Pretty Cure began its life back in 2004 when Toei Animation released its aptly named first installment Futari wa Precure (meaning “The Two of Us are Pretty Cure”). It tells the story of two young girls who must work together, despite their conflicting personalities, to defeat the evil monsters threatening their world by transforming into the superheroes Cure Black and Cure White.

This kind of concept had obviously been done before, but the two things that set Precure apart were its focus on character relationships and, most importantly, its surprisingly intense fight scenes. Cures Black and White didn’t just fire spells at their foes; they punched and kicked and got right up in their faces. Seeing these cute girls beating the crap out of their enemies was what made adult anime fans sit up and pay attention. Who knew girls in frilly outfits could throw down like they’re in Dragon Ball Z?

As of 2018, Pretty Cure has 15 installments covering 13 different teams of Cures (Futari wa Precure and Yes! Precure 5 had second seasons). Like Super Sentai and Kamen Rider, each new series exists in a separate continuity, so you can pick one at random without needing any context. They all have different art styles, themes, and team structures, so you’re bound to find one that fits your style. Be sure to check out “Finding the Right Precure Series for You” for detailed recommendations!

One of our favorites is Smile Precure (Glitter Force), which features a five-person team themed around storybook tales. It’s a great place for a new viewer to start since it uses a more familiar Sailor Moon/Super Sentai team structure and strikes a balance between traditional magical girl cutesiness and kickass intensity. And since it’s from 2012, the CG during transformations and the end credits dances is crisp and beautiful. If you’re looking for a good introduction to the franchise, you can’t go wrong with Smile Precure.

Unlike Super Sentai, which was adapted into Power Rangers, Precure hasn’t seen much popularity outside of Japan. Futari wa Precure got a Canadian English dub in 2009 (which was pretty faithful to the original, despite some Westernized names), but its limited success meant that Western fans had to rely on fansubs for every series afterwards. That is, until Netflix came into the scene.

Saban, the localization company behind Power Rangers, dubbed Smile Precure as Glitter Force on Netflix in 2015. It’s a pure ‘90s-style dub, with American names for everyone and episodes chopped up to create new narratives. It’s not the worst thing ever, but unless you’re watching with your little sibling, it’s best to stick to subs for this franchise.