Hovering Sky! Lovely Treatment Episodes 1-12
Magical girls have always been about finding one’s own inner strength and using it to become heroes. Soaring Sky is one of the few magical girl series that I can think of that uses that idea better! The twenty-first installment in the long-running series is titled Pretty Cure. The accompanying pictures demonstrate that each of the three Cures presented thus far (with at least one more expected to arrive in subsequent episodes) manifests their power from a deep-seated yearning. This, together with the series’ exceptionally diverse official cast, make Soaring Sky one of the most reassuring magical girl series in recent memory since it embodies the genre’s promise that, given the chance, anybody can transform.
Choosing this strategy for the Pretty Cure franchise’s twentieth anniversary series is fantastic since it serves as a reminder of the genre’s strength. The fact that we now have the first recognized boy Cure and will later in the series see a young adult Cure also demonstrates the endurance of Pretty Cure in general and the magical girl subgenre in general. Three-quarters of the way through this series of episodes, Cure Wing makes an appearance, and it doesn’t sound overly dramatic to state that Black Pepper (and other male aids) paved the way for Cure Wing’s entrance. Instead of being an addition to the squad, he becomes an immediate necessity. He can transform into a human, but his natural shape is an uncommon Skylandian bird, which is equally fascinating to observe. Once more, this seems to be a tribute to the boy helpers we’ve seen in prior installments of the franchise, particularly Cure Parfait’s brother in Kira Kira Pretty Cure a la Mode, who had a few shining moments but ultimately wasn’t a true member of the team. (Of course, there are older examples as well; I’m choosing this one as it was officially released in English.) Tsubasa’s transformation into Cure Wing is significant in terms of gender roles and antiquated conventions since it underscores the fact that magical girls’ kinder, magic-based abilities are not just reserved for females. Boys don’t need to punch somebody in the face or go through rigorous physical training in order to be fighters. The fourth Cure will appear to remind us that we don’t need to grow out of things we enjoy, a message we don’t hear enough of. In fact, Sora is the one who does that in episode twelve, and that’s because it’s something she actively wants to do rather than because it’s strictly necessary.
Rise, Sky! The plot of Pretty Cure is sound. Similar to Delicious Party Pretty Cure before it, the plot takes its time introducing characters and divulging details. For three episodes, Sora serves as the sole Cure in the role of Cure Sky, while Cure Wing doesn’t appear until episode nine. This gives them time to develop a strong friendship and team dynamic while also allowing us to get to know Sora and Mashiro. The contrasting personalities of the two girls work well together, with Mashiro’s more quiet demeanor tempering Sora’s exuberant outlook. Mashiro’s reservation is initially misunderstood by Sora, who labels her as someone in need of protection. Mashiro, the Cure Prism, must serve as a reminder that courage may take different forms and that anyone has the ability to rise up and fight. Similar to the original Cures Black and White from the 1990s, the two females represent two halves of a whole.
The Pretty Cure, Futari. The fact that Cure Prism is white instead of the more common blue or pink doesn’t feel random. The team’s vanguard consists of the two of them, with Cure Wing serving as, in a sense, the wings.
As a villain, Kabaton isn’t overly frightening, which is good for him because he’s probably only the first of many. Toward the end of this course, we discover that Kabaton is working for someone, though we don’t know who it is. That does not imply that he is not a threat. He is, and let’s face it, anyone who wants to steal a child is undesirable. It can’t be good, even though we’re not completely sure why he and his employer require Princess Elle. Amusingly, nobody in Mashiro’s town seemed to give a big purple pig with a mohawk a second thought. This may be because Cure Sky dealt with him so quickly when he first appeared. The residents of the town are all aware of the Cures, and at least one person—Ageha, a college student who once watched Mashiro—is aware of their identity. Since they don’t rush around a corner to transform, it isn’t very difficult to understand. Ageha’s knowledge that Tsubasa is actually a bird is even stranger; much to his dismay, she seems to enjoy everything about him.
The tale is now being driven by the interactions between the characters as the core cast is still coming together. Sora is essentially an isekai heroine who must adapt to life on Earth after leaving her home planet. Even while she does it gracefully, it is still difficult for her in many ways, and the novel isn’t afraid to depict her homesickness or the weight of her role as Elle’s guardian. (She gives some of that to Mashiro’s grandma, but still thinks that it is mostly her responsibility.) Mashiro considers herself to be ordinary and feels slightly insufficient when she contrasts her actions with those of Sora. Tsubasa is uneasy about being a bird without wings, as we find out later. As the three get to know one another better, they support one another in realizing their worth, creating the series’ warm, pulsating heart.
Discovering one’s own ability and using it to improve the world while gaining more self-assurance is the central theme of the traditional magical girl stories. Rise, Sky! Pretty Cure is doing well in all respects. Although the main plot has been moving slowly, it more than makes up for this with its obvious love for its cast and its genre.
