Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure
Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure[2] (Japanese: ひろがるスカイ!プリキュア, Hepburn: Hirogaru Sukai! Purikyua, "Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure")[lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. It is the twentieth installment in the Pretty Cure franchise, released in commemoration of the franchise's twentieth anniversary.[4] Koji Ogawa serves as the chief director, while Ryunosuke Kingetsu is the head write, Atsushi Saitō is the character designer and Hajime Watanabe is sub character designer.[1] It began airing on all ANN stations in Japan beginning February 5, 2023, succeeding Delicious Party Pretty Cure in its initial timeslot. The series' main theme is "heroism", while it uses the sky as its main motif[4]
Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure | |
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ひろがるスカイ!プリキュア (Hirogaru Sukai! Purikyua) | |
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Genre | Magical girl[1] |
Created by | Izumi Todo |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Koji Ogawa |
Produced by | Takashi Tanaka Rika Tone Takashi Washio Asaki Takahashi |
Written by | Ryunosuke Kingetsu |
Music by | Erika Fukasawa |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Licensed by | |
Original network | ANN |
Original run | February 5, 2023 – present |
Episodes | 10 |
Manga | |
Written by | Izumi Todo |
Illustrated by | Futago Kamikita |
Published by | Kodansha |
Magazine | Nakayoshi |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Original run | March 2023 – present |
Anime film | |
Pretty Cure All Stars F[3] | |
Studio | Toei Animation |
Released | September 15, 2023 |
Plot summary
Sora Harewataru is a resident of a kingdom called Sky Land (スカイランド, Sukai Rando). She decided to go to the main city in Sky Land to watch the celebration of the first birthday of the kingdom's only princess: Elle. However, the evil Underg Empire shows up to abduct Elle. While attempting to stop the Underg Empire, she and Elle accidentally crash-land in Sorashido City (ソラシド市, Sorashido-shi), where they are rescued by Mashiro Nijigaoka, a middle school student, and her grandmother Yoyo. Sora must get Elle back home to her parents with Mashiro's help while defending the human world against the Underg Empire.
Characters
Pretty Cures
- Sora Harewataru (ソラ・ハレワタール, Sora Harewatāru) / Cure Sky (キュアスカイ, Kyua Sukai)[4][1]
- Voiced by: Akira Sekine
- One of the two main protagonists, Sora is a hardworking 14-year-old girl from Sky Land. She always loves to train hard to become just like her hero who saved her when she was young. Sora came to Sorashido City when trying to save Elle from Kabaton, one of the Underg Empire's generals and moved into Mashiro's house as a guest. With the Sky Tone's power, she can transform into Cure Sky, the Pretty Cure of the sky. Her theme color is blue.
- Mashiro Nijigaoka (虹ヶ丘ましろ, Nijigaoka Mashiro) / Cure Prism (キュアプリズム, Kyua Purizumu)[4][1]
- Voiced by: Ai Kakuma
- One of the two main protagonists, Mashiro is a 14-year-old girl from Sorashido City. She's a Half-Skylandian, whose grandmother, Yoyo, once lived in Skyland until she moved to the Human World. She currently lives with her as her parents were often busy working overseas. She has some knowledge about cooking and nature. Her nickname is "Mashiron" (ましろん). With the Sky Tone's power, she can transform into Cure Prism, the Pretty Cure of light. Her theme color is white.
- Tsubasa Yuunagi (夕凪ツバサ, Yuunagi Tsubasa) / Cure Wing (キュアウィング, Kyua Uingu)[5][6]
- Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[7][8]
- Tsubasa is a PuniBird who originated from Sky Land similar to Sora. He came into Sorashido City during the phenomenon when the dimensional borders between worlds opens during a storm, resulting in him falling into the human world. He was taken in by Yoyo, who is currently taking care of him and residing in Mashiro's house. Due to his inability to fly, many of his peers belittle him on his disabilities. He is able to take the form of a 12-year-old human boy. With the Sky Tone's power, he can transform into Cure Wing, the Pretty Cure of wings, and the first male Pretty Cure in the franchise to be part of the main lineup. His theme color is orange.
- Cure Butterfly (キュアバタフライ, Kyua Batafurai)
- Voiced by: Ayaka Nanase[7]
- An 18-year old girl, she is the first adult Pretty Cure in the franchise to be part of the main lineup. Her theme color is pink.
Sky Land
- Elle (エル, Eru)[4][1]
- Voiced by: Aoi Koga
- Elle is the one-year-old princess of Sky Land who came to Sorashido City with Sora when she is kidnapped by Kabaton, one of the Underg Empire's generals. She can create Sky Tones for the cures to transform. Her catchphrase is "Eru~!" (えるぅ~!).
- Sky Land King (スカイランド国王, Sukai Rando Kokuō) and Sky Land Queen (スカイランド王妃, Sukai Rando Ōhi)
- Voiced by: Kazuya Ichijō (King) and Konami Yoshida (Queen)
- The Sky Land King and Queen are Elle's parents who rule Sky Land.
Underg Empire
The Underg Empire (アンダーグ帝国, Andāgu Teikoku) are the series' main antagonists. Their goal is kidnapping Elle due to her ability to create Sky Tones but their true motives remain a mystery.
Generals
Monsters
- Ranborg (ランボーグ, Ranbōgu)
- Voiced by: Kōichi Sōma
- Ranborgs are the main monsters of the series summoned by the Underg generals.
Cures' family members
- Yoyo Nijigaoka (虹ヶ丘 ヨヨ, Nijigaoka Yoyo)
- Voiced by: Tomoko Shiota
- Mashiro's grandmother, Yoyo is a Skylandian Scholar who settled into Sorashido City as part of her research on the Human World.
- Akira Nijigaoka (虹ヶ丘 あきら, Nijigaoka Akira) and Mahiru Nijigaoka (虹ヶ丘 まひる, Nijigaoka Mahiru)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Takahashi (Akira) and Yuka Keichō (Mahiru)
- Akira and Mahiru are Mashiro's parents who are currently working overseas.
- Kakeru (カケル)
- Voiced by: Katsumi Toriumi
- Tsubasa's father.
Sorashido City Residents
- Ageha Hijiri (聖 あげは, Hijiri Ageha)
- Voiced by: Ayaka Nanase[11]
- Hijiri is Mashiro's childhood friend, an 18-year old girl living in Sorashido City who dreams to become a teacher. She is kindhearted and sisterly, and has a soft spot for younger children. She is also one of the few people who knew both Sora and Mashiro's identities as Pretty Cures.
- Tsumugi Nakata (仲田つむぎ, Nakata Tsumugi), Rui Yoshii (吉井るい, Yoshī Ruī), and Asahi Karuizawa (軽井沢あさひ, Karuizawa Asahi)
- Voiced by: Haruka Shamoto (Tsumugi), Ai Ishikawa (Rui), Shotaro Uzawa (Asahi)
- Tsumugi, Rui, and Asahi are students in Mashiro's school.
Development
The series' trademark was first confirmed by Toei back in November 2022 with an official website launching on the same date.[12] Information for the series is later updated on January 8, 2023, revealing the main characters, with three of them confirmed to be voiced as well as the series' setting and theme.[13][1]
Takashi Tanaka of the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation said the theme of "heroism" was to honor the series' twentieth anniversary, saying that: "However, this time, we dared to choose "hero" as the theme. This is the 20th installment of the Pretty Cure series, which started with Futari wa Pretty Cure. In the history of Pretty Cure, which evolves and expands in various ways, what I have continued to draw in, is the appearance of the girls who have carved out a difficult path with their own hands and stood at the forefront to encourage everyone. I chose this theme with that thought in mind."[13] He also said the following:
The main character, Sora, is a girl who yearns to be a hero. With the desire to become a hero, she pushes forward beyond the boundless blue sky. She will grow while discovering a "hero". Through her, I would like to carefully draw a Pretty Cure-like hero image. To dream, to never give up, to forgive others, to believe in friends, to be positive. Working hard, and sharing that moment...[13]
Series creator and producer Takashi Washio also stated in an interview the following regarding the series:
The Pretty Cure series, which started with Futari wa Pretty Cure in 2004, has reached its 20th work! I think it was only thanks to everyone's support that I was able to do it.Thank you very much.Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now, Pretty Cure has been crowned with many themes and motifs so far, but this work is the theme is a "hero", and "sky" is the motif. The endless "sky", a magnificent world that is clear and blue and full of transparency. The main character of this work is the character that embodies the "sky" that you imagine."[13]
The voice actors for the main characters commented on their roles in the series. Akira Sekine said "I will cherish this baton that I received from all the seniors who were involved in Pretty Cure, and I will do my best to spread courage and energy to everyone together with Sora! I will!" Ai Kakuma, who voiced Rabirin in Healin' Good Pretty Cure, said "I was in charge of voicing Rabirin's for Healin' Good Pretty Cure for a year, but all the time and experience I had with Pretty Cure became my treasure." Aoi Koga, notable for voicing Paimon in Genshin Impact, said on her role in the series "Even before I became a voice actor, it was my dream and goal to appear in the Pretty Cure series, so I was incredibly happy. I couldn't calm down, thinking, 'Isn't this still a dream?' I was grateful to be able to be involved in the work I longed for, and to be able to live in the world as Elle-chan, and face each episode with care. I think so!"[13] On February 2, the voice actors for both Cure Wing and Cure Butterfly were revealed in an official press release. Cure Butterfly was revealed to be the first adult-aged Pretty Cure while Cure Wing is the first time a male Pretty Cure is part of the main lineup.[14] Washio stated in that press conference, when asked by a reporter, "I have said before that once the era passes, Pretty Cure will not be limited to women, but I wonder if this is the right time. This year is also the 20th anniversary year, so I would like to ask for everyone's cooperation. However, I decided that a male Pretty Cure should appear.""[14]
Media
Anime
Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure officially airs on all ANN stations in Japan beginning February 5, 2023. Ami Ishii performs the series' opening theme "Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure (Hero Girls)" while Chihaya Yoshitake performs the ending theme "Hirogarhythm" (ヒロガリズム, Hirogarizumu). Erika Fukasawa composes the music for the series. Toei Animation Inc. licensed the series outside Japan, with Crunchyroll simulcasting the series in North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Brazil, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand the same day it premiered.[2]
Film
A theatrical film titled Pretty Cure All Stars F (Japanese: プリキュアオールスターズF(エフ), Hepburn: Purikyua Ōrusutāzu Efu) will premiere in Japanese theaters on September 15, 2023.[15] Part of the Pretty Cure All Stars series of films, commemorating the franchise's 20th anniversary, it will feature all Pretty Cure teams from all 20 series.
Merchandise
Bandai Namco Holdings (under the Bandai branding) handles merchandising for the series, which all includes toys and also related goods. A spinoff of the Pretty Holic line titled Pretty Holic Stationary, will also be released in the same date the anime's airing.[16]
Manga
A manga adaption series by the Futago Kamikita twins began serialization in the March 2023 issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine.
Notes
- "Boundless Sky! Pretty Cure". Hirogaru is Japanese for "Expanding" or "Boundless", but also a pun of the word "Hero Girls", which describes the Pretty Cure franchise as a whole.
References
- "Hirogaru Sky! Precure Anime Unveils Story, Cast, Staff, Theme Songs, February 5 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- Cardine, Kyle (2 February 2023). "Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure Anime Joins the Crunchyroll Simulcast Lineup". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-02/toei-reveals-precure-all-stars-f-anime-film-starring-all-77-precure-magical-girls/.195532
- "「ひろがるスカイ!プリキュア」テーマはヒーロー!関根明良&加隈亜衣がプリキュアに". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- "あらすじ". Retrieved March 25, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "TVアニメ『ひろがるスカイ!プリキュア』3人目のプリキュア・キュアウィング、変身の全貌は4月2日(日)放送回で明らかに! 声優・村瀬歩さんからコメントも到着". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Mateo, Alex (1 February 2023). "Hirogaru Sky! Precure Anime Casts Ayumu Murase, Ayaka Nanase". Anime News Network. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- "村瀬歩さんのコメント到着!". Retrieved March 26, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "あらすじ". Retrieved February 4, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "カバトン". Retrieved February 12, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "聖あげは". Retrieved March 12, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Toei Animation Unveils Hirogaru Sky! Precure as Franchise's 20th Entry". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- "プリキュア:第20弾「ひろがるスカイ!プリキュア」 ヒロインではなくあえてヒーロー 声優、スタッフ発表". Mantan Web (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- "キュアウィングは男子プリキュア!CVは村瀬歩、"新成人プリキュア"に七瀬彩夏". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/515019
- "Pretty Holicシリーズに、新たにステーショナリーが登場!". バンダイ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Official website (Asahi)
- Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia