The movie Precure All Stars: Haru no Carnival is the first feature film connected to the Go! Princess Precure series and is generally recognized by the fandom as one of the worst films in the franchise. I absolutely cannot say that this opinion is unfounded, but I intend to provide a broader review that does not limit itself to citing the aspects for which this movie is often criticized.

It is definitely necessary to mention that the plot of this film is very weak: the duo of thieves, Odoren and Utaen, imprison the royal family of the kingdom of Harmonia (a place where there's always a party). However, before being captured, the royal family sends invitations to all the Precures. Pretending to be ministers, the duo has the girls perform while secretly kidnapping their fairies and stealing their transformation items to overpower them. Eventually, their deception is uncovered, but they succeed in their plan. However, the Princess Precures retrieve the stolen items through dancing and singing (????). The two try to escape while a group of Precures rescues the king, who warns that the guardian of the kingdom will be angered because the party was interrupted. New Dress-Up Keys are found, the dragon is calmed, and everyone lives happily ever after.

The story is clearly barely sketched out. It’s hard to consider this a proper movie; it’s more of a glorified collection of music videos followed by 10 minutes of action. In my opinion, viewers should know what they’re getting into and watch this work with their brains turned off, relaxing and enjoying the good moments (which do exist!). Having to pay for tickets for such a show is ridiculous, and I feel sorry for those who did, but as of 2024, it’s no longer shown in theaters and is completely free. With an hour of free time and an open mind, I think it can be an enjoyable product, even just for the nostalgia factor.

As for the new characters, they are voiced by a manzai duo, and the difference in quality compared to the other voice actors is noticeable. They also perform a subjectively amusing breaking of the fourth wall and are unique as antagonists: they know from the start they have no real chance of winning and merely aim to prevent the girls from transforming. Their song is even decent at times.

There is also an attempt at character development I haven’t mentioned, involving Haruka: she must find the courage to sing in front of her classmates but feels embarrassed. Performing in front of the people of Harmonia and the other Precures helps her overcome this fear. However, I found this somewhat out of character; she was excessively terrified of the audience, whereas in the series, she is much more interested in new experiences. On a positive note, the characters' 3D models have been updated and improved compared to the past. Additionally, the usual stock footage for transformations and attacks, as well as the Miracle Lights, is absent.

It’s not often mentioned, but I want to highlight the content of the music videos I enjoyed most: Doki Doki's video features Regina, Splash Star allows us to see many secondary characters again and showcases Saki and Mai's bond during a beach volleyball match, while Smile and Futari wa best reflect the atmosphere of their respective series. Two other videos stand out as well: the one for Suite includes heartwarming scenes that act as an epilogue to the series, such as Ellen and Hummy singing together and the royal family reuniting. The video for Yes! 5 highlights the pairs Nozomi/Coco (she even dreams of a kiss), Komachi/Nuts, Urara/Syrup, and Karen/Milk. The song about the fairies is also very cute.

An interesting and overlooked aspect of the film is the interactions between the characters. Unfortunately, not all characters are voiced this time either, but at least they react to external stimuli. There are many interesting moments during the performances, and I’d like to mention a few. For example, Love notes that it has been a while since she last danced with Setsuna, who has been busy making Labyrinth a better place. Saki talks about the distance separating her from Flappy and the others. I also liked that Mana’s only real weakness—singing—is highlighted, with the scandalized reactions of Hibiki and Kanade. There’s also teasing of Nozomi for her crush on Coco, while she tries to deflect by mentioning Milk, and Erika and Hime discuss the questionable method of obtaining Heart Seeds.

There’s additional material about Hime as well. She takes on a more significant role during the first meeting between the Happiness Charge and Princess Precures, introducing herself as a princess and reciting her full name (only Minami understands it). She actively participates in finding the king, discovering the secret passage to his prison and noting her familiarity with such tricks, as seen in HapCha episode 15. During the action scenes, Nagisa and Honoka interacting with Nozomi is very exciting. There are also some funny moments, like Akane preparing to accept a challenge, Miyuki simply breaking through walls for a shortcut, and Erika being interrupted mid-catchphrase by a missile.

In conclusion, this is far from an essential film, but for fans who approach it with the right mindset, it can be enjoyable. It’s not an offensive movie,