Fakir is one of the main protagonists in Princess Tutu. He is Mytho's roommate and a talented ballet dancer at Gold Crown Academy. He is later revealed to be the great-great-great grandson of Drosselmeyer, and thus inherited the power to affect reality by writing stories.
He was voiced by Takahiro Sakurai in the Japanese version, and Chris Patton in the English version.
History[]
Though he does not know it until late in the series, Fakir is the great-great-great grandson of Drosselmeyer, and thus inherited the power to affect reality by writing stories. When he was a child, he attempted to use it once to save the town from ravens with tragic results; instead, both his parents were killed trying to defend him in the resulting attack. Since then he was afraid to use his power and eventually, he forgot his power altogether.
Drosselmeyer's story The Prince and the Raven included a knight who was to protect the prince and ended up dying, cut in half, by the claws of the raven. Fakir is thought to be the reincarnation of the said knight from the story due to the scar-like birthmark that cuts across his chest, like the wound that ended the knight in the fairy tale. When he found Mytho as a young boy, Fakir decided to take on the role of the knight and be the heartless prince's protector.
Personality[]
Initially, Fakir appears cold, rude and possessive. He speaks brusquely and doesn't care if anyone's feelings are hurt by what he says. Once Duck learns of his inner pain, Fakir finally opens up and shows his gentler side. He also begins to gradually respect Mytho's growing desire to get his heart shards back and allows him to do so, as well as begins to see Duck/Princess Tutu as an ally. However, he's still very set on protecting Mytho in his own way as a knight for a while, as well as has a rather strained relationship with Duck since he's rather slow to open up.
Over time, Fakir develops a growing sense of insecurity due to feeling like a failure of a knight who can't do anything to change the flow of the story. Once he realizes he's inherited Drosselmeyer's ability to make the stories he writes a reality, however, he begins to rethink how he can best help Mytho, as well as Duck. Though he stubbornly keeps believing he should do so as a knight, he gradually begins to accept that perhaps it's with this power that he once tried to forget he even had due to the tragedy it caused him as a child, that he can truly help them in the most efficient way. Personality-wise, though he can still be sarcastic and a little short-tempered, he becomes much kinder in the second half of the series, especially towards Duck, whom he comforts at some key moments.
Appearance[]
Fakir has long dark green hair tied into a low ponytail, olive-colored skin, and dark green eyes. He usually wears his school uniform but at other times he wears clothes that have his shirt sleeves torn. In ballet class, he wears a black shirt covered with another shirt that is dark blue. He also wears black leggings and dark blue socks that cover his legs and black ballet slippers.
Relationships[]
Mytho: Fakir and Karon found Mytho on the streets after the infamous attack of the crows. Fakir would often scold the prince for his reckless rescues of any and every creature in need, and became his protector and consultant, determined that, after the death of his parents, he would let no-one else he cared for die. However, this lead him to being overly controlling towards Mytho, to the point of not allowing him to do anything without letting him know and getting his permission. He also became convinced that he had no need of a heart and that it would be best for him to just stay in his emotionless and docile state, even chiding him whenever he tried to help others, telling him it was "pointless" to do such things. At times, this controlling behavior bordered on abusive, where he would get physical and threatening if Mytho showed any sign of defying him. This gets especially pronounced when Duck, as Princess Tutu, begins returning the shards of his heart to him. However, once Mytho's will to regain his heart grows to the point he openly defies him and explains he feels he needs to regain his remaining emotions, Fakir starts backing off and letting him do what he thinks is best for himself. Later on, their relationship becomes strained once Mytho's starts being taken over by raven's blood as a result of a hear shard he got back being soaked in it, to the point he develops an alter-ago ego dubbed the Prince of the Crows. under this new personality, he begins psychologically abusing Fakir by taunting him over being a failure of a knight who couldn't even sacrifice his life for him like the story projected him to. However, the real Mytho occasionally attempts to regain control of himself, at which points he either becomes scared and begs for his help, or tries to tell him to get away from him for his own safety.
Duck: At first, Duck and her feelings for Mytho were unwanted and annoying in Fakir's eyes, and Princess Tutu was deemed an enemy. Later, while they work together to aid Mytho, they start out with a rather strained relationship due to their differing ideologies and methods of helping Mytho. However, though he can still be sarcastic towards her due to her quirkiness and overly energetic personality, he grows increasingly fond and protective of Duck. Later on, he ends up practically becoming her best friend and closest ally, comforting her in certain times of distress, and possibly even finding himself falling in love with her. By the end of the series, Fakir vows that no matter her form, he will stay with Duck forever.
Rue: Fakir tolerates Rue's relationship with Mytho because he sees nothing from it that will harm the prince. Princess Kraehe, on the other hand, is treated with scorn and referred to as a "filthy crow".
Karon: Gold Crown Town's blacksmith, Karon became Fakir's foster father after the deaths of his parents. He loves his adopted son very much and encouraged his belief that he was the legendary knight reborn. After being possessed by Mytho's heart shard of regret, Karon is overtaken by said emotion and loses his faith in his raising of Fakir. After Princess Tutu draws out the shard, however, Karon's doubts are cleared and he begins to have faith.
Trivia[]
- A fakir or faqir is a Sufi who performs feats of endurance or apparent magic. It has also become a common Urdu, Bengali, and Hindi byword for "beggar". Despite the source of his name, Fakir is not an Arab.
External Links[]
- Fakir on the Princess Tutu Wiki
- Fakir on the Love Interest Wiki