Characters: Ahiru/Tutu/Duck

(Note: Spoilers for Episode One)

 

Ahiru

Ahiru is a young girl who boards at a school for the arts in Kinkan town.  She is a ballet student who, because of her bright personality, is gifted with presence and spirit, but lacks general grace and technique; therefore she never seems to advance in her studies and occasionally falls behind the other students.  Her friends find her awkward, dreamy, and a bit unthinking, but are charmed by her good-hearted nature, resilience and continuous high spirits.  

In traditional Magical Girl-style anime, Ahiru is a young girl who is at an awkward stage of life between a child and a young woman.  She is naive, but good-hearted and sincere. Her story begins when she becomes newly interested in love and in questioning and exploring life beyond what has always been safe and familiar.  In her desire to help other people, Ahiru discovers how complicated kindness can be when you don't know everything about the situation you are getting into or the people you are trying to help.  

 

 

 

 

Princess Tutu

Princess Tutu is the "magical" version of Ahiru.  Ahiru turns into Tutu when Drosselmeyer commentates on the story; it is unclear if Ahiru has any real control over this transformation.  The purpose of Tutu is to restore the Prince's broken heart by finding the pieces (or feelings), coaxing them away from those they have become attached to, and restoring them to the Prince. 

Tutu is older, more graceful, more beautiful, and more powerful than Ahiru.  Tutu is an idealized projection of everything Ahiru wants to be, but they are not different people.  The core qualities that exist in Tutu--kindness, patience, understanding, sensitivity, curiosity--are all traits Ahiru possesses. Tutu, however, is the epic-version of Ahiru.  She is the idealized, flawless counterpart, devoid of Ahiru's weaknesses, flaws, and insecurities. This is why Tutu necessarily disappears when Ahiru suddenly remembers her "true self" and quacks.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duck

In Japanese, the word "ahiru" means "duck" and in reality, a duck is what Ahiru is. The pendant Ahiru wears around her neck changes her into both a girl and Princess Tutu, but essentially, Ahiru was born a duck and will always be a duck.  

It is interesting how accepting Ahiru is of her true nature. Unlike some other magical girl heroines, Ahiru is aware of herself and her potential at her best and her worst, and she uses everything available to her to her advantage.  Thus, Ahiru will frequently turn into a duck on purpose in order to accomplish what she might not be able to do as either a girl or Princess Tutu. 

 

 

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