Witchy Pretty Cure!
Witchy Pretty Cure!, also known as Maho Girls PreCure!, is a Japanese anime television series by Toei Animation and the thirteenth installment in the Pretty Cure series. The series, directed by Masato Mitsuka and written by Isao Murayama with character designs by Emiko Miyamoto, aired on ABC and other ANN television stations between February 2016 and January 2017, succeeding Go! Princess Pretty Cure in its timeslot, and was succeeded by Kirakira [Pretty Cure a la Mode]. The series' main topic is friendship, while its motifs are magic and jewelry. A sequel series aired on ABC TV's Animazing!!! programming block from January 2025 to March 2025.
Story
Witchy Pretty Cure!
When thirteen-year-old Mirai Asahina goes with her teddy bear, Mofurun, to investigate a mysterious object that falls from the sky, she meets the young magician Liko, who is searching for the Linkle Stone Emerald. When servants of Dokurokushe arrive seeking the Emerald, Mirai and Liko gain the power to transform into the legendary magicians Pretty Cure through Mofurun, who comes to life. Afterwards, Mirai enrolls in the Magic School, where they learn how to use magic while fighting the minions of Dokurokushe and Never Ending Chaos.Witchy Pretty Cure!! ~Mirai Days~
Following the events of the original series, Mirai is a university student in the No Magic Realm alongside Mofurun and Liko is a teacher in the Magic Realm. As they reunite for the first time in years, they face Ire, a new threat who threatens the future of both realms.Characters
Pretty Cures
The Witchy Pretty Cures are legendary magicians who fought against evil and possessed powerful magic, using items called "Linkle Stones". In the modern day, Mirai and Liko inherit these powers and search for the Linkle Stone Emerald. Magicians in the Magic World can cast spells with their wands by saying the phrase "Cure Up RaPaPa!". Through the power of the Linkle Stones, Mirai and Liko transform into Pretty Cures by holding hands with Mofurun and saying the phrase "Miracle Magical Jewelry", and perform purifying attacks with the Linkle Stick. Using the Linkle Stones, they can transform into the Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, and Topaz Styles, each with elemental powers: fire for Ruby, water for Sapphire, and electricity for Topaz. Cure Felice uses the Linkle Smartbook and the Linkle Stone Emerald to transform by saying the phrase "Felice Fun Fun Flowerle" and attacks with the Flower Echo Wand. Later, they receive the Rainbow Carriage, which allows them to use more powerful attacks with the Alexandrite Style.;Mirai Asahina Cure Miracle
;Liko Izayoi Cure Magical
;Ha-chan Kotoha Hanami Cure Felice
;Mofurun Cure Mofurun
Magic School
Teachers
;Headmaster;Head Teacher
;Cathy Magic Crystal
;Issac
;Liz
;Loretta
Students
;Jun;Kay
;Emily
;Dorothy, Nancy & Cissy
Antagonists
Dark Magicians
The Dark Magicians are the main antagonists of the first half of the series, who aim to acquire the Linkle Stone Emerald and allow their leader Dokurokushe to conquer the Magic World and the No Magic World with dark magic, also seeking the Linkle Smartbook after discovering Ha-chan's power. Dokurokushe's subordinates were originally animals who were infused with magic and assumed a humanoid form to act in his stead due to his physical condition.Leaders
;Dokurokushe Kushe;Yamoh
Subordinates
;Batty;Sparda
;Gamets
Never Ending Chaos
The Never Ending Chaos are the main antagonists of the second half of the series, who aim to unleash chaos upon the world and revive their master Deusmast, which Mother Rapapa sealed within the sun.;Deusmast
;Labut
;Shakince
;Benigyo
;Orba
Monsters
;YokubaruOthers
;ChikurunMirai Days villains
;Chronosto;Ire
;Monsters
Other characters
;Kyoko Asahina;Daikichi Asahina
;Kanoko Yuki
;François
;Gustav
;Todd
;Hook
;Kana Katsuki, Mayumi Nagase, Souta Ono & Yuto Namiki
;Takagi
;Lien
;Lilia
;Queen
;Legend Queen
;Mother Rapapa
;Ichika Usami Cure Whip
;Hisui
;Mayumi Nagase
;Rena Tanizaki
;Erina
Movie characters
;Kumata Dark Matter;Shadows
;Flare Dragon Shadow Dragon
;Bears
Development and production
The series was first revealed via a trademark filing posted on October 19, 2015, and was publicly announced on November 26, 2015.Producer Mikio Uezuki stated that "While following the universal themes of love, justice, dreams, and friendship that the Pretty Cure series has so far, we want to make a work that boldly draws its worldview and motifs that go beyond the framework of the series. It is by no means a panacea, and what is important is the contact of the 'heart' between people." Keisuke Naito, producer of Toei Animation also stated, "By joining hands with each other, we connect hearts, hope, and the world I would like to convey it through the world."
Yuta Tanaka stated while promoting the film that Mofurun is a LGBTQ themes in [anime and manga|gender-neutral] character, with the film's staff designing its Cure form to match its appearance. Several staff for the anime, including Emiko Miyamoto, Ken Ueno, Yu Kaminoki, Keisuke Naito, and series director Mitsuka Masato confirmed Mofurun's gender, while Toei and Bandai referred to Mofurun's gender as "Mofurun". Isao Murayama also stated in a separate interview that Mofurun was meant to be a girl, but this was not included due to time constraints.
The sequel was first announced on March 14, 2023, during the franchise's 20th anniversary, as the first sequel series to be released as part of TV Asahi's ANiMAZiNG!!! block. The series' air date was later announced on May 28, 2024, along with its title, Witchy Pretty Cure!! ~Mirai Days~. The main cast from the original series will return and reprise their roles.
Media
Anime
The original series aired on ABC, TV Asahi and their affiliates between February 7, 2016, and January 29, 2017. The series was pitched to licensors at AnimeJapan 2016 under the English name Witchy Pretty Cure. Crunchyroll streamed the series with original Japanese audio and English subtitles.A sequel anime television series, Witchy Pretty Cure!! Mirai Days aired on ABC TV's Animazing!!! programming block from January 12 to March 30, 2025. Co-produced by Toei Animation and Studio Deen, the series was directed by Takayuki Hamana with series composition and screenplays by Isao Murayama. Crunchyroll also streamed the series.
Films
The main characters appeared in the movie Pretty Cure All Stars: Singing with Everyone♪ Miraculous Magic!, released on March 19, 2016. A film based on the series, titled Witchy Pretty Cure! The Movie: Wonderous! Cure Mofurun!, including a fully CG animated short titled Cure Miracle and Mofurun's Magic Lesson! was released on October 29, 2016.Pretty Cure Dream Stars!, was released on March 18, 2017.
KiraKira☆PreCure à la Mode: Crisply! The Memory of Mille-feuille!, including a fully CG animated short titled Petit☆Dream Stars! Let's・la・Cookin'? Showtime! was released on October 28, 2017.
Pretty Cure Super Stars!, was released on March 17, 2018.
Wonderful Pretty Cure! The Movie: A Grand Adventure in a Thrilling Game World!, was released in Japanese movie theaters on September 13, 2024.
Music
In the first 21 episodes, the opening theme is "Dokkin♢Mahōtsukai PreCure!" composed by Aiko Okumura and performed by Rie Kitagawa, who previously performed the ending themes for Go! Princess PreCure, while the ending theme is "Cure Up￪ Ra♡Pa☆Pa!~ Hohoemi ni Naru Mahō ~" composed by Akifumi Tada and performed by Rie Takahashi and Yui Horie.From episode 22 onwards, the opening theme is "Dokkin♢Mahōtsukai PreCure! Part 2" performed by Rie Kitagawa and the ending theme is called "Mahō Ara Dōmo!" performed by Rie Takahashi, Yui Horie and Saori Hayami. The music is composed by Hiroshi Takaki, who previously composed the music for DokiDoki! PreCure, HappinessCharge PreCure!, and Go! Princess PreCure. The single was released on March 2, 2016, by Marvelous! featuring the theme songs from the first 21 episodes. The first official soundtrack of the series, titled PreCure♡Miracle☆Sound!! was released on May 25, 2016, along with the vocal album on July 13, 2016, with the title Linkle☆Melodies. The single for the second opening and ending theme was released on August 10, 2016. On November 23, 2016, the second official soundtrack of the series was released, titled PreCure☆Magical♡Sound!!.
For Mirai Days, Rie Kitagawa returned to perform the opening theme, "Dokkin♢Mahōtsukai PreCure! Part 3".
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Futago Kamikita began serialization in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine from February 3, 2016.Merchandise
released various merchandise during the series including watches, bags, and transformation items.Witchy PreCure! will also be branded as official Tokyo 2020 mascots as merchandise, along with other well known anime series like One Piece, Digimon, Dragon Ball, Naruto and Sailor Moon.