Pretty Cure All Stars
Pretty Cure All Stars is a series of Japanese animated crossover films produced by Toei Animation as part of the long-running Pretty Cure magical girl anime franchise, in which teams of magical girls known as Pretty Cures from multiple television seasons unite to combat shared threats that endanger their worlds.[1][2] These films emphasize themes of friendship, teamwork, and heroism central to the franchise, often featuring large ensemble casts, spectacular transformation sequences, and combined attacks from dozens of characters.[3] The Pretty Cure franchise debuted in 2004 with Futari wa Pretty Cure, the first of now over 20 annual television seasons, each introducing new protagonists, settings, and storylines while maintaining the core concept of ordinary girls transforming into warriors to protect humanity from evil forces.[1] The All Stars series began in 2009 with Pretty Cure All Stars DX: Everyone's Friends – The Gathering of All Miracles!, marking the first full crossover of characters from prior seasons, and has since become a staple event, typically released alongside or near the end of the current season's run.[4] By 2023, the franchise had amassed more than 800 episodes across its seasons, with All Stars films showcasing escalating numbers of participants—culminating in Pretty Cure All Stars F, which included all 78 Pretty Cures from seasons up to Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure. As of 2025, the franchise has surpassed 1,000 episodes across its seasons.[5] Notable for their commercial success and cultural impact in Japan, the All Stars films often gross over a billion yen at the box office and tie into extensive merchandise lines from Bandai, including transformation toys and collectible figures that encourage fans to engage with the broader franchise. The series has evolved to incorporate spin-off crossovers like the New Stage trilogy, Dream Stars!, and Super Stars!, which focus on subsets of seasons while preserving the spirit of unity, and continues to draw international audiences through streaming platforms like Crunchyroll. As of 2025, with the ongoing You and Idol Pretty Cure season, the All Stars tradition remains a highlight for celebrating the franchise's enduring legacy of empowerment and adventure.Overview
Franchise Context
The Pretty Cure franchise is a Japanese magical girl anime series created by Izumi Todo under the production of Toei Animation, debuting on February 1, 2004, with the television series Futari wa Pretty Cure.[6] This inaugural installment introduced the core premise of ordinary girls gaining the power to transform into warriors known as Pretty Cure to combat dark forces threatening the world.[7] The franchise quickly established itself as a staple of Sunday morning children's programming on TV Asahi, blending action, fantasy, and character-driven storytelling targeted at young audiences. The structure of the Pretty Cure series revolves around annual television installments, each typically spanning 45 to 50 episodes and featuring 4 to 5 main Pretty Cure characters who form a team to fight episodic and overarching threats from evil organizations.[8] Complementing these are standalone seasonal films released in the fall, which expand on the year's storyline with self-contained adventures.[7] Beginning in 2009, the franchise incorporated annual crossover films under the Pretty Cure All Stars banner, uniting characters from multiple seasons to foster a shared universe while bridging generational appeal. By November 2025, the franchise has evolved to include 22 television seasons, with the most recent being You and Idol Pretty Cure, which premiered in February 2025, alongside over 30 films in total that encompass both seasonal and crossover entries. This longevity underscores its commercial success and cultural impact in Japan, with each season introducing fresh themes while maintaining foundational motifs.[8] Central to the franchise are signature elements such as dynamic transformation sequences that empower the protagonists, intense group battles against villainous entities from parallel realms, and recurring themes of friendship, perseverance, and hope that emphasize emotional growth and teamwork.[7] These components provide the narrative groundwork for crossovers, allowing diverse Cure teams to collaborate seamlessly across installments.[8]Core Concept and Evolution
The Pretty Cure All Stars series consists of annual theatrical films produced by Toei Animation, in which 20 to over 80 Cure characters from multiple television seasons unite to confront a common antagonist, originating as a special project to commemorate the franchise's fifth anniversary in 2009.[9] The inaugural film, Pretty Cure All Stars DX: Minna Tomodachi - Kiseki no Zen'in Daishuugou!, assembled Cures from the first five seasons for large-scale ensemble battles, establishing the crossover format as a fan-celebratory event distinct from individual season narratives.[2] The series evolved through distinct trilogies and phases, beginning with the DX trilogy (2009–2011), which emphasized epic confrontations among all available Cures against world-threatening foes. This shifted in the New Stage trilogy (2012–2014), where narratives centered on a fairy school environment and the power of emotional connections between Cures and new allies, as seen in invitations to Precure parties that foster interpersonal bonds.[10] Subsequent musical phases (2015–2016) incorporated song-and-dance focused stories, such as festivals in realms of harmony where Cures learn choreography to overcome challenges.[11] The digital era (2017–2020) integrated mobile app tie-ins and experimental visuals, while recent entries (2018–2023) have leaned into nostalgic reunions, like tributes to foundational duos, and meta-elements reflecting the franchise's legacy, culminating in the 20th anniversary film Pretty Cure All Stars F.[12] Unique to the All Stars films are recurring motifs, including massive ensemble casts that prioritize group dynamics over solo heroics, fan-service cameos from past seasons, and original villains such as Desperaia in the DX3 installment, who embodies despair to divide the heroes. Escalating collective attacks, often branded as "All Stars" finishers, symbolize unity, with attacks growing in scale to involve dozens of Cures channeling combined powers.[13] These elements reinforce themes of camaraderie across the franchise's alternate continuities. Production milestones include a gradual incorporation of 3D animation elements starting prominently post-2017, enhancing dance sequences and battle choreography in films like Pretty Cure Dream Stars!, which blended 2D and 3D for dynamic visuals. The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, notably postponing the 2020 release of Pretty Cure Miracle Leap: Min'na to no Fushigi na 1 Nichi multiple times before its October premiere, marking an adaptive pivot in scheduling amid global disruptions.[14]Films
DX Trilogy (2009–2011)
The DX Trilogy, comprising the first three Pretty Cure All Stars crossover films produced by Toei Animation, marked the franchise's expansion into large-scale ensemble narratives celebrating its early milestones. Released annually from 2009 to 2011, these films gathered Cures from multiple seasons for epic battles against original threats, emphasizing themes of unity and collective strength through magical artifacts. The inaugural entry, Pretty Cure All Stars DX: Everyone's Friends - The Collection of Miracles!, launched the series in 2009 to commemorate the franchise's fifth anniversary, featuring 14 Cures in a high-stakes confrontation involving miracle-collecting items.[2][15] In the 2009 film, Fresh Pretty Cure! protagonists Love Momozono (Cure Peach), Miki Aono (Cure Berry), and Inori Yamabuki (Cure Pine) become lost while heading to a dance contest in Yokohama's Minato Mirai district, only to encounter a monstrous entity that threatens the city.[2] This foe, revealed as the original antagonist Fusion—a amalgam of negative emotions—seeks to amass powerful miracle items scattered across worlds to amplify its destructive force.[2] Joined by 11 other Cures from prior seasons, including Nagisa Misumi (Cure Black) and Honoka Yukishiro (Cure White) from the original Futari wa Pretty Cure, the heroines collect these items and unite their signature attacks in a climactic battle, culminating in the use of Rainbow Miracle Lights to empower their final assault.[2][16] The second installment, Pretty Cure All Stars DX2: Light of Hope - Protect the Rainbow Jewel! (2010), escalates the scope with 26 Cures defending a pivotal artifact. HeartCatch Pretty Cure! leads Tsubomi Hanasaki (Cure Blossom) and Erika Kurumi (Cure Marine) discover their fairies have vanished, leading them to Fairy Park—a magical realm where all Cures convene.[17] There, they safeguard the Rainbow Jewel, a crystal embodying global hopes, from the ancient evil Bottom and its minions, Siren and Uranus, who aim to corrupt it after a millennium of dormancy.[17] The ensemble leverages the jewel's light to coordinate massive group assaults, highlighting synchronized transformations and attacks across teams.[17] Pretty Cure All Stars DX3: Deliver the Future! The Rainbow-Colored Flower That Connects the World (2011), the trilogy's finale, assembles a record 39 Cures as the 10th Pretty Cure movie overall, focusing on interdimensional connectivity. Suite Pretty Cure♪ members Hibiki Hojo (Cure Melody) and Kanade Minamino (Cure Rhythm) witness past villains merging into the supreme antagonist Despariah (voiced as Black Hole), who targets the Prism Flower—a bloom linking Earth to fairy realms—to sever these bonds and plunge worlds into despair.[18][19] The Cures, including veterans like Nozomi Yumehara (Cure Dream) and newcomers from Suite Pretty Cure♪, cultivate the flower's growth through shared resolve, deploying the Rainbow Bracelet to amplify a worldwide ensemble offensive.[18] These films introduced original antagonists unique to the crossovers—Fusion's emotional fusion, Bottom's corrupting influence, and Despariah's unifying darkness—contrasting series-specific foes and underscoring the power of alliance over individual heroism.[2][17][18] Artifacts like the Rainbow Bracelet and Prism Flower symbolized collective might, enabling mechanics such as shared power-ups and multi-team finishers that integrated dozens of attacks seamlessly.[20][18] The escalating cast sizes—from 14 in the first to 39 in the third—pioneered massive crossovers, blending characters from Futari wa Pretty Cure (2004) through Suite Pretty Cure♪ (2011).[16][19] Voice casting drew heavily on returning seiyū from early seasons, ensuring continuity and fan familiarity; for instance, Yōko Honna reprised Nagisa Misumi/Cure Black across all three films, while Yukana Nogami returned as Honoka Yukishiro/Cure White.[2][18] New villain roles featured talents like Kōichi Yamadera as Black Hole in DX3, adding gravitas to the threats.[18] Standouts included Nana Mizuki as Cure Blossom in DX2 and Ami Koshimizu as Cure Melody in DX3, bridging veteran and emerging voices.[17][18] Innovations in the trilogy included groundbreaking ensemble fight choreography, with directors like Takashi Otsuka coordinating fluid, large-group sequences that showcased simultaneous transformations and layered attacks without overwhelming the narrative.[2] DX3 notably incorporated fan-voted elements via a Toei character popularity poll, influencing spotlight moments for top-ranked Cures in battle formations.[21] This era's emphasis on spectacle paved the way for subsequent trilogies with more intimate dynamics.[18]New Stage Trilogy (2012–2014)
The New Stage Trilogy represents a pivotal evolution in the Pretty Cure All Stars series, emphasizing intimate explorations of friendship, emotional growth, and personal bonds over expansive ensemble battles. Released annually from 2012 to 2014, these films center on a select group of Cures interacting in the newly introduced Major Land, a fairy academy where mascots train to partner with Pretty Cures, allowing for deeper character interactions among approximately 10 to 20 key figures rather than the full roster of prior entries. This approach facilitated themes of time, inner emotions, and enduring connections, often resolved through collaborative puzzle-solving and heartfelt dialogues rather than prolonged combat sequences.[22] The first installment, Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage: Friends of the Future (2012), introduces the core premise through the story of Ayumi Sakagami, a shy transfer student in Yokohama who idolizes the Pretty Cures but struggles to form connections. Ayumi encounters Glitter, an amnesiac fairy from Major Land whose powers and memories have been scattered after a battle with the villain Bottom, who seeks to conquer the academy by instilling despair and erasing hope. As Ayumi helps Glitter recover fragments of her abilities—symbolizing pieces of the future—the Pretty Cures from recent seasons, including Cure Happy, Cure Sunny, and Cure Rhythm, converge to aid them, highlighting themes of future aspirations and supportive friendships that bridge timelines. The narrative spotlights non-lead characters like Cure Rhythm, whose growth in confidence and teamwork is underscored as she mentors Ayumi, ultimately transforming the girl into Cure Echo for a climactic unity attack against Bottom's forces. This film establishes the trilogy's reduced focus on select Cures from Smile Pretty Cure! and prior series, prioritizing emotional resolution via the Friendship Lantern item that amplifies bonds across time.[23] Building on this foundation, Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 2: Friends of the Heart (2013) delves into inner emotions within Major Land's fairy school, where mascots like Tarte deliver guest lectures on Pretty Cure partnerships. The Cures receive an invitation to a celebratory party at the academy, but en route, they face Shadow, a sorrowful entity born from isolated fairies' negative feelings, who traps them in emotional labyrinths that manifest their deepest insecurities. Original fairy ally Rico, a mischievous yet empathetic mascot trainee, joins forces with Cures such as Cure Peace, Cure March, and Cure Melody to navigate these heart-based puzzles, using the Heartiel Action item to synchronize emotions and break free. The story emphasizes dialogue-driven confrontations, where characters confront personal doubts—exemplified by Cure Rhythm's further development in embracing vulnerability—leading to a collective purification of Shadow through shared empathy rather than direct brawls. With a cast centered on DokiDoki! Pretty Cure and earlier teams, the film reinforces lasting heart bonds as the key to overcoming isolation.[24] The trilogy concludes with Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 3: Eternal Friends (2014), extending the academy motif as fairies EnEn and Gureru visit Earth to study the newest HappinessCharge Pretty Cure team, only to encounter Goose, a rogue fairy intent on trapping children—and subsequently all Cures—in idyllic dream worlds to preserve "eternal" but stagnant friendships. As nightmares spawned by Goose ensnare the Cures in personalized illusions reflecting their strongest desires, Cure Lovely and Cure Princess lead a rescue effort alongside allies like Cure Diamond and returning figures from prior films, employing the Eternal Friends Matinee device to weave unbreakable bonds that shatter the dreams. Themes of eternal companionship are explored through character arcs, including spotlights on supporting Cures' realizations about change within relationships, culminating in a unified awakening that defeats Goose without total reliance on physical confrontations. Featuring around 36 Cures but with narrative weight on 10-20 core participants from HappinessCharge Pretty Cure and select predecessors, the film solidifies the trilogy's legacy of puzzle-like emotional challenges and the Major Land setting as a hub for fairy-Cure dynamics.[25]Musical and Digital Films (2015–2020)
The Musical and Digital Films era of the Pretty Cure All Stars series, spanning 2015 to 2020, marked a shift toward integrating live-performance elements, song-and-dance sequences, and emerging digital technologies into crossover narratives, building on the emotional introspection of prior trilogies by emphasizing spectacle and interactivity. These films featured Cures from up to 14 seasons, blending battle action with musical numbers to promote themes of unity, joy, and creativity, often set in fantastical realms that highlighted performance arts. This period also experimented with 3D animation and tie-ins to mobile applications, allowing fans to extend the experience through virtual interactions and augmented reality features.[11][26] The series began with Pretty Cure All Stars: Spring Carnival♪ (released March 14, 2015), a 3D-animated film where 37 Cures from seasons up to Go! Princess Pretty Cure gather in the kingdom of Harmonia, a land of dance and song, for a festive carnival. The plot centers on the Cures participating in games and performances to spread happiness, only to confront the Queen of Yesterday, a villain intent on erasing joy by trapping participants in monotonous routines. Through collaborative songs and dances, including a group rendition of the film's theme, the Cures restore the festival's spirit, defeating the antagonist with a unified musical attack. This entry introduced full 3D visuals for dynamic dance sequences, enhancing the carnival's immersive feel.[11][27] In 2016, Pretty Cure All Stars: Singing with Everyone♪ Miraculous Magic! (March 12, 2016) expanded the musical focus with a concert-like structure, involving 42 Cures from seasons through Mahō Tsukai Pretty Cure!. The story follows Cure Miracle (Asahina Mirai) and Cure Magical (Izayoi Riko), who are separated in the human world by the witch Sorcière and her minion Trauuma, who seek to collect the Cures' "magic tears" to fuel a destructive spell. Reuniting via enchanted songs that summon other teams, the Cures stage a massive magical concert, culminating in a harmonious performance that purifies the villains and restores balance. Guest voice actors from idol groups lent authenticity to the singing segments, emphasizing emotional bonds through melody.[28][29] Pretty Cure Dream Stars! (March 18, 2017) shifted to dream-themed adventures, featuring 22 Cures from select seasons including KiraKira☆Pretty Cure a la Mode. A mysterious girl named Sakura flees her endangered dream world of Sakuragahara, pursued by the demon Karasu Tengu, and seeks aid from the Cures after crash-landing in the human realm. As nightmares spread across dream realms—manifesting as idol stages, confectionery worlds, and flower gardens—the Cures enter these domains, using performance-based powers to awaken hope and battle the threat. The film highlights idol motifs through rhythmic battles and a unifying dream song, underscoring themes of aspiration and solidarity.[30] The 2018 installment, Pretty Cure Super Stars! (March 17, 2018), adopted superhero aesthetics with 13 Cures primarily from HUGtto! Pretty Cure, KiraKira☆Pretty Cure a la Mode, and Mahō Tsukai Pretty Cure!. The narrative unfolds as a mysterious monster abducts most of the team, leaving Cure Yell (Nono Hana), Cure Whip (Usami Ichika), and Cure Miracle to rescue them from a void dimension ruled by Mr. Stardust, an entity aiming to impose eternal boredom. Drawing on superhero tropes, the Cures don enhanced suits for high-energy fights interspersed with motivational anthems, ultimately triumphing through a collective "super star" transformation and song that infuses the world with excitement.[31] Pretty Cure Miracle Universe (March 16, 2019) ventured into space opera territory, uniting 35 Cures from seasons up to Star☆Twinkle Pretty Cure. The plot ignites when the Star Twinkle team warps to the Miracle Planet via a stellar anomaly, encountering the young inventor Piton and facing Galactica, a cosmic devourer of light that threatens all worlds. Incorporating early computer-generated (CG) effects for interstellar sequences, the Cures traverse glowing universes, harnessing "miracle lights" through synchronized chants and dances to amplify their powers and seal the villain in a burst of radiant unity. This film pioneered hybrid 2D-CG animation for expansive space battles, adding depth to the digital spectacle. The era concluded with Pretty Cure Miracle Leap: A Wonderful Day with Everyone (June 27, 2020), delayed from its original March slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring 13 Cures from HUGtto! Pretty Cure, Star☆Twinkle Pretty Cure, and Healin' Good♥ Pretty Cure. Trapped in a repeating "strange day" by the time-manipulating Eskald, who seeks to erase joyful memories, the Cures—starting with Cure Grace (Hanadera Nodoka)—navigate looping events across intertwined worlds, breaking the cycle via heartfelt songs that connect past, present, and future selves. Enhanced CG elements depicted temporal shifts, reinforcing themes of perseverance amid uncertainty. The delay allowed for additional post-production polish on digital effects.[32] Distinctive to this period were the films' heavy reliance on song-and-dance as narrative drivers, with group performances often resolving conflicts and fostering inter-season camaraderie, as seen in the concert climax of Singing with Everyone♪. Digital integration extended beyond screens through tie-ins like the Pretty CureSpecial and Recent Films (2018–2023)
The 2018 special film HUGtto! Pretty Cure ♡ Futari wa Pretty Cure: All Stars Memories served as a 15th anniversary homage to the franchise, focusing on a crossover between the then-current HUGtto! Pretty Cure team and the original Futari wa Pretty Cure duo from 2004.[33] In the story, a vengeful teru teru bōzu doll named Miden attacks by stealing the memories and powers of all Pretty Cure teams, regressing them into infants and erasing their heroic legacies.[33] The unaffected protagonists—Hana Nono (Cure Yell), Nagisa Misumi (Cure Black), and Honoka Yukishiro (Cure White)—embark on a time-travel-inspired journey through fragmented memories to the franchise's origins, restoring the Cures' identities and culminating in a unified battle against Miden to safeguard their shared history.[34] This TV-season tie-in emphasized nostalgic themes of growth and continuity, blending retro callbacks with modern character dynamics.[33] After a hiatus in full-scale crossovers, Pretty Cure All Stars F marked the franchise's return to the format in 2023, celebrating the 20th anniversary with a meta-narrative exploring the legacy of over 77 Cures across all seasons.[35] Directed by Yūta Tanaka and produced by Toei Animation, the film depicts a catastrophic event separating the Cures into a mysterious, fragmented world where they must reunite amid hazy memories and despair-inducing threats from the original antagonist Preme, who transforms into the deceptive Cure Supreme.[36] Key groupings like Team Sky (from Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure) and Team Prism navigate generational handoffs, forging alliances that highlight themes of hope against overwhelming isolation and the enduring bond of the Pretty Cure lineage.[37] The production incorporated post-2020 seasons, including Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure, and employed advanced animation techniques for expansive ensemble battles, achieving fluid choreography in large-scale confrontations.[38] As of late 2025, no new Pretty Cure All Stars crossover films have been confirmed for 2024 or 2025, with recent releases like You and Idol Pretty Cure♪ The Movie (September 2025) remaining standalone seasonal entries focused on the latest series rather than multiverse gatherings.[39]Other Media
Video Games
The Pretty Cure All Stars franchise has inspired limited interactive media, with the primary video game release being Pretty Cure 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！), a rhythm-based title developed by Bandai Namco Games and published exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo Wii on March 28, 2013.[40] This game features 32 Pretty Cure characters spanning from Futari wa Pretty Cure to DokiDoki! Pretty Cure, excluding Cure Ace, allowing players to select and control individual Cures or groups in dance routines synchronized to 12 popular songs from the series, including "Danzen! Futari wa Pretty Cure."[40] The title was timed to coincide with the New Stage trilogy of films, promoting crossover themes by assembling ensemble casts reminiscent of the movies' large-scale team-ups.[41] Gameplay emphasizes motion controls via the Wii Remote, where players mimic on-screen dance movements to match rhythms across 20 stages, earning points based on accuracy and timing for progression and unlocks like additional bonus stages.[40] Modes support solo play or two-player co-op, enabling group performances that echo the collaborative battles and gatherings in All Stars films, with characters often appearing in outfits inspired by the DX and New Stage movie designs.[42] The game's structure focuses on rhythmic synchronization rather than combat, aligning with the franchise's emphasis on unity and performance elements seen in crossover narratives.[43] Beyond this console title, All Stars content has appeared in minor forms through mobile applications and other Pretty Cure games, including crossover events in apps that feature temporary mini-games uniting characters from multiple seasons.[44] For instance, characters and themes from All Stars films have made cameos in fighting-style titles within the broader franchise, though no dedicated All Stars fighter has been released.[44] No major All Stars-specific video games have followed since 2013, reflecting a shift toward mobile and seasonal tie-ins rather than large-scale crossover console experiences.[45]Merchandise and Crossovers
Bandai has produced extensive merchandise lines under the Pretty Cure All Stars banner since 2009, including transformation toys inspired by the DX films such as the Smile Pact and Narikiri DX items, which allow users to simulate Cure activations with lights and sounds.[46] These toy sets often feature ensemble packs drawing from multiple series, with ongoing releases through 2023 encompassing dolls, playsets, and accessories like the PreCoord Dolls series, which include coordinated outfits for Cures from various seasons.[47] Trading cards, distributed via Data Carddass machines and candy toys like Card Gummies and Card Wafers, frequently highlight All Stars crossovers, while figures such as S.H. Figuarts action models and gashapon assortments provide collectible representations of the ensemble casts.[48] For instance, the 2023 releases tied to All Stars F included Ichiban Kuji prizes featuring Cures in relaxed poses and charms, emphasizing the franchise's growing roster. In 2025, additional All Stars merchandise such as Big Size Figures, Ornaments Volume 6, and Secret Jewelry Charms with gummies continued to expand the line.[49][50][51] Crossover events have extended the All Stars concept beyond films into live performances, notably the Pretty Cure All Stars Musical stage shows from 2010 to 2015, which adapted plots from the DX and New Stage trilogies with dance sequences, fight scenes, and audience interaction at venues like Toei Animation stages.[52] These annual productions, released on DVD, featured casts portraying up to 17 Cures in synchronized performances, blending musical numbers with simple narratives distinct from the animated entries.[53] Additional collaborations include themed goods with idol groups, such as the 2024 multi-unit event featuring AKB48 and other idols in a dimensions festival concert incorporating Pretty Cure elements.[54] Recent stage crossovers include the Dancing☆Star Pretty Cure productions, with performances scheduled in Tokyo and Osaka in December 2025.[55] Other media adaptations of All Stars include manga film comics, such as the 2023 DDU PreCure All Stars F edition published by MDN Corporation, which recaps the movie in illustrated panels for young readers, and shorter one-shots serialized in Nakayoshi magazine during 2012–2014 to promote the New Stage trilogy.[56] Novelizations, aimed at elementary school audiences, cover key entries like Pretty Cure All Stars DX 3: Mirai e no Dengon and Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage: Mirai no Tomodachi, expanding on the films' stories with additional character insights.[57] TV specials, such as the 2018 HUGtto! Pretty Cure Futari wa Pretty Cure: All Stars Memories episode aired on TV Asahi, integrate All Stars elements by uniting legacy Cures with current teams in holiday-themed battles against threats in Minato Mirai.[58] The All Stars crossovers have significantly amplified the franchise's commercial reach, with Bandai reporting Pretty Cure merchandise sales exceeding 10 billion yen annually in peak years, driven by the ensemble appeal that encourages collectors to acquire multi-series items during film releases.[59]Production and Development
Creative Team
The creative team for the Pretty Cure All Stars films has varied across different eras, with directors often handling multiple entries to maintain continuity in the crossover format. The DX trilogy (2009–2011) was directed by Takashi Otsuka, who oversaw the integration of multiple Pretty Cure teams in a high-energy action style.[2] For the New Stage trilogy (2012–2014), Junji Shimizu directed the first film, while Koji Ogawa helmed the second and third installments, emphasizing emotional narratives centered on friendships and original characters like digital fairies.[23][24][25] In the musical and digital films era (2015–2020), directors included Junji Shimizu for the 2015 Spring Carnival and Yutaka Tsuchida for the 2016 singing-focused entry, which incorporated live-performance elements into the animation.[11] More recent special films, such as the 2023 All Stars F, were directed by Yuta Tanaka, focusing on thematic reflections of the franchise's legacy.[36] Writers for the series adapted to the challenges of ensemble scripting, balancing numerous characters from ongoing TV seasons while introducing crossover-specific plots. Early DX films were penned by Isao Murayama, who crafted miracle-themed stories uniting diverse Cure teams.[17] Yoshimi Narita took over for the New Stage trilogy, addressing the complexities of digital worlds and interpersonal bonds among an expanded cast.[24] Later entries featured Jin Tanaka for recent specials like All Stars F, where scripting emphasized philosophical questions about the Pretty Cure identity amid large-scale battles.[36] Character designers maintained consistency for established Cures by drawing from original TV series concepts, while creating new originals for film-exclusive elements. Mitsuru Aoyama served as character designer and animation director for much of the DX and New Stage eras, adapting designs for crossover dynamics and adding fairies with ethereal, tech-infused aesthetics in the New Stage films.[18] Akira Takahashi provided original designs for Cures from TV seasons such as Dokidoki! Pretty Cure and Star Twinkle Pretty Cure, which appear in later All Stars projects to ensure visual harmony across generations. For films like the 2023 All Stars F, designs incorporated contributions from multiple artists, including Nishiki Itaoka as chief animation director, to blend legacy and contemporary styles.[36] Voice acting in the All Stars films relies on a core ensemble of over 20 returning seiyū per entry, reprising roles from their respective TV series to preserve character authenticity in group interactions. Notable ensembles include veterans like Yoko Honna as Cure Black and Yukana as Cure White, who anchor legacy appearances across multiple films. In the 2018 All Stars Memories, the cast expanded to include original voices for early Cures without major recasts, though some supporting roles featured updated performers to align with current production standards.[33] This large-scale collaboration highlights the logistical coordination required for synchronized performances in ensemble scenes.Animation and Music
The animation in the Pretty Cure All Stars films began with traditional 2D hand-drawn techniques during the DX trilogy (2009–2011), emphasizing fluid motion for battle sequences to accommodate the large ensemble of characters. These early productions maintained a consistent 2D style for the main features, supplemented by experimental 3D CG shorts screened in theaters, such as the 2011 Precure All-Stars 3D Theater, which utilized motion-captured computer graphics for dance performances across eight series.[60] Subsequent trilogies shifted toward hybrid approaches, blending 2D with 3D elements to enhance visual spectacle. The New Stage trilogy (2012–2014) retained predominantly 2D hand-drawn animation for its emotional, character-driven narratives, while later entries like the 2018 Hugtto! Precure Futari wa Precure All Stars Memories incorporated 3D CG for expressive character movements and detailed environments, overcoming typical limitations in anime-style facial animations.[61] By 2019's Pretty Cure All Stars: Miracle Universe, hybrid 2D/3D integration supported expansive space sequences, allowing seamless transitions between hand-drawn action and CG-enhanced cosmic effects. In the 2023 film Pretty Cure All Stars F, full CG accents were employed for group attacks and backgrounds, with specialized staff handling modeling for sets and props to elevate large-scale ensemble battles.[36] This evolution reflects Toei Animation's increasing use of digital tools to manage complex crossover visuals, often at higher frame rates for key action moments compared to the standard 12 fps of television episodes. The soundtracks for the Pretty Cure All Stars series feature original compositions tailored to crossover themes, with recurring motifs drawing from individual series' openings to evoke nostalgia during transformations and finishers. For the DX trilogy, Naoki Satō composed battle tracks and thematic scores, collaborating with Yasuharu Takanashi to blend orchestral elements with energetic cues for ensemble attacks.[62] The musical films (2015–2020), such as Pretty Cure All Stars: Haru no Carnival and Singing with Everyone Miraculous Magic!, incorporated original songs with choral arrangements for group performances, emphasizing harmonious "All Stars" choir swells in climactic scenes.[63] Sound design in these films layers intricate effects for over 50 transformations across seasons, utilizing synchronized audio cues like sparkling chimes and power-up surges, often tied to orchestral builds in finale sequences. Increased production budgets for crossovers enabled enhanced audio mixing to heighten impact over TV standards. As of 2025, the series continues to evolve with integration of Cures from recent seasons like Wonderful Pretty Cure and You and Idol Pretty Cure in ongoing franchise developments.[64]Reception
Box Office Performance
The Pretty Cure All Stars films have achieved notable box office success primarily within Japan, where they are strategically released in March to capitalize on spring school vacations and family outings. These crossover entries, which unite characters from multiple Pretty Cure seasons, have consistently ranked among the top-performing anime films domestically, though their international reach remains limited to select streaming services in Asian markets such as Southeast Asia and South Korea. The series' financial performance reflects the franchise's focus on the Japanese theatrical market, with earnings driven by ticket sales rather than extensive global distribution.| Era | Average Gross per Film | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|
| DX Trilogy (2009–2011) | ¥1.06 billion | DX (2009): ¥1.01 billion; DX2 (2010): ¥1.15 billion; DX3 (2011): ¥1.02 billion[65][66][65] |
| New Stage Trilogy (2012–2014) | ¥990 million | New Stage (2012): ¥1.02 billion; New Stage 2 (2013): ¥1.03 billion; New Stage 3 (2014): ¥910 million[67][65] |
| Musical and Digital Films (2015–2020) | ¥700 million | Everyone Sing! Miracle Magic! (2016): ¥640 million; Super Stars! (2018): ¥840 million[65][65] |
| Special and Recent Films (2018–2023) | ¥1.2 billion | All Stars Memories (2018): ¥1.15 billion; F (2023): ¥1.5 billion (including revivals)[68][69] |