July 15, 2025, marks the 15th anniversary of Takara Tomy's Pretty Series. From Pretty Rhythm to AiPri, the Pretty Series is all about bringing some of that idol magic for kids of all ages. To commemorate 15 years of Pretty Series, it’s time for a super-quick history lesson.
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| Pretty Series |
The Pretty Rhythm Saga (2010-2014) - The Pretty Series saga began on July 15, 2010, with the arcade game titled Pretty Rhythm Mini Skirt. Made by Takara Tomy and developed by SynSophia, this arcade game pits players in the role of Prism Stars, performing Prism Jumps, and collecting Prism Stones.
While the one that started it all made a slow start, the folks from Takara Tomy wanted to do more with the Pretty Rhythm saga, and with that, a TV anime titled Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream was made. Aired on TV Tokyo on April 9, 2011, for 51 episodes, this anime is the fruit of Japan-Korea collaboration, thanks to Japan's Tatsunoko Production and South Korea's Dong Woo Animation. The TV anime is all about Aira, Rizumu, and Mion in their quest to take on the prestigious Prism Queen Cup.
As Aira Harune's journey to become Prism Queen is completed, Mia Ageha takes the baton as the star of the next Pretty Rhythm story, Dear My Future. Aired on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2012, for 51 episodes, Dear My Future centers on the rivalry between Prizmmy☆ and the K-Pop group PURETTY. Believe it or not, there are real-life versions of the groups as seen in the anime. There's even a live-action segment featuring Prizmmy☆ as well.
As Mia Ageha's road to Grateful Symphonia is well and truly over, Naru Ayase steps into the spotlight in the third and final chapter of the Pretty Rhythm saga, titled Rainbow Live. Aired on TV Tokyo on April 6, 2013, it features an original storyline unlike the previous two. It's about Naru, An, and Ito, who are working together at the Prism Stone Shop while trying to take good care of a mysterious girl named Rinne.
Although the Pretty Rhythm saga ended, the story continues with the KING OF PRISM spinoff films featuring male characters from the Pretty Rhythm saga. They even got a 2019 anime show as well, showcasing the rise of the boys who would be Septentrion.
The PriPara saga (2014-2018, 2021~) After the end of the Pretty Rhythm saga, the folks of Takara Tomy prepped up what seems to be the second generation of the Pretty series. It's called PriPara and it aired on TV Tokyo in the Summer of 2014 and lasted for three seasons, four if you count Idol Time PriPara, of course. This anime series centers on the life and times of Laala Manaka, a little girl who wants to be the best PriPara idol. Together with Mirei Minami and Sophy Hojo, they became SoLaMi Smile, and they fought their way against the best idol teams of PriPara, especially Dressing Pafe consisting of Dorothy, Reona, and Sion, Tricolore, and Gaarmageddon, among many others. PriPara is a huge win for the people behind it, and such success prompted the show to spawn four movies and outrageous merchandising rights.
In the spring of 2017, the next chapter of PriPara begins with three new main characters penning the final pages of this saga. Titled Idol Time PriPara, it's all about Yui Yumekawa, whose fateful encounter with Laala Manaka changed everything following an accident. With Nino Nijiiro and Michiru Kouda joining, the MY☆DREAM trio made the best closure to this saga.
Although the PriPara TV series is finished, the story continues with Idol Land PriPara. First announced in December 2020, it was originally slated to be released in the spring of 2021 until it became subject to long gestation and delayed launch dates. It was released on August 17, 2023. It is the second official PriPara app game after the defunct PriPuz puzzle app game. This app game also features an original anime series set moments after the events of Idol Time PriPara. It introduces new characters such as Amari Katasumi, Mario, and Pololo, among others.
The Kiratto PriChan years (2018-2021) - Aired on TV Tokyo since April 2018 for three seasons, Kiratto PriChan is set in a world where fame comes from social media, just like in the real world. It's about a group of girls who call themselves the Miracle☆Kiratts, who are striving to become the best PriChan idols above the rest. For three seasons, we watched Miracle Kiratts taking on big challenges such as heated competition with rival teams such as Meltic StAr and Ring Marry, the jewel idol competition, saving the world, the road to the Queens Grand Prix, and saving the world...again, while they do what they do best; showcasing the world that they're the best PriChan sensations ever known.
PriMagi (2021-2022) - Waccha PriMagi! is the fourth installment of the Pretty Series that revolves around the lives of Primagistas striving to become the best of the best. The show is about Matsuri Hibino, a middle-schooler who dreams of being the best, just like her idol, the legendary Jennifer Sumire Sol.
AiPri (2024 onwards) - After over a year of void, the Pretty Series has returned with the newest installment titled Himitsu no AiPri. The new series stars Minori Fujidera as Himari Aozora and Sae Hiratsuka as Mitsuki Hoshikawa. For the first time in the Pretty Series, the animation sequences were provided by OLM, the studio behind the Pokémon and Yo-Kai Watch anime series, while South Korea's Dongwoo A&E returned to cooperate for it. First aired on TV Tokyo in April 2024, the show is currently in its second chapter, the Ring Arc.
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| Himitsu no AiPri -Ring Arc- |
Happy 15th anniversary to the Pretty Series! From Pretty Rhythm to AiPri, this franchise made "idols" accessible for the whole family. A franchise where little girls can express themselves like the stars of the franchise from Aira Harune, Mia Ageha, Naru Ayase, Laala Manaka, Yui Yumekawa, Mirai Momoyama, Matsuri Hibino, and now Himari Aozora and Mitsuki Hoshikawa.
Here's to another 15 years!
