Each series focuses on a group of teenage girls who are granted special items that allow them to transform into legendary warriors known as the Pretty Cure. With the assistance of creatures known as fairies, the Pretty Cure use their magical powers and enhanced strength to fight against evil forces who create monsters to bring misery to the Earth and further their plans. As the series progresses and stronger enemies appear, the Cures gain new magical items, new abilities, and sometimes new allies to help them in their fight against evil.
Main series
There are currently seventeen anime television series in the franchise, two of which are direct sequels to their previous series. To date, four of the series have received English adaptations. Futari wa Pretty Cure was dubbed into English by Ocean Group and aired in Canada under the name Pretty Cure. Smile PreCure! and DokiDoki! PreCure were adapted by Saban Brands and released on Netflix under the names Glitter Force and Glitter Force Doki Doki, respectively. Both Kirakira Pretty Cure a la Mode and Healin' Good Pretty Cure began streaming in Crunchyroll on their respective territories. Each series has received a manga adaptation illustrated by Futago Kamikita, which is published in Kodansha's Nakayoshishoujo magazine alongside the anime. As of 2020, Toei Animation Inc. owns the international rights to the franchise while both the dubs of Smile and DokiDoki alongside the Glitter Force brand is currently owned by Hasbro. The Healin' Good Pretty Cure 13th episode, originally scheduled to air on April 26, 2020, was postponed until June 28, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the series re-airing select episodes during this time.
Films
Beginning with Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart, each television series has received a theatrical animated film based on the series, with Max Heart receiving two films. Starting in March 2009, crossover films featuring characters from multiple series have been released annually, with 12 crossover films released to date. The eleventh crossover film, , has been awarded the Guinness World Records title for "Most Magical Warriors in an Anime Film", with a total number of 55 Cures with speaking roles.
Adaptations
Musicals
Live stage shows since Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart began on February 2005. They don't usually have special names like the movies or games, and they are performed in theatres, or live stages. These musicals are often made for children between the age of 5–9.
A live-action series, Koe Girl!, aired in Japan between April and June 2018, celebrating the franchise's 15th anniversary. The series follows a group of aspiring voice actresses and stars Haruka Fukuhara, who voiced Himari Arisugawa/Cure Custard in Kirakira PreCure a la Mode.
The combination of transmedia text products, including anime series, films, live performances, theme stores, and toys, has been analyzed as a "system of consumption, knowledge and action creates a lifestyle-text, a set of fictional media works that are synonymous with the lifestyle practices they promote." The Pretty Cure films are the seventh highest-grossing anime film franchise. Bandai Namco's net income from Pretty Cure video game sales was from April 2008 to March 2012, from April 2012 to March 2013, from April 2013 to March 2014, and from April 2014 to March 2016, adding up to net sales revenue for Bandai Namco.
Merchandise
Pretty Cure has had numerous licensed merchandise sold in Japan. Between 2004 and 2007, Pretty Cure licensed merchandise sold in Japan, where it became the sixth highest-grossing franchise annually by 2005. Pretty Cure licensed merchandise in Japan later sold in 2008, in 2009, and in 2010, becoming Japan's fifth highest-grossing franchise annually. Pretty Cure licensed merchandise later sold in 2011, in 2012, in 2013, in 2014, in 2015, and in 2016. Combined, Pretty Cure licensed merchandise sold in Japan up until 2016. Bandai Namco's net income from their Pretty Cure toy sales was from April 2017 to December 2019. In total, Pretty Cure has generated at least in merchandise sales as of 2019.
