Smile PreCure!

Smile PreCure! Glitter Force
Cover of first DVD volume distributed by Marvelous AQL, featuring (from bottom left clockwise) Cure Peace, Cure Beauty, Cure Happy (top center), Cure March, Cure Sunny and Candy (bottom center).
スマイルプリキュア! (Sumairu PuriKyua!)
Genre	Magical girl
Anime television series
Directed by	Takashi Otsuka
Produced by	Atsutoshi Umezawa
Written by	Shōji Yonemura
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Studio	Toei Animation
Original network	TV Asahi
English network	US: Netflix
Original run	February 5, 2012 – January 27, 2013
Episodes	48 (40 dubbed)
Manga
Written by	Izumi Todo
Illustrated by	Futago Kamikita
Published by	Kodansha
Magazine	Nakayoshi
Demographic	Shōjo
Original run	March 2012 – February 2013
Volumes	1
Video game
Smile PreCure! Let's Go! Märchen World
Developer	Namco Bandai Games
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Genre	Minigame
Platform	Nintendo 3DS
Released	August 2, 2012
Anime film
Smile PreCure! The Movie: Big Mismatch in a Picture Book!
Directed by	Narumi Kuroda
Written by	Shoji Yonemura
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	October 27, 2012
Runtime	70 minutes

Smile PreCure! (スマイルプリキュア!, Sumairu PuriKyua!) is a Japanese anime series and the ninth installment in Izumi Todo's Pretty Cure series. Produced by Toei Animation, the series is written by Shōji Yonemura, who is best known as the head writer of Glass Fleet and Kamen Rider Kabuto. The character designs were done by Toshie Kawamura, who previously worked on the character designs for Yes! PreCure 5. The series aired on TV Asahi's ANN network between February 5, 2012 and January 27, 2013, replacing Suite PreCure♪ in its initial timeslot, and is succeeded by Dokidoki! PreCure. A film was released in Japanese theaters on October 27, 2012. The series' main motif is fairy tales.

The series was adapted into English by Saban Brands and was released as a Netflix exclusive outside of Asia and in multiple languages under the title Glitter Force on December 18, 2015.

Plot

The kingdom of Jubiland, known as Märchenland (メルヘンランド, Meruhenrando) in Japan, where various characters from fairy tales reside, is attacked by Pierrot, the evil emperor of the Bad End Kingdom (バッドエンド王国, Baddo Endo Ōkoku). Pierrot intends to steal the Cure Decors and direct the world to have its worst ending. However, Royale, the Queen of Jubliand, uses the last of her energy to seal Pierrot away. When Pierrot's minions try to revive him by harnessing the Bad Energy from the people of Earth, Royale sends the five Cure Decors to Earth and sends the messenger Candy to search for five legendary warriors, known as the Pretty Cure (プリキュア, Puri Kyua)(Glitter Force in the english dub), to retrieve the Decors and fight off the Bad End Kingdom. Emily, a new arrival to the town of Rainbow Hills (Nanairogaoka in Japan), is the first to be recruited by Candy to join the force. Other warriors arise from her schoolmates.

Characters

Main characters

The Pretty Cure (プリキュア, PuriKyua) known as Glitter Force, in english dub, are the legendary warriors that protect the Earth from emissaries of the Bad End Kingdom. They transform themselves by placing Cure Decors into a magical item called the Smile Pact (スマイルパクト, Sumairu Pakuto) and shouting "Pretty Cure, Smile Charge!" (プリキュア、スマイルチャージ！, PuriKyua, Sumairu Chāji!, "Glitter Force Power!") Before every battle, they introduce themselves as "Our five lights will guide us to the future! Sparkle! Smile Pretty Cure!" (５つの光が導く未来！輝け！スマイルプリキュア！, Itsutsu no hikari ga michibiku mirai! Kagayake! Sumairu PuriKyua!) They gain their first upgraded form called Princess Form by using the Princess Candle in episode 23. In the feature film, Cure Happy is the first to attain Ultra Form granted by the Miracle Wing Decor and the Miracle Wing Puff (ミラクル翼パフ, Mirakuru tsubasa pafu). In episode 47, all five members attain this form using the power of the Ultra Cure Decor and the Miracle Jewel.

Miyuki Hoshizora/Emily Anderson (Cure Happy/Glitter Lucky)

Voiced by: Misato Fukuen (Japanese); Laura Bailey (English)

Miyuki Hoshizora (星空 みゆき, Hoshizora Miyuki) known as Emily Anderson in the english dub, is a second-year student at Nanairogaoka Public Middle School. She has an interest in books, especially fairy tales, and has often admitted having crushes on fictional characters. Like most of the lead Cures before her, she is cheerful and optimistic, but also something of a klutz. Her magical girl warrior name is Cure Happy (キュアハッピー, Kyua Happī, Glitter Lucky), where her dark magenta hair becomes lighter in shade and her pigtails grow longer. Her theme color is pink. She can manipulate light energy in this form and can leap much higher than the other girls.

Miyuki introduces herself as "Twinkling, shining, light of the future! Cure Happy!" (キラキラ輝く未来の光！キュアハッピー！, Kirakira kagayaku mirai no hikari! Kyua Happī!) Her introduction in the english dub is "A Fabulous Shimmer, A Glow In Your Heart! I'm Glitter Lucky!"

Akane Hino/Kelsey Ace (Cure Sunny/Glitter Sunny)

Voiced by: Asami Tano (Japanese); Colleen O'Shaughnessey (English)

Akane Hino (日野 あかね, Hino Akane) known as Kelsey Ace , in the english dub, is Miyuki's classmate and a member of the school's volleyball team. She is from Osaka, having moved to Nanairogaoka (Rainbow Hills) before junior high school, and thus speaks in a Kansai dialect (She was not given an equivalent accent in the English dub). Her family runs an okonomiyaki shop named after her, which she often helps out with (This aspect was removed in the English dub). She may be a jokester, but when she has a goal set, she can be very passionate about achieving it. She has a fear for heights and would freak out when she looks down. Her potential as a Pretty Cure awakened when she wanted to pay back Miyuki for her help and protect her. As Cure Sunny (キュアサニー, Kyua Sanī, Glitter Sunny), her dark red hair brightens to orange and grows longer before tying into a bun, and her theme color is orange. She can manipulate fire in this form and gains super strength.

Akane introduces herself as "The brilliant sun, hot-blooded power! Cure Sunny!" (太陽サンサン熱血パワー！キュアサニー！, Taiyō sansan nekketsu pawā! Kyua Sanī!). In the english dub she introduces herself as "When you mess with me, you're playing with fire! I'm Glitter Sunny!"

Yayoi Kise/Lily Parker (Cure Peace/Glitter Peace)

Voiced by: Hisako Kanemoto (Japanese); Alex Cazares (English)

Yayoi Kise (黄瀬 やよい, Kise Yayoi)known as Lily Parker in the english dub, is a classmate who aspires to be a manga artist and is a member of the school's comic club. Though timid on the outside, shy about her work and sometimes prone to crying, She is "loyal, diligent, and headstrong when it comes to things and people she cares about". She's a big fan of superheroes and becomes really excited when something hero-like is brought up. Her potential as a awakened when she stood up to Akaoni (Brute) to protect both her classmates and her pride as an artist. As Cure Peace (キュアピース, Kyua Pīsu, Glitter Peace), her blonde hair brightens and is tied into a wide ponytail, and her theme color is yellow. Her element is lightning.

Yayoi introduces herself as "Sparkling, glittering, rock-paper-scissors♪ Cure Peace!" (ピカピカぴかりんじゃんけんポン♪ キュアピース！, Pikapika pikarin jankenpon♪ Kyua Pīsu!) alternating the sign she throws out each time she transforms. Sometimes the Bad End generals would play along but would always end up losing to her. In the english dub she introduces herself as "Puppies and kittens, the power of Love! I'm Glitter Peace!"

Nao Midorikawa/April Swanson (Cure March/Glitter Spring)

Voiced by: Marina Inoue

April Swanson, known as Nao Midorikawa (緑川 なお, Midorikawa Nao) in Japan, is Emily's classmate and a star member of the school's soccer team. She is straightforward and reliable with a strong sense of justice, though she gets very frustrated when things don't go her way. She takes on a motherly role due to being the eldest child in a big family, and has little interest in girly pursuits. Despite her general confidence, she is very scared of certain things such as bugs, ghosts and heights. As Cure March (キュアマーチ, Kyua Māchi, Glitter Spring), her dark green hair tints to a mint shade and grows longer before gaining two extra pigtails to go along with her ponytail; her theme color is green. She can manipulate wind in this form and gains super speed.

Nao introduces herself as "Intense courage, a straight-up bout! Cure March!" (勇気リンリン直球勝負！キュアマーチ！, Yūki rinrin chokkyū shōbū! Kyua Māchi!)

Reika Aoki/Chloe Rose (Cure Beauty/Glitter Breeze)

Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (Japanese); Kate Higgins (English)

Chloe Rose, known as Reika Aoki (青木 れいか, Aoki Reika) in Japan, is Emily's classmate and April's childhood friend. She is introduced is the student council vice president (later the president in episode 37). She's a member of the school's archery club. She is a serious, elegant and kind-hearted, but has a frightening temper once her patience reaches its limit. As Cure Beauty (キュアビューティ, Kyua Byūti, Glitter Breeze), her dark blue hair becomes a lighter blue and grows longer, is pulled back by the tiara she wears and her theme color is blue. She can manipulate ice in this form and gains enhanced reflex abilities, allowing her to predict the enemy's next move.

Reika introduces herself as "Snowing, falling and gathering, a noble heart! Cure Beauty!" (しんしんと降りつもる清き心！キュアビューティ！, Shinshin to furitsumoru kiyoki kokoro! Kyua Byūti!)

Supporting characters

Several of the characters from the fictional world of Jubliand (Märchenland in the Japanese version).

Candy (キャンディ, Kyandi)

Voiced by: Ikue Ōtani (Japanese); Debi Derryberry (English)

Candy is a female sheep-like fairy (pixie in the English dub) from Märchenland searching for Cure Decor, gaining the assistance of the Pretty Cures. She is quite fashionable and likes to doll herself up. She ends her sentences with "-kuru" and her ears are very long and both curly and yellow, being held with pink bows in a pigtail-like fashion, though she often gets others to fashion them into various styles. She is able to bring forth a light which summons the Jewel Decors, which allows the Cures to perform Rainbow Healing. In final episodes, Candy is assigned to be the new ruler of Märchenland, as she is granted the Miracle Jewel and assumes a new form, Royale Candy (ロイヤルキャンディ, Roiyaru Kyandi).

During Episode 8, Candy once received a Precure form, due to that Miyuki had to transform in Candy's body into Cure Candy (キュアキャンディ, Kyua Kyandi). While Happy's basic finisher, Happy Shower, is kept, Cure Candy can also use her ears as extra hands when attacking enemies. She introduces herself as "Curly, Glittering, light of the future! Cure Candy!" (クルクルきらめく未来の光！キュアキャンディ！, Kurukuru kirameku mirai no hikari! Kyua Kyandi!)

Pop (ポップ, Poppu)

Voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)

Pop is Candy's older brother, a male lion-like fairy (pixie in the English dub). He prides himself on being a man though gets bashful when he is called 'cool', and hates to be called "cute". He alongside Candy were in charge of searching for the five chosen ones to become Pretty Cures. He reunites with Candy after she gather the five cures together, bringing along the Decor Décor. He is capable of using ninjutsu arts including transformation into various forms to assist the Cures in battle. He ends his sentences with "-de gozaru".

Royal Queen (ロイヤルクイーン, Roiyaru Kuīn) / Queen Euphoria

Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto (Japanese); Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English)

The Queen of Märchenland (Jubiland), and the origin of fairies (pixies) who regard her as their mother. When Märchenland was attacked by Pierrot, the Cure Decors that make up her power were stolen whilst she used the remainder of her power to seal Pierrot away. She sends five magical lights to Earth and sends Candy to search for the Pretty Cures in order to recover the Cure Decors and restore her power.

Antagonists

Most of the antagonists reside in the Shadow Realm (Bad End Kingdom in Japanese version). The homeplace of the antagonists of the series, whose residents invaded Märchenland and traveled to Earth in an attempt to give it the "Worst Ending" by collecting Bad Energy. They perform this by absorbing the Bad Energy from people's sorrows, using the energy to fuel the revival of Pierrot.

Pierrot (ピエーロ, Piēro) / Nogo

Voiced by: Tesshō Genda

The main antagonist of the series and the evil emperor of the Bad End Kingdom. According to his subordinates, he was sealed at the beginning of the story with the queen. Whenever his minions collect Bad Energy from humans, Pierrot becomes one step closer to reviving. However, though revived, Pierrot is defeated by the Pretty Cures in their Princess forms with part of him escaping and reforming into an egg that hatches using the Bad Energy that Joker amassed as he offers his own life to resurrect Pierrot in a new form. Pierrot nearly destroyed the world before the Pretty Cure defeat him for good.

Wolfrun (ウルフルン, Urufurun) / Ulric

Voiced by: Tomoyuki Shimura (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)

One of the Bad End Kingdom's Three Commanders, an anthropomorphic grey wolf with white-hair and wearing a leather biker's outfit. Wolfrun's appearance alludes to the wolves portrayed in Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. In Episode 45, it reveals that he, Akaoni and Majorina were citizens from Märchenland who help Joker's plan because they want to escape after being mistreated by other Märchenland denizens, is purified back into his original form Wolrun (ウルルン, Ururun).

Akaoni (アカオーニ, Akaōni) / Brute

Voiced by: Hiroshi Iwasaki (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)

One of the Bad End Kingdom's Three Commanders, based on the oni who appear in Japanese fairy tales. He has red skin and sports a large afro and a club, often ending his sentences with 'oni'. He is eventually purified back to his original form Oninin (オニニン).

Majorina (マジョリーナ, Majorīna) / Brooha

Voiced by: Miina Tominaga (Japanese); Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English)

One of the Bad End Kingdom's Three Commanders, based on the witches of Hansel and Gretel and Snow White. Though short, Majorina is often making various magical inventions to use against the Cures, usually with poor naming sense. She often ends here sentences with 'dawasa'. She is capable of transforming into a younger, more slender form, which she refers to as "Majorina Time", in order to fight against opponents directly. She is eventually purified back to her original form Majorin (マジョリン, Majorin).

Joker (ジョーカー, Jōkā) / Rascal

Voiced by: Yūji Mitsuya

One of Pierrot's subordinates, who is the creator of the Akanbe noses and leads the Three Commanders. His appearance is based off the harlequins in some fairy tales. Vibrant as his clownish appearance, Joker tends to playfully break out in acrobatics and has a bouncy personality, but it is clear that he is a sadistic lover of destruction. He is able to use playing cards to ensnare victims, block attacks and turn his opponents' energy against them. After the three commanders were defeated, Joker takes matters into his own hands by creating the Bad End Pretty Cure to distract the Pretty Cure while he attempts to kill Candy before the Royale Queen intervened. Despite his failed attempt, revealed to be an extension of Pierrot, Joker sacrifices himself to complete Pierrot's revival and his remains are absorbed in the process.

Bad End Pretty Cure (バッドエンドプリキュア, Baddo Endo Purikyua)

Voiced by: Misato Fukuen, Voiced by: Asami Tano, Voiced by: Hisako Kanemoto, Voiced by: Marina Inoue, Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura

Clones created from the Smile Cures by Joker in Episode 46 using Joker's five trap cards. Each of the Bad End Cures are a reflection of the original, but they selfishly seek their own happiness and others' misfortune instead of the happiness of others.

Akanbe (アカンベェ, Akanbee) / Buffoon

Voiced by: Hiro Sasaki

The Akanbe are the series' monster of the week, created when the Akanbe Noses created by Joker enter a random object. They have many different versions in this story. Akanbe literally means the action of "pulling one's eyelid down and sticking out one's tongue".

Movie Characters

Nico (ニコ, Niko)

Voiced by: Megumi Hayashibara

A purple-haired girl who appears in the movie. She comes from a world of picture books, her story being from a book whose pages had been torn out, leaving the story unfinished. The book was picked up by a young Miyuki, who made a promise to draw the ending herself but gave up due to her inability to draw well. This led Nico to build up a resentment towards Miyuki over time, and became persuaded by the Demon Lord of her book to hate her, fuelling his power.

Demon King (魔王, Maō)

Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma

The antagonist in the movie who used Nico's hatred against Miyuki as his power. Once purified, he returns back as his small form.

Media

Anime

See also: List of Smile PreCure! episodes

The 48-episode anime aired on ABC and other ANN stations between February 5, 2012 and January 27, 2013, replacing Suite PreCure♪ in its previous timeslot. The opening theme is "Let's go! Smile PreCure!" (Let’s go!スマイルプリキュア！, Retsu gō! Sumairu Purikyua) by Aya Ikeda. The ending theme used in episodes 1-24 is "Yay! Yay! Yay!" (イェイ！イェイ！イェイ！, Yei! Yei! Yei!) by Hitomi Yoshida, and the ending theme for episodes 25-48 is "Mankai Smile!" (満開＊スマイル！, Mankai Sumairu!, "Full Bloom Smile!") also by Yoshida. All three songs are composed by Hideaki Takatori. A Blu-ray Box Set by Marvelous AQL and TC Entertainment was released on October 26, 2012, in the same fashion as Suite PreCure. Standard DVD releases were also issued. Saban Brands have licensed the series outside of Asia under the name Glitter Force. The English-language version will consist of 40 episodes and began streaming on Netflix from December 18, 2015. The opening theme is "Glitter Force", performed by Blush.

Films

The heroines appear in the Pretty Cure All Stars cross-over movie series, beginning with the fourth entry, Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage: Friends of the Future (プリキュアオールスターズ New Stage みらいのともだち, PuriKyua Ōru Sutāzu Nyū Sutēji: Mirai no Tomodachi). The movie was released in Japanese theatres on March 17, 2012 and on DVD on July 18, 2012. They also appeared in its follow-up, Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 2: Friends of the Heart (プリキュアオールスターズ New Stage 2 こころのともだち, PuriKyua Ōru Sutāzu Nyū Sutēji 2: Kokoro no Tomodachi), which was released on March 16, 2013. A film based on the series, titled Smile PreCure! The Movie: Big Mismatch in a Picture Book! (映画 スマイルプリキュア！ 絵本の中はみんなチグハグ！, Eiga Sumairu Purikyua!: Ehon no Naka wa Minna Chiguhagu!) was released in Japanese theaters on October 27, 2012. It is currently the highest rated Pretty Cure movie to date, debuting at the no.1 spot in the Japanese Box Office and earned a total revenue of ¥193,000,000 (US$2.42 million).

Soundtracks

The music in the anime is composed and arranged by Yasuharu Takanashi, who previously composed the other Pretty Cure series Fresh Pretty Cure!, HeartCatch PreCure! and Suite PreCure. The official soundtrack to the series is divided into two editions, "PreCure Sound Parade!!" and "PreCure Sound Rainbow!!". There are also three vocal albums as well: "Spread out! Smile World!!", "Hey, Everyone Smile!!" and the vocal best album along with the movie's official soundtrack.

Manga

A manga adaptation by Futago Kamikita began serialization in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine in March 2012 and ended in February 2013.

Merchandise

Merchandise of the anime were also issued during the series's initial run including bags, watches, raincoats, etc. Several toys featuring the Cure's transformation devices and weapons were also released by Bandai during the series' airing. Some of the cures were also released as part of Bandai's long running S.H.Figuarts line of collectors figures.

Video game

A video game titled Smile Precure! Let's Go! Märchen World (スマイルプリキュア!　レッツゴー！メルヘンワールド, Sumairu PuriKyua! Rettsu Gō! Meruhenwārudo) was developed by Namco Bandai Games and released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS on August 2, 2012. The game sees the Cures take on the roles of various fairy tales such as Snow White, The Tortoise and the Hare, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel.

External links

• Toei Animation's Smile PreCure! site Template:Ja icon
• ABC's Smile PreCure! site Template:Ja icon
• Glitter Force site Template:En icon
• Smile PreCure! (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia