Fresh Pretty Cure! or Fresh PreCure!, is a Japanese anime series and the sixth in the Pretty Curemetaseries by Izumi Todo, featuring the fourth generation of Cures. Produced by Toei Animation, the series was directed by Junji Shimizu and written by Atsushi Maekawa. Character designs were created by Hisashi Kagawa. The series aired on TV Asahi's ANN network between February 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010, replacing Yes! PreCure 5 Go Go! in its initial time slot, and was succeeded by HeartCatch PreCure!. Fresh Pretty Cure marks the franchise's first ever expansion outside its target-audience demographic of young girls, as well as the first to introduce CG-animated end credits focused on dance routines. The series' main topics involve traditional playing-card suits, fruits and clovers, symbols that are associated with the Cures, magical devices and attacks used by the series characters.
Story
Love Momozono is a 14-year-old student at Yotsuba Junior High School who at her own expense, one day, visits a show by the well-known Trinity dance company and decides to become a dancer. A series of events unfolds, leading her to begin her life as a protector of all worlds.
The Sweets Kingdom is a parallel world from where this season's fairies originate. ;Tart ;Chiffon Infinity ;Azukina ;Tiramisu
Labyrinth
The series' villains are known collectively as denizens of Labyrinth. Their names are derived from the cardinal points of the compass. The episodic monsters are Nakewameke, Nakisakebe, and Sorewatase, the last one a radar for finding Infinity. ;Moebius ;Westar Hayato Nishi ;Soular Shun Minami ;Northa Nayuta Kita ;Klein
Clover Town Street is a shopping street where the three major Cures live. ;Miyuki ;Kaoru ;Daisuke Chinen ;Yūki Sawa ;Kento Mikoshiba ;Reika and Nana
Media
Anime
The anime series was directed by Junji Shimizu and Akifumi Zako, and aired in Japan on ABC and other ANN stations between February 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010. It has four pieces of theme music: two opening and two ending themes. The opening theme for episodes the first 25 episodes is "Let's! Fresh Pretty Cure" by Mizuki Moie, and the ending theme is "You make me happy!" by Momoko Hayashi. For episodes 26–50 the opening theme is "Let's! Fresh Pretty Cure! ~Hybrid Version~" by Mizuki Moie and Momoko Hayashi, and the ending theme is "H@ppy Together" by Momoko Hayashi. The anime later reaired on TV Asahi's cable channel, TeleAsa Channel 1, in April 2018.
Films
A film, based on the series, entitled Movie Fresh Pretty Cure! The Kingdom of Toys has Lots of Secrets!? premiered in Japan October 31, 2009. The heroines also appeared in Pretty Cure All Stars films, beginning with Pretty Cure All Stars DX: Everyone's Friends☆the Collection of Miracles! released March 14, 2009.
Despite being a shift on the franchise's formula, the series was a success back in the 2009, which saved the franchise from its cancellation. Series headwritter Atsushi Maekawa stated on the Pretty Cure Thanksgiving Screening Event vol. 2 in Japan that "Fresh was a new experimental work, and it was my first time participating in the series, so it was a case of trial and error over and over again. If Fresh had failed, the series would've ended there. If it was a success, it would've continued forever... that was the high hurdle."
