#Futari wa and Kira kira could not be more different | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

curedigiqueen · 1 year

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So you loved Kira Kira Precure a la Mode, and/or some of the other seasons of the past 10 or so years. So you go to watch the season that started it all, and its probably not what your expecting. And there's a good chance you don't like it. That's fair. The two could not be more different. Now, Kira Kira Precure A la Mode is not a bad magical girl anime. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It has charming characters and creative battles. But is it a good Precure show? It is Futari wa Precure's antithesis. At least as much of an antithesis as it can possibly be while still being a show targeted towards young girls. Kira Kira Precure A La Mode is a colorful show, with 6-8 larger than life characters as they battle against hatred. They fight in confection themed outfits while wearing heels and being unabashedly cutesy. It's main protagonist always saving the day with an energetic "Whip Step Jump" or a "Bright Idea". To be fair, many modern Precure series are more similar to Kira Kira. Girls who are role models. Girls who chase after their dreams with everything they have. Who even without being Precure live extraordinary lives. There is only one Whip, there are many like her. There is no Cure like Black.

Now excuse me while I get really emotional and overdramatic about Futari wa Precure.

Futari wa Precure is not modern Precure, Modern Precure wouldn't really start until Fresh. Splash Star took the first steps, and Precure continues to evolve, but the first seasons of Precure, particularly the first 3 are not the Modern Cure. Futari wa Precure is not a story about Extraordinary girls, doing extraordinary things. It's not loud, nor bright spectacle. A show is not wrong for being these things. But these things are not Futari wa. It is a story about ordinary girls, who live ordinary lives, who fight against eternal forces that seek to destroy the normal things they hold dear, with only each other to count on. There are two sides to Nagisa and Honoka's lives. Their day to day lives, filled with people they love. Takoyaki and Chocolate and Dogs and Lacrosse and a million other simple things. Slice of life filled with unapologetically ordinary vibes. The world they seek to protect. And the things they do to protect it. The lonely brutal battles. The interruptions to their day to day. The threats on those they love. The villains dismissal of their important feelings and things in a battle that feels bigger than them. There are only the two of them. And 2 fairies who, themselves, only have each other, desperate refugees stuck in a world that makes them so tired that they cannot navigate it on their own.

And when I say there's no Cure like Black, I'm not exaggerating. There aren't many sporty lead cures anymore. But even when there were. There was no one like black. Melody, Rouge and Bloom are closest. But even then. Cure Black is not an optimist. She is not confident. Nagisa does not want to be a Cure. She does not want things to change. She bullies her little brother, she argues with her fairy. She is irresponsible and struggles to do things she dislikes. She hates fighting. But she fights anyway. She is not hope. She is courage. Because if she's going to die, she will die fighting. Bitterly.

When I say there hardly any Cures like Black, I mean there are also no Cures like White. We have cures into Science, though even now not many. And when we do, they are mostly into biology. (Doctors, Nurses, Marine Biologists, Botany). The closest we have is Himari, and her way of connecting sweets to science. We do have two cures who want to be astronauts (Tsubomi and Hikaru), but even then their primary interests are Botany and Cryptids respectively. Not that these are bad goals. But they are not White's more nebulous interest in science, that extends beyond the life sciences. Beyond domesticity. She loves learning, pure and simple. Honoka is well off, but gets her hands dirty. She is a woman of science, but takes the supernatural in stride. She is kind, but does things her way. She is graceful and polite, but temperamental and bold. In this way, Rhythm and Egret perhaps resemble her though not each other. Egret shares her independent nature, and mild obliviousness. Rhythm shares her temper and hands-onness. Honoka is hope. But she is not the loud Hope, like so many pinks, burning towards a dream. Burning with the possibilities. She is the quiet hope. The stubborn hope. She is the hope born of sorrow and things that cannot be. The hope that hears "This is the way it is" and says "No".

Cure Black and Cure White are not merciful. They do not redeem their enemies. A general hurts Black's brother and laughs. She kills him in rage. He was desperate. But she was vengeful. The enemies they fight are not all encompassing evil. They are darkness, and a threat that needs to be eliminated. But for many they merely want to survive. But so do Black and White. Cure Black and White fight, pitting the survival of their world against the survival of their enemies. It's them or her, and she chooses her and she loses. Her brother is vengeful and angry, and its him or them. And he chooses them. They lose a friend to this pointless struggle. But they continue on. The battle continues on. Honoka cries and cries for him. Did it have to be this way? It doesn't matter because it is. And there is no one she can talk to aside from Nagisa, and Mipple.

There is no one shouting to cheer on the Precure, no miracle lights. Those wouldn't come until Yes 5! They are merely rumors. A half seen fight. A figure seemingly out of a dream. Are they even real? Their imitators on the playground are more real than they are. Bring more smiles than they do. The universe is more vast than any of them could comprehend. There are entire other worlds with people who laugh and cry.

And there is no setting quite like Futari wa's setting. The setting in Futari wa, which I don't believe is named in show, is based on the Tokyo area. Not a made up city. A real one. Sure their school is fictional, as are the stores they visit. But the amusement park they visit is directly inspired by a real one. Nagisa lives in an Apartment building I believe to be modeled off a real one. They travel busy trains. Honoka's grandmother lived through war and tells stories of bombings. This is the Tokyo of a world not quite unlike our own. And perhaps most notably, this world is melancholic. Not bright.

Nagisa does not have pink hair. She does not have blond hair. She has orange hair. Not bright orange. Orangish brown. Though not one common in Japan, a real color. Honoka has black hair. Some might say blue. Although with its darkness its otherwise indistinguishable. It might as well be black. Shiho has red hair. And later Hikari will have blond. Kirya's will be green, but like Honoka so green it might as well be black. These may not be real hair colors, exactly. But they're close. Their muted. In the same way this is Tokyo but not.

With all of this said, there is still one core tenant Kira Kira holds to. It is still a story about girls, different kinds of girls, protecting the things they love. In Kira Kira, it is sweets. In Futari wa... its sweets.

Sweets. Precure was always about sweets go home.

#precure #futari wa precure #pretty cure #futari wa pretty cure #Futari wa and Kira kira could not be more different #Both good magical girls imo #but very different otherwise #Futari wa may have started the precure franchise #But it also followed Ashita no Nadja and Ojamajo Doremi which were more down to earth and weren't afraid to cover heavier topics #futari wa doesn't really do that but some of the tone definitely followed over

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mahou-furbies · 4 years

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☕️ transformation items in precure!

Overall I’m more tolerant for dumb designs with transformation items than in weapons so most of them get a positive or at least neutral reaction from me. However some still scream “we would never have used a design like this if it wasn’t for the toys”.

Let’s go through them all!

Futari wa Precure

Simple flip-phone like designs for the modern girl in 2004. I think these are alright enough but don’t raise a lot of emotions in me. Not a fan of the mascots transforming into items, like does the phone become a part of their body, that’s just creepy. I’d prefer if it was made clear that the phone is a separate item and the mascots just shrink to be able to fit in it. I prefer the original designs, the upgraded ones look busier.

Uhh... I got nothing on this. I guess it’s nice that the new girl gets an item that’s a bit different but also similar to the ones we already have.

Splash Star

Still got nothing, it’s the same thing again. Good that they started using different ideas from the fourth season onwards. I guess I prefer the Futari Wa ones since these somehow feel too small. Nice light? But let’s just say that while it’s just fine to use phone as a base for the transformation item, there’s quite many of them on this list and in general they are a bit boring when you can’t do anything else with them than press a few buttons in the beginning.

Yes! Precure 5

Simple design but it works, usually black is a good idea. Though it could do with some buttons because now it doesn’t look you can do much anything with this. It’s a nice detail how the henshin starts with the lid of the clock opening and ends with it closing.

Now we’re truly in the 00′s with the flip phones. I like how the henshin starts with the lid opening, and the rose button is cute. But there’s not a lot to say about this one and it’s pretty boring.

My second least favourite Precure transformation item. What is this even supposed to be? Some kind of makeup case? In that case I’d rather have the colous be actual makeup and not buttons. The handle also feels stupid.

Fresh Precure!

This doesn’t even try to pretend it’s not a phone, it even has the number buttons. Actually were the transformation items originally the Cures’ phones? Can they make regular phone calls with this? I’d like to see that. But this is cute enough, I can imagine that a real phone like this could have been popular with little girls. But maybe it could do with some extra detail to look more weird, now it feels a bit too mundane to be a magical girl item.

Heartcatch Precure!

I’m not a huge fan of beauty products in little girls’ shows, but they do make a lot of sense in a transformation sequence where you get to see the characters “apply” the magic themselves, and the fragrance bottles make for some great henshin animation and also fit a flower-themed season. I also like the white-and-gold palette, makes it look more regal than the usual shock pink.

I forgot this one even existed. I really can’t muster any emotion towards it, KiraKira did the compact mirror thing a lot better.

Suite Precure

Why are the colours pink-white-blue-purple and not yellow? I don’t have particularly strong feelings for this one in any direction, I guess on its own it’s a bit boring when it doesn’t resemble any real item I can recognise and you can’t do much else with it than press the button at the bottom, but I also think it’s fine to have an item like that every once a while. However I think the little mascot creatures that are needed to use this thing are uncute and that lowers the overall points.

Smile Precure!

Another makeup item, another chance for the characters to do the transformation themselves. I love the little tup tup! sound effect that comes from this. Otherwise great, but it’s just unacceptable that the canon Cures cover 5 of the coloured bead thingys but we don’t get a red or purple Cure. False marketing I say.

Doki doki! Precure

The mascot-items are back and I’m still not a fan of this living-creature-turns-into-hard-plastic-device thing. It’s a phone, but it’s also too bulky to comfortably feel like one. But I really like how they spell L-O-V-E with the heart, I thought that was creative.

They tried to make Ace all cool and mature and then her transformation item is the most kiddy-looking TOY makeup box ever. Even if the merch is plastic can’d she at least have actual makeup in the henshin? And what’s with the button colours, sure they’re the team colours this time, but the other Cures don’t even use this item.

Happiness Charge Precure!

The idea that the Cures can choose different cards to insert is a super fun one, and it’s also nice that they can use it for more mundane outfit changes outside battle scenes too. The writing around the cards is atrocious though but that’s another story. As for the design of the device itself, I think it’s pretty weak, it’s somehow bulky and not very memorable.

Probably my least favourite item from this bunch. The Piano is yet another unrelated thing that is shoved into HapiCha’s confused world, there is nothing about making music in the themes of the season, or Iona as a character. I hate that this thing is the culmination of Hime and Iona’s character arcs. Also the design looks really cheap and the animation where Iona presses a couple keys to get sounds that don’t even try to hide that this is just a toy for three-year-olds wastes time.

Go! Princess Precure

Another makeup item. At least perfumes fit the princess theme... But Go!Pri has the best henshin scenes in Precure, and the Cures applying the tranformation themselves plays a part in that. I also love how they start the transformation by filling the bottle with their theme colour, and the little twist they do with the key is a nice change from the usual button presses. And like with Heartcatch white and gold makes for a good regal colour palette. I think you could get an actual pretty fragrance bottle for grownups with this design if you did it with glass rather than plastic.

Also there are the keys which I love because of course I’m going to love collectible frilly dress items. They give each transformation and attack something unique and I like the bit where all the keys show up in a chain at the end of the henshin (and thankfully otherwise hidden under frills so you don’t need to draw them every time), and it’s nice to get the lock-and-key theme to the henshin as well. So once again Go!Pri is the best Precure at something and now gets the award for Best Precure Transformation item.

(god flora is so cute in this frame)

Mahou Tsukai Precure!

My bias that ever since I was a kid I’ve never really liked teddy bears comes to play here. The idea that the Cures don’t have a distinct transformation item at all is fun and the jewel theme is nice too, but I’m just filled with negative emotions whenever I see Mofurun... I haven’t seen MahouTsukai outside the henshin scenes so who knows if she’ll turn out to be my favourite character (and not just by process of elimination from me disliking everyone else more)

Not a big fan of this one, is it supposed to be a smartphone, or do they have some kind of smart notebooks in Japan? Either way it doesn’t really fit witches or flower fairies. All the little engravings are pretty and the flowers are cute, but overall this feels just random.

Kira Kira Precure a la Mode

Mixing the attributes the character represents with a magic whisk and then transforming by covering yourself with the whipped cream is a super fun idea, and also one of the few Precure transformations where the girls apply the transformation themselves that is not based on beauty products. Or I guess this is a pocket mirror too but whatever. The item itself is fun and cute enough.

However as those who saw my Ichika fanart a few days ago I really really really don’t like that they have to fiddle with the pathetic tiny q-tip of a whisk, give them one the size of a microphone so they can put some strength into it!

Hugtto! Precure

I love how you can twist the end to make a heart, if I had one of these I’d click it back and forth while sitting at the computer and the hinges would be busted in no time. The grey things at the edge of the screen could be some other colour, now they look a bit like they’re made of rocks. I don’t think this one does anything special but it’s just so cute that I have to love it.

Star Twinkle Precure

These are fun but a bit wasted on a season that has nothing to do with art. But otherwise A+ idea, very active participation from the girls when they draw almost everything in their new look, and it’s not makeup-based. Quill and ink bottle are the most magical writing apparatus so that’s very fitting, and thanks to the space theme we get some stars too so it’s not just the usual hearts. The pink tone is a bit gaudy.

Healin’ Good Precure

And we end on a weaker note with mascot items again. And these are my least favourites since to me they come across as if they have the dead-eyed animals’ decapitated heads sticking out of them. The paws also feel somehow unbalanced, and should not be pink for the blue and yellow items. The bottles feel tacked on too.

I feel that the mascots have been treated a bit better than average in Healin’ Good so I suppose it’s not bad that they get to be involved with the fights too (It’s nice that the item is also used as a weapon) but I would really rethink the design since now I don’t think the different elements go too well together and the result feels unbalanced.

#precure #stuff #Anonymous #responses #ranking #Hapuriainen bitches about children’s cartoons

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rubyjcat · 6 years

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Shuta Sueyoshi / 「秒針 Re:time」”Byoushin Re:time” - English Translation

末吉秀太 – 秒針 Re:time Romaji: Byoushin Re:time Eng Name: Second Hand Re:time

Release date: 2017/10/27 Album: Jack In the Box Language: Japanese

Official Music Video 🕟 iTunes

Source: Info, Kanji & Romaji Japanese Lyrics

Japanese Romaji (modified)

yaburi totta NOTTO no haji tsuzutta negai kawaranaide kawaranaide kono mama de isasete demo tokei no hari wa dandan to toki wo kizami bokura no omoi made kaete shimatta nee

kimi ga tsuita chiisana uso hontou no imi to yasashisa ni kizukenai boku wa yowa sugite chiguhagu ZURE-teku futari no kokoro CHIKUTAKU tokei wa kawarazu susumi

kimi no KAKERA atsumeta GOMI-bako kakae ugokenai aa

sayonara mada saigo ni kureta namida to egao ga mabuta kogashiteru semete byoushin Re:time kimi ga afureta heya ni kagi wo kakete

waraiatte kaita rakugaki ni nomikonda kotoba akikan ni tsumekonda boku no tameiki haa

kirai girai kirai da konna jibun ga KIRA KIRA egao wa mahou no you ni

kimi wo noseta hibi wa POKETTO ni toki wa ugokidasu aa

kono mama tada kokoro wo tsumuide eranda mirai wa mada kasumu you de tokete nijinde iku sora ni kakureta hoshi ni negai wo kakete

sayonara mada saigo ni kureta namida to egao ga mabuta kogashiteru semete byoushin Re:time kimi ga afureta heya ni

kono mama tada kokoro wo tsumuide eranda mirai wa mada kasumu you de tokete nijinde iku sora ni kakureta hoshi ni negai wo kakete

English Translation

Tore out the ends of the notebook the wish I spelled out "Do not change, do not change Let it stay this way" But the clock hands gradually tick with time Until our feelings completely changed, right?

You told a small lie I could not recognize the truth’s meaning and gentleness I am too weak Mismatched two hearts are being out of sync Tick Tock the clock does not progress

The dustbin that accumulated your fragments By holding onto you I can’t move ahh

Goodbyes were still given in the end Your tears and smiles are burning my eyelids At least the second hand Re:time You overflowed the room I locked away

Laughed and drew graffiti Swallowed my words Squeezed out from the empty cans My sigh (hah)

I hate, I hate, I hate myself like this Sparkling, sparkling, your smiling face is like magic

I placed you into my pocket day after day Time will start to move ahh

Just like this, my heart spins The future I chose has yet to appear blurry It is dissolving, and continues flowing I make a wish upon a star hidden in the sky

Goodbyes were still given in the end Your tears and smiles are burning my eyelids At least the second hand Re:time You overflowed the room

Just like this, my heart spins The future I chose has yet to appear blurry It is dissolving, and continues flowing I make a wish upon a star hidden in the sky

Image Ver.

Translation Notes:

Feel free to use it (credit would be appreciated). This is a fanmade, manually translated version. ^.^ Found a mistake? Let me know??

🕐 How fluent are you with Japanese?: Not fluent, though I started attempting to learn Japanese more seriously late this year, such as reading Kanji and radical searching. Resources used were a Kanji handbook, jisho.org, many websites explaining translation, grammar, conjugation, etc., and English translations of other Japanese lyrics. Inspirations include vgperson and of course, AAA :) Ok not absolutely qualified, well I did call it a fanmade translation

🕑 Difficulties?: I made LOTS of edits before finalizing this. Fun fact: I first started this translation on Nov 24, 2017. The parts I had trouble with include:

「tsuzutta negai」 as I initially thought it was “I wished to spell out” but realised tsuzutta “describes” the action of the noun negai (it’s called a relative clause verb or something). It may not always be the case though. A similar case appears with 「atsumeta gomibako」 and 「eranda mirai」. I included “I” in the respective phrases depending on the context.

「kogashiteru」 because I confused it for two different meanings (”yearn for, be in love” / “burn”) that share the same Kanji. It seems like “yearn for” would fit this kind of song better, but the conjugation I found for this was “te-form + iru”, and only kogashite + iru “to burn” fits this conjugation (as ”yearn for” would be kogarete + iru). It could be interpreted as “the images of you burning when I close my eyes (eyelids)”. It does seem to fit in with the previous phrase, showing how that painful memory of saying goodbye is recalled in the present. If it was “yearn for”, then I would translate it as “My/Your/The tears and smiles yearn (for) eyelids” which doesn’t make much sense.

「sayonara mada saigo ni kureta」. I got confused whether mada was positive (still) or negative (not yet) and also wondered if it affected the noun saigo or the verb kureta (or both). This one should be positive because the verb isn’t in negative form. Then there’s always the aspect of lack of pronouns. I would interpret it as “we”, but I ended up with not using pronouns here as it is ambiguous. Instead I pluralized “goodbye” which doesn’t necessaily have to mean “we”.

日本語はまだ話さないよ！

🕒 Why did you do this?: Because I wanted to ^.^ I love AAA and Shuuty is my favourite member of the band. After falling in love hearing this song, I simply wanted to know what he was singing about. ^^ I used to not care very much to learn the meaning of J-lyrics.

🕓 What do you think about Byoushin Re:time?: His voice melts me <3 It’s a beautiful yet simple song with a calm and heartwarming melody and emotive lyrics. Has a bit of a ‘winter feel’ to it (must be the strings). It turned out to be a sad yet hopeful song about coping with a (drama-free) breakup. I like its use of time stopping when dealing with the breakup and starting again when moving on.

秀太くん、美しい歌をくれてありがとうございます。

I am aware that there must be other people to compose, write lyrics and whatnot, but I don’t know who else helped make the song. Thanks avex for publishing?

Lyrics-wise, I like the wordplay parts. xD chiguhagu and CHIKUTAKU, kirai girai and KIRA KIRA, nomikonda and tsumekonda... and perhaps other less obvious ones.

Here’s my retelling of the story:

Two people are in a relationship (henceforth labelled X & Y). Our person, X, wanted their relationship with Y to stay as it is, but with time it was destined to be doomed. It started with a lie from Y meant to be harmless, but X couldn’t see past the “joke” (perhaps our person has low self-esteem). X and Y slowly became distant. Breakup ensues. X threw away the things reminding them of Y. But it’s hard to move on. Recalling the moment when they said goodbye is painful... when X closes their eyes, they can still see Y’s tears and smiles from that day. But all of it is now only of the past - the clock plays these memories over and over again [Re:time]. X locked away the place filled with memories of Y. That place happens to be the clock, so that’s why time has stopped. X is now sad and hates themself in their current state, which contrasts with X recalling how beautiful Y’s smile was. Since they can’t forget about Y just yet, they kept a memento of Y with them (maybe dug up from the trash), day after day... Time will start to move again as the memories become unlocked. X now keeps the memories of Y in their heart for the better instead of bringing about all the negatives. They can still see a future; the world goes on. All the memories are flowing out of the clock. They make a wish... Perhaps time will tell again if X and Y’s relationship really was not meant to be, or if they might actually reunite one day.

🕔 Are you gonna do anything else?: Yes. I translated this with intentions of doing an English cover (English translyrics = WIP). I’m gonna do it because I love the song and I don’t care if no one else has heard of the song !! (ง ≧o≦)ง For other translations, I only plan to translate and cover one more AAA song. Not sure yet about future singles (as there will always be other fans to translate). Regardless, I am not accepting requests.

読みました、ありがとうございます。

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techouspeaks · 7 years

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Precuruary: Smile Precure!

Finishing off my Precure Series Reviews (Least until my full review for Kira Kira next year and my first thoughts on the series of next year.), we get to the big one! Smile Precure! (Glitter Force!)

“The kingdom of Jubiland (メルヘンランド Meruhenrando?, Märchenland), where various characters from fairy tales reside, is attacked by the evil Emperor Nogo, who intends to direct its world to have its unhappy ending, but is stopped when Queen Euphoria uses the last of her energy to seal him away. When Nogo's minions from the Shadow Realm try to revive him by harnessing negative energy from the people of Earth, Euphoria sends the messenger Candy to assemble a team of five magical girls known as the Glitter Force (Smile Pretty Cure). The series follows the formation of the team and the adventures of the girls as they try to fight off their enemies to collect the magical Glitter Charms that will enable them to upgrade their powers and revive Euphoria.”

And now we have the big one! The second Precure series to ever get dubbed. Yeah, second. Futari Wa Precure series actually did have a dub done for Fox Kids and yeah...it wasn’t successful so that’s why until recently, in 2015, we finally get another English dub of Precure.

Out of all the ones though, Smile was the major one everyone wanted to be dubbed? I mean, don’t get me wrong. Smile Precure isn’t bad but I don’t think it’s as strong as say Heartcatch or Go! Princess. Then again, I guess this is better than Doki Doki or Happiness Charge getting a dub. I mean those series are already stupid enough as it is. If they were going to botch the writing a bit and change names, I can’t imagine how even more dumb down they would have made Doki Doki or Happiness Charge.

But still, I think if they really wanted to have a successful series for girls, especially since people are always bitching on how princesses are dainty and such, Go Princess I think would have been the more obvious choice. Then again, at the time, Go! Princess was still in production and you have to work with what you got and was already made.

So how does the actual series hold up? Well, as much as I do agree in terms of characters, Smile Precure has a little bit more creditably compared to Yes! Precure 5. As in, they take characters done before and at least try to do something a little more refreshing. Keyword, try. Not always succeed especially with our lead cure and Cure Sunny, they’re basically Cure Dream and Cure Rogue, but the others aren’t bad.

The series is bright and colorful and a bit wackier, which is why people remember this more but in some ways, I still prefer Yes! Precure 5 over it. I can’t put my finger on it but possibly because the story and concept, Precure 5 has a stronger and basic take. It can still be wacky and over the top, but the narrative is much more flowing and I feel like the characters are a little bit more believable, despite being somewhat of a character troupe. Precure 5 also has a more elegant and somewhat serious vibe, especially with the backgrounds, which I like a bit more than the over bright, colorful tones of Smile.

Put it short, it’s all about preference. If you like more serious and elegant, there’s Precure 5 and if you want a wackier, colorful take, you got Smile! They both have similar concepts but different enough to be it’s own thing and allow people to choose which they prefer.

Now it’s time, what do I think of the villains?

Honestly, up until this series, we had pretty bad villain lackies, except in Fresh Precure. I guess because they’re both interesting in personality and looks, did they actually make some merchandised of a villain, though mostly Wolfun. I guess the furry community of Precure, were just happy to have a furry character despite he’s a villain...?

The major one that most everyone agrees is both awesome and really creepy at the same time is Joker (Rascal in the English dub.). At first, he doesn’t get too much respect of the other lackies, seeing him as mostly mostly another one of them but we find out he’s one of the main honcho. You feel creeped out by him but at the same time, you can’t take you’re eyes off him because he’s unpredictable! You don’t always know if he’s threatening or just being his usual creepy, crazy self and I actually admired that a lot in him.

He’s threatening, he enjoys being evil, he’s dark, he’s kinda mysterious and creepy and yet, sometimes you laugh a little at his antics. He’s just a well rounded villain.

Before Shut and Close came around, Joker was my favorite villain of the Precure franchise and I always wished he was secretly human or better yet, a prince that Cure Happy or even Cure Beauty (as he’s often paired with in fan art) has to save. I mean wouldn’t that been a twist? An unhappy prince or even an unhappy jester of the Queen, turned into an evil clown and the cures had to save him? Sadly and I don’t think I’m spoiling much, he is not and it really disappoints me when you find out who he really is. It’s like, Toei, you finally made an interesting and unique villain and you decide “Hey, lets just give him a really crappy back story and really crappy ending...”

As seen here, Orba isn’t the first interesting villain to get axed off and it was probably done out of similar reasons as Orba. “He’s just too scary!” He’s a freakin villain! Kinda the point! And if you want him to be less scary, why not just make him more human to give audiences less reason to fear him!?

But there is one thing that always makes me smile to giggle and that’s the ending. A clown is basically destroyed by the power of smiles! That always makes me a little gitty. I mean how ironic is that! That’s the most ironic death in the history of animation I bet! He’s destroyed by something that he as a clown is meant to do! Make people smile and laugh but usually ends up doing the exact opposite and scaring the bejeebus out of people instead!

So yeah, the series to me is good. I dunno what it could have done to be better, other than, give Joker a more humanizing ending and yeah...that candle rod toy is...

Toei...Can you be any less obvious??

Ah well! The things that are good about it, including the animation, is pretty much enough. If you’re in a mood for something colorful and kinda out there, this series will do you good. If you want something more serious and stronger in terms of both story and character development, I’d say you could watch this and see if it does that for you, but if you want my opinion, there’s better series for that.

I’m glad we at least did get a dub and if you’re wondering what do I think of the dub? Pretty much the same thing as the original. A lot of people were complaining that it cut too much, but most of the episodes that they did cut, were mostly pointless filler anyway, with SOME exceptions for character development. The changes they made for like the names and such is understandable. Half the time, the reason why I often refer cures by their cure names is because some names are hard to remember. That and in western culture, I dunno if you really could get away with calling another clown character as Joker, especially since how eerily similar he is to Batman’s joker.

This series is aimed at kids. Cuts are often made so kids don’t get too confused and if you disagree with that, okay but keep in mind. Not everyone is like you. If you believe kids don’t get confused easily by culture differences especially, because you wouldn’t be as a kid, that’s more speaking out of personal view point rather than thinking about others as a whole. Not all kids are the same and each kid learns their own way.

Either way, we’ll always have the original series so I wouldn’t get too sore about it and hey, this just means more kids are introduced to Precure in some ways.

I rate Smile Precure a good 5 and a half stars out of 10. Not my most favorite but I’m glad I saw it. If you’re curious about it, see for yourself!

5 1/2 Stars

Level: Good!

#smile precure #precure #pretty cure #glitter force #Futari wa Pretty Cure

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