Private Tutor to the Duke's Daughter Anime Series Review

Private Tutor to the Duke's Daughter: A Review

Synopsis

Allen, a character of middling magical talent and common lineage, seemed destined for prominence. During his academic career, he became an essential companion to Lydia Leinster, a ducal daughter. However, after failing the court mage exam, he finds himself in a state of quasi-exile. He accepts a position to tutor the troubled daughter of another ducal family in the magical arts.

Uncomfortable Romance

The series' drama and humor frequently revolve around the three female magic students' infatuation with Allen. Tina, Ellie, and Lynne are perpetually envious of one another and practically every other woman near Allen. They all desire a connection akin to the one Allen seemingly shares with his romantic interest, Lydia.

This dynamic is particularly evident in Tina, the duke's daughter whom Allen is tutoring. Much of Tina's personal turmoil centers on her feelings of inadequacy arising from her inability to wield magic, despite possessing substantial mana. When her insecurities manifest and jeopardize her life and the lives of those around her, Allen intervenes to rescue her. He puts himself in harm's way to help her overcome her magical block. Subsequently, Tina becomes determined to win Allen's affection. In her obsession, she even kisses him without his consent in the presence of a witness, hoping to blackmail him into remaining her tutor after his assignment is complete.

The blackmail is problematic, but a more significant issue is that Tina, Ellie, and Lynne are underage girls, while Allen is an adult. They are middle schoolers when they develop their crushes on him, whereas he is nearing graduation from high school. Throughout most of the series, they are high school freshmen while he is a graduate and teacher. They frequently cling to him and attempt to flaunt their bodies whenever possible.

While an unreciprocated crush can be a common trope in storytelling, with characters navigating the complexities of young love and moving on when those feelings aren't returned, this series doesn't seem to be going for the same message. Tina, in particular, is portrayed as a legitimate contender for Allen's heart.

Allen's Role

Allen does little to dissuade the advances of his underage admirers. He appears to encourage them, essentially leading them on as a means of motivating them to work harder, without explicitly making any promises that would be inappropriate. Consequently, the show resembles a questionable harem anime where some of the girls are underage, even though Allen seems to be in a monogamous relationship with Lydia. Whether he is a willing participant in his relationship with Lydia is never clarified.

Formulaic Plot

Apart from the lovelorn drama of the underage trio, the show follows a predictable pattern. Allen encounters a new girl and assists her in overcoming her challenges, usually with the assistance of Tina or Lydia. This, in turn, fosters personal growth in both the damsels in distress and Allen's students.

Relatable Issues

The personal issues that each of the girls face are relatable, though most stem from the pain of failing to meet either the expectations of their family members or the goals they set for themselves. For some, the solution lies in achieving their aspirations through a different path, while for others, it involves adopting an entirely new objective. On the whole, each narrative offers a decent moral lesson about navigating adolescence, recognizing priorities, and pursuing them effectively.

Visuals and Sound

Visually, the anime typically looks adequate during dialogue scenes, with a few exceptions. However, the quality noticeably declines during action sequences. The show deserves credit for attempting to depict dynamic action rather than relying on low-budget animation techniques to minimize complex animation. The music is similarly unremarkable. The soundtrack never stood out, either positively or negatively, so it must have been adequate.

Missed Opportunities

In the end, Private Tutor to the Duke's Daughter revolves heavily around girls crushing on Allen as he helps them resolve their issues. Some interesting potential plot points exist in the background, like the discrimination against commoners and the racism against demi-humans, but the series does little with them. Prince Gerard's hatred of Allen and Caren's inability to lead the student council due to her race are two examples.

With the original novels spanning 21 volumes, there must be something in the story that has captivated readers. However, this quality does not appear to have translated into the anime adaptation.

Grade

Overall: D+

Story: D+

Animation: C-

Art: C-

Music: C

Positives: The personal issues the girls face are relatable.

Negatives: Focuses heavily on an underage trio hitting on an adult, and him leading them on.

Production Information

Director: Nobuyoshi Nagayama

Series Composition: Megumi Shimizu

Music: Kei Haneoka

Original creator: Riku Nanano

Original Character Design: cura

Character Design: Akiko Toyoda

Art Director: Yoshimi Umino

3D Director: Kenji Takakura

Sound Director: Yayoi Tateishi

Director of Photography: Shigenori Toyooka