Pretty Cure, also known as PreCure, is one of the longest-running magical girl series in the world. Since it started in 2004, the franchise has spawned a cross-media empire. In fact, Pretty Cure is one of Japan's top-grossing franchises due to its massive show and toy sales. The franchise spans 19 series and contains over 800 episodes, with the latest series, Delicious Party Pretty Cure, recently hitting screens. This massive size can make it hard to tell where to start with the franchise. Something that is only made worse by its highly-confusing localization history.
However, if you want to dive into the series, here is everything you need to know about Pretty Cure.
What Is Pretty Cure About?
Pretty Cure follows a group of girls who acquire special items that transform them into mighty magical girl warriors called Pretty Cures. These new powers and abilities allow the girls to fight against evil creatures and organizations that threaten the world while also helping them make new friends and improve themselves.
Pretty Cure uses a yearly release model. This means that each Pretty Cure series is self-contained and runs for a year. Once that series and its plot conclude. A new one begins with new characters and a new theme. For instance, 2021's Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure used tropical and ocean motifs, while the recently debuting Delicious Party Pretty Cure is themed around cooking.
This makes it super easy to jump into Pretty Cure, as while it may seem intimidating on paper, you don't need to watch every series. You can simply pick a theme that interests you and watch that series. As each series exists in its own continuity and these continuities only cross over in the totally optional (and rarely localized) cross-over movies. The only change to this format occurred with 2005's Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart and 2008's Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo! which were both direct sequels to the previous series. But since these installments, the franchise has avoided direct sequels.
How Can I Watch Pretty Cure?
Pretty Cure has a complex release history in America, having been offered in many different forms and having several failed localization attempts. In 2006 the infamous 4Kids Entertainment acquired the rights to Futari wa Pretty Cure, the very first Pretty Cure series, intending to dub it. However, the company didn't ever follow through with the dub for unknown reasons. After not using the rights, 4Kids surrendered them back to Toei in 2008.
After this, Toei sold the Futari wa Pretty Cure rights to Ocean Productions, who dubbed it and showed it in Canada and several other territories between 2009 to 2010 under the name Pretty Cure. However, this dub didn't extend beyond this series. At the same time, Toei offered subtitled versions of Futari wa Pretty Cure via IGN's Direct2Drive service. These subtitled episodes would then move to Crunchyroll when Toei offered its Direct2Drive anime via Crunchyroll.
2012's Smile PreCure! and 2013's DokiDoki! PreCure was licensed by Sabin Brands which tried to do for PreCure what it did for Super Sentai by redubbing the series with a tweaked storyline. This series, called Glitter Force and Glitter Force Doki Doki, was released on Netflix. Both series were praised by critics and acquired a vocal fanbase. However, this redub didn't continue beyond these two seasons.
Starting with 2020's Healin' Good Pretty Cure, Crunchyroll has been simulcasting an English subtitled version of the series. Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure got the same treatment during its run. And the currently airing Delicious Party Pretty Cure is also being simulcast. When this simulcasting began, Crunchyroll also acquired subtitled versions of the original Pretty Cure and fan-favorite series Kirakira Pretty Cure a la Mode. However, it currently doesn't have any of the other installments.
