Part of Your World

All you who love stories, gather round....

Song: "Part of Your World" (The Little Mermaid) by Disney
Lyrics: stlyrics
Theme: Duck wishing to be a girl
 Spoilers: Yes

Review: This is a great concept, and albeit I've not seen a lot of adaptions of this song, I think this one was rather well done! It's cute and sincere, and the visual and audio work together well.
The point of view of Duck mainly as a duck is nice to see. Erm, maybe that sounds weird. It's usual for everyone to accept that she's a duck, but it's not usual to see that as a focus, or at least done nicely as here. I mean... *sigh* Her longing to be a human girl, whether Tutu or not, is really palpable in this video. And it's so her. It's beautiful~ and kind-of sad at the same time ;w;
I also really like how the emphasis is on dancing itself, on simply being a human to dance, to be a part of a group. While Mytho is a main part of that, he's not the focus. He is a part. And she gets so close! The pendant, everything... the video clips work very well with matching the emotions and inquisitive nature of the words.
Especially as you near the end of the first song, around 1:40-ish. The hopelessness... ;_; It's very well partnered. It grips your heart, as it should.
Then the transition to the second song is done really well! Both clip-wise and audio-wise. And it's gorgeous how Fakir is the one who shows her that she has become part of that world, she has earned the right to be human, to have friends like him and dance. And that he will make sure she stays part of the world, his world.
I will say that as it ended, the video clips of Duck & Fakir got a bit much... I don't know - they were good to use for the sentiment, but they were piled a bit too close together, too quickly, and it felt like they were just putting them in for the fact that Duck & Fakir were shown together. While that's not bad, for one thing the scenes used are very poignant, and they lose a bit of that when just put together. Secondly, they didn't have the same effort behind them as the rest of the video. So on its own, the end may have been an average montage-type thing, but with everything else before it, it's just rather disappointing and a bit confusing.
I will say it is a cute video. It's not heart-wrenching or anything, but it does touch you in a delicate way that makes you feel warm afterwards. I really like the majority of the video, and it's fun to watch and make the comparison. But the ending throws things off a bit.

Overall Rating: 7/10

[A/S] Pas de Deux

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Lune Noir" by Sonitus Vir
Theme: Unknown|N/A
Spoilers: Yes (mild; out of context)
Awards: Honorable Mention in the Anime America's AMV Contest 2012

Review: I think this is an interesting video! I like it, but there are some parts that just throw me off too much to really allow a full endorsement/comprehension of the video. That, and there's no overall theme. While it looks pretty and fun, the lack of a theme or even overarching focus puts me off.
The beginning is great and attention-getting. I do like the sudden throw-you-into-the-fray quality of the music, and the usage of the prologue story elements is great. From about :25-:45, though, it seems a bit hectic. The timing with the music is pretty darn close, but the utter frequency and craziness of it feels a little much. I could probably handle it better if it were the only piece like that, but then it comes again at 1:45-2:05 ish. That is crazy random throw-this-together-ness. Timing was there... somewhere... The music was a similar pace as the others, but the clips just went aaaall over the place. *sigh* Maybe I'm being finicky since it is such a 'small' part, but the insane energy imparted in those little bits affects the whole video. I mean at 1:00-05, it was crazy music, but the theme of Kraehe and Mytho was still being carried. It was a bit hard to distinguish at first, but it was there.
The song itself is good, though, and the rest of the video is fantastic! Far be it to say that I didn't like the music so that's why I don't like the editing at those particular parts - it was just that it threw me off quite a bit. I mean the video started as seemingly a dance tribute in general, but then.... it just throws everything at you. Well, almost everything. Sort of. It's hard to tell, because of the speed of changes and lack of context.
But it's pretty~ :3
Back to the slower portions: they are gorgeous. Part of it is the fact that the clips were used more coherently together and with the music. Part of it may be that it was a little slower. Mostly, I think it was because they had themes! Or at least topics. Rue, Duck/Tutu, Kraehe/Mytho... Being able to single out something that unified the parts, even just to themselves, was great. Perhaps it's in contrast to the chaos of the faster parts that I also love these parts so much...
Overall, it's a crazy, random video that is good to watch for most parts, but don't expect to come away with much except a general: "That was really cool! .... But what was it?" I like it, but I still can't explain exactly why or what about it. And then there are the irritating parts. But I still will watch it repeatedly~ XD

Overall Rating: 7/10

HOWL

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Howl" by Florence + The Machine
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme: Rue/Mytho
Spoilers: Yes

Review: Florence + The Machine is generally an awesome choice for a PT AMV. This video is no exception~
The symbolism of searching for a beating heart plays wonderfully into Rue and Mytho's relationship, although also almost ironically. Blood, chasing, needing... all fantastic thematic overlays. And the constant switching of lyrical matching between Rue and Mytho is really interesting, showing that they both are a part of this overpowering need for each other in their times.
That said, the constant switch also felt a bit confusing at times. Maybe I have a personal bias because I think there are more clips that seem to focus on Rue's POV so I feel like changing that POV should be more obvious or consistent, but I can also see where I might be overanalyzing it. (Perhaps I'm just partial to Rue. XD' )
One thing I cannot simply pass off though is the crazy ambiance/light/glowing. I understand the black and white theme, some flashes or a little glare on occasion for emphasis. But the overwhelming usage of it just gets distracting for me.
Alright, back to a more thematic part. I really like "Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers/ Starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters." The clips used were mostly pertinent, and certainly effective. I would have liked to see a bit more played with that, though, perhaps with Rue's struggles. Which could have happened, if more verses later were used.
That's my final 'mreh' point: this doesn't use the full song! But the creator does acknowledge this and it's actually one of their first longer videos, so I feel I should cut a bit of a break there. despite frustration...
So overall this is a nice video, with a great theme/song choice. I just would have liked it to be longer, and gotten rid of the overarching glare effect.

Overall Rating: 7/10

Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll" by Abney Park
Lyrics: lyricsmania
Theme: Princess Tutu as a creation of Drosselmeyer's
Spoilers: No (although strange context if you don't know it)

Review: I'd not heard this song before, and it struck me as a very appropriate piece for Princess Tutu herself! (and really many of the characters, but especially her) Drosselmeyer would totally give the "I am the Creator" speech near the end of the song, and enjoy every second of it. The piece for his monologue was nicely chosen~
The use of the pieces with Tutu inside Drosselmeyer's world are very aptly used, as are the scenes with her solo pas de deux. I love the alignment of "Thank God the curtains fall" and Tutu's trembling leg en pointe, showing that she may not entirely be the tireless wonder he's created her to be.
That said, I can't help but be rather distracted by the intense amount of shine/glare/glow in every single clip. Sometimes it's hard to even tell what clip is being shown. Now if this is an effects choice or simply awkward quality video, I don't know, but the video would be better without it.
Other than that, the one place where Mytho is dancing with Duck in the practice room near the end kind-of confuses me as well. It just feels like filler, and if that was needed then there are plenty of other possible choices that focus on Tutu, such as during her numerous heart shard dances.
I do quite like the ending, though: just when you think she's finally broken free, nope! Right back into Drosselmeyer's clutches. Nicely dramatic~

Overall Rating: 7/10

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

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