Beast Of The Night (Book 1: Love and Betrayal)

STAY AWAY FROM THIS MANGA. It pales in comparison to the original anime. They've altered the story significantly. This manga is terrible. The anime, on the other hand, was fantastic; I truly loved it. However, the manga is so abysmal that I felt compelled to come here and write this review as a warning to those considering reading it. I wanted Ahiru to remain human, but not at this cost. I wanted her to end up with Fakir, not Mytho. This manga might appeal to Ahiru x Mytho fans since it features numerous Ahiru x Mytho moments without any Fakir x Ahiru moments. But the story is weak. They've transformed the innocent Edel into a villain. I don't want to elaborate further about this manga as it may involve spoilers. In summary, this manga is dreadful. I detested it.  

<p>

Firstly, I approached this manga with the understanding that it wouldn't be an exact replica of the anime it's based on. You should never expect that from any mini manga series adapted from a long-running anime unless you're prepared for disappointment.  

After watching the anime and discovering there was a manga adaptation, my curiosity was piqued. I decided to read it as its own entity, keeping in mind that there would naturally be changes—whether minor or major plot alterations, or characters from the anime being removed or modified due to the concise nature of the story.  

On its own merits, the *Princess Tutu* manga is actually quite good. It tells a similar story to the anime but in a shorter, more streamlined fashion. While I personally prefer the more dramatic and intricate narrative of the anime, the manga offers a simpler tale. It revolves around a human girl with the secret identity of 'Princess Tutu' and her mission to return heart shards to an emotionless prince, all while a rival magical ballerina princess attempts to thwart her efforts out of fear she'll lose the prince if his heart is fully restored... There's certainly more to the story, but I'll refrain from spoiling it.  

There are some scenes directly adapted from the anime, though with slight tweaks. For instance, Ahiru waking up late only to arrive at class early, Tutu performing a Pas De Deux solo, and a few others that fans of the anime will recognize.  

The story isn't flawless; there are moments akin to "jump cuts" in the manga which disrupt the pacing slightly in a couple of chapters.  

Despite this, I appreciate the fresh take on the characters, offering a different perspective on the anime's story. As a standalone piece, it's a solid read, and I recommend it to those who want a taste of *Princess Tutu* without committing to a nearly 30-episode series.  

If you're looking for something light to enjoy during your downtime, give this manga a try. And if you find yourself enjoying it, be sure to check out the original anime!

Princess Tutu is an absolutely delightful manga. It's adorable, features wonderful characters, and boasts a compelling storyline. It falls into that magical-girl romance shoujo category that many people adore, myself included. It has been quite some time since I last read it, so please excuse me if I'm a bit off on certain details. Yes, there are magical girls, princes, and all the usual elements you'd expect. There isn't much more to elaborate on, as it's a rather brief but charming manga. I highly recommend giving it a try.  

<p>

Since the manga's story differs from the anime's plot, comparing them here would be unfair, particularly as the manga succeeds in standing out on its own. Although predictable, the plot remains enjoyable, and the fairy tale ballet concept makes this manga adaptation appealing to fans of the magical girl genre. The narrative is simple yet sweet, with plenty of charm in Princess Tutu's quest to achieve her dream and rescue her prince. There wasn't a moment when the story felt boring or confusing; however, the limited background information about the prince raised more questions than it answered. Thankfully, this didn't disrupt immersion but instead left a desire for more. In this sense, it mirrors familiar ballet plots where the magic lies in accepting the fantastic elements presented on stage.  

Unfortunately, the manga includes an abundance of panty shots and sexualization of characters, creating some uncomfortable moments that may not appeal to everyone. One character's gimmick, in particular, is unsettling—Mr. Cat, who the director deemed vital to the series, is solely defined by his harassment of young girls with marriage threats. This contrasts sharply with the lighthearted testimonial from Mytho's voice actor at the end of volume 2. Naoki Yanagi's humor and thoughtfulness about the series are quite endearing, though.  

Overall, I enjoyed the journey but don't foresee myself rereading this manga in the future.

"you can't expect it to be exactly like the anime, try viewing it objectively / without comparing the two"  

even without comparing this to the anime, I wouldn't have enjoyed it because:  
1) the pacing is inconsistent and jumpy  
2) the story lacks depth and feels uninspired  
3) there are inappropriate panty shots of underage characters  

but the main reason I feel compelled to warn others about this manga is that, despite altering so much of the original (whole characters, even—Edel, I'm so sorry for what they did to you...), it still contains MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE ANIME. So if you're considering checking out this manga anyway, whether just to say you've read it or to see if it's really as bad as people say, PLEASE do yourself a favor and read it AFTER you've watched the anime.  

the original Princess Tutu isn't perfect, but it's infinitely better than this adaptation and remains one of my favorite animes. But again, even without my "it's not a faithful adaptation of something I love" bias, this manga simply doesn't hold up well on its own and would reveal major plot points of the anime if read first.  

that said, I don't recommend this.

First off, let me say how much I love the anime Princess Tutu. It's touching, stunning, and one of my all-time favorites. This is what led me to purchase the first volume of its manga adaptation. Unfortunately, the manga pales in comparison to the anime. The artwork is truly awful; Ahiru looks like an awkward five-year-old, and Mytho fares no better. The storyline has been butchered, turning into a simplistic, cheesy version (instead of dancing with people, Tutu ends up battling ridiculous foes like giant fish and teddy bears—no, I'm not joking). Important characters from the anime, such as Drosselmeyer, are completely absent. When I bought the first volume, I couldn't get the second, and now I have no plans to acquire it. Do yourself a favor and watch the anime instead. You'll be amazed and won't have to endure this subpar adaptation.<p>

Nah, his head looks elongated and dispoportional.

10 months and yet. . . nothing