Glitter Force, known in Japan as Smile PreCure!(Japanese: スマイルプリキュア!, Hepburn: Sumairu PuriKyua!, lit. "Smile Pretty Cure!"), is a 2012 Japanese television anime series by Toei Animation and the ninth installment in Izumi Todo's Pretty Cure franchise. 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 All-Nippon News Network (ANN)'s TV Asahi 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 on December 18, 2015. It is the second series in the franchise to receive an English-dubbed adaptation following the original Pretty Cure series.
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Plot
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.
Characters
Where available, names and terms from the Saban English version are presented on the left while the original Japanese names are on the right. Some international releases feature alternative names.
Main characters
The title characters are a team of magical girls. They derive their powers by collecting various items known as Glitter Charms (キュアデコル,Kyua Dekoru, Cure Decors) which they place in a compact case called the Glitter Pact (スマイルパクト,Sumairu Pakuto, Smile Pact). When transforming into their magical girl form, they apply the compact powder to themselves and shout "Glitter Force Makeover!" (プリキュア、スマイルチャージ！,PuriKyua, Sumairu Chāji!, "Pretty Cure, Smile Charge!"), and then recite their group catchphrase: "Time to blaze our way to a happy ending! Shining bright! Here comes the Glitter Force!" (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!, "Our five lights will guide us to the future! Sparkle! Smile Pretty Cure!"). Later in the series, as they collect more charms, they attain upgraded transformations such as Tiara Mode and Princess Form (プリンセスフォーム,Purinsesu Fōmu).
Voiced by: Misato Fukuen (Japanese); Laura Bailey (English)Emily is a transfer student to Rainbow Hills school (Nanairogaoka in Japanese), who has an interest in books, especially fairy tales. She is energetic and optimistic, but also something of a klutz. When asked about what boy she likes in the Kyoto trip episode, she admits she likes Peter Pan.As Glitter Lucky, her dark magenta hair becomes lighter in shade and her pigtails grow longer each with a strand and a small curl, and she sports small bands and knee-length boots. Her theme color is pink, and her magical form motif is a heart. Her element is holy light, and she serves as the leader of the Glitter Force. Her signature move is Sparkle Storm, in which she forms a heart with her hands and releases explosive pink light; its stronger variant is called Sparkle Storm Shining. Her transformation catchphrase is "A fabulous shimmer! A glow in your heart! I'm Glitter Lucky", which in Japan is "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!).
Voiced by: Asami Tano (Japanese); Colleen O'Shaughnessey (English)Kelsey is the star member of the school's volleyball team. She is from Osaka and speaks with a Kansai dialect in the Japanese version. Her family runs an okonomiyaki restaurant, where she sometimes works. She may be a jokester, but when she has a goal set, she can be very passionate about achieving it.As Glitter Sunny, her dark red hair changes to orange and grows longer with a bun at the top, and she sports elbow-length bands and thigh-length boots. Her theme color is orange, and her magical form motif is a circle. Her element is fire, and she possess superhuman strength. Her signature move is Sparkle Fire, which is done by her running and jumping towards a formed ball of fire similar to a volleyball and spiking it; its stronger variant is called Sparkle Fire Inferno. She shares a collaboration attack with Glitter Spring, called Fire Shoot.Her transformation catchphrase is "When you mess with me, you're playing with fire! I'm Glitter Sunny!", which in Japan is "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!).
Voiced by: Hisako Kanemoto (Japanese); Alex Cazares (English)Lily is an aspiring artist who enjoys drawing and painting action hero characters. 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 is a big fan of superheroes and becomes really excited when something hero-like is brought up.As Glitter Peace, her blonde hair brightens into a more yellowish color and is tied into a wide ponytail, and she sports small bands and shin-length boots. Her theme color is yellow, and her magical form motif is a star. Her element is lightning, which often peaks when she gets excited or upset. Her signature move is Sparkle Lightning, in which she spins around several times and produces watts of lightning; its stronger variant is Sparkle Lighting Hurricane. She shares a collaboration attack with Glitter Breeze, called Thunder Blizzard.Her transformation catchphrase is "Puppies and kittens! The power of love! I'm Glitter Peace!", which in Japan is "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!). During her transformation, she chooses a different rock-paper-scissors outcome.
April / Nao Midorikawa (緑川 なお,Midorikawa Nao) a.k.a. Glitter Spring / Cure March (キュアマーチ,Kyua Māchi)
Voiced by: Marina Inoue (Japanese); Danielle Judovits (English)April is the captain 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 is the oldest of six siblings, taking on a motherly role in her family. Despite her general confidence, she does have her phobias, such as bugs (but eventually learns to conquer this fear).As Glitter Spring, her hair becomes much longer with two large-size side bangs, each with a slight curl at the end, and a long ponytail, and she sports medium-size bands and ankle-length boots. Her theme color is green, and her magical form motif is a gemstone-like pentagon. Her element is wind, and she possess super speed. Her signature move is Sparkle Shot, which involves her flying towards a soccer ball made out of a gust of wind and kicking it; its stronger variant is Sparkle Shot Maximum Impact. She shares a collaboration attack with Glitter Sunny, called Fire Shoot. Her transformation catchphrase is "A force as strong as life itself! I'm Glitter Spring!", which in Japan is "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!).
Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (Japanese); Kate Higgins (English)Chloe is the student council vice president and a member of the school's archery club. She is intelligent, serious, elegant and kind-hearted, but has a frightening temper once her patience reaches its limits. She later becomes student council president.As Glitter Breeze, her dark blue hair becomes a much lighter shade, her bangs are longer, and the back part is parted in four ways, and she also sports small bands and knee-length boots. Her theme color is blue, and her magical form motif is a diamond. Her element is ice, and she possess intellect and reflexes which allow her to detect and avoid any enemy attacks. Her signature move is Sparkle Blizzard, in which a ball of ice is formed, she makes a snowflake with her hands, and combines both to release a powerful strand of snow; its stronger variant is Sparkle Blizzard Arrow. She shares a collaboration attack with Glitter Peace, called Thunder Blizzard. Her transformation catchphrase is "Cool and swift as the winter wind! I'm Glitter Breeze!", which in Japan is "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!).
Candy(キャンディ,Kyandi)
Voiced by: Ikue Ōtani (Japanese); Debi Derryberry (English)A mascot character with light pink fur and long curly fluffy yellow ears with pink bows. She was sent by the queen to recruit the Glitter Force and search for the Glitter Charms. She is cheery and quite fashionable, and she likes to doll herself up by styling her ears like hair. In the Japanese version, she ends her sentences with "-kuru". She summons the Tiara Charms that enable the girls to perform a combined attack to defeat the upgraded blue-nosed Buffoons. In the series finale episodes, she is assigned to be the new ruler of Jubiland, as she is granted the Miracle Jewel and assumes a new form, Queen Candy/Royale Candy (ロイヤルキャンディ,Roiyaru Kyandi).
Antagonists
Hailing from the Shadow Realm (バッドエンド王国,Baddo Endo Ōkoku, Bad End Kingdom), the villains strive to revive their emperor of evil. The villains crush a paint tube with their hand and wipes it over a magic book page which then manifests negative energy around nearby creatures so that they feel mass despair; the energy is collected into the book and advances a clock-like meter called the "Wheel of Doom" which, when full, revives their emperor of evil, Nogo. They also summon monsters known as Buffoons from ordinary objects.
Ulric / Wolfrun (ウルフルン,Urufurun)
Voiced by: Tomoyuki Shimura (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)An anthropomorphic gray wolf with violet eyes, white hair and wearing a blue leather biker's outfit. He is based on the Big Bad Wolf in fairy tales such as the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. In Episode 45, it is revealed that he and the other commanders allied themselves with Rascal after feeling that they were mistreated by others for being fairy tale villains. Ulric later returns to his original form Ricky (Ururun (ウルルン) in Japanese version.).
Brute / Akaoni (アカオーニ,Akaōni)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Iwasaki (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)A red-skinned troll with an afro and horns who carries a large club, based on the oni from Japanese myth. He is not as intelligent compared to the other villains, preferring to use his own strength when fighting his opponents. In the Japanese version, he typically ends his sentences with "-oni". He is eventually purified back to his original form Rufus (Oninin (オニニン) in Japanese version).
Brooha / Majorina (マジョリーナ,Majorīna)
Voiced by: Miina Tominaga (Japanese); Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (English)A petite and elderly witch who usually wears dark green clothes, and is modeled after fairy tale witches such as those found in Hansel and Gretel and Snow White. She devises various badly-named inventions to use against the girls. She can also transform into a younger, more slender form to fight opponents directly and make clones of herself. In the Japanese dub, she often ends her sentences with "-dawasa".. She is eventually purified back to her original form Margie (Majorin (マジョリン,Majorin) in Japanese version).
Rascal / Joker (ジョーカー,Jōkā)
Voiced by: Yūji Mitsuya (Japanese); Keith Silverstein (English)A subordinate of Nogo, he appears as a harlequin. He tends to playfully break out in acrobatics and has a bouncy but sadistic personality. He fashions the various colored noses for the Buffoons. In addition to leading three commanders, he uses playing cards to ensnare victims, block attacks and turn his opponents energy against them. After the three commanders were defeated, he creates the Glitter Shadow Force to distract the girls while he attempts to kill Candy. Revealing himself to be a fragment of Nogo's being, Rascal eventually sacrifices himself in order to complete his master's revival.
Nogo / Pierrot (ピエーロ,Piēro)
Voiced by: Tesshō GendaThe main antagonist of the series and the evil emperor of the Shadow Realm. According to his subordinates, he was sealed at the beginning of the story by Euphoria. Whenever his minions collect negative energy from humans, Nogo becomes one step closer to reviving. Though revived, Nogo is defeated by the Glitter Force in their Princess forms with only a surviving fragment reforming into an egg. This egg soon hatches after being filled with more negative energy, leading Nogo to gain a new form that almost destroys the world until he is stopped once and for all by the Glitter Force.
Buffoon / Akanbe (アカンベェ,Akanbee)
Voiced by: Hiro SasakiA term used to describe the monster of the week that is summoned by the emissary of the Shadow Realm when the latter combines the clown noses created by Rascal with a random object such as a volleyball or a tree. With some exceptions, a defeated Buffoon usually drops a Glitter Charm that the girls can collect to power up. The Japanese name akanbe, literally means the action of "pulling one's eyelid down and sticking out one's tongue".
Supporting characters
Several of the characters from the fairy tale world of Jubiland.
Pop(ポップ,Poppu)
Voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English)Pop is Candy's older brother, a male lion-like pixie. He prides himself on being a man and hates to be called "cute", though gets bashful when he is called "cool". He alongside Candy were in charge of searching for the five chosen ones to become Glitter Force. He reunites with Candy after she gathers the five members together, bringing along the Charm Chest (Decor Décor). He is capable of using ninjutsu arts including transformation into various forms to assist the Glitter Force in battle. He ends his sentences with "-de gozaru".
Queen Euphoria / Royal Queen (ロイヤルクイーン,Roiyaru Kuīn)
Voiced by: Sumi ShimamotoThe Queen of Jubiland, and the origin of the pixies who regard her as their mother. When Jubiland was attacked by Nogo, the Glitter Charms that make up her power were stolen, while she used the remainder of her power to seal Nogo away. She sends Candy to search for the Glitter Force in order to recover the Glitter Charms and restore her power.
Anime
The 48-episode Smile PreCure! anime aired on TV Asahi and other Japanese 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, releasing it as a Netflix exclusive. This version consists of 40 episodes, with twenty episodes released on Netflix on December 18, 2015 and the other twenty released on August 26, 2016. The adaptation, which was dubbed into English by Studiopolis, features changes to character names, terminology, and music. The opening theme is "Glitter Force", performed by Blush, who also perform various insert songs. Shirley Pelts wrote that "Netflix is investing heavily in legacy cartoons such as Popples and Glitter Force, which it considers to be important toy and entertainment brands."
Feature films
The heroines appear in the Pretty Cure All Stars cross-over movie series, first appearing in the fourth entry, Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage: Friends of the Future, which was released in Japanese theatres on March 17, 2012 and on DVD on July 18, 2012.
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 debuted at the number-one spot in the Japanese Box Office and earned a total revenue of ¥193,000,000 (US$2.42 million), and was the highest grossing PreCure movie to date.
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. The background music in the Saban dub is composed by Noam Kaniel.
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.
Reception
The series was well-received, placing regularly in Japan's weekly top ten anime shows broadcast.
Brad Stephenson of About.com describes the English adaptation as "a return to when anime was fun and the priority of everyone involved was to make a super accessible series that could be enjoyed by as many people as possible." He liked the variety of animation for the physical attacks, the energetic singing of Blush, and that "young English-speaking children can have the same experience as the Japanese audience did when they first saw it." He also found the Japanese references to not be a deterrent and would encourage kids to look into Japanese culture as with Sailor Moon.
Ella Anders of BSC Kids, who had also reviewed many other recent magical girl adaptations such as LoliRock and Miraculous Ladybug, thought the series was better than she expected, but disliked the amount of localization provided by the Saban dub, writing that the "With the world so interconnected as it is now the removal of cultural aspects was saddening. It would be such a great chance to celebrate and focus on the Japanese culture."
