Princess Tutu: 2.AKT Analysis

Heart Shard

Whereas 1.AKT had an emphasis on Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, 2.AKT looks more to his Swan Lake, as well as pieces by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, from his Pictures at an Exhibition piano suite. Something to note, the episode preview at the end of the prior episode used “No. 28 Scene” from Swan Lake as its background music, and music from Swan Lake, as well as “No. 28 Scene” itself, appear in this AKT.

For 2.AKT, the subtitle is ～Shwanensee: Scène finale～, or “Swan Lake: Finale”. As with the prior AKT, this is the piece (and its ballet) which play during Princess Tutu’s part in this AKT.

Introduction (Princess Tutu)

As with 1.AKT, the prologue uses Kaoru Wada’s “Introduction”.

March (The Nutcracker)

Once again, Drosselmeyer gets “March” from The Nutcracker, during his appearance before Duck at the lake. This time, the instruments have changed, giving a foreboding feel to the tune.

Miniature Overture (The Nutcracker)

Immediately following is “Miniature Overture”, as Duck’s theme music, when Duck decides to become a human girl again, so she can become Princess Tutu and save Mytho.

Music of the Automatica (Coppélia)

Edel appears with a rendition of “Musique des Automates”, or “Music of the Automatica”, from Léo Delibes’s music to the ballet, Coppélia.

Waltz of the Hours (Coppélia)

Another recurring piece, also from Delibes’s Coppélia, is “Valse des Heures”, or “Waltz of the Hours”. And what better fitting piece to play when the town’s centerpiece clock tower strikes the hour?

Miniature Overture (The Nutcracker)

Keeping with her theme, Duck’s monologue about how Mytho may react to the truth about her plays “Miniature Overture” in the background.

The tune returns, or tries to, when Duck attempts to have a conversation with Mytho.

Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle (Pictures at an Exhibition)

The entrance of Anteaterina brings Mussorgsky’s “Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle”, or “Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle”, from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The piece used is actually composer Maurice Ravel’s arrangement of Mussorgsky’s music.

A side-note: Anteaterina’s Japanese name is アリクイ美, or Arikuiko. Arikui is the Japanese word for anteater, and the “ko” is a common suffix for girls names in Japan (such as Hanako, Momoko, Toshiko, and a favorite of many, Saiko). The dub’s name fits precisely, using anteater and the “ina” suffix (Adelina, Catarina, Josephina, Katrina).

Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks (Pictures at an Exhibition)

Duck’s attempts to stop Rue from seeing Anteaterina taking Mytho are met by “Ballet des poussins dans leurs coques”, or “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks”, from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle (Pictures at an Exhibition)

Anterina’s declaration of her intention to take Rue’s spot in the special class is accompanied by Mussorgsky’s “Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle”. This time, it’s from Mussorgsky’s original piece, rather than Ravel’s arrangement.

March (The Nutcracker)

As before, with 1.AKT, the eyecatch uses a piece from Tchaikovsky’s “March”, from The Nutcracker.

Hungarian Dance (Swan Lake)

Anteaterina gives a powerful Pas de Deux performance to the tune of “Danse Hongroise”, or “Hungarian Dance” from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, from the “Grand Divertissement” portion of Act II of Swan Lake.

No. 2 Waltz (Swan Lake)

From Act I, No. 2 of Swan Lake‘s “Waltz”. This piece alone is powerful enough to give Rue and Duck’s Pas de Deux a lot more strength than Anteaterina and Mytho’s did.

It’s more than the music, though. The dance had so much to it, I started out with 16 screenshots for this collage.

No. 28 Scene; No. 29 Finale (Swan Lake)

A combination of Swan Lake, Act III’s No. 28, Scene, and No. 29, Finale, make up the music when Tutu confronts Anteaterina. The combination of pieces fits as they’re typically played together (along with the pieces before them), and the use of both fits this scene due to the length of the confrontation between Anteaterina and Tutu.

Dance of the Reed Pipes (The Nutcracker)

The finale for Duck is Tchaikovsky’s “Danse des mirlitons”, or “Dance of the Mirlitons” (also known as “Dance of the Reed Pipes”), from The Nutcracker.

Panorama (Sleeping Beauty)

The next episode preview brings with it “Panorama”, from Act IV of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty.