Suite PreCure

Suite PreCure
Cover of the twelfth DVD release featuring Cure Melody, Cure Rhythm, Cure Beat and Cure Muse
スイートプリキュア♪ (Suīto PuriKyua♪)
Genre	Magical girl, music
Created by	Izumi Todo
Anime television series
Directed by	Munehisa Sakai
Written by	Toshiya Ono
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Studio	Toei Animation
Original network	ANN (ABC, TV Asahi)
English network	HK: TVB
Original run	February 6, 2011 – January 29, 2012
Episodes	48 (List of episodes)
Manga
Written by	Izumi Todo
Illustrated by	Futago Kamikita
Published by	Kodansha
Magazine	Nakayoshi
Demographic	Shōjo
Original run	March 2011 – February 2012
Game
Suite PreCure Melody Collection
Developer	Namco Bandai Games
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Genre	Minigame
Platform	Nintendo DS
Released	August 25, 2011
Anime film
Suite Precure The Movie: Take it back! The Miraculous Melody that Connects Hearts!
Directed by	Yoko Ikeda
Written by	Toshiyo Ono
Music by	Yasuharu Takanashi
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	October 29, 2011

Suite PreCure (スイートプリキュア♪, Suīto PuriKyua♪, stylized as Suite PreCure♪) is a Japanese anime series and the eighth installment in Izumi Todo's Pretty Cure metaseries. The series is produced by Toei Animation and directed by Munehisa Sakai, who directed the One Piece anime series. Character designs were done by Akira Takahashi, who previously worked on Kaidan Restaurant. The series aired on TV Asahi's ANN network between February 6, 2011 and January 29, 2012, replacing HeartCatch PreCure! in its timeslot, and was succeeded by Smile PreCure! A manga adaptation by Futago Kamikita was serialised in Kodansha's monthly Nakayoshi magazine.

The main topic of the series is music, the second to do so after HeartCatch PreCure! used it as a secondary theme, which influences the names of the Cures and the magical devices they use. Another theme is friendship, as emphasized by the relationship between Hibiki Hojo and Kanade Minamino.

Plot[edit]

In a realm called Major Land, the "Melody of Happiness" is due to be played to spread happiness throughout the world. However, on the day it is scheduled to be played, an evil man named Mephisto steals the Legendary Score, plotting to turn it into the "Melody of Sorrow" to spread sadness throughout the world. Major Land's queen Aphrodite scatters the Notes that make up the Legendary Score into the human world and sends a fairy named Hummy to Kanon Town to recover them. There, Hummy meets two girls, Hibiki Hojo and Kanade Minamino, who are chosen to become the Suite Pretty Cures to recover the missing Notes and protect everyone's happiness.

Characters[edit]

Suite Pretty Cures[edit]

Hibiki Houjou (北条 響, Hōjō Hibiki) / Cure Melody (キュアメロディ, Kyua Merodi)

Voiced by Ami Koshimizu

The main protagonist. Hibiki is a 14-year-old second-year student at Private Aria Academy's junior high.^[1] She has a bright personality, excels at sports, and volunteers in sport clubs, but struggles with schoolwork. She also loves to eat sweet things, particularly the cakes from the Lucky Spoon. Although she was born to a rich family and her parents are musical celebrities, Hibiki thinks she lacks musical talent despite having absolute pitch. She played piano as a kid, but stopped after she felt she let her father down after a performance. As a result, she has come to hate music.

After meeting Siren, her potential as a Pretty Cure is awakened when she and Kanade are rendered immune to Siren's attack, and through her musical score and the power of the Fairy Tone Dory, she transforms into Cure Melody. As Cure Melody, her brown-orange hair turns light pink and is worn in long twintails. Her main weapon is the Miracle Belltier, which uses the Fairy Tone, Miry. In the movie, she gains an upgrade called Crescendo Mode through the power of the Crescendo Tone, which all four members gain in episode 47.

She introduces herself as "Playing the wild tune, Cure Melody!" (爪弾くは荒ぶる調べ！ キュアメロディ！, Tsumabiku wa araburu shirabe, Kyua Merodi!). In Crescendo Form, she introduces herself as "Playing the heart's tune, Crescendo Cure Melody!" (爪弾くはこころのしらべ！クレッシェンドキュアメロディ, Tsumabiku wa kokoro no shirabe, Kureshendo Kyua Merodi!). Her theme color is pink.^[2]

Kanade Minamino (南野 奏, Minamino Kanade) / Cure Rhythm (キュアリズム, Kyua Rizumu)

Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa

The secondary protagonist. Kanade is a 13-year-old girl and a second-year student at Private Aria Academy's junior high, as well as a member of its Sweets Club. She dreams of becoming a pastry chef when she grows up and taking over her parents' pastry shop, the Lucky Spoon. She is Hibiki's childhood friend and classmate, and she is an excellent student but is not good at sports. Her excellent grades and personality have made her well-known at Private Aria Academy. She has a crush on the school's prince of music, Ouji. She also has a strong love for cats, especially Hummy, whose paw she likes to touch.

Her potential as a Pretty Cure is awakened when she and Hibiki are rendered immune to Siren's attack, and through her musical score and the power of the Fairy Tone Rery, she transforms into Cure Rhythm. As Cure Rhythm, her dirty-blonde hair turns platinum blonde and becomes knee-length. Her main weapon is the Fantastic Belltier, which uses the Fairy Tone Fary.

She introduces herself as "Playing the graceful tune, Cure Rhythm!" (爪弾くはたおやかな調べ！キュアリズム！, Tsumabiku wa taoyaka na shirabe, Kyua Rizumu!). Her theme color is white.^[2]

Siren (セイレーン, Seirēn) / Ellen Kurokawa^[3][4][5] (黒川 エレン, Kurokawa Eren) / Cure Beat (キュアビート, Kyua Bīto)

Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi

Siren is a female feline "Fairy of Songs" and Mephisto's former assistant. Although she was born in Major Land and is friends with Hummy, she became jealous of her when she was chosen as the annual singer of the "Melody of Happiness". As Siren, she can create Negatones using her dark powers and use her necklace to take the form of any person she wishes. In her normal human form, known as Ellen, she is a 14-year-old and can materialize notes to use as projectiles.

During Episode 21, her potential of Pretty Cure is awakened through her desire to protect Hummy, who is captured by Trio the Minor. This causes her necklace to shatter, trapping her in human form and causing her to lose her power of transformation. After joining the Cures, she begins living with the Shirabe family and attending school with Hibiki and Kanade. As Cure Beat, her dark purple hair turns bright purple and is worn in a side ponytail. She transforms into Cure Beat with the power of the Fairy Tone Lary, and her main weapon is the Love Guitar Rod, which uses the Fairy Tone, Sory. While not the first villain to be redeemed and become a Cure, she is unique to the franchise in that she was formerly a mascot.

She introduces herself as "Playing the soulful tune, Cure Beat!" (爪弾くは魂の調べ！ キュアビート！, Tsumabiku wa tamashii no shirabe, Kyua Bīto!). Her theme color is blue.^[2]

Ako Shirabe (調辺 アコ, Shirabe Ako) / Cure Muse (キュアミューズ, Kyua Myūzu)

Voiced by: Rumi Ōkubo

Ako is a 9-year-old third-year student at Public Kanon Elementary,^[6] who is in the same class as Kanade's younger brother Souta. She is very mature for her age, but also cold and not above lecturing her elders, particularly Hibiki and Kanade. Unbeknownst to the Pretty Cures, she disguises herself as the Masked Pretty Cure to aid them, and has the power to use colorful piano keys to form barriers and restraints. She hides her status under the mask and does not speak, as her Fairy Tone partner, Dodory, does all the talking, and states that she will not partner with the Cures until the time is right.

In Episode 35, she reveals herself to be Major Land's princess and the daughter of Aphrodite and Mephisto. After Mephisto went missing, she fled to Kanon Town and disguised herself, living with her grandfather, Otokichi. When Mephisto steals the Legendary Score, Ako's potential as a Pretty Cure awakens. As Cure Muse, her short orange hair grows to knee-length, with two yellow ribbons on each end. She transforms into Cure Muse using the Fairy Tone Dodory and does not have a main weapon, but uses the Fairy Tone Shiry for purification attacks. She is the youngest Pretty Cure in the franchise before Cure Ace.

She introduces herself as "Playing the Goddess' tune, Cure Muse!" (爪弾くは女神の調べ！キュアミューズ！, Tsumabiku wa megami no shirabe, Kyua Myūzu!). As the Masked Pretty Cure, her theme color is black, and as Cure Muse her theme color is yellow.^[2]

Major Land[edit]

Hummy (ハミィ, Hamī)

Voiced by: Kotono Mitsuishi

Hummy is a female cat-like "Fairy of Songs" and Hibiki and Kanade's partner. Prior to the series' events, she was the chosen singer of the "Melody of Happiness" for that year, but after Mephisto tried to turn it into the "Melody of Sorrow", she was sent to the human world to search for the scattered notes of the Melody of Happiness, where she meets both Hibiki and Kanade. She is able to use magic by clapping her hands, which she uses to purify Notes that were transformed into Negatones, and is also able to recover the Cure Modules if they are lost. Despite her childhood friend Siren joining Major Land, Hummy is very friendly and close to her, which often causes trouble for the Cures.

Fairy Tones (フェアリートーン, Fearī Tōn)

Voiced by: Mayu Kudo

Eight jewel-like fairies that came from Major Land. They give the Pretty Cure special abilities and powers when inserted into the Cure Modules and Cure Belltiers. They are also in charge of collecting the scattered notes of the Melody of Happiness. Except for the Crescendo Tone, their names are derived from the Solfège scale (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Shi, Do).

• Dory (ドリー, Dorī) - Pink fairy. Allows Hibiki to transform into Cure Melody. When played in a Cure Module, it gives its user sweet dreams.
• Rery (レリー, Rerī) - White fairy. Allows Kanade to transform into Cure Rhythm. When played in a Cure Module, it renews its user's willpower.
• Miry (ミリー, Mirī) - Orange fairy. Allows Cure Melody to summon her Miracle Belltier.
• Fary (ファリー, Farī) - Yellow fairy. Allows Cure Rhythm to summon her Fantastic Belltier.
• Sory (ソリー, Sorī) - Green fairy. Allows Cure Beat to summon her Love Guitar Rod. When played in a Cure Module, it powers up the Pretty Cures.
• Lary (ラリー, Rarī) - Aqua fairy. Allows Siren/Eren to transform into Cure Beat.
• Shiry (シリー, Shirī) - Blue fairy. Allows Cure Muse to attack.
• Dodory (ドドリー, Dodorī) - Purple fairy. Allows Ako to transform into Cure Muse.

Crescendo Tone (クレッシェンドトーン, Kuresshendo Tōn)

Voiced by: Kumiko Nishihara

A large gold "Fairy of Sounds" responsible for creating all sounds in the world and the other Fairy Tones. It resides in the mystical Healing Chest.

Aphrodite (アフロディテ, Afurodite)

Voiced by: Noriko Hidaka

The wise and benevolent queen of Major Land, who is Ako's mother and Otokichi’s daughter. She hosts the playing of the "Melody of Happiness" every year to pray for the peace of all worlds, but is forced to scatter the Notes to protect them from Mephisto. She asks Hummy to go to the human world to search for people who can become Pretty Cures to collect the scattered notes.

Otokichi Shirabe (調辺 音吉, Shirabe Otokichi)

Voiced by: Keiichi Sonobe

A mysterious and eccentric tuner who lives in Kanon Town and is often seen working on the town's organ. In episode 36, it is revealed that he is Aphrodite's father and Ako’s grandfather, who cares for her greatly. He has kept watch over the Pretty Cures and their enemies. He once fought against Noise and managed to seal him away, and has since been working on the organ which can produce saintly notes should he awaken again.

Minor Land[edit]

Noise (ノイズ, Noizu)

Voiced by: Ryūsei Nakao

Noise is a powerful bird-like demon and the main antagonist of the series, born from humanity's collective sorrow. He is responsible for turning Mephisto evil, as his song brainwashes those who hear it. Since Otokichi sealed Noise away in stone, Falsetto has been trying to revive him by playing the Melody of Sorrow to absorb energy from those who hear it. After Noise breaks free from his seal upon hearing an incomplete Melody of Sorrow, he assumes a chick-like form that Ako names P-chan (ピーちゃん), which he uses to get close to the Cures and steal their Notes. However, he is soon discovered to be Noise after attempting to attack Otokichi. He fully resurrects once the Melody of Sorrows is completed and resumes his attack on Major Land, and after absorbing Bassdrum and Baritone, assumes a more human-like form to overpower the Cures. However, the Cures manage to purify Noise, and he is later reborn from the joy of humanity as a newborn chick.

Mephisto (メフィスト, Mefisuto)

Voiced by: Ken'yu Horiuchi

The secondary antagonist of the series, Mephisto is the king of the nation of Minor Land. He attempts to make the "Melody of Happiness" into the "Melody of Sorrow" to make all worlds tragic and reflect his musical taste. Mephisto has the power to brainwash others into doing his bidding using headphones that sound the Noise of Evil, but it is later revealed that he is brainwashed himself. He was Aphrodite's husband and Ako’s father, and the prince consort of Major Land, but he was ambushed and controlled by Noise when he went to retrieve the Healing Chest from the cursed forest, and then established Minor Land. In Episode 36, Ako manages to defeat the evil in his heart and return him to normal. Like his father-in-law, Mephisto is fond of Ako.

Trio the Minor (トリオ・ザ・マイナー, Torio Za Mainā)

Mephisto's loyal servants, who serve him but often squabble over who gets to be the leader. In episode 26, Mephisto uses the headphones to increase their powers, allowing them to make more powerful Negatones. While the Trio the Minor came from Major Land and worked for its royalty, Falsetto willingly allied himself with Noise while Bassdrum and Baritone were brainwashed to serve him. The three are eventually absorbed by Noise, with Falsetto consumed for being annoying and Bassdrum and Baritone sacrificing themselves to protect Hibiki. They are later revived after his defeat.

Bassdrum (バスドラ, Basudora)

Voiced by: Atsushi Ono

The bass of "Trio the Minor" who sings in a deep and booming voice. He is the eldest of the three and constantly argues about having bragging rights as leader. After his powers are upgraded, he gains a heightened sense of smell for finding notes. After Falsetto assumes leadership, Bassdrum turns into a frog-like monster. He is later absorbed by Noise, but revived after his defeat.

Baritone (バリトン, Bariton)

Voiced by: Yohei Obayashi

The baritone of "Trio the Minor" who sings in a tenor and mid-ranged voice. He is the most cool-headed of the three, but is quite narcissistic. After his powers are upgraded, he gains superhuman sight and telekinesis. After Falsetto assumes leadership, Baritone turns into a fish-like monster.

Falsetto (ファルセット, Farusetto)

Voiced by: Tooru Nara

The tenor of "Trio the Minor" who sings in a high pitched and off-key voice. After his powers are upgraded, he gains enhanced hearing and wields a whip-like weapon. After Mephisto is freed from Noise's spell, Falsetto is revealed to be a willing follower of Noise, as he takes over Minor Land operations to complete Noise's resurrection. After he assumes leadership, he turns the other two into monsters resembling aquatic animals.

Negatones (ネガトーン, Negatōn)

Voiced by: Yohei Obayashi

Monsters created when a scattered Note is exposed to the Melody of Sorrow and combined with an item. When they are defeated by the Pretty Cures, they return to the original item, while the Notes are purified by Hummy and stored inside one of the Fairy Tones.

Minor characters[edit]

Dan Hojo (北条 団, Hōjō Dan)

Voiced by: Tomoyuki Dan

Hibiki's father, who is a music teacher at Private Aria Academy and the consultant of its Orchestra Club. He believes that "It is not music if you do not enjoy playing it", which has caused conflict between him and Hibiki. He occasionally offers German sayings, which confuse those around him.

Maria Hojo (北条 まりあ, Hōjō Maria)

Voiced by: Satsuki Yukino

Hibiki's mother, a famous violinist who is often on tour overseas, though talks to her family via video chat. She is popular among young boys for her beauty and confident personality.

Sousuke Minamino (南野 奏介, Minamino Sousuke)

Voiced by: Tōru Ōkawa

Kanade's father, who owns a pastry shop called the Lucky Spoon and helps to develop new recipes.

Misora Minamino (南野 美空, Minamino Misora)

Voiced by: Yuka Imai

Kanade's mother, who is a client at the Lucky Spoon and often flirts with him.

Souta Minamino (南野 奏太, Minamino Sōta)

Voiced by: Yumiko Kobayashi

Kanade's younger brother and Ako's classmate at Public Kanon Elementary. He works at the Lucky Spoon, but often acts mischievously and provokes his sister. He is good friends with Ako and cares about her solitude.

Masamune Ouji (王子 正宗, Ōji Masamune)

Voiced by: Hisafumi Oda

A third-year student at Private Aria Academy and the leader of its Orchestra Club. He is very popular with girls, particularly Kanade, who has a crush on him.

Seika Higashiyama (東山 聖歌, Higashiyama Seika)

Voiced by: Yoko Nishino

A third-year student at Private Aria Academy and the leader of its Sweets Club. Her baking ability is the best in the school, earning her the nickname of "The Princess of Sweets".

Waon Nishijima (西島 和音, Nishijima Waon)

Voiced by: Yūko Gibu

A second-year student at Private Aria Academy who is Hibiki and Kanade's classmate. She is also Hibiki's partner in sport clubs and is quick to support her. She has blue eyes and short blue spiky hair.

Movie characters[edit]

Characters who appear in Suite PreCure♪ The Movie: Take it Back! The Miraculous Melody that Connects Hearts.

Suzu (スズ)

Voiced by: Omi Minami

Ako's friend from school in Major Land.

Howling (ハウリング, Hauringu)

Voiced by: Tesshō Genda

A servant of Noise and the main antagonist of the film, who attempts to stop the Pretty Cures and aid in Noise's revival. He possesses Aphrodite to steal all the music in Major Land, but is defeated by Melody in her Crescendo form and finished off with Suite Session Assemble Cresendo.

Major 3 (メイジャー３, Meijā Surī) is a group who serves under Howling and assists him in his goal of taking away all music. Their names are derived from types of notes related to pitch.

Sharp (シャープ, Shāpu)

Voiced by: Kouichi Toochika

The leader of the Major 3, who can transform into a red dragon-like monster and use a fire attack called "Mega Fire".

Flat (フラット, Furatto)

Voiced by: Mitsuaki Madono

A member of the Major 3, who can transform into a green pig-like monster and use a fire attack called "Tera Fireball".

Natural (ナチュラル, Nachuraru)

Voiced by: Jun'ichi Kanemaru

A member of the Major 3, who can transform into a blue lizard-like monster and use a lightning attack called "Giga Thunder".

Media[edit]

Anime[edit]

The anime began airing on ABC and other ANN stations from February 6, 2011, replacing HeartCatch PreCure! in its previous timeslot. For the first 23 episodes, the opening theme is "La La La Suite PreCure" (ラ♪ラ♪ラ♪スイートプリキュア♪, Ra Ra Ra Suīto Purikyua) by Mayu Kudou while the ending theme is "Wonderful Powerful Music!!" (ワンダフル↑パワフル↑ミュージック!!, Wandafuru Pawafuru Myūjikku!!) by Aya Ikeda. From episodes 24-48, the opening theme is "La La La Suite PreCure (Unlimited ver.)" (ラ♪ラ♪ラ♪スイートプリキュア♪～∞UNLIMITED∞　ver～, Ra Ra Ra Suīto Purikyua (Unlimited ver.)) by Kudou, while the ending theme is "Rainbow of Hope" (♯キボウレインボウ♯, Kibō Reinbō) by Ikeda.

Aside from the DVD releases, Suite PreCure is the first Pretty Cure series to receive an exclusive Blu-ray Box Set release by Marvelous AQL and TC Entertainment (a group company of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings (TBS) and Mainichi Broadcasting System or Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting).^[7] Four Blu-ray Box Sets were released between October 28, 2011 and June 22, 2012.

Manga[edit]

A manga adaptation by Futago Kamikita began serialisation in Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine from March 2011 to February 2012.

Films[edit]

A movie based on the series, Suite Precure♪ The Movie: Take it back! The Miraculous Melody that Connects Hearts (映画 スイートプリキュア♪ とりもどせ! 心がつなぐ奇跡のメロディ♪, Eiga Suīto PuriKyua♪: Torimodose! Kokoro ga Tsunagu Kiseki no Merodi!) was released in Japanese cinemas on October 29, 2011.

The heroines also appear in the Pretty Cure All Stars movies, starting from Pretty Cure All Stars DX3: Deliver the Future! The Rainbow~Colored Flower That Connects the World! (プリキュアオールスターズDX3 未来にとどけ！世界をつなぐ☆虹色の花, Ōru Sutāzu Dirakkusu Surī: Mirai ni Todoke! Sekai wo Tsunagu Niji~Iro no Hana!) (Released on March 19, 2011) and Pretty Cure All Stars DX: 3D Theatre (プリキュアオールスターズDX 3Dシアター, PuriKyua Ōru Sutāzu Dirakkusu: Surī Dī Shiatā) (Released on August 5, 2011)

Soundtracks[edit]

The music was composed by Yasuharu Takanashi and the soundtracks are based on the show. The first original soundtrack is called PreCure Sound Fantasia, which includes 36 songs from the first half of the anime. The second soundtrack, PreCure Sound Symphonia, includes 28 more songs from the second half. Three vocal albums in this show were performed by its voice actors and singers. The movie has its own soundtrack.

Other media[edit]

An educational software title, Suite PreCure♪: Happy Oshare Harmony☆ (スイートプリキュア♪ハッピーおしゃれハーモニー☆, Suīto PuriKyua♪: Happī Oshare Hāmonī) was released by Bandai for the Sega Beena on May 26, 2011. A video game, Suite PreCure♪: Melody Collection (スイートプリキュア♪メロディコレクション, Suīto PuriKyua♪: Merodi Korekushon) was developed by Bandai for the Nintendo DS and released in Japan on August 25, 2011.^[8]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Toei Animation's Suite PreCure♪ site (in Japanese)
• Suite PreCure site by ABC (in Japanese)
• Suite PreCure: Melody Collection DS game site (in Japanese)
• Suite PreCure (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia