Pretty Cure

[Ken-Ohki]

So, I've noticed that Pretty Cure has completely left the Japanese fan CG website I often view. There were at one time 10-20 a day and now it doesn't even have a slot. This seems important since Sispri still has a good 5 or 6 daily additions and it's several years old.

I'm wondering if the newest Precure isn't a complete wash out with fans. I know it wasn't greeted warmly but it looks like it's lived up to fan bias and failed miserably. I just wanted some info on what's gone on.

[Quarkboy]

Well, I can't speak for japanese fans, but being one of the few people who watch splash star myself, I can surmise what has happened:

First and foremost, the dropoff of pretty cure doujin started after C67... which was before splash star (i.e. during max heart). So I think that pretty cure's popularity kind of peaked in the really otaku community after about a year and a half on the air. Now, when it comes to ratings I saw that the ratings rose considerable around the end of max heart (not surprisingly :) ), so the primary viewing public (which ISN'T otaku) was strong.

Splash star, however, has serious problems with keeping the interest of 2chan folks. One: It's distinctly more childish. Both the fighting, and the plots, and the moralism is way simplified. Two: The changing of characters is a HUGE blow to any fan community. How are you supposed to just go from "I{heart} Honoka!" to "I{heart} new person I don't know but kinda looks like honoka except she's not nearly as cool"?
But KIDS... kids don't really care. Not as much, anyway. And technically, from a pure construction point of view, Splash Star is a solid show. It is decently written, has often quite beautiful backgrounds and scenery, it's funny (in a kiddy sort of way), and is very colorful :). It has all the basic plot elements of the original pretty cure.

So, my hypothesis is this: Toei has killed the otaku fanbase for PRetty Cure. But they've kept the kids watching. The true test will be to see how the upcoming movie does in the box office. THAT will tell you whether splash star has retained enough popularity.

P.S. The most recent episode of splash star is a perfect example of how, even with similar plotlines... it just isn't as emotionaly involving as the original.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

It's like Dukes of Hazzard, they got rid of Bo and Luke and replaced them with Coy and Vance, and who the hell likes Coy and Vance?

- Dukes of AN