it more fun for everyone.
And, of course, don't forget to go to the actual Youtube page and let the original creator know your thoughts, or at least favorite it! They appreciate all feedback, because it shows that the fandom is not dead, and their work is still appreciated.


"May those who accept their fate be granted happiness. May those who defy it be granted glory."

Princess Tutu is created by Ikukoh Itoh, Junichi Sato, and Shogo Koumoto, produced by Hal Film Maker