DokiDoki! PreCure facts for kids

DokiDoki! PreCure
Key visual of the series featuring the five main Cures. In clockwise order: Cure Ace, Cure Sword, Cure Rosetta, Cure Diamond, and Cure Heart in the center.
Quick facts for kids ドキドキ！プリキュア (Dokidoki! PuriKyua)
Genre	Magical girl
Anime television series
Directed by	Go Koga
Produced by	Hiroaki Shibata
Written by	Ryōta Yamaguchi
Music by	Hiroshi Takaki (JP) Noam Kaniel (Noam) (US)
Studio	Toei Animation
Licensed by	NA Saban Brands (2017) Toei Animation/Allspark Animation & Hasbro Entertainment (Hasbro) (2017/18 & 19-present; licensing) Netflix (streaming rights)
Network	ANN, TV Asahi (ABC)
English network	CA Netflix US Netflix
Original run	February 3, 2013 – January 26, 2014
Episodes	49 (Japanese version) 30 (International version) (List of episodes)
Manga
Written by	Izumi Todo
Illustrated by	Futago Kamikita
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Shōjo
Magazine	Nakayoshi
Original run	March 2013 – February 2014
Game
DokiDoki! PreCure: Narikiri Life!
Developer	Namco Bandai Games
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Genre	Minigame
Platform	Nintendo 3DS
Released	August 1, 2013
Anime film
DokiDoki! PreCure the Movie: Mana's Getting Married!!? The Dress of Hope Tied to the Future!
Directed by	Naoyuki Itō
Written by	Ryōta Yamaguchi
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	October 26, 2013

DokiDoki! PreCure (Japanese: ドキドキ！プリキュア, Hepburn: Dokidoki! Purikyua, lit. "Heart-Pounding! Pre Cure"), is a Japanese anime series produced by Toei Animation as the tenth installment in Izumi Todo's Pretty Cure metaseries, featuring the eighth generation of Cures. The series is produced by Hiroaki Shibata, who produced Digimon Data Squad and written by Ryōta Yamaguchi, who wrote the scripts for The Vision of Escaflowne. Character designs were handled by Akira Takahashi, who previously did designs for Suite PreCure. The series aired on the ANN network between February 3, 2013, and January 26, 2014, replacing Smile PreCure! in its timeslot, and was succeeded by HappinessCharge PreCure!. An animated film based on the series was released on October 26, 2013. This series' main topics are love, emotions, selflessness, and selfishness, with playing card suits as the Cure's main motifs.

Saban Brands, under its SCG Characters unit, produced an English dub of the series, Glitter Force: Doki Doki, abridging the original forty-nine episodes into thirty. Despite the Glitter Force trademark having moved to Toei in June 2017, Saban Brands was still credited with production of the English dub. The first fifteen episodes began streaming on Netflix from August 18, 2017. The second season, also consisting of fifteen episodes, was released on November 10, 2017. It is the third installment of the series to receive an English dub, and the second and last English adaptation under the Glitter Force brand, and the last anime to be dubbed by Saban Brands. Hasbro currently owns the rights and names to the program and the brand alongside other Saban Brands entertainment assets as of June 14, 2018.

Plot

Trump Kingdom (トランプ王国, Toranpu Ōkoku, Saban: Splendorius) is a magical world where its people live happily under the guidance of their ruler, Princess Marie Ange. However, one day, an evil force known as the Jikochu (ジコチュー, Jikochū, Saban: Mercenares) attacks the kingdom. Makoto, a warrior who served Marie Ange, goes to the human world with her fairy partner and a trio of young fairies to find the missing princess and girls who can be granted magical powers to save the kingdom.

Sharuru (Saban: Kippie), one of the fairies, finds an enthusiastic middle-school girl named Mana (Saban: Maya) during a visit to the Clover Tower. When Mana encounters a monster called a Jikochu (Saban: Distain), which is formed from a person's selfish desires, Sharuru gives her the ability to transform into Cure Heart (Saban: Glitter Heart) using items called Cure Loveads (キュアラビーズ, Kyua Rabīzu, Saban: Glitter Charms) and a smartphone-like device called a Lovely Commune (ラブリーコミューン, Raburī Komyūn, Saban: Glitter Pad). Mana is joined by her friends to become Pretty Cure and save Trump Kingdom while protecting everyone's hearts from selfishness.

Characters

The characters names and terminology are from the original Japanese version, while the Saban version is the Netflix English dub.

DokiDoki Pretty Cure

The title characters are a team of girls who become Pretty Cure through the power of the Cure Loveads (キュアラビーズ, Kyua Rabīzu, Saban: Glitter Charms), which they place in a smartphone-like device called the Lovely Commune (ラブリーコミューン, Raburī Komyūn, Saban: Glitter Pad). When transforming, they shout the phrase Pretty Cure, Love Link! (プリキュア ラブリンク!, Purikyua Rabu Rinku!, Saban: Glitter Force Makeover!) and trace out the letters L-O-V-E on their devices. The Loveads can also enhance their powers and allow them to use new attacks. In later episodes, they gain the ability to use the Love Heart Arrow and the Magical Lovely Pad to execute more powerful purification attacks. They introduce themselves with the phrase: "Listen to the heartbeat of love! DokiDoki! Pretty Cure!" (Hibike ai no kodō! DokiDoki! Purikyua! (響け愛の鼓動！ドキドキ！プリキュア, Saban: All together, Glitter Force Doki Doki!)).

Voiced by: Hitomi Nabatame (Japanese); Debi Derryberry (English)

A 14-year-old bright and energetic girl who is the president of the student council at Ōgai First Public Middle School (大貝第一中学, Ōgai Daiichi Chūgaku, Saban: Sea Shell Bay Middle School). She is always looking to help others and believes that actions speak louder than words, but often acts impulsively. Others look up to her because of her responsible and hardworking attitude. Her family owns a local yoshoku restaurant called Pigtail (ぶたのしっぽ, Buta no Shippo, "The Pig's Tail"). Her fairy partner is Sharuru.

As Cure Heart, her pink hair turns bright yellow blond hair and is worn in a ponytail. Her theme color is pink and her playing card motif is the heart. She introduces herself as "Overflowing love! Cure Heart!" (みなぎる愛！キュアハート！, Minagiru ai! Kyua Hāto!, Saban: The power of love! I'm Glitter Heart!)

Voiced by: Minako Kotobuki (Japanese); Cassandra Lee Morris (English)

A 15-year-old girl who is Mana's childhood friend and has known her since she moved into her neighborhood ten years ago, and often helps her. She is the secretary of the student council at Ōgai First Public Middle School, and is ranked among the top ten in the country in performing on national mock exams. Her father is a photographer who travels a lot, so she writes him letters. Her fairy partner is Raquel.

As Cure Diamond, her dark blue hair turns light blue color and is worn in a ponytail. Her theme color is blue and her playing card motif is the diamond, and she has the power of ice. She introduces herself as "The light of wisdom! Cure Diamond!" (英知の光！キュアダイヤモンド！！, Eichi no Hikari! Kyua Daiyamondo!!, Saban: The light of wisdom! Glitter Diamond!)

Voiced by: Mai Fuchigami (Japanese); Melissa Fahn (English)

A 13-year-old girl who is an old friend of Mana and Rikka, having known them in elementary school when she was little, when they would defend her from bullies. She comes from a wealthy family which owns the Clover Tower and many businesses in town, and attends the prestigious Private Nanatsubashi Academy. She learned martial arts from her grandfather as a child, but came to fear her own strength because of her experiences fighting bullies in elementary school, and since then has made a vow to never fight again. She first learns of the Pretty Cure from the security footage from Clover Tower that recorded Mana transforming, and is initially unwilling to fight because of her vow, but she comes to the realization that it is important to fight to protect those dearest to her. Her fairy partner is Lance.

As Cure Rosetta, her brown hair turns orange and is worn in long curly twintails. Her power largely revolves around producing protective barriers. Her theme color is yellow and her playing card motif is the clover. She introduces herself as "The warmth of the sun! Cure Rosetta!" (陽だまりポカポカ！キュアロゼッタ！, Hidamari pokapoka! Kyua Rozetta!, Saban: As warm and bright as the sun! I'm Glitter Clover!)

Voiced by: Kanako Miyamoto (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)

A 14-year-old girl who was the royal songstress of Trump Kingdom and the last of the previous generation of Pretty Cure until Mana and the other girls become Pretty Cure. She has a strong sense of responsibility toward the princess of Trump Kingdom, Marie Ange, who she was separated from following the Jikochu's invasion. After arriving in the human world, she takes on a human alias and becomes a pop singer/celebrity/idol in hopes that her voice will one day reach the princess. While initially reluctant to work with the girls, Makoto soon opens up and reveals her identity to them, accepting their offer to help her find the missing princess, and later enrolling in Mana and Rikka's school. Being from another world, she is generally unfamiliar with its local customs. Her fairy partner is Davi.

As Cure Sword, her true Trump Kingdom form, her dark purple hair turns light purple and is worn in a ponytail. Her theme color is purple and her playing card motif is the spade. She introduces herself as "The blade of courage! Cure Sword!" (勇気の刃！キュアソード！, Yūki no Yaiba! Kyua Sōdo!, Saban: The blade of courage! Glitter Spade)

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese); Erica Lindbeck (English)

A mysterious 10-year-old girl and fourth-grade student who debuts in episode 22 of the Japanese version, helping to protect the Cures from Regina. She is generally levelheaded and wise, but often lectures the other girls and pushes them to become stronger. Despite having a stern demeanor, she has a fondness for sweet foods. She is also very fond of Ai and treats her like a little sister. Her fairy partner is Ai. Aguri became a Pretty Cure before the events of the series. She was separated from Ai, who reverted to an egg, after failing to seal away King Jikochu, and does not remember anything before being taken in by her grandmother, Mari. After the Royal Crystals are gathered, Aguri is reunited with Ai and resumes her duties as a Cure. It is later revealed that Aguri is one half of Marie Ange, and was born from the part of Marie Ange that wants to protect her people, which is her good side. She believes that she is destined to fight Regina, her older sister.

As Cure Ace, her transformation lasts for 5 minutes, but in episode 45, after touching the Eternal Golden Crown, this time limit is removed. Unlike the other girls, Cure Ace transforms using the Love Eyes Palette (ラブアイズパレット, Rabu Aizu Paretto) provided by Ai using the transformation phrase "Pretty Cure, Dress Up!" (プリキュア・ドレスアップ！, PuriKyua, Doresu Appu!, Saban: Glitter Force Makeover!). She wields a unique lipstick/sword-like weapon called the Love Kiss Rouge (ラブキッスルージュ, Rabu Kisu Rūju, Saban: Glitter Sparkle Stick), which allows her to use various powers based on the color of lipstick and is used for purification. Her theme color is red and her card motif is the Ace. She introduces herself as "The trump card of love! Cure Ace!" (愛の切り札！キュアエース！, Ai no kirifuda! Kyua Ēsu!, Saban: "A" for absolutely fabulous. I'm Glitter Ace!)

Trump Kingdom

Characters from the realm of Trump Kingdom (トランプ王国, Toranpu Ōkoku, Saban: Splendorius):

Voiced by: Kumiko Nishihara (Japanese); Tara Sands (English)

A pink rabbit-like fairy (Saban: pixie) and Mana's partner, who later gains the ability to take on a human form. She is the sole female of the three fairies, and is passionate and outgoing. She is named after Charles, the King of Hearts in the traditional Paris court card game of playing cards.

Voiced by: Yuka Terasaki (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (English)

A blue dog-like fairy (Saban: pixie) and Rikka's partner, who later gains the ability to take on a human form. He is named after Rachel, the Queen of Diamonds in the traditional Paris court card game of playing cards.

Voiced by: Ayaka Ohashi (Japanese); Bryce Papenbrook (English)

A yellow bear-like fairy (Saban: pixie) and Alice's partner, who later gains the ability to take on a human form. He is named after Lancelot, the Knave of Clubs.

Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama (Japanese); Erica Mendez (English)

A purple cat-like fairy (Saban: pixie) and Makoto's partner, who is independent but often worries about Makoto and has a habit of voicing out her true feelings, much to her embarrassment. She can transform into an adult human who acts as Makoto's manager. She is named after David, the King of Spades.

Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Grant George (English)

A salesman who gives the girls their Cure Loveads. He runs a knick-knack booth near the Clover Tower, and then opens a shop in the neighborhood. Though he initially plays dumb about his knowledge of the magic world, he eventually reveals his true identity as Jonathan Klondike (ジョナサン・クロンダイク, Jonasan Kurondaiku), a royal knight of Trump Kingdom and Marie's fiancé, who traveled to the human world to search for her following the Jikochu's attack on the kingdom. In the finale, Jonathan becomes the president of Trump Kingdom after it becomes a republic.

Voiced by: Yuka Imai (Japanese); Kate Higgins (English)

The princess of Trump Kingdom, who often enjoyed Makoto's performances and treated her like a sister. Episode 46 reveals that one year prior to the series' events, she fell ill, and her father wished to find a way to cure her using the Eternal Golden Crown, one of the Three Sacred Treasures. However, the crown was being used to imprison Proto Jikochu, who had been sealed away by the legendary Pretty Cure. As a result, he was consumed by evil and transformed into King Jikochu, who invaded the kingdom. When the Jikochu invaded, she sent Sharuru and the other fairies to Earth, then tried to escape alongside Makoto, but was separated from her in the process. Bel attempted to turn her into a Jikochu, and she was forced to split her Psyche into Regina and Aguri, who embody her love for her father and her kingdom respectively, and her body transformed into the egg from which Ai emerged. Everyone assumed that she was sealed in a crystal until Aguri reveals the truth and Mana attempts to stop her and Regina from killing each other. After the final battle, Marie Ange's disembodied spirit explains that the process cannot be reversed and goes into the afterlife to join her mother, but tells them that her soul will live on through her splintered selves.

Voiced by: Yuka Imai (Japanese); Kate Higgins (English)

A mysterious winged baby who is based on the cupid. She hatched from a large egg Joe found and Mana and the others took her in. using some Cure Loveads to look after her, such as milk bottles. After Aguri's debut, Ai is revealed to be her partner, who before the series' events gained the ability to transform into Cure Ace using the Love Eyes Palette. When Aguri was defeated by King Jikochu, Ai reverted to an egg and was separated from her, but later reunites with her after the Royal Crystals are gathered. She initially lives with Joe, but later uses her magic to convince Mana's family that she is her sister and stays at her house. She has various magical abilities, such as being able to weaken a Jikochu's influence, causing the opposite effect when in a bad mood. She is later revealed to have been created from Marie's body after she splintered her Psyche.

Jikochu

The Jikochu (ジコチュー, lit. "selfishnesses", Saban: Mercenares) are led by the king of Trump Kingdom, who was possessed by an ancient darkness called the Proto Jikochu and became King Jikochu. goal is to turn selfish desires into "Janergy" (ジャネジー, Janejī) to revive their leader and create more of their kind. Each of the leaders and generals represent one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Leaders

Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka (Japanese); Patrick Seitz (English)

The leader of the Jikochu, who is be revealed to be Marie Ange's father: King Trump (キング トランプ, Kingū Toranpu, Saban: King of Splendorious). After she fell ill, he resolved to cure her, but when he unsealed the Eternal Golden Crown, it also released the Proto Jikochu, who possessed him. He then created an army of Jikochu from his subjects before his daughter sealed him in stone. His agents work to revive him using the energy from people's Psyches, eventually reviving him to invade Earth. It was revealed that King Trump still exists with King Jikochu, with Marie Ange's incarnation extracting him before the Pretty Cure destroy King Jikochu, with only a fragment containing the Proto Jikochu remaining. In the aftermath, King Trump retires and Joe Okada is made the president of the Trump Kingdom after it becomes a republic. King Jikochu represents the sin of Pride.

Voiced by: Masami Iwasaki (Japanese); Ray Chase (English)

An evil entity sealed within the Eternal Golden Crown by the three legendary Pretty Cure ten millennia ago, who was released after its seal was broken by King Trump when he used the Eternal Golden Crown to find a way to cure his daughter Marie Ange, possessing the king and causing him to become King Jikochu. After King Jikochu is destroyed, the Proto Jikochu picks Bel as his new host before being killed for good by Cure Heart in her Pantheon Mode. Proto Jikochu represents original sin.

Voiced by: Kumiko Watanabe (Japanese); Cherami Leigh (English)

A mysterious, mischievous, spoiled and demanding girl, whose name is derived from the Latin for Queen. She serves as the Jikochu Trio's second-in-command while claiming to be King Jikochu's daughter. She is later revealed to have been born from Marie Ange's inner darkness, embodying her desire to protect her father, and has the ability to create Jikochu from selfless people. She briefly possessed the red Royal Crystal, which caused her to become more cruel and violent and have red eyes. After befriending Mana and the other girls, Regina begins to reconsider her actions, but her father brainwashes her back into evil. After being wounded in her battle with Cure Ace, she is put in sleep/suspended animation to revive her. In episode 38, she awakens and returns to lead the Jikochu Trio. In episode 39, she takes the Miracle Dragon Glaive after her feelings reach her father, which turns its power into the power of darkness. During the final battle, her origins are revealed and she remembers her friendship with Mana and the other Cures, and decides to switch sides and ally with the Pretty Cure to save King Trump and stop King Jikochu. At the end of the series, she turns over a new leaf and becomes an ally to the Pretty Cure, and starts attending Mana's school.

Media

Anime

The series aired on ABC and other ANN stations between February 3, 2013, and January 26, 2014. Marvelous AQL began releasing the series on DVD from May 29, 2013, and on Blu-ray Disc from September 27, 2013.

Saban Brands under its SCG Characters unit, produced an English dub of the series, titled Glitter Force: Doki Doki. The English dub abridged the original forty-nine episodes into thirty. The first season was released on Netflix on August 18, 2017, comprising 15 episodes and covering multiple languages. Doki Doki is the second series and last to be released under the Glitter Force brand following Toei's acquisition of the trademark from Saban Brands. However, Saban Brands was still credited with the production of the English dub. The show is currently licensed by Hasbro.

Films

The DokiDoki Pretty Cures made their theatrical debut in the Pretty Cure All Stars film, Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 2: Friends of the Heart (プリキュアオールスターズ New Stage 2 こころのともだち, PuriKyua Ōru Sutāzu Nyū Sutēji Tsū: Kokoro no Tomodachi), which was released in Japanese theatres on March 16, 2013, with an official soundtrack released on March 13, 2013. A film based on the series, titled DokiDoki! Precure the Movie: Mana's Getting Married!!? The Dress of Hope Tied to the Future (映画 ドキドキ!プリキュア マナ結婚!!? 未来につなぐ希望のドレス, Eiga DokiDoki! Purikyua: Mana Kekkon!!? Mirai ni Tsunagu Kibō no Doresu), was released on October 26, 2013, as well as the official soundtrack on October 23, 2013.

Music

The series uses three pieces of theme music, one opening theme and two ending themes. The opening theme is "Happy Go Lucky! DokiDoki! Precure" (Happy Go Lucky！ドキドキ！プリキュア, Happy Go Lucky! DokiDoki! Purikyua) by Tomoyo Kurosawa. The ending theme for the first 26 episodes is "Kono Sora no Mukō" (この空の向こう, "Beyond the Sky") whilst the ending theme for the remaining 23 episodes is "Love Link" (ラブリンク, Rabu Rinku), both performed by Hitomi Yoshida. The opening theme is composed by Chiho Kiyooka, the ending themes by Dr.Usui and the background music by Hiroshi Takaki. A character song album featuring songs performed by Kanako Miyamoto (as Cure Sword), titled "Songbird", was released by Marvelous AQL on May 29, 2013, alongside the original soundtrack's first volume, Pretty Cure Sound Love Link.

The first vocal soundtrack titled DokiDoki! PreCure Vocal Album 1 ~Jump up, GIRLS!~ (ドキドキ！プリキュア ボーカルアルバム1 ~Jump up, GIRLS!~, Dokidoki! PuriKyua Bōkaru arubamu 1 ~Jump up, GIRLS!~) was released on July 17, 2013. The second vocal album for the series entitled ~100% PRECURE DAYS☆~ was released on November 6, 2013. Then on November 20, the second original soundtrack for the series was released under the title Pretty Cure Sound Arrow. On January 15, 2014, the vocal best album for the series was released.

For Glitter Force: Doki Doki, Noam Kaniel (Noam) (who worked on X-Men, Code Lyoko, W.I.T.C.H., Power Rangers, Digimon Fusion, Miraculous Ladybug & Glitter Force) composed the "Glitter Force: Doki Doki Theme Song" and it was performed by the Asian girl group Blush, who previously performed the Glitter Force theme song, which is a remix of the original, and some lyrics were replaced.

Manga

A manga adaptation by Futago Kamikita began serialization in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine in March 2013 and ended in February 2014.

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.

Video games

The characters in the series appear in the dancing video game, PreCure All Stars: Everyone Gather Let's Dance! (プリキュアオールスターズ ぜんいんしゅうごう☆レッツダンス！, Purikyua Ōru Sutāzu Zen'in Shūgō Rettsu Dansu!), which was released for the Wii in Japan on March 28, 2013. A game based on the series, Dokidoki! PreCure Narikiri Life! (ドキドキ!プリキュア なりきりライフ!, Dokidoki! Purikyua Narikiri Raifu!), was released by Bandai for Nintendo 3DS on August 1, 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Doki Doki! PreCure para niños