Princess Tutu is based on a story within a story. It begins by telling the story of a storyteller who died, leaving his tale of a battle between a prince and an evil crow unfinished. Frustrated at their battle being left unfinished, the prince and the crow flew out of the story--and the prince sealed the crow away using his heart. But the story didn't end there. What happened to the prince without a heart, the crow who was sealed away, and the storyteller who died before finishing his story? Each one of them has a part in the town and story of Princess Tutu.

Ahiru lives in an enchanted town where the story of the prince and the crow is not a mere fairy tale, but the only reality they've ever known. Due to the storyteller's desire to see a great story, Ahiru has been brought in the story--changed from a duck to the girl named Ahiru (which, oh so coincidentally, means duck in Japanese), with the ability to transform into Princess Tutu. In this guise she can gracefully dance as Ahiru never could, and she can fulfill her desire of helping the prince without a heart.

Ahiru is no ordinary girl, nor is the town she lives in a simple little place. For starters, Ahiru has a cat for a ballet instructor, who threatens the students with marriage (to him!) if they step out of line. The entire town is littered with those who seem to be under some kind of enchantment--or curse. Ahiru herself first seems to be a normal girl--she's an awkward, gangly student, she has two squabbly best friends, Pike and Ririe, and a crush on the handsome but silent Mute (also spelled Mythos), who is also one of the best dancers in the school. But neither Mute nor Ahiru--nor anyone in this town--are exactly who they appear to be. [Cross-posted from the Review section. So sue me.]

Still interested? To get a better feel for the anime, read on to the detailed summary of episode one!
Hopefully, after you read it, you'll be interested enough to pick up the first DVD from ADV.
Believe me, it's worth it!