At the Beginning

All you who love stories, gather round...

Song: "At the Beginning" (from Anastasia) by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx
Lyrics: azlyrics
Theme: Fakir and Duck, Fakiru
Spoilers: Yes

Review: This song has a wonderful theme that is fantastic to see put to such great use as in this video!
At the beginning of the first chorus, there's the desires to continue with life from when Tutu/Duck was stuck in Drosselmeyer's world. "Life is a road that I wanna keep going"; no matter what you say, Drosselmeyer! I think the thing I like best is how beginnings are highlighted, and the journey through them (lyric-wise and with footage); even though they've been through a lot, and things seem to be over, there's so much more yet ahead~ <3 I also really love the bridge verse and the following chorus (about 2:04-55); it goes through their relationship so well, or at least reviews it wonderfully.
Now, I do think that the overlaying was used a bit much. It was all to good effect, and sometimes more powerfully than others, but I think points could have been made simply by putting sequences around each other, not always overtop of one another. Also, while many of the clips were used in excellent points, lyrically and musically, there were a few places that just kind-of felt like filler. (Ex: 1:40-48, 3:04-12, 1:20-27) Not that it was bad filler; but it was filler.
So overall, I really enjoy this video. It's a great song for the couple, and in fact a great song for the series in general! Beginnings, journeys, unexpected turns... And the editing is really nicely used most of the time. I'd recommend this to a fan of the couple, but I'm not sure it'd exactly convince anyone not already on the bandwagon~ :3 (although it'd do a pretty nice go at it)

Overall Rating: 8/10

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

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