Kirakira PreCure a la Mode

Kirakira ☆ PreCure a la Mode
Cover of the first Tankōbon volume of the manga adaptation, showing the six main Cures. From left to right: Cure Chocolat, Cure Gelato, Cure Parfait, Cure Custard, Cure Macaron and Cure Whip.
キラキラ☆プリキュアアラモード (Kirakira ☆ Purikyua Ara Mōdo)
Genre	Magical girl
Anime television series
Directed by	Kohei Kureta Yukio Kaizawa
Produced by	Akira Tanaka Risa Endō Yu Kaminoki
Written by	Hitoshi Tanaka
Music by	Yuki Hayashi
Studio	Toei Animation
Original network	ANN (ABC, TV Asahi)
Original run	February 5, 2017 – present
Episodes	26
Manga
Written by	Izumi Todo
Illustrated by	Futago Kamikita
Published by	Kodansha
Demographic	Shōjo
Magazine	Nakayoshi
Original run	March 2017 – present
Volumes	1
Anime film
Kirakira PreCure a la Mode the Movie: Crisply! The Memory of Mille-feuille! Petit☆Dream Stars! Let's・la・Cookin'? Showtime!
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	October 28, 2017

Kirakira PreCure a la Mode (Japanese: キラキラ☆プリキュアアラモード, Hepburn: Kirakira ☆ Purikyua Ara Mōdo, lit. "Glittering Pretty Cure à la Mode"), shortened as PuriAra (プリアラ)^{[note 1]} is a 2017 Japanese magical girl anime series created by Toei Company under the pseudonym Izumi Todo, and produced by Toei Animation. It's the fourteenth installment in the Pretty Cure franchise and the third series in the franchise to feature a 5-piece group since Yes! PreCure 5 and Smile PreCure. It is directed by Kohei Kureta and Yukio Kaizawa and written by Hitoshi Tanaka (Go! Princess PreCure, Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans). Character Designs are done by Marie Ino and anime cake and sweets designs are handled by pâtissière Junko Fukuda.^[1] The series began airing on all All-Nippon News Network stations in Japan on February 5, 2017, succeeding Maho Girls PreCure! in its initial timeslot.^[2] The series's main themes are happiness, teamwork and imagination, with elements of animals and desserts.

Plot

Ichika Usami is a second year middle school student who loves sweets and wishes to work in a patisserie, but struggles to make anything good. One day, she encounters a fairy named Pekorin, who is able to detect Kirakiraru, an element residing in sweets that represent the feelings put into them. However, Gummy, an evil fairy of the Kirakiraru Thieves, seeks to steal the Kirakiraru, making himself stronger while leaving the sweets black and lifeless. Determined to protect the sweets, Ichika gains the power of the Legendary Patisserie, becoming a Pretty Cure to defeat Gummy and recover the stolen Kirakiraru. Joined by five other Pretty Cures, Ichika beings life as a patisserie-in training at the mobile Kira Kira Patisserie shop, dealing with the Kirakiraru Thieves as the KiraKira Pretty Cure. But the girls soon learn that the Kirakiraru Thieves were manipulated by another enemy.^[3]

Characters

Main characters

Ichika Usami (宇佐美 いちか, Usami Ichika) / Cure Whip (キュアホイップ, Kyua Hoippu)^[4]

Voiced by: Karen Miyama^[5]

The main protagonist, a confident 14 years old second year middle school student who wishes to become a pastry chef when she grows up. Very cheerful and energetic as a rabbit, she loves sweets and desserts but struggles with actually making them as perfect or good as possible. Her mother works overseas as a doctor, leaving her father who runs a Dojo as her caretaker until she returns home. Though her baking skills are not perfect, her determination and heart were in the right place, which fueled her resolve in becoming a Pretty Cure. As Cure Whip, she is the Pretty Cure of cheerfulness and smiles, spotting a rabbit and strawberry shortcake motif.^[6] She uses her Rabbit-like instincts for enhanced hearing and powerful jumping ability. Also, she utilizes her Sweets Pact as a weapon, using the wand to create a pink cream lasso to attack or grapple enemies. She later uses the Candy Rod to perform her new attack, Whip Decoration, in episode 12. Her Animal Sweet is the Rabbit Shortcake and her theme color is pink.

Himari Arisugawa (有栖川 ひまり, Arisugawa Himari) / Cure Custard (キュアカスタード, Kyua Kasutādo)^[4]

Voiced by: Haruka Fukuhara^[5]

A 14 years old classmate of Ichika, she is a hard-working second year middle school student. She is shown to be shy yet very knowledgeable, sometimes been known to be fast and light as a Squirrel. While working on the shop, she is very knowledgeable about sweets and pastries, often being referred to as a "Sweets Professor". As Cure Custard, she is the Pretty Cure of intelligence and courage, spotting a squirrel and pudding motif.^[6] Her squirrel abilities allow her to use lightning-like abilities and superspeed to make her run extremely fast. Her upgraded attack is Custard Illusion when using the Candy Rod. Her Animal Sweet is the Squirrel Pudding and her theme color is yellow.

Aoi Tategami (立神 あおい, Tategami Aoi) / Cure Gelato (キュアジェラート, Kyua Jerāto)^[4]

Voiced by: Tomo Muranaka^[5]

A 14 years old second year middle school student and another classmate of Ichika, who is known to be enthusiastic and brave like a lion. She is a lead vocalist of Wild Azur, a rock band and loves to sing. When managing the shop, her strength comes in handy as well as her support. It is later revealed that she is a heiress to the Tategami family's immense wealth. As Cure Gelato, she is the Pretty Cure of freedom and passion, sporting a lion and ice cream motif.^[6] Her lion abilities allow her to use ice powers and lion's roar to freeze the enemy. Her upgraded attack is Gelato Shake when using the Candy Rod. Her Animal Sweet is the Lion Ice-cream and her theme color is blue.

Yukari Kotozume (琴爪 ゆかり, Kotozume Yukari) / Cure Macaron (キュアマカロン, Kyua Makaron)^[4]

Voiced by: Saki Fujita^[5]

A 17 years old noble second year high school student who is known for her beauty, but can be quite selfish and arrogant at times like a cat. Though a bit intimidating, she only uses her skills in the shop when bored. But when with Ichika's support, she then starts to enjoy her job and now supports the group. As Cure Macaron, she is the Pretty Cure of beauty and excitement, spotting a cat and a macaron motif with elements from "Musumeyaku (娘役, "Daughter's Role") actresses of Takarazuka Revue.^[6] Her cat-like abilities allows her to have better reflexes in battle, making her more nimble. Her upgraded attack is the Macaron Julien when using the Candy Rod. Her Animal Sweet is the Cat Macaron and her theme color is purple.

Akira Kenjo (剣城 あきら, Kenjō Akira) / Cure Chocolat (キュアショコラ, Kyua Shokora)^[4]

Voiced by: Nanako Mori^[5]

A 17 years old gentle second year high school student who has a boyish appearance that is unknown to others why. She is very nice and a strong sense of justice like a loyal dog, often times being a good person to rely on. Akira has knowledge on places and has a sick younger sister named Miku who she tends to cheer up and is very protective of.. She moved to Ichika's neighborhood in order to be closer to the hospital her sister stays at. As Cure Chocolat, she is the Pretty Cure of strength and love, spotting a dog and chocolate motif with elements from "Otokoyaku (男役, "Male Role") actresses of Takarazuka Revue.^[6] Her dog-like abilities allows her to have a better sense of smell in battle, making her more sensitive. Her upgraded attack is Chocolate Aromase when using the Candy Rod. Her Animal Sweet is the Dog Chocolate and her theme color is red.

Kirarin (キラリン, Kirarin) / Ciel Kirahoshi (キラ星 シエル, Kirahoshi Shieru) / Cure Parfait (キュアパルフェ, Kyua Parufe)

Voiced by: Inori Minase^[7]

A lamb-like fairy who is able to transform into a human. She became known as the Genius Patissiere after studying in France and recently returned to Japan for a demonstration. It is later revealed that she is Julio's sister, who was able to transform into a human after studying baking for a while, however, she reverts to her fairy form whenever she is hungry. As Cure Parfait, she is the Pretty Cure of dreams and hope, spotting a pegasus and parfait motif. Her attacks include Parfait Etoile and KiraKuru Rainbow, the latter being used to purify monsters. Both of these attacks require the Rainbow Ribbon. Her Animal Sweet is Pegasus Parfait and her theme color is cyan.

Pekorin (ペコリン)

Voiced by: Mika Kanai^[5][8][4]

A chubby and spoiled lamb fairy who loves sweets and resides at Mount Ichigo. The color of her ears changes based on her emotions (e.g. Pink if she is happy and blue if she is sad).

Antagonists

Noir (ノワール, Nowāru)

Voiced by: Yoku Shioya^[9]

The main antagonist of the series. A demon who is wearing a mask and a robe.

Gummy (ガミー, Gamī)

Voiced by: Yūji Ueda^[9]

Gummy is a tempering dark purple lizard-like fairy who is the leader of the Kirakiraru Thieves (キラキラルをうばう存在, Kirakiraru o Ubau Sonzai), a group of ten fairies bewitched by the belts Juilo gave them while instilling the notion in them to gain power by stealing Kirakiraru from pastries. Each member targets a different type of pastry, like Gummy going after cakes, absorbing the Kirakiraru to become monstrous versions of themselves were the Precure team defeat. When the Kirakiraru Thieves all attack the sweets festival, they were combined into a powerful version of Gummy by Julio to overpower the Precures. But the thieves were restored by the Candy Rod while freed from Julio's influence, the group later apologizing for their actions.

Julio (ジュリオ, Jurio) / Pikario (ピカリオ, Pikario)

Voiced by: Junko Minagawa^[9][7]

Originally a lamb-like fairy, Pikario is Kirarin's twin brother who fell into a depression as he could match Kikarin's baking skills. As a result, he grew to hate sweets and was transformed into the human Julio by Noir by taking the Kirakiraru from his heart. However, any sweet Pikario would make from then on would turn bad. The taken Kirakiraru was then transformed into a black rod he can transform into any type of weapon depending of the type of sweet that absorbed Kirakiraru originated from. Revealed to be the one who influenced the Kirakiraru Thieves into being evil, Julio assumes the identity of a transfer student named Rio Kuroki (黒樹 リオ, Kuroki Rio) to spy on the Precure team as Ichika's classmate. He discovered the Cures' identities during their second confrontation. He believes that all his intention are part of his experiment. After being exposed by Yukari after she discovered that he had been gathering information about the Cures, Ciel revealed her brother's true identity before he is restored by the Cures. When Noir attempts to kill Ciel, Pikario sacrifices himself for his sister so she can complete her parfait while giving her his rod as it transformed into the Rainbow Ribbon. He is currently recovering in the shrine.

Bibury (ビブリー, Biburī)

Voiced by: Chiemi Chiba^[9]

A girl who takes over after Julio loses to the Cures. She spreads rumors about the Kirakira Patisserie during her first appearance so she could sabotage their business, but was foiled by Yukari and her fangirls. She also is seen carrying a doll named Iru (イル, Iru) that can be used to absorb Kirakiraru from people and sweets to enlarge itself to fight the Cures. When it gets purified, it turns back into its regular size. Bibury can also use her own Kirakiraru to merge into Iru, becoming part of the doll.

Elissio (エリシオ, Erishio)

Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa^[9]

A charismatic man who always carrying a tarot cards, mostly doing research about the Cures' weakness before planning an attack. He can also use his cards as projectile.

Glaive (グレイブ, Gureibu)

Voiced by: Hisao Egawa^[9]

A fierce man with a blonde hair who owns a purple car that can absorbs Kirakiraru.

Nendo Monster (ネンドモンスター, Nendo Monsutā)

Voiced by: Shunichi Maki

Glaive's personal foot soldiers. They can also fuses themselves into a giant form to fight the Cures.

Card Monster (カードモンスター, Kādo Monsutā)

Voiced by: Shunichi Maki

Elissio's personal monsters. They are summoned by Elissio by using his cards and fuses with other objects.

Secondary characters

Elder (長老, Chōrō)

Voiced by: Yū Mizushima^[10]

An elderly goat-like fairy who resides at Mount Ichigo. He takes the form of a spirit following the cream explosion and entrusted the protection of Kirakiraru to the Cures. He can also assume a human form that looks like an elderly man, acting as the shop's owner.

Genichiro Usami (宇佐美 源一郎, Usami Genichirō)

Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda^[7]

Ichika's father who runs a family-owned dojo. He is very good at martial arts and knows his daughter's feelings.

Satomi Usami (宇佐美 さとみ, Usami Satomi)

Voiced by: Yuriko Yamaguchi^[7]

Ichika's mother who works as a nurse overseas. She often comes home to Japan to give Ichika sweets she bought.

Miku Kenjo (剣城 みく, Kenjō Miku)

Voiced by: Kaede Hondo^[7]

Akira's younger sister who is hospitalized for an unknown illness.

Shino Kotozume (琴爪 しの, Kotozume Shino)

Voiced by: Yuri Amano^[7]

Yukari's grandmother.

Classmates

• Wataru Izumi (和泉 わたる, Izumi Wataru) Voiced by: Takaaki Kojima

He is good at sports.^[7]

• Hiroki Nakano (中野 ひろき, Nakano Hiroki) Voiced by: Makoto Kaneko

He is described as a lively mood maker.^[7]

• Risa Kagurazaka (神楽坂 りさ, Kagurazaka Risa) Voiced by: Ayano Shibuya

She has short brown hair and is bright and cheery.^[7]

• Junko Mitsuoka (光岡 じゅんこ, Mitsuoka Junko) Voiced by: Rie Hikisaka

She has brown hair in short pigtails. She is kind of laid-back.^[7]

Wild Azur

Schoolmates who are in a band. They include:^[7]

• Kei Sonobe (園部 けい, Sonobe Kei) Voiced by: Shunichi Maki, the leader and bass player.^[7]
• Ryuta Yokokawa (横川 りゅうた, Yokokawa Ryūta) Voiced by: Masatomo Nakazawa, on electric guitar.^[7]
• Sara Asaka (浅香 さら, Asaka Sara) Voiced by: Momoko Soyama, on drums.^[7]

Ayane Misaki (岬 あやね, Misaki Ayane)

Voiced by: Machico^[7]

A rock vocalist who Aoi admires. She is in a band called Ganache.^[7]

Mariko Himukai (日向 まりこ, Himukai Mariko)

Voiced by: Yukiyo Fujii^[7]

The daughter of the shopkeeper of the Sugar sweets shop. She wears her hair in a bun. She is known as the Madonna of the Ichigozaka shopping district.^[7]

Three Stars Cat (三ツ星にゃんこ, Mitsuboshi Nyanko)

Voiced by: Miina Obata^[7]

A cat that frequents the patisserie shops. He has dark fur with a white chest and three white stars on his forehead. He is said to bring good luck to the shop he visits.^[7]

Emiru Kodama (児玉 えみる, Kodama Emiru)

Voiced by: Eri Suzuki^[7]

An elementary school student who visits the patisserie. She has short brown hair and wears a beret. She is from Ichigozaka.^[7]

Daisuke Tatsumi (辰巳 だいすけ, Tatsumi Daisuke)

Voiced by: Junji Majima^[7]

He wears a red jacket, a green shirt, blue jeans, and a baseball cap. He also visits the patisserie.^[7]

Midori Nakamura (中村 みどり, Nakamura Midori)

Voiced by: Akemi Satō^[7]

A school teacher at Ichigozaka. She has shoulder-length brown hair and wears glasses.^[7]

Mitsuyoshi Mizushima (水嶌 みつよし, Mizushima Mitsuyoshi)

Voiced by: Takuya Satō^[7]

The chief butler of Tategami Konzern.

Prince Nata (ナタ王子, Nata Ōji)

Voiced by: Kōsuke Toriumi^[7]

A Prince from the Duchy of Confeito. He claims to have fallen for Yukari at first sight and sees Akira as a rival for her affection, unaware that Akira is a girl.

Production

The series was first registered by Toei at the Japanese Copyright Office on October 25, 2016.^[11] A month after registration, Toei opened a teaser site for the series with the catchphrase "Create, Taste and Battle!".^[12][13] On December 26, 2016, Toei updated the official website with main characters and staff, alongside the two theme songs and the official release date, also marking as the third series in the franchise to utilize a 5-piece group. It was also confirmed that the main characters were all running a sweets shop^[14] and although it will still feature battle scenes like its predecessor, Kira Kira will have a different style of fight scenes called Colorful Pop Battles in order to fit with the series's theme.

In an interview with the team behind the series, they expressed a lot of concepts being used and adapted in the series. The producers stated that the 5-piece team concept was used after 10 years in order to differentiate it from the previous series, Maho Girls PreCure! which uses the "Buddy Concept". The motif of the series was decided also by the producers due to the choices are being taken. Producer Yu Kaminoki said that "Running a Sweets Shop/bakery is one of many girls have dreamed of when they grow up, and that is a good theme for the next series. However deciding on how fighting elements would fit in a Dessert-themed series is hard and is not compatible with Pretty Cure or any fighting girls series" and also stated "using Animals as a secondary morif could help balance the first motif of the series and is possible with imagination, to actually make the series work than just using Sweets as the series's motif". Also, the producer said that "Animal mofif would extend to the main character, Ichika, who decorates and creates desserts with an animal motif due to her huge imagination."^[15]

While discussing the staff, the producer said that Kohei Kureta and Yukio Kaizawa were chosen to direct the series, as a way to lessen the burden in production due to coming up with newer concepts. Yukio Kaizawa was also chosen due to his work with Cure Flora and the Mischievous Mirror short film and that he said that he wanted to incorporate new ideas into the series as director. Kaizawa also stated that it was his first time to direct a series in Toei's Sunday morning lineup since joining the staff and that directing alongside Kohei Kureta would be a challenge. Kureta was grateful that he can work with him. Despite working together, both directors will direct the series in different episodes and both will have responsibility for how the series will turn out.^[15]

For the characters, the staff made each of their personalities unique in order to match the animal motif of the series. The most unique one to stand out is Akira, in which the producers based her overall role to the "Otokoyaku (男役, "Male Role") actresses of Takarazuka Revue, a theatrical group owned by Hankyu Corporation. Nanako Mori said that her experience with the group in the past is the inspiration for her role in the anime and that playing a big sister in the series is a first.^[16]

Media

Anime

The anime began airing on All-Nippon News Network stations in Japan, including ABC and TV Asahi, on February 5, 2017, replacing the previous series, Maho Girls PreCure!, in its initial timeslot.^[6] The opening theme is "SHINE!! Kirakira ☆ PreCure a la Mode" (SHINE！！キラキラ☆プリキュアアラモード, SHINE！！ Kirakira ☆ Purikyua Ara Mōdo) by Yuri Komagata, while the ending theme for the first 22 episodes is "Let's La Cooking☆Showtime" (レッツ・ラ・クッキン☆ショータイム, Rettsu Ra Kukkin ☆ Shōtaimu) by Kanako Miyamoto.^[17][18] From episode 23, a second ending theme is used called "Shubidubi☆Sweets Time" (シュビドゥビ☆スイーツタイム, Shubidubi ☆ Suītsu Taimu) by Miyamoto. The music of the series is composed by Yuki Hayashi (My Hero Academia, Haikyū!!, Gundam Build Fighters). The first single of the series was released on March 1, 2017 along with the first official soundtrack on May 31, 2017 titled Precure Sound Decoration!!

Films

The characters of the series appeared alongside characters from Go! Princess PreCure and Maho Girls PreCure! in the crossover film, Pretty Cure Dream Stars!, which was released in Japan on March 18, 2017.^[19] A film based on the series, titled Kirakira PreCure a la Mode the Movie: Crisply! The Memory of Mille-feuille! (映画 キラキラ☆プリキュアアラモード パリッと！想い出のミルフィーユ！, Eiga Kirakira ☆ Purikyua Ara Mōdo: Paritto! Omoide no Mirufīyu!), including a fully CG animated short titled Petit☆Dream Stars! Let's・la・Cookin'? Showtime! (Petit☆ドリームスターズ！レッツ・ラ・クッキン？ショータイム！, Puchi ☆ Dorīmu Sutāzu! Rettsu Ra Kukkin? Shōtaimu!) to be released on October 28, 2017.

Manga

The manga adaptation of the anime was serialized in the March 2017 issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine, written and illustrated by Futago Kamikita. The first tankōbon was released on August 10, 2017.^[20]

Notes

References

External links

• Official website at Toei Animation (in Japanese)
• Kirakira PreCure a la Mode (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia