In the first year after I started this blog, I personally was a big fan of the mahou shoujo genre (heck, my favourite series is one). Over the years though, this fandom became less and less. This mostly had to do with the genre stagnating: the mahou shoujo that got released lacked creativity, were all just poorly executed and never really took advantage of their formula to show some great characters. Heartcatch Precure broke this trend, and how! From the outside, it looks like just another Sailor Moon Clone, but within its premise, it does just about everything right here.
To start off with the production values: this show has better fights that most shounen series out there. The battles in this series are consistently dynamic and despite a huge amount of transformation scenes they never get boring or repetitive. This show excels both in hand to hand and long-range combat, and it looks ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS in the process. The animation in this series is consistently of a high quality, and always interesting to look at. Combine this with an awesome soundtrack, and you’ve got a feast for the senses.
This show also sets itself apart with characters that just are good, right from the start. Tsubomi and Erika are immediately very likable characters, and the entire series just focuses on portraying them as down to earth girls whenever they’re not busy fighting monsters. The characters that join and meet them are also wonderfully written and subtly developed throughout the series. Just about every recurring character has his or her chance to shine in this series.
You should note that this series does follow the classic mahou shoujo format. There will be a lot of episodes that are just dedicated to the characters running into people who have a problem, or are worrying about someone. Even here this series delivers though, because it consistently manages to portray these characters well and makes their problems easily relatable. Hardly ever does this show go for cheap ways to solve these issues, and here too things are kept wonderfully down to earth.
The main flaw of this series is that in the end, it does follow a pretty predictable formula, so expect to see the surprises in this show more in the fine details than in the overall plot. Having said that though, this show proves that you can do amazing things with that formula, and for every mahou shoujo trope that this series adheres to, it also subverts another one.
Another thing that might get on your nerves here is that this series really likes to use a lot of transformation scenes. Most episodes have around two to three minutes of them in total. The good thing though is that these are the best transformation scenes that I have seen since Utena. The animation in the series is already good, but in these scenes it’s five times better. Some of them are a true visual orgasm.
Still, what it boils down to is this: if you have yet to see the classic shoujo oriented mahou shoujo, but are interested in why people are raving about them, there are two series that I recommend: Cardcaptor Sakura and this one. Heartcatch Precure was exactly what the mahou shoujo genre needed and it shows the great things that simply an excellent execution and cast of characters can do to such a simple premise.
| Storytelling: | 9/10 – Dynamic, fun, childish but consistently enjoyable. |
| Characters: | 9/10 – Both the recurring and the minor characters are all wonderfully fleshed out. |
| Production-Values: | 9/10 – Gorgeous production values and soundtrack. |
| Setting: | 8/10 – Simple, but well fleshed out. |
Suggestions:
– Cardcaptor Sakura
– Mahou Shoujotai
– Otogi Juushi Akazukin (Note that I would rate this one a bit lower if I were to watch it now).
Oh man, I’m going to miss this show sooooo much TT^TT
I know I keep saying it but you really need to watch Princess Tutu. đ
This series is a 90/100 for me; I really loved this series.
@AnimeFanooo: Yeah, me too. It did everything that most of the other Precure series failed to do (though I never watched any of the other ones).
I’m surprised you only gave this series a 87.5 after all the praise you gave it during it’s run. Oh well, I didn’t watch the show so I can’t really say for myself xD
The only thing I would have liked was some background on Dune. Other then that, it was fantastic.
So sad seeing it ending now … But it was a great ride. This series really managed to catch my heart. …*slaps herself for the pun*
Since you liked the characterizations / character designs so much, I reaaally recommend you to watch Ojamajo Doremi. now. It may be even more childish in the beginning, but it gets better and better with every single season (art- and especially story-wise, the last season is just… wow.)
Maybe you can try watching the OVA “Ojamajo Doremi Naisho” first, it consists of 13 episodes and takes place during the 3rd season (with no spoilers whatsoever), but you can absolutely watch it without knowing anything beforehand! And it’s top quality, too.
Wow I’m so gonna miss this show đ The awesome fights,the surprisingly moving stories, the very fun characters.. I’m quite sad that’s its over now,for the series really captured my heart(hihi). Now I can’t wait for the movie to come out!
Is it possible to watch this by itself? I have not watch other PreCure series…
du5k: yes, it is. You don’t need to have watched the previous precures at all.
There were 17 decently watchable anime last month? Wow! Certainly didn’t expect to see Madoka Magic on there. Is it similar to Precure? Magical girl type anime are really not my cup of tea (though I can appreciate them from afar just fine). Something seems to be a tad different about Madoka, though. You mentioned it was a “deconstruction” of the genre? What?
Um, don’t know how that comment of mine wound up here. The first part was intended for the January roundup, and the rest was intended either for the same place or for Madoka. Herp derp…
@hoiut: Yes, Madoka Magica IS a magical girl anime, but it’s absolutely NOTHING like Heartcatch Precure. In fact, try imagining a magical girl anime produced by Tim Burton on crack and a writer on narcotics. That’s Madoka Magica for you…well, that’s how I see it.
Wow. Here I thought it was a troll when anidb tagged it (in no particular order):
“Angst, Horror, Seinen, mind fuck, not for kids, psychological, some weird shit goin` on, twisted.”
“Deconstruction” of a genre means playing out a genre unrealistic parts as realistic as possible.
Think what Evangelion did for the mecha genre.
i loved heartcatch precure,because of the music.
I agree that Dune could have been fleshed out much better, especially his background. As it is, he really is a rather one dimensional villain who is filled with hatred and wants to destroy the world, but at least he plays the role with conviction. Heartcatch Precure has certainly whet my appetite for more mahou shoujo though. I think I’m gonna watch Princess Tutu next.
I’m surprised it got only a 87.5 despite how many times this series blew you away and surprised you.
Sure the ending was a bit too fast, but I think the other parts of the shows and the epilogue make up for it.
Makes Heartcatch’s ending actually endearing and heartwarming, rather than over the top with Madoka’s(who unashamedly copied and proceeded to run away with all the fame.)
This anime should of at least gotten in the 90’s because it’s truly a gem! Loved it to bits
I know for a fact that this anime is going in my top 25 favorite anime of all time! More magical girl anime should follow Heartcatch’s example!
Man…I loved this series. In some way, I still do. But after having endured some beyond AWFUL experiences in the fandom, particularly the fan fic and Tumblr fandoms, I can’t bring myself to watch anything Precure anymore, even this season. I know it’s stupid, and I do love Heartcatch even now. Unfortunately, the annoying, toxic people in that fandom have now turned me off to all Precure shows now. I can’t even bring myself to watch the new seasons anymore.
Know next to nothing about Precure but no matter how toxic it is, I am sure there is much much worse. The key thing here is to separate a fandom from it’s show. You can watch a show while being completely oblivious to it’s fandom and in many cases it’s a good thing to do so. Just treat them as separate entities in your mind and you can enjoy it again.