Fresh Pretty Cure! (フレッシュプリキュア!), also known as Fresh PreCure!, is a Japanese magical girl anime series and the sixth in the Pretty Cure metaseries by Izumi Todo, featuring the fourth generation of Cures. The series was produced by Toei Animation, directed by Junji Shimizu (Jigoku Sensei Nube The Movie) and written by Atsushi Maekawa (Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Jewelpet). The character designs were created by Hisashi Kagawa (Saikano, Bomberman Jetters, Phantom Thief Jeanne). The series aired on TV Asahi's ANN network from February 1, 2009, to January 31, 2010, succeeding Yes! PreCure 5 Go Go!’s time slot, and was succeeded by HeartCatch PreCure!. Fresh Pretty Cure aims at an older demographic beyond its target audience of young girls, and was the first to introduce CG-animated ending themes with dance routines. The series' main themes are happiness and dance, with playing-card suits, fruits and clovers as the Cure's main motifs.

Story

Love Momozono is a 14-year-old second-year student at Yotsuba Junior High School. One day, she goes to see the concert of popular dance unit Trinity, and is inspired by their leader Miyuki to become a dancer herself. When Eas, an agent of Labyrinth, summons a Nakewameke to attack the people. Love's strong feelings to protect them and see Trinity perform live once again resonate with a Linkrun and transform her phone into a transformation device, allowing her to become Cure Peach. Along with Tarte and Chiffon, fairies from the Sweets Kingdom, and her childhood friends Aono Miki and Yamabuki Inori, who become Cure Berry and Cure Pine respectively, they fight against Labyrinth to prevent them from using Infinity to conquer all worlds. They are later joined by Setsuna, who was formerly Eas and becomes Cure Passion.

Characters

Fresh Pretty Cure

Sweets Kingdom

The Sweets Kingdom (王国スウィーツ) is a parallel world which this season's fairies are from.

Labyrinth

The series' villains are denizens of Labyrinth (ラビリンス), who have names derived from the cardinal points of the compass. They summon monsters (voiced by Shintarou Nakano ) called Nakewameke (ナケワメーケ), Nakisakebe (ナキサケーベ), and Sorewatase (ソレワターセ), which acts as a radar for finding Infinity.

Cures' family members

Clover Town Street

Clover Town Street (クローバータウンストリート) is a shopping street where the Cures live.

Guest characters

Movie characters

Media

Anime

The anime series was directed by Junji Shimizu and Akifumi Zako, and aired in Japan on ABC and other ANN stations between February 1, 2009, and January 31, 2010. It has four pieces of theme music: two opening themes and two ending themes. For the first 25 episodes, the opening theme is "Let's! Fresh Pretty Cure" (Let's!フレッシュプリキュア) by Mizuki Moie, and the ending theme is "You make me happy!" by Momoko Hayashi. For episodes 26–50 the opening theme is "Let's! Fresh Pretty Cure! Hybrid Version" (Let's!フレッシュプリキュアHybrid.ver) by Mizuki Moie and Momoko Hayashi, and the ending theme is "H@ppy Together" by Momoko Hayashi. A major change for the ending movies is a dance choreography by the Fresh Pretty Cure members, making it as a mainstray for the Pretty Cure franchise. The anime later reaired on TV Asahi's cable channel, TeleAsa Channel 1, in April 2018.

Films

A film, based on the series, entitled Movie Fresh Pretty Cure! The Kingdom of Toys has Lots of Secrets!? (映画フレッシュプリキュア!　おもちゃの国は秘密がいっぱい!?) premiered in Japan October 31, 2009. The heroines also appeared in Pretty Cure All Stars films, beginning with Pretty Cure All Stars DX: Everyone's Friends☆the Collection of Miracles! (プリキュアオールスターズDX みんなともだちっ☆奇跡の全員大集合!) released March 14, 2009.

Video games

A video game based on the series, titled Fresh Pretty Cure! Asobi Collection (フレッシュプリキュア!あそびコレクション), was released by Bandai for the Nintendo DS on October 29, 2009.

Reception

Despite deviating greatly from the franchise's formula, the series was a success, which saved the franchise from its cancellation. Series headwritter Atsushi Maekawa stated during the Pretty Cure Thanksgiving Screening Event vol. 2 in Japan that "Fresh was a new experimental work, and it was my first time participating in the series, so it was a case of trial and error over and over again. If Fresh had failed, the series would've ended there. If it was a success, it would've continued forever... that was the high hurdle."