by The 18th work of the Pretty Cure series, “Tropical-Rouge! “Pretty Cure” (from now on, “Tropical-Ju”) ended on January 30th.
The Pretty Cure series is an anime work that mainly targets young girls, but in recent years it has become a topic of adults from social significance, such as gender perspective. “HUG! Pretty Cure” started in 2018! Many people may remember the development of “Pretty Cure” (from now on “HUG!”) That “even boys can become Pretty Cure.” In addition, the understanding of diversity and avant-garde decision-making that appear in Precure was inspiring even for adults.
However, “Tropical-Rouge!” It was a work that was relatively rarely talked about in terms of social significance. However, that does not mean that “Tropical-Rouge!” It was a work with a weak message. Instead, I would like to say that we are on another mainstream of Precure, which is different from the direction of “fighting the oppression of society.”
The other main point is the importance and difficulty of finding “what I want to do.”
“Tropical-Jupricure” Episode 46 from the official website
A different route from in “HUG! First, I will briefly introduce the outline of “Tropical-Rouge!”. Laura, a selfish mermaid who aims to become the queen of the sea, comes to the human world in search of a “Pretty Cure” to save her pinch of the sea. She meets Manatsu Natsuumi, the main character of a human being. Manatsu and Laura meet various friends at school, wake up as Precure and fight against the witches of the sea.
At first, she was a mermaid Laura who thought only about herself. Still, in the process of deepening relationships with her human companions, she grew up personally with each other and found out what they wanted to do. I will try and error.
If the route to fight social oppression such as “HUG!” It is named, the central theme of “Tropical-Ju” can be said to be. I think.
Repeatedly saying, “I’ll do the most important thing now!”, The characters will realize what they want to do in cooperation with the people in the school and the city.
For example, visiting Manatsu’s hometown, interacting with locals, realizing a meteor shower to fulfil the wishes of her friends, and having the opportunity to experience the modelling business that she had dreamed of, but on that path. I decided not to proceed. Some characters needed to prepare to realize what they wanted to do or who hadn’t decided what they wanted to do in the first place. They have in common that finding what they want to do and doing it is not easy, and they have internal conflicts.
This “vs. Difficulty of self-determination” line is a theme that has appeared several times in the Pretty Cure series but compared to is compared to being talked about in the adult world. It can be said that there were a few points.
However, in recent years, the Precure series has dealt with and almost alternately.
Easy to understand that “boy” transforms into Pretty Cure
Let’s take a look at recent works as an example.
“HUG!”, Which started broadcasting in 2018, was a work with a child-rearing motif, and the motif of the enemy organization was a black company. (Although it is not explicitly stated as an “enemy” in work, it is expressed as this for convenience to explain the structure)
The scene in which the character “Henri Wakamiya,” described as “boy,” transforms into Pretty Cure has become a big topic beyond the boundaries of fans. Due to the tailwind of this topic, Henri is ranked 12th in the “Character” category in the “All Precure Grand Voting” recruited by NHK in 2019.
The perspective of black companies and gender diversity was the theme of modern society, and the existence of “enemy” was easy to understand. It was easy for adults to talk about it.
Also, “Healin’Good Precure” (from now on, “Healin’Good Precure”), which started broadcasting in 2020, was designed with a medical motif. Still, at the end of the game, an enemy character fell into a pinch and asked the hero for help. The refusal of the main character shocked the viewer. It can be said that there was a look at the problem of women and care, where the general stereotype that “the healer should help those in need with a generous heart” was rejected.
I feel that it is often the case that Precure is a hot topic among adults in the news, such as vs. Social oppression. The information is only one aspect of the viewer’s impressions, and the whole picture drawn by the production team of the work is not limited to this, but there was a discussion that linked to such a common topic.
It is often said that “Pretty Cure updates its values according to the times,” and this perspective is especially intensely conscious when drawing. Nowadays, the belief that significant works, even fiction, need to be considered for social issues and political legitimacy has spread. I think the production team has been trying to meet the expectation that “Pretty Cure must play a social role because many children watch it.”
Reasons for dealing with themes that are hard to talk about
Comparing here, and are contrasting concepts.
is easy to connect to existing issues such as diversity, gender, and human rights, and it is easy to discuss with adults. As a result, when it comes to news and articles, it is an area where problems can easily be raised, even for those who do not usually watch Precure or anime in general.
On the other hand, the work that depicts has a significant part that is completed within the individual, and the unique values and virtues established in the work world are drawn precisely and elaborately over a year. I can. It leaves a deep impression on the fans who enjoyed the work, but there are few cases connected to social problems and spreads to the general public.
However, as mentioned above, the Pretty Cure series seems to have dealt with almost every other year. That’s because the Pretty Cure series feels the same or even more important value as socially talked about in the problem of.
For example, “Kirakira Pretty Cure A La Mode” (after this “Ala Mode”), which started broadcasting in 2017, and “Star Twinkle PreCure” (after this “Star Twinkle”), which began broadcasting in 2019, is his <vs. The difficulty of self-determination. I think it was a work depicting ＞. These works were published in the wrong place with “HUG!” In 2018 and “Healing” in 2020.
“A la mode” sang “I love and connect” and emphasized the importance of love in cooking. It does not mean that the main characters suffer from the social role expected of their surroundings or that there are enemies who play a role in suppressing the primary feelings.
Akari Yanagikawa, the producer of “Star Twinkle,” which depicts the importance of believing in one’s senses and emotions with the theme of the universe, said about the music, “Face things with rich imagination, see with your own eyes, think with your head, and yourself. The importance of making judgments in the universe “(article).
“Tropical-Rouge!” It is a series of works in these series, and I think it is one of the mainstream of Precure.
Conflict of “Precure to be suppressed, enemy to be suppressed.”
Suppose the motif is, a binary opposition will be created in work: “Pretty Cure of the oppressed protagonists and the oppressing enemy.” In addition, we are dealing with themes that are already problematic in society, and we tend to get caught up in the existing context. I can’t imagine all the people thoughts who worked on it, but the viewer can’t completely forget the current social issues.
On the other hand, her work depicting does not have such restrictions, making it easier for viewers to discuss their impressions freely.
Paradoxically, it may even be said that the work depicts realizes the theme of freedom.
Of course, seeing Precure in connection with discussions on social issues is one way of looking at it, and it will be a unique pleasure. The subject of the difficulty of making choices and decisions on your own, not just oppressors, is also one of the essences of the fun that Precure inherits.
And some of the long Pretty Cure series has both the themes of and.
For example, in 2013, “Pounding! “Pretty Cure” and 2015 “Go! In “Princess Pretty Cure,” I feel that the two themes were beautifully fused.
These are works a little before “HUG!” Etc. Perhaps the production team has intentionally separated the two themes of and, which they have cherished for a long time, in recent years. May have.
The new series “Delicious Party Pretty Cure” that started on February 6th, has a motif of meals and dishes. According to the alternating law mentioned in the text, this year may depict, but You can also see the road to the route.
Precure is a series that often takes a year to land in places that cannot be imagined from the start. “Delicious Party” seems to spend a year as a viewer looking forward to future development.
