Japanese anime television series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Witchy Pretty Cure![1] (魔法つかいプリキュア!, Mahōtsukai Purikyua!, lit. "Magician Pretty Cure"), also known as Maho Girls PreCure!,[2] is a Japanese anime television series by Toei Animation and the thirteenth installment in the Pretty Cure series.[3] The series, directed by Masato Mitsuka and written by Isao Murayama with character design by Emiko Miyamoto,[4] aired on ABC and other ANN television stations between February 2016 and January 2017, succeeding Go! Princess PreCure in its timeslot, and was succeeded by Kirakira Pretty Cure a la Mode. The series' main topic is friendship, while its motifs are magic and jewelry.[5] A sequel series began airing on ABC TV's Animazing!!! programming block on January 12, 2025.
Witchy Pretty Cure! | |
魔法つかいプリキュア! (Mahōtsukai Purikyua!) | |
---|---|
Genre | Magical girl |
Created by | Izumi Todo |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Masato Mitsuka |
Written by | Isao Murayama |
Music by | Hiroshi Takaki |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
Original network | ANN (ABC, TV Asahi) |
Original run | February 7, 2016 – January 29, 2017 |
Episodes | 50 |
Manga | |
Written by | Izumi Todo |
Illustrated by | Futago Kamikita |
Published by | Kodansha |
Magazine | Nakayoshi |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Original run | March 2016 – February 2017 |
Volumes | 2 |
Anime film | |
Witchy Pretty Cure! The Movie: Wonderous! Cure Mofurun! | |
Directed by | Yuta Tanaka |
Written by | Jin Tanaka |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Released | October 29, 2016 |
Runtime | 64 minutes |
Anime television series | |
Witchy Pretty Cure!! ~Mirai Days~ | |
Directed by | Takayuki Hamana |
Written by | Isao Murayama |
Music by | Hiroshi Takaki |
Studio | Toei Animation Studio Deen |
Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
Original network | ANN (ABC, TV Asahi) |
Original run | January 12, 2025 – present |
Episodes | 12 |
When thirteen-year-old Mirai Asahina goes with her teddy bear, Mofurun, to investigate a mysterious object that falls from the sky, she meets the young magician Liko, who is searching for the Linkle Stone Emerald. When servants of Dokurokushe arrive seeking the Emerald, Mirai and Liko gain the power to transform into the legendary magicians Pretty Cure through Mofurun, who comes to life. Afterwards, Mirai enrolls in the Magic School, where they learn how to use magic while fighting the minions of Dokurokushe and Never Ending Chaos.[4]
It's been several years since the defeat of the Never Ending Chaos, as the Witchy Pretty Cure team begins to walk towards their respective futures as Mirai is now a university student in the No Magic Realm alongside Mofurun and Liko now a teacher in the Magic Realm. As both girls met up with each other for the first time in years, both were about to face a new calamity that will shake the future of both realms as a new mysterious enemy makes its move. Now, the Witchy Pretty Cure team must confront the new threat, and also, their past and future.
The Witchy Pretty Cures are legendary magicians who fought against evil and possessed powerful magic, using items called "Linkle Stones" (リンクルストーン, Rinkuru Sutōn). In the modern day, Mirai and Liko inherit these powers and search for the Linkle Stone Emerald. Magicians in the Magic World can cast spells with their wands by saying the phrase "Cure Up RaPaPa!" (キュアップ・ラパパ!, Kyuappu RaPaPa!). Through the power of the Linkle Stones, Mirai and Liko transform into Pretty Cures by holding hands with Mofurun and saying the phrase "Miracle Magical Jewelry" (ミラクル・マジカル・ジュエリーレ, Mirakuru Majikaru Juerīre), and perform purifying attacks with the Linkle Stick (リンクルステッキ, Rinkuru Sutekki). Using the Linkle Stones, they can transform into the Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, and Topaz Styles, each with elemental powers: fire for Ruby, water for Sapphire, and electricity for Topaz. Cure Felice uses the Linkle Smartbook (リンクルスマホン, Rinkuru Sumahon) and the Linkle Stone Emerald to transform by saying the phrase "Felice Fun Fun Flowerle" (フェリーチェ・ファンファン・フラワーレ, Ferīche Fan Fan Furawāre) and attacks with the Flower Echo Wand (フラワーエコーワンド, Furawā Ekō Wando). Later, they receive the Rainbow Carriage (レインボーキャリッジ, Reinbō Kyarijji), which allows them to use more powerful attacks with the Alexandrite Style.
The Dark Magicians (闇の魔法つかい, Yami no Mahō Tsukai) are the main antagonists of the first half of the series, who aim to acquire the Linkle Stone Emerald and allow their leader Dokurokushe to conquer the Magic World and the No Magic World with dark magic, also seeking the Linkle Smartbook after discovering Ha-chan's power. Dokurokushe's subordinates were originally animals who were infused with magic and assumed a humanoid form to act in his stead due to his physical condition.
The Never Ending Chaos (終わりなき混沌, Owarinaki Konton) are the main antagonists of the second half of the series, who aim to unleash chaos upon the world and revive their master Deusmast, which Mother Rapapa sealed within the sun.
The series was first revealed via a trademark filing posted on October 19, 2015,[3] and was publicly announced on November 26, 2015.[5]
Producer Mikio Uezuki stated that "While following the universal themes of love, justice, dreams, and friendship that the Pretty Cure series has so far, we want to make a work that boldly draws its worldview and motifs that go beyond the framework of the series. It is by no means a panacea, and what is important is the contact of the 'heart' between people." Keisuke Naito, producer of Toei Animation also stated, "By joining hands with each other, we connect hearts, hope, and the world I would like to convey it through the world."[14]
Yuta Tanaka stated while promoting the film that Mofurun is a gender-neutral character, with the film's staff designing its Cure form to match its appearance.[15] Several staff for the anime, including Emiko Miyamoto, Ken Ueno,[16][17] Yu Kaminoki,[18] Keisuke Naito, and series director Mitsuka Masato confirmed Mofurun's gender, while Toei and Bandai referred to Mofurun's gender as "Mofurun".[19] Isao Murayama also stated in a separate interview that Mofurun was meant to be a girl, but this was not included due to time constraints.[20]
The sequel was first announced on March 14, 2023 during the franchise's 20th anniversary, as the first sequel series to be released as part of TV Asahi's ANiMAZiNG!!! block.[21][22] The series' air date was later announced on May 28, 2024 along with its title, Witchy Pretty Cure!! ~Mirai Days~.[23] The main cast from the original series will return and reprise their roles.[24][25]
The original series aired on all ANN television stations between February 7, 2016 and January 29, 2017. The series was pitched to licensors at AnimeJapan 2016 under the English name Witchy Pretty Cure.[26] Crunchyroll streamed the series with original Japanese audio and English subtitles.[27]
A sequel anime television series, Witchy Pretty Cure!! Mirai Days (Japanese: 魔法つかいプリキュア!!~Mirai Days~, Hepburn: Mahōtsukai Purikyua! ~Mirai Days~)[a] aired on ABC and TV Asahi's Animazing!!! programming block on January 12, 2025.[28][29] Produced by both Toei Animation and Studio Deen, it is directed by Takayuki Hamana with scripts written by Isao Murayama. Crunchyroll streams the series.[30]
The Witchy Pretty Cure have appeared in the following crossover films: Pretty Cure All Stars: Singing with Everyone♪ Miraculous Magic!, PreCure Dream Stars!, PreCure Super Stars!, and Hugtto! PreCure Futari wa Pretty Cure: All Stars Memories.[31] A film based on the series, titled Witchy Pretty Cure! The Movie: Wonderous! Cure Mofurun (映画 魔法つかいプリキュア! 奇跡の変身!キュアモフルン!, Eiga Mahōtsukai Purikyua!: Kiseki no Henshin! Kyua Mofurun!), including a fully CG animated short titled Cure Miracle and Mofurun's Magic Lesson! (キュアミラクルとモフルンの魔法レッスン!, Kyua Mirakuru to Mofurun no Mahō Ressun!) was released on October 29, 2016.
In the first 21 episodes, the opening theme is "Dokkin♢Mahōtsukai PreCure!" (Dokkin♢魔法つかいプリキュア!, Exciting Maho Girls PreCure!) composed by Aiko Okumura and performed by Rie Kitagawa, who previously performed the ending themes for Go! Princess PreCure, while the ending theme is "Cure Up↑ Ra♡Pa☆Pa!~ Hohoemi ni Naru Mahō ~" (CURE UP↑RA♡PA☆PA!〜ほほえみになる魔法〜, Cure Up↑ Ra♡Pa☆Pa! ~Magic to Make You Smile~) composed by Akifumi Tada and performed by Rie Takahashi and Yui Horie.[32]
From episode 22 onwards, the opening theme is "Dokkin♢Mahōtsukai PreCure! Part 2" (Dokkin♢魔法つかいプリキュア! Part 2, Exciting Maho Girls PreCure! Part 2) performed by Rie Kitagawa and the ending theme is called "Mahō Ara Dōmo!" (魔法アラ・ドーモ!, Magic Âla・Thanks) performed by Rie Takahashi, Yui Horie and Saori Hayami. The music is composed by Hiroshi Takaki, who previously composed the music for DokiDoki! PreCure, HappinessCharge PreCure!, and Go! Princess PreCure. The single was released on March 2, 2016 by Marvelous! featuring the theme songs from the first 21 episodes. The first official soundtrack of the series, titled PreCure♡Miracle☆Sound!! was released on May 25, 2016 along with the vocal album on July 13, 2016 with the title Linkle☆Melodies. The single for the second opening and ending theme was released on August 10, 2016. On November 23, 2016, the second official soundtrack of the series was released, titled PreCure☆Magical♡Sound!!.
For Mirai Days, Rie Kitagawa returned to perform the opening theme, "Dokkin♢Mahōtsukai PreCure! Part 3" (Dokkin♢魔法つかいプリキュア! Part 3, Exciting Maho Girls PreCure! Part 3).[33]
A manga adaptation illustrated by Futago Kamikita began serialization in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine from February 3, 2016.[34]
Bandai released various merchandise during the series including watches, bags, and transformation items.
Witchy PreCure! will also be branded as official Tokyo 2020 mascots as merchandise, along with other well known anime series like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto and Sailor Moon.[35]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.