PreCure Splash Star (ふたりはプリキュア Splash Star, Futari wa Purikyua Supurasshu Sutā; lit. 'We Are PreCure Splash Star'), sometimes written as Pretty Cure Splash☆Star, is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation that aired on TV Asahi between February 5, 2006, and January 28, 2007. It is the third series in Izumi Todo's Pretty Cure metaseries, and follows a new story different from the previous two series that features the second generation of Cures. The series is directed by Toshiaki Komura, who previously directed Kinnikuman Nisei. The character designs were done by Akira Inagami, who previously worked on the character designs for the previous installments. It was succeeded by Yes! PreCure 5 and Yes! PreCure 5 Go Go!'s time slot. The series' main motif is based on Nature, with its concept deriving from the Japanese idiom "flower, bird, wind, moon" (花鳥風月, kachōfūgetsu), which symbolizes the beauty of nature and the traditional themes of natural beauty in Japanese aesthetics.
Contents
Plot
Saki Hyuga and Mai Mishou met for the first time when they were both nine years old, after they followed two glowing balls that flew towards the Sky Tree, a big tree situated atop a mountain in their town. Five years later, they reunite at the Sky Tree and meet Flappy and Choppy, spirits from the Land of Fountains who reveal that they were the glowing balls they saw that day and that they were chosen to protect the Fountains hidden in their world, which they refer to as the Land of Fountains. Through Flappy and Choppy's power, Saki and Mai become Cure Bloom and Cure Egret respectively, and later on gain new forms called Cure Bright and Cure Windy from the power of the two spirits Moop and Fuup. Together, they fight against Dark Fall, who are searching for the Fountain of Sun, the last of the seven fountains that are connected to the World Tree - the source of life in all worlds. The leader of Dark Fall has set his sights on the Tree, and it is the Pretty Cure's job to protect it.
In the Splash Star movie, Sirlion, a warrior from Dark Fall, opens up a gateway to the Land of Clocks using directions from Mai. He plans to freeze time by halting the Eternal (Infinite) Clock, which will cut off everyone's future. Saki and Mai were in disagreement after Saki overslept and Mai wandered into a nearby clock store, causing them to miss the sign-up for the karaoke singing contest. After being thrown into an endless maze, Saki and Mai have to work together to solve the maze's puzzles.
Characters
Pretty Cures
The Splash Star Pretty Cures are warriors chosen by the Land of Fountains to restore the Seven Holy Fountains and prevent Dark Fall from taking over the Land of Greenery. They both transform using the Mix Commune (ミックス・コミューン, Mikkusu komyūn) through the phrase "Dual Spiritual Power" (デュアル・スピリチュアル・パワー！, Duaru Supirichuaru Pawā!). Later on in the series, both Saki and Mai transform using the Splash Commune (スプラッシュ・コミューン, Supurasshu komyūn), harnessing the powers of Moop and Fuup. After transforming, the duo introduces themselves with "We are Pretty Cure!" (ふたりはプリキュア!, Futari wa Purikyua!) with Mai saying "Those who defiled the Holy Fountains!" (聖なる泉を汚す者よ!, Seinaru izumi o yogosu mono yo!) and Saki saying "We're here to stop your cruel behavior!" (アコギな真似はお止めなさい!, Akogina mane wa oyamenasai!).
Saki Hyuga (日向 咲, Hyūga Saki) / Cure Bloom (キュアブルーム, Kyua Burūmu) / Cure Bright (キュアブライト, Kyua Buraito)
Voiced by: Orie Kimoto
Saki is a 13/14-year-old girl who is cheerful and athletic. Like Nagisa, Saki is excellent at sports, being a member of the girls' softball team at Yuunagi Middle School, is not good at academics and has a huge appetite, just like Nagisa. Unlike Nagisa, Saki has a mild personality and has a habit of saying "I'm on top form!" (絶好調！, Zekkōchō!) when she is excited. Saki is bright and energetic, and remains positive even when facing the darkest situations. Although Saki appears childish at times, she is sociable and gregarious, and her cheerful and outgoing personality often cheers up others. Her family runs the Panpaka Pan bakery, which she works at; she is good at cooking and making delicious bread. She has a sister named Minori, who she shares a room with and is often annoyed by. Saki also has a crush on Mai's older brother, Kazuya.
As Cure Bloom and Cure Bright, her short auburn hair becomes bright reddish blonde and is worn with a headband. As Cure Bloom, her theme color is pink and she represents the earth, and as Cure Bright her theme color is yellow and she represents the moon.
She introduces herself as "The shining golden flower, Cure Bloom!" (輝く金の花, キュアブルーム!, Kagayaku kin no hana, Kyua Burūmu!) while as Cure Bright, she introduces herself as "The full moon in the sky, Cure Bright!" (天空に満ちる月, キュアブライト!, Tenkū ni michiru tsuki, Kyua Buraito!).
Land of Fountains
Flappy (フラッピ, Furappi)
Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi
The spirit of the flower, who likes to eat rice and ends his sentences with the phrase "lapi". He seemingly has a crush on Choppy, but she is either unaware of or doesn't understand his feelings for her. He functions as Saki's transformation device, allowing her to transform into Cure Bloom and Cure Bright.
Choppy (チョッピ, Choppi)
Voiced by: Miyu Matsuki
The spirit of the bird, who ends her sentences with the phrase "chopi". She functions as Mai's transformation device, allowing her to transform into Cure Egret and Cure Windy.
Moop (ムープ, Mūpu)
Voiced by: Yuriko Fuchizaki
A mysterious spirit of the moon that first appears in episode 24 and has some connection to Michiru, as the Kiryuu sisters once rescued Moop and Fuup from a falling tree at the Fountain of Sky. "Muu" comes from "Moon" (ムーン, Mūn). He ends his sentences with the phrase "mupu".
Fuup (フープ, Fūpu)
Voiced by: Akemi Okamura
A mysterious spirit of the wind that first appears in episode 24 along with Moop and has some connection to Kaoru, as the Kiryuu sisters once rescued Moop and Fuup from a falling tree at the Fountain of Sky. She ends her sentences with the phrase "pupu". Moop and Foop can use the powers of the moon and wind to power up the Pretty Cure with the Spiral Ring Set, and later serve as the power sources for Cure Bright and Cure Windy.
Princess Filia (フィーリア王女, Fīria Ōjo)
Voiced by: Taeko Kawata
Dark Fall
Throughout the whole series, Pretty Cure's enemies are the villains of Dark Fall (ダークフォール, Dāku Fōru). In episode 41, Goyan used the Fairy Carafe to bring the previously killed villains (except Michiru and Kaoru) back to life to defeat Pretty Cure.
Akudaikaan (アクダイカーン, Akudaikān)
Voiced by: Takayuki Godai
The evil ruler of Dark Fall, who seeks to take over the World Tree, and has managed to capture six of the seven Fountains that are connected to it. He has sent out minions to search for the location of the last of these fountains, the Fountain of Sun. He appears as a shadowy towering demon-like being wearing robes, with glowing red eyes that shine out of the cave in which he lives. In the series' final battle, it is revealed that Goyan created him and Dark Fall as a tool, and that Goyan is the true villain.
Goyan (ゴーヤーン, Gōyān)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Akudaikaan's aide, who Ms, Shitataare calls "Gōchan". Before his battle against the girls, he appears to be polite, yet mean and vicious, and the Dark Fall minions often mock him. It is later revealed in episode 47 that he created Akudaikaan as a tool, and that his true intent is to destroy the universe and all its life. After killing Akudaikaan, he transforms into a gigantic monster and turns the Land of Greenery into a wasteland, then has a fierce battle against the girls. He almost kills Cure Bloom and Cure Egret by taking them with him, but they defeat him with the Pretty Cure Spiral Heart Splash Star.
Karehaan (カレハーン, Karehān)
Voiced by: Isshin Chiba
Karehaan is the first of Dark Fall's members to attack Earth, and is also their weakest member. He is sent to capture Flappy and Choppy in order to force them to tell where the Fountain of Sun is. When they refuse to reply, he begins to harm them until Saki and Mai step in and transform for the first time. He attacks the Pretty Cure with wood-related Uzainaa. In episode 7, the Cures defeat him and he returns to his original form of dead leaves, but he is later resurrected in episode 42 along with the other generals of Dark Fall. However, he is defeated in the same episode. His name is often mispronounced as "Curry-pan", much to his displeasure.
Cures' families
Daisuke Hyuga (日向 大介, Hyūga Daisuke)
Voiced by: Naomi Kusumi
Saki and Minori's father, who owns a bakery called PANPAKA.
Saori Hyuga (日向 沙織, Hyūga Saori)
Voiced by: Mika Doi
Saki and Minori's mother, who is a bread craftsman at PANPAKA.
Minori Hyuga (日向 みのり, Hyūga Minori)
Voiced by: Ayaka Saito
Saki's younger sister.
Korone (コロネ, Korone)
Voiced by: Hideo Watanabe
Saki's cat, who she adopted five years before the series.
Kouichirou Mishou (美翔 弘一郎, Mishō Kōichirō)
Voiced by: Takashi Irie
Mai's father, who is a notable astronomer.
Kanako Mishou (美翔 可南子, Mishō Kanako)
Voiced by: Yumi Kusaka
Mai's mother, who is an archaeologist.
Kazuya Mishou (美翔 和也, Mishō Kazuya)
Voiced by: Kenji Nojima
Mai's elder brother, who admires her and aspires to be an astronaut.
Yuunagi Middle School
Yuunagi Middle School (夕凪中学校, Yūnagi Chūgakkō) is a junior high school that the Cures attend.
Shinohara (篠原)
Voiced by: Hyo-sei
An English teacher who is the Cures' homeroom teacher and advisor to the softball club.
Kenta Hoshino (ホシノケンタ, Hoshino Kenta)
Voiced by: Junko Takeuchi
Saki's friend.
Hitomi Itou (伊東 仁美, Itō Hitomi)
Voiced by: Ryoko Ono
A member of the softball team alongside Saki.
Yūko Outa (太田 優子, Ōta Yūko)
Voiced by: Masako Jo
Saki and Mai's classmate.
Ayano Takeuchi (竹内 彩乃, Takeuchi Ayano)
Voiced by: Sayori Ishizuka
Mai's friend and a member of the Art Club.
Kayo Andou (安藤 加代, Andō Kayo)
Voiced by: Akiko Nakagawa
A classmate of the Cures who is a student counsellor.
Izumida (泉田, Izumida)
Voiced by: Shizuka Ito
A classmate of the Cures and the captain of the softball club Saki is in.
Media
Anime
The series is produced by Toei Animation and Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, having been broadcast across Japan via ABC and other ANN stations from February 5, 2006, to January 28, 2007. The opening theme for all of the episodes is "Makasete★Splash☆Star★" (まかせて★スプラッシュ☆スター★, Makasete Supurasshu☆Sutā; "Leave it to Us Splash☆Star") by Yuka Uchiyae with Splash Stars. The ending theme used in episodes 1-30 is "'Warau ga Kachi' de GO!" (「笑うが勝ち!」でGO!, "Warau ga Kachi de Gō!; "'Laugh and Win!' GO!") by Mayumi Gojo, and the ending theme for episode 31 and onwards is "Ganbalance de Dance" (ガンバランスdeダンス, Ganbaransu de Dansu) also by Mayumi Gojo with Flappy and Choppy.
The series premiered in English for the first time on Crunchyroll on August 27, 2024, with a full subtitled release of the original series.
Marvelous AQL also released several DVDs of the series before later being compiled into two DVD-Box sets by Pony Canyon. The first boxset is released on September 19, 2012, and the second on October 17, 2012.
Films
A movie titled PreCure Splash☆Star Tick Tack Kiki Ippatsu! (ふたりはプリキュア スプラッシュ☆スター チクタク危機一髪!; lit. We Are PreCure Splash☆Star Tic-Tac Crisis Hanging by a Thin Thread!) was released on December 9, 2006.
The heroines also appear in all Pretty Cure All Stars movies, starting with Pretty Cure All Stars DX: Everyone's Friends - the Collection of Miracles! (プリキュアオールスターズDX みんなともだちっ☆奇跡の全員大集合!, PuriKyua Ōru Sutāzu Dirakkusu: Minna Tomodachi☆Kiseki no Zenin Daishūgō) (Released on March 14, 2009)
Video game
A side-scrolling beat-em-up video game, Futari wa PreCure Splash Star: Panpaka game deji kojo! (ふたりはプリキュア Splash Star パンパカゲームでぜっこうちょう!) was released by Bandai for the Nintendo DS on November 30, 2006.
