Chief Director Junichi Sato Discusses the Unique Charm of the Anime "Princess Tutu"! "ShibuAni" #58

On ABEMA, "SHIBUYA ANIME BASE" #ShibuAni (read as: ShibuAni) episode #58 was broadcast live from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Friday, August 29, 2025. This time, the guest lineup included Director Junichi Sato and voice actress Miyari Nemoto. Junichi Sato discussed the charm of his renowned work "Princess Tutu," and an interview with Kiyohito Kado, the editor-in-chief of the anime information magazine "Monthly Newtype," which celebrates its 40th anniversary, was also featured.

Episode #58 kicked off with the "ShibuAni Masterpiece Theater" segment, where masterpieces that have left their mark on anime history are discussed. The spotlight this time was on the unique anime "Princess Tutu," which began airing in 2002 and continues to receive enthusiastic support to this day.

The chief director is Junichi Sato, who has helmed many masterpieces such as "Yume no Crayon Oukoku," "Ojamajo Doremi," and "Hugtto! PreCure." He explained the allure of the work, which captivates even adults with its "surprisingly complex and dark worldview for something considered for children" and its fusion of classical music and ballet in a dark fantasy. Sato himself spoke directly about its unique qualities.

The original concept for "Princess Tutu" was created by Ikuko Itoh, who worked as a character designer for the "Sailor Moon" series. Sato recalled, "Since the days of Sailor Moon, I knew that Itoh-san would sketch out works she wanted to do in her spare time. During a meeting at my company where we were asked if there were any original ideas, I suggested considering Itoh-san's concept."

The main themes of this work are "anime × ballet × classical music." Mainly ballet pieces and existing classical music are used, with the performances generally done by orchestra. Sato commented, "Even the storyboards are created in sync with the music. Since movements have particular conventions, I need to make sure I properly communicate things like jumps and hand poses to the animators. You can't just do it haphazardly."

Sato himself was not originally well-versed in classical music or ballet. "Itoh-san has been familiar with classical music since childhood, but I really wasn't at all (laughs). So I did a lot of research for this. It was like solving a puzzle, thinking, 'So this piece has this meaning,' or 'Maybe this would fit this part of the story.' I really started to deepen my knowledge through the production process," he revealed, surprising the studio.

The program also introduced some iconic scenes from "Princess Tutu." Many memorable scenes that blend classical music and animation can be enjoyed in the main episode of "SHIBUYA ANIME BASE."