Pretty Cure Splash Star
Synopsis
During the summer festival five years ago, two girls met at a mysterious tree and saw two glowing spheres. Now, these two girls--Saki Hyuuga, ace pitcher on the school softball team; and Mai Mishou, who prefers sketching over stargazing--are chosen by the spirits of flowers (Flappy) and birds (Choppy) to restore the Seven Fountains and save their worlds from Dark Autumn. Together, they are the NEW Pretty Cure. (Source: ANN)
Audience Consensus
Splash Star is generally well-received as a solid entry in the Pretty Cure franchise, praised for its character development, particularly the redemption arc of Michiru and Kaoru. While some find the initial similarities to the original series off-putting and critique the animation and some villains, the series is appreciated for its optimistic tone and emphasis on friendship. The dynamic between the main characters is sweet, and the emotional moments resonate well with viewers.
Strengths
- Consistent episode quality due to a simple story allows for conveying serious themes effectively.
- Well-developed characters, especially Saki and Mai, with distinct personalities and interests, foster strong emotional connection.
- Excellent redemption arc of Michiru and Kaoru with surprising depth and tragic moments.
- Creative and interesting villain designs, with many villains being entertaining and funny.
- Good pacing with villains appearing and disappearing at the right moment.
Weaknesses
- Initial similarities to the original Futari wa Pretty Cure may turn off some viewers.
- Animation quality can be inconsistent, with derpy faces and poor drawings at times.
- Some villains are weak writing-wise, lacking depth compared to others.
- Fight scenes, while occasionally great, can be anti-climactic and stiff.
- Some filler episodes may not be as entertaining due to the focus on only two main characters.