It was announced on January 11th that the motif of the 23rd installment of the popular anime series "Pretty Cure," "Detective Pretty Cure!", will be "detectives." The series has been running for over 20 years since 2004, and this will be the first time that "Detective Pretty Cure" will be born. The main characters are girls who work as detectives with the desire to "help people in need," and are guided by a mysterious power to travel back in time from the present day, 2027, to 1999. It appears that this will be a detective anime unlike any other before.
◇ Think for yourself and come up with an answer
Many detective anime have been produced in the past, such as "Detective Conan," "The Kindaichi Case Files," "Butt Detective," and "Oshiri Tantei," but "Detective PreCure!" does not seem to just solve mysteries and cases.
The theme was announced to be "See, feel, think for yourself, and find the true answer." In today's world, where we are overwhelmed with information, "truth" can become "lie" and "lie" can become "truth." Rather than relying on "someone else's" thoughts, children should think for themselves and come up with their own answers, asking themselves how they saw and felt things.
It may be that the film depicts the problem humanity faces: being at the mercy of various pieces of information and losing track of what is "truth." What exactly is "truth" or "real"? There may not be an answer, but it could be that the film tackles a grand theme.
◇Time travel to 1999
The "time travel" setting is also intriguing. Anna Akechi, a 14-year-old second-year junior high school student living in Makoto Mirai Town, is guided by a fairy named Pochitan who appears on her birthday and a pendant in her room, and travels back in time from 2027 to Makoto Mirai City in 1999, about 28 years ago. Since she is 14 years old in 2027, this means she has traveled back in time to before she was born.
The year 1999 saw the launch of the reshuffled Obuchi Cabinet, a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, the New Komeito Party, and the establishment of the Democratic Party. Keywords like "weed spirit" and "charisma" became popular, and the "Dango 3 Brothers" became a huge hit. The penetration rate of mobile phones in households was around 60%, and this was also the year that the mobile phone internet connection service "i-mode" was launched.
There were devices that combined PDAs (personal digital assistants) with phone functions, but they were not as widespread as modern smartphones. It was not easy to consult with AI, and digital communication tools and social media were not as well developed as they are today.
Of course, since "Pretty Cure" is fiction, it's not necessarily set in the real year 1999. However, there must be a reason why the time-travel destination was set in 1999.
◇Pretty Cure that thinks more than ever before
There is still much that is unknown, but the producer's comments accompanying this announcement make it clear that the series is aiming to create a detective anime unlike any other before.
ABC Animation producer Kanako Tada commented, "What we value in this film is 'thinking for yourself' without being swayed by those around you. The future you arrive at after that is your 'truth'. The 'truth' that a detective uncovers is unwavering at all times. However, the 'truth' in life always changes 'up to you'. Our protagonist, Anna, travels back in time to 1999. How will she think, judge and act, and what 'truth' will she grasp in the future of 2027? Please watch with us until the end."
Toei Animation producer Aramaki Soya said, "What kind of detectives and PreCure will they become as they grow up? And what kind of 'answer' will they ultimately arrive at? See, feel, and find the 'true' answer for themselves. In keeping with this theme, we've sprinkled many mysteries throughout the film. This is PreCure that 'thinks' more than ever before. We hope you will enjoy watching and having fun 'solving deductions' along with the PreCure."
"Detective PreCure!" will be broadcast on ABC TV and TV Asahi from 8:30 am on February 1st. Attention is focused on what kind of "truth" the "thinking" PreCure will grasp.
