For a slow and virtually plot-less episode, I was surprised how it managed to keep my attention. This week was all about Mirai being taken to town to pick up supplies for school, but what stood out to me the most was the love the town people had towards Riko. She has been going to the Merchant Alley since she has first enrolled and everyone knows her exceptionally well. They know she is a clumsy magician. The tailor saw her button was loose and fixed it, the broom seller saw how battered her broom was it not only fixed it but added a ribbon to match Mirai’s broom because it was the first time he has seen her bring a friend. It was also the dynamic between Riko and the towns-folks which I had enjoyed, like the old man who Riko knows well enough once he has a story to tell, he has a million more to follow.
But there was also an interesting implication. While they were going to town, Mirai was telling Riko how she can always tell her grandma anything, because she will have her trust and support. When Riko heard this, she looked down, and even a bit envious. It appears that not only Riko is struggling to be acknowledged/praised by others, but also struggling with something related to her family. We know nothing about her family, but I expect it would eventually be brought up. I could dive into a bunch of speculations, but I think it would be wise to wait since we are only on episode three.
The villain Great Sparda (who’s design -for some reason- made me think of Digimon…) started off on a brilliant note. She cleverly snatched Mirai’s Diamond Linkle Stone from afar, and right there- that would have been a great success had she ran off with it. BUT ALAS, WE CAN’T HAVE THAT HAPPEN! It’s too early for the villains to have the upper-hand! But hey, it could have been an awesome opportunity and twist had she been able to at least get away with the Diamond Linkle Stone after the fight- the way it fell out of her hand was a bit dumb too… I say this only because the Ruby Linkle Stone came into play, making it so they are still able to transform regardless if one of their stones are missing. The Ruby Linkle Stone came out of the Passion Flame, the sacred flame which are the lore goes, has saved the town from darkness. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this power concept is that, this isn’t anything like the dress-up cards, where they served as an add-on power-up tool. The Diamond Linkle Stone was not required in order for the Ruby Linkle Stone to work, therefore making it it’s own unique power rather than a simple add-on feature. It is going to be very interesting to see if the girls will switch stones on a routine basis, or for the majority of the time, stick to their first Linkle Stone: Diamond. On a related note, I wanted to bring up Moforun. I wonder what will happen if they were to lose Moforun. He appears to be the heart of their power, since he not only can smell/detect other Linkle Stones, but it used to bring out that said power.
And finally the transformation. I was super pleased to see Ruby’s transformation was also traditionally done. I am still holding my breath about the CG, but I am savoring the traditional hand-drawn animation because I don’t know if the second level transformation will continue that. But I have to ask, while watching the transformation, was anyone else thinking to themselves about how it would be sad if Sailor Moon doesn’t get this kind of treatment in the upcoming Season 3? I mean for the love of god, Mahou Tsukai Precure’s transformation sequences similarities just keep inching a bit closer (though to be fair, it is being done in a very simplified form).
Next week, the magic lessons will begin! I can’t imagine Mirai is going to have an easy time with the Deputy Headmistress, who is absolutely livid and against Mirai enrollment.
this was great episode nice character devloment for riko and the ruby transformation was much more great then the diamond transformation for me
eva i didnt understand what did you mean in the end of the review. how exactly the ruby transformation closer to sailor moon transform? what are the similarities
The lace/ribbons part. The classic sailor moon series had that gorgeous magical animation of the cloths/ribbons as they transformed. I’m probably not describing it well, but like I said in the post: similar but in a simplified form.
I really enjoyed this episode. It didn’t have a lot of things going on, but the interactions were great and I love the Ruby transformations. I really like Sparda’s design too.
I would like to point out something about your review regarding Sparda’s action after stealing the Diamond Linkle Stone. Sparda stayed behind because she wanted to question them about the whereabouts of the Emerald Linkle Stone, which she believed they know. Running away with the Diamond Linkle Stone is really not a victory considering they got nothing out of it and the Precures are only their small obstacle as well as their one way ticket of getting the Emerald Linkle Stone, which is the villain’s group ultimate goal.
The reason I am saying this because I think you might misunderstood Sparda’s action and implying that she is dumb, but she actually planned ahead way better than Batty. This also proves that the villains are not as dumb as say… The Phantom Empire.
I didn’t intend to imply she was ‘dumb’, she is like you said: extremely bright. I found the way the diamond linkle had fallen out of her hand ‘dumb’ (originally I was going to use the: looked cheap, but I ended up going with ‘dumb’. I should have chosen a better word to explain).
You are right about that point however of staying there to question them. I had forgotten that point (failed to mention it in my notes too).
Mahou Tsukai Precure is doing well with sticking almost entirely to hand-drawn animation, which I am very pleased with. If you look closely there are tiny bits of CG in places here and there, but they last only a seond or two, and they interlace with and then change back to the traditional animation nearly seamlessly. When the Linkle sticks are first summoned, for example, we see them floating in the air and they look a lot more sharp, detailed, and plastic-looking than they tend to when the girls are holding them. What impresses me is that the girls then reach out and grab the sticks: the girls, who are hand-drawn, reach out and grab the sticks that are still (at that point) being animated in CG, and it doesn’t look awkward or anything. The motion of their hands takes the sticks offscreen for a fraction of a second, and when they loop back into view they’re being done in hand-drawn animation as well.
That’s not the only time it happens, but I’ve only spotted a few, and so far they’ve all been similarly well-handled. This is a proper step for Precure. They’ve been overdoing it with the last few seasons, bringing in CG for more and more of the “stock footage” types of scenes, like the special attacks, and transformations, and so on, and somehow each one just felt a little… soulless, I guess. Sure, they could make them all colorful and shiny and smooth-looking and fancy, but some piece of the life was gone from those moments.
I must write that this episode got my attention to this season. I hope the new ones do the same.
I really liked to know the Magic Merchant Alley (the Diagon Alley of the Pretty Cure world)! What a place that is for the season and full of nice and funny people there as well! 😀
The beginning is interesting, seeing Mirai being very honest and with strong trust with her grandmother. ^^ I find it very good and nice, but her grandmother is still being mysterious to me.
And Eva, you are right about Riko feeling something about her family, she really does give an impression to the viewers. I was like ‘that’s right, what about her family’. We shall find out as we watch.
The new villain Sparda has really surprised me, and how smart she is! She was close to beat the Mahou Tsukai Precure.
I agree that she does look like a Digimon, hahahahahah. XD And yet, both Digimon and Pretty Cures are from Toei Animation. 🙂
The precure’s transformation with the power of the Ruby Linkle Stone is pretty good!
I think I like this one more than the Diamond Linkle Stone’s.
Not to mention that their attack, Ruby Passionale, is pretty cool too. 🙂
And about a villain kidnapping Mofurun is really serious to think about. It’s very possible for that kind of evil plan to happen.
Can’t wait for the next episode, and I wonder about those student girls with colored hairs and how the Deputy Headmistress will react afterwards with Mirai around from now on.