I hate spoilers, so this review will be completely spoiler free.

As time goes on and the more anime you watch, your taste naturally evolves. So does the number of shows that stick out decrease. Therefore, when you watch something that gives you the same level of enjoyment and leaves an impact as some of the firsts you watched, that is a sign of a truly special anime. Heartcatch Precure is one of those shows and it still holds up even one year after completing it.

If there is any other show that I can credit for turning me into the magical girl guy, it would be Heartcatch Precure. Madoka was my first, Sailor Moon got me properly into the genre, Hugtto later solidified my love, but Heartcatch was the first one besides Madoka that I could say was a near masterpiece. With the previous Precure seasons and other traditional mahou shoujos I watched before them, they were good shows in their own right. I quite liked them a lot but I found that they all lacked a special sauce that would allow me to compare them to the best anime in the medium. Don’t get me wrong, classic monster of the week magical girls have their appeal but they can’t really stand against some of the best anime from other genres. That is, until I watched Heartcatch Precure. A show made for kids that I would call a “masterpiece level anime”.

To put it simply, Heartcatch is what I would classify as THE best traditional monster of the week mahou shoujo when looking at it objectively. It learns from not only the previous Precure seasons, but takes all the tropes associated with the genre as a whole and refines them to perfection. If anything, the tropes such as the use of stock footage and the episodic nature are the only things holding Heartcatch back from being a true masterpiece anime.

The big way Heartcatch refines the traditional magical girl formula lies within its name and the main theme of this season. Each monster of the week is a manifestation of a person’s heart and inner desires. It is then up to the cures to purify these monsters by understanding them. This gives a lot of depth to each encounter as getting to know the feelings of the characters, their emotions and their insecurities is what is needed to catch their hearts and cure them. Among the many stories told through the episodic structure, there are some that are quite hard hitting and even tackle mature subjects. They are very human and relatable.

This aspect also ties to how Heartcatch is a kids show with universal appeal. Similar to something like Avatar the last Airbender, the contrast of more mature topics with the mostly lighthearted tone is what makes those darker moments hit harder. Heartcatch is still aimed towards kids at the end of the day but, like some of the best kids shows out there, it has elements that even adults can still appreciate. Its darker moments are more impactful when juxtaposed against the light, and vice-versa. Heartcatch is still Precure, so the light is prevalent throughout the whole show. It just gets to shine even brighter with the increase of darker elements. While still remaining a kids show, it conveys themes and messages that can resonate with anyone.

Beyond the more mature touch, the show also is a lot easier to consume than other mahou shoujos and even other Precures. Each Precure season usually can be placed on a scale. On one end, the more goofy, lighthearted and more episodic; and the other end, the more serious side with greater overarching elements. Heartcatch falls into the latter. The main characters go through well crafted arcs that span throughout the whole run. As well as the second half having some of the most plot progression in all of Precure. This makes Heartcatch one of the best seasons to consume as there is always a feeling of progression, even when it’s small and subtle. Many seasons usually maintain a consistent quality throughout their run but Heartcatch is the one that starts really well, and only gets better as it goes on. Culminating in one of the best and exhilarating finales in the franchise.

Another point that sets Heartcatch apart from most of Precure is the art style and animation. The character designs are the most unique in the franchise and the show greatly benefits from them.

They are simple but very expressive. A lot of emotion and expressiveness is brought from these designs which also help enforce the themes of the season. Precure is also known for its amazing fight animation and this season is no exception. The simple and stylized designs result in Heartcatch being the most consistently well animated season in the franchise. The flights can get really intense and they shine even more in the plot heavier second half.

Lastly, beyond the tone, themes, animation or plot there is one factor that will always make or break a Precure season in my eyes. The most important element of any season is the characters. Thankfully, Heartcatch has some of the best in the franchise. From the fun and quirky villains that receive quite some depth as the story progresses, to the loveable side characters who are well explored thanks to the monster of the week gimmick. The cast is very loveable and they make the show feel very alive. Heartcatch’s world is very much alive with a lot of personality. But of course, the main cures are what make Heartcatch as good as it is. I won’t talk about the later cures (for spoiler reasons), but their arcs and growth are among the most mature and hard hitting in Precure in general.

Now onto the stars of the show, our main duo. Tsubomi/ cure Blossom and Erika/cure Marine are Heartcatch’s biggest strength.

Individually they are both great. Tsubomi’s arc of a shy and insecure girl becoming stronger and more confident is a tale as old as time, but one that Heartcatch tells to great effect. She is one of the pink cures that receives the most development and her arc is a very easy one to relate to. Erika, on the other hand, is the exact opposite in a very effective way. She may be annoying at times but her enthusiasm and pure hearted nature is what makes her such a loveable character. She is also the Precure’s meme queen so that gives her extra points.

However, it is their dynamic and the growth of their friendship that makes them the best part of the show. Their strengths and weaknesses complement each other and their interactions are always enjoyable to watch.

When going through Precure chronologically, it is very easy to see why Heartcatch is good as it is. It takes all the strengths from previous seasons: the well developed duo and impactful action scenes from Futari wa and Splash Star, the ensemble cast of Yes 5 and the more connected plot from Fresh. Heartcatch takes them all, improves on some of them and goes further beyond. This jump in quality is significant but the show still carries on the spirit of previous and later Precure seasons.

There is a reason why Heartcatch is always recommended first when getting into Precure. It is not only one the best seasons in the franchise, has some of its peaks and shows what makes it so great; Heartcatch Precure IS one the best Magical Girls in the genre as a whole. Once you get used to the mahou shoujo tropes, you will find the one kids show that can stand up to some of the best anime of all time. While it may not be as dark and complex as something like Madoka in the grand scheme, it is a masterpiece when it comes to the original magical girl formula that is associated with most of the genre.

Heartcatch Precure, despite being a show aimed at little girls, can provide a similar experience to some of the best anime of all time.