Heartcatch Pretty Cure!

Heartcatch Pretty Cure! (ハートキャッチプリキュア！ Hātokyacchi Purikyua!?) is the seventh anime series of the Pretty Cure franchise. Directed by Nagamine Tatsuya and produced by Toei Animation, the series premiered on February 7th, 2010, succeeding Fresh Pretty Cure! on its timeslot. The series theme is fashion, flowers and their true definitions of Hanakotoba (花言葉 "flower language"?) (e.g. the Forget-me-nots represents true love).
The series is famous for its unique character design by Umakoshi Yoshihiko and is one of the most successful Pretty Cure series, regarding merchandise and viewership.
== Synopsis ==
During the car trip to her new home, the introverted flower lover Hanasaki Tsubomi has a strange and mysterious dream, where the legendary warrior known as Cure Moonlight is defeated at the base of the "Great Tree of Hearts". Because of this, all the beautiful plants are destroyed, and two fairies from the Tree of Hearts take off.
It soon turns out to be real, and the fairies appear next to her. They want her to become the legendary warrior Pretty Cure and collect Heart Seeds in order to prevent the Great Tree of Hearts, the source of all human hearts, from dying. But Tsubomi, unsure of herself, thinks she is unable to do so and refuses. However, an enemy attacks her classmate Kurumi Erika and takes away her Heart Flower. To save Erika's heart, Tsubomi summons the courage she needs and transforms into the Pretty Cure warrior, Cure Blossom.
== Characters ==
=== Pretty Cure ===
* Hanasaki Tsubomi (花咲つぼみ?) Tsubomi is a second year junior high school student who just moved to Kibougahana City. She lives in a flower shop in which her parents run and her grandmother owns a botanical garden. Tsubomi loves flowers so much that she insists on joning the Gardening Club but instead joins the Fashion Club after getting to know Erika. Despite her complex with her withdrawn nature, she strives to change herself when transferring schools. Strangely, Tsubomi is good at proverbs and four-character idioms since she was raised by her grandmother when she was young while her parents were busy with work. Her catchphrase is "I can't stand it anymore!" (「私、堪忍袋の緒が切れました！」?). Together with Chypre, Tsubomi can transform into Cure Blossom (キュアブロッサム?).
* Kurumi Erika (来海えりか?) Erika is a second year junior high school student who loves fashion. Her father is a proffessional cameraman and her mother is the owner of the fashion shop called "Fairy Drop" in which Erika lives. Erika is a cheerful and positive girl who immediately says what she thinks, which can be a fly in the ointment. She has a complex with her beautiful and stylish older sister. Her catchphrase is "Even someone like me, with a heart wider than the ocean, is at her limit!" (「海より広いあたしの心も、ここらが我慢の限界よ！」?). Together with Coffret, Erika can transform into Cure Marine (キュアマリン?).
* Myoudouin Itsuki (明堂院いつき?) Itsuki is a second year junior high school student and everyone's longing student council president. Itsuki is also the granddaughter of the president of the school. She practicing everyday in order to follow the footsteps of the Myoudouin style on behalf of her sick older brother, so Itsuki is dressed like a boy at school but in fact, likes cute things. After meeting Tsubomi and Erika, she learns to be honest to what she likes. Her catchphrase is "I will heal the darkness in your heart with my light!" (「その心の闇、私の光で照らしてみせる! 」?). Together with Potpourri, Itsuki can transform into Cure Sunshine (キュアサンシャイン?).
* Tsukikage Yuri (月影ゆり?) Yuri is a smart and good-looking second year high school student who has a calm personality. Her cold behavior towards Tsubomi and the others begin to change gradually once she interacts with them. Her catchphrase is "I'll keep fighting, for everyone's heart!" (「私は戦う, みんなの心のために！」?). Yuri was unable to tansform into a Pretty Cure again due to her sadness upon the loss of Cologne, her fairy partner. But, with the help of Cure Blossom, Cure Marine, Cure Sunshine, Cologne, and the Heart Tree, she overcomes her trauma and transforms back into Cure Moonlight (キュアムーンライト?).
=== Mascots ===
* Chypre (シプレ?) Chypre is Tsubomi's fairy partner who came to look for the Pretty Cures to save the Tree of Hearts. To Tsubomi, Chypre acts a lot like an older sister to her and she ends her sentences with ~desuu (「～ですぅ」?).
* Coffret (コフレ?) Coffret is Erika's fairy partner who joined Chypre in the search of the Pretty Cures. He acts more of a younger brother to Erika, having a playful personality as well as being cheeky and spoiled. He ends his sentences with ~desu (「～です」?).
* Master Coupe (コッペ様?) A superior fairy who is greatly admired by other fairies such as Chypre and Coffret, who lives in the botanical garden that Tsubomi's grandmother cares for. He does not talk but is always watching over Tsubomi and Erika. In the past, he was the Kaoruko's partner when she was Cure Flower. He has the ability to transform into Mysterious Guy.
* Potpourri (ポプリ?) Potpourri is Itsuki's fairy partner born from the Tree of Hearts. Since she is still a baby, she acts selfishly and can be a bother to Chypre and Coffret. Potpourri also posseses incredible protecting powers and ends her sentences with ~deshu (「～でしゅ」?)
* Cologne (コロン?) Cologne was Yuri's fairy partner who died during the battle against the Desert Apostle while trying to protect her. He is still watching over Yuri from the Tree of Hearts.
=== Desert Apostles ===
* Desertrian (デザトリアン Dezatorian?): Desertrians are the monsters used by the Desert Apostles, created by fusing an object with the wilting Heart Flower of a person.
* Kumojaki (クモジャキー Kumojakī?): The apparent leader of the three managers of the Desert Apostles. He trains a lot and is sometimes shown wielding a sword.
* Sasorina (サソリーナ Sasorīna?): The only female of the three managers of the Desert Apostles. She is a direct person and battles Pretty Cure with the fullest of her feelings. She can attack with her hair, like a scorpion tail.
* Cobraja (コブラージャ Koburāja?): The third member of the three managers of the Desert Apostles. He is a strong narcissist who thinks he is the most beautiful man in the universe. He always tries to look as beautiful as possible, even in battle.
* Snackey (スナッキー Sunakkī?): The underlings of the Desert Apostles, who are always hard-working. Cobraja seems to make the most use of them, having them assist him with things such as lighting and photography for impromptu photo shoots during his missions. In episode 39, the leader of the Snackeys, Boss Snackey, appears.
* Desert Devil: The Desert Devil is a powerhouse in Dune's army. He sends the Desert Devil to a thriving planet full of life, allowing it to turn the planet into an endless lifeless desert.
* Dark Cure (ダークプリキュア Dāku Purikyua?): A mysterious woman who has powers very much like those of Pretty Cure, including her own Tact. It is unknown if she is a real Pretty Cure or if she was merely created by Professor Sabaku to resemble and act like one. She has complete heterochromia, her left eye is light blue while her right eye, which she usually keeps closed, is yellow.
* Professor Sabaku (サバーク博士 Sabāku-hakase?): The acting main villain in the series. He is very mysterious, constantly keeping his face hidden beneath a mask. He usually has Dark Cure by his side.
* Dune (デューン Dyūn?): The actual leader of the Desert Apostles, who has been in deep sleep after he was defeated by Cure Flower.HPC20
=== Myoudou Academy Fashion Club ===
Kurumi Erika takes it upon herself to restart the Fashion Club, becoming its president. Along with Hanasaki Tsubomi and Myoudouin Itsuki, she eventually recruits the following people into the club:
* Sawai Naomi (沢井なおみ Sawai Naomi?)
* Sakuma Toshiko (佐久間としこ Sakuma Toshiko?)
* Kuroda Rumiko (黒田るみこ Kuroda Rumiko?)
* Shiku Nanami (志久ななみ Shiku Nanami?): Acting mother for her household, in the absence of her late mother. She joins the fashion club after Erika and Tsubomi (with the help of Nanami's little sister, Shiku Rumi) convince her that she needs to have her own life, too.
=== Light Music Club ===
* Ikeda Aya: Aya is a minor character in episode 36. She sings HEART GOES ON with her partner in the light music club, Kudou Mayu.
* Kudou Mayu: Mayu is a minor character in episode 1 and episode 36. She sings HEART GOES ON with her partner in the light music club, Ikeda Aya.
=== Others ===
* Hanasaki Kaoruko (花咲薫子 Hanasaki Kaoruko?): Tsubomi's grandmother, who Tsubomi often used to visit and stay with in the past. She used to be Pretty Cure in her youth, her Cure alias being Cure Flower (キュアフラワー Kyua Furawā?).
* Kurumi Momoka (来海ももか Kurumi Momoka?): Erika's 17-year-old sister. She is a charisma model for a fashion magazine and the source of Erika's complex, as she thinks Momoka is much more beautiful and mature than her. Her best friend/classmate is Yuri.
* Myoudouin Satsuki (明堂院さつき Myōdōin Satsuki?): Itsuki's older brother. He is sickly and hence Itsuki has to carry on their family tradition.
* Myoudouin Gentarou (明堂院厳太郎 Myōdōin Gentarō?): Itsuki's grandfather, he's the principal of Myoudou Academy and the leader of the town's local dojo.
* Myoudouin Tsubaki (明堂院つばき Myōdōin Tsubaki?): Itsuki's mother, she's the actual daughter of the principal Myoudouin Gentarou.
* Tsurusaki (鶴崎先生 Tsurusaki-sensei?): Tsubomi and Erika's homeroom teacher in Myōdō Academy, strict but reliable. She is afraid of ghosts, which she thinks is holding her back from her teaching.
== Items ==
* Heart Perfumes (ココロパフューム Kokoro Pafyūmu?) - Perfume bottles used to transform. Cure Sunshine has a Heart Perfume which is actually called the Shiny Perfume.
* Flower Tacts (フラワータクト Furawā Takuto?) - Wand like items used as weapons. The different types of Flower Tacts are named after their users; the Blossom Tact for Cure Blossom, the Marine Tact for Cure Marine, the Moon Tact for Cure Moonlight and the Dark Tact for Dark Cure. Cure Sunshine has an attack device called the Shiny Tambourine, but it is unknown if this is a Flower Tact.
* Heart Pot (ココロポット Kokoro Potto?) - The item that the Heart Seeds are stored in. Later in episode 33, the lid of the Heart Pot is used by Yuri to transform into Cure Moonlight.
* Heart Seeds (こころの種 Kokoro no Tane?, Seed of Heart) - They are born from cleansing people's Heart Flowers. They are stored in the Heart Pot. Some can be used for power-ups and calming the mind.
* Heartcatch Mirage (ハートキャッチミラージュ Hātokyacchi Mirāju?) - Is a jewelry box-like item that was used by all predecessors of Pretty Cures. It is extremely powerful and gives the Pretty Cures a boost of power, the ability to transport directly to the Tree of Hearts, show one's Heart Flowers and part of the Cure's Super Silhouette transformation. It resides in the Pretty Cure Palace, in which the Pretty Cure who ask for it will have to face the Pretty Cure before them.
* Shiny Tambourine (シャイニータンバリン Shainī Tanbarin?) - Is Cure Sunshine's main weapon. Different from the Flower Tact, its design is similar to a tambourine shaped like a sunflower. Allows her to use Gold Forte Burst and Shining Fortissimo along with Cure Blossom and Cure Marine.
== Locations ==
* Myoudou Academy's Junior High School (私立明堂学園 Shiritsu Myōdō Gakuen?) is the school that Tsubomi, Erika, Itsuki, and Yuri attend.
* Kibougahana (希望ヶ花 Kibōgahana?) is the town that Heartcatch Pretty Cure! is set in.
* Flower Shop Hanasaki (フラワーショップ花咲 Furawā Shoppu Hanasaki?) is Tsubomi, her parents and grandmother's flower shop and house.
* Fairy Drop (フェアリードロップ Fearī Doroppu?) is a two-story fashion store that sells accessories on the first floor and clothes on the second floor. The shop is run by Erika's parents and is connected to the Kurumi household, with Erika's room on the second floor. Clothing bought from Fairy Drop usually has the store's ribbon logo on it. It's located right next door to Flower Shop Hanasaki.
* Myoudouin Kobudo (明堂院流古武道 Myōdōin Kobudo?) is the martial arts studio home of the Myoudouin family, including daughter Itsuki.
* Desert Apostles (砂漠の使徒 Sabaku no Shito?) is the Desert Apostles base that consists of Kumojacky, Cobraja, Sasorina, Sabaku, Dark Pretty Cure, Baron Salamander (movie exclusive) and the leader Dune.
== International Dubs and Broadcasts ==
Heartcatch Pretty Cure except of being known for being succesful in merchandise and viewership, is also succesful in dubs, as it was acquired in 10 languages. Being the first series since Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart to have that amount of dubs.