‘Precure’ Fans Lose Sleep Over Late-Night Broadcast of ‘Mahou Tsukai Precure 2,’ but Find Heartfelt Satisfaction
The first episode of the sequel to the popular anime Mahou Tsukai Precure! (MahoPri), titled Witchy Pretty Cure!! MIRAI DAYS (MahoPri 2), aired late at night on January 11th in the "ANiMAZiNG!!!" programming block (Saturdays, 2:00 AM JST) on ABC TV and TV Asahi. This marks the first Precure series to air in a late-night slot, and the hashtag #まほプリ2 (#MahoPri2) quickly trended to the top spot on X (formerly Twitter). Following this, Wonderful Pretty Cure! aired on January 12th at 8:30 AM JST, leading to online comments like, “I’m so sleep-deprived…” and “Looks like sleepless Precure weekends are here to stay.”
The original Witchy Pretty Cure! aired from February 2016 to January 2017 as the 13th installment of the Precure franchise. It told a magical story connecting the "Magic World" and the "Non-Magic World" (human world) through miracles and magic.
The sequel represents a new direction for the Precure series, which began in 2004. Designed for fans who grew up with the franchise, this is the second project under a concept aiming to provide content that adult fans can continue to enjoy. Following the first installment, Kibou no Chikara Otona Precure '23 (October 2023), the sequel seeks to deepen the engagement of longtime fans.
The first episode featured transformation and battle scenes, delighting nostalgic fans online. Comments flooded in, such as:
“This is exactly what I wanted to see—‘adults transforming’!”
“The transformation sequence feels more mature—amazing!”
“Cure Miracle and Cure Magical are back!!”
“The animation quality is stellar—too good for a late-night anime!”
“This needs a morning slot—late-night airtime doesn’t do it justice!”
“The rich transformation sequences are everything. This is it!!”
Just six hours after MahoPri 2 aired, the latest series in the Precure franchise, Wonderful Pretty Cure! (WanPri), broadcasted its newest episode. With the story heading toward its climax, fans are eager not to miss any developments.
Many adult fans watched MahoPri 2 followed by WanPri, expressing their dedication despite sleep deprivation:
“No matter how tired I am, I wake up for Precure time…”
“I barely slept, watching Medalist followed by Witchy Pretty Cure! live. I’m a bit tired but emotionally fulfilled. After packing lunch, I watched Wonderful Pretty Cure!
and headed to work.”
“Is this my life now? Late-night to Sunday morning with Precure—no sleep in sight!”
“I’m still buzzing from MahoPri 2—watched WanPri, had breakfast, and now it’s nap time again.”
While fans’ happiness is undeniable, the fatigue is real, as the jam-packed Precure schedule keeps them up late and wakes them early.
Interestingly, during the MahoPri 2 broadcast, the hashtag #nitiasa (short for "Sunday Morning Anime") also trended. Perhaps, when Precure airs, even late at night can feel like morning.
Source : ORICON NEWS