Star Detective Precure! (名探偵プリキュア!) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation and the twenty-third installment in the Pretty Cure franchise. Directed by Koji Kawasaki, it began airing on all ANN stations in Japan from February 1, 2026, succeeding You and Idol Precure's timeslot. The series' main themes are mysteries and time-traveling, while its motif is detectives. It is the second time the Pretty Cure series has included kanji in its title.
Story
Anna Akechi is a 14-year-old second-year middle school student living in Makoto Mirai Town. On her birthday, guided by the fairy Pochitan and a pendant she finds in her room, she time-slips from 2027 to Makoto Mirai City in 1999. There, she meets Mikuru Kobayashi, a 14-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a detective. Suddenly, a robbery incident occurs, as someone has something precious to them stolen. Figuring that the "Phantom Thieves' Guild" may be responsible and driven by the feeling that "I can’t ignore someone in trouble", Anna and Mikuru transform into Cure Answer and Cure Mystique. Together, they become the Star Detective Precure, running the "CUREtto Detective Agency" (キュアット探偵事務所) while solving mysteries and searching for a way for Anna to return to her original time.
Characters
Precures
- Anna Akechi (明智あんな) / Cure Answer (キュアアンサー)
- The main protagonist of the series. Anna is a second-year middle school girl who time-slipped from the year 2027 to 1999. Anna has a straightforward and honest personality and simply wants to help, as she cannot ignore people in trouble. Rather than thinking things through at length, Anna tends to rely on gut instincts and intuition to reach answers. After arriving in Makoto Mirai City in 1999, Anna meets Mikuru, and they begin living together while running the CUREtto Detective Agency. Her theme color is purple.
- Mikuru Kobayashi (小林みくる) / Cure Mystique (キュアミスティック)
- Mikuru is a clumsy yet honest second-year middle school student from 1999, who joined the CUREtto Detective Agency in Makoto Mirai City with the goal of becoming a star detective. She has plenty of detective knowledge and works harder than anyone else. Rather than relying on gut instincts and intuition thinking, Mikuru prefers to think things through at length to reach answers. She loves cute things more than anything. Her theme color is pink.
- Cure Eclair (キュアエクレール)
- A mysterious Precure.
Fairies
- Jett (ジェット)
- Jett is a cat-like fairy and self-proclaimed genius scientist, who invented the PreKit and supports the Star Detective Precure. He is embarrassed to be seen in his fairy form, so he often appears in human form. Despite this, Jett is a kind and caring boy who the girls adore, calling him "Jett-senpai" (ジェット先輩). Jett's favorite things are candy and sweet things in general.
- Pochitan (ポチタン)
- Pochitan is a panda-like fairy and Anna and Mikuru's fairy partner. A "space-time fairy" with the ability to transcend time and space, Pochitan used up all her power by time traveling and turned into a baby. If all the Makoto Jewels are collected, Pochitan may be able to return to her original form and return Anna to 2027. She loves fun things and has a childlike personality. Pochitan's favorite drink is milk.
- Shushutan (シュシュタン)
- Shushutan is a tanuki-like fairy and Cure Eclair's fairy partner.
- Shinian (シニアン)
- Shinian is an elderly cat-like fairy and Jett's mentor.
Phantom Thieves' Guild
The Phantom Thieves' Guild (怪盗団ファントム) are the main antagonists of the series. A group of evil fairies led by Usonoir, their main goal is to create a terrifying "world" blanketed in lies by exploiting the Makoto Jewels, crystallized feelings that dwell within objects people hold dear. Disguising themselves as various individuals, they secretly steal treasured possessions and the smiles connected to them without anyone noticing.
Leader
- Usonoir (ウソノワール)
- Usonoir is the leader of the Phantom Thieves' Guild and the main antagonist of the series. He is a phantom thief who acts according to the prophecies written in the Tome of Mirages. His aesthetic is that theft is magnificent, elegant, and dramatic, with the Guild's hideout resembling a theater reflecting his hobby.
Generals
Underlings of Usonoir. They use different methods to steal objects that contain a Makoto Jewel; Nijee and Ageseine disguise themselves as someone else to steal the object unnoticed, Goemon takes the object by force, and Luluka disguises herself using the Pre-Kit Gloss to steal the object unnoticed. They possess the ability to corrupt a Makoto Jewel and transform it into a Hanninda by throwing a flower at the object they stole, taking away peoples' happiness. With the exception of Luluka, they are named after various criminals. They have bat wings on their body and wear a mask on their left eye. When they fail too many times, they will be sent to the trap room as punishment.
- Nijee (ニジー)
- Nijee is the first general of the Phantom Thieves' Guild to attack. A pretentious general who always carries a rose, he is a master of disguise and prefers to steal things in an elegant manner. He is based on "The Fiend with Twenty Faces" (怪人二十面相).
- Ageseine (アゲセーヌ)
- Ageseine is the second general of the Phantom Thieves' Guild to attack. A gyaru general who loves trendy things. Her favorite flower is the hibiscus, and her favorite phrases are "This is so wack" (チョベリバ) and "That is gonna fly" (チョベリグ). She is based on "Arsène Lupin", a male crook and master of disguise, while her name is derived from "ageage" (アゲアゲ), meaning "excited" and "elated".
- Goemon (ゴウエモン)
- Goemon is the third general of the Phantom Thieves' Guild to attack. A muscular, stylish, and cool general who takes it upon himself to help train any newcomers. Unlike Nijee and Ageseine, Goemon prefers to steal things by force instead of using disguises. His favorite food is dorayaki and his favorite flower is the cherry blossom petals. He is based on Goemon Ishikawa, the bandit leader in Azuchi-Momoyama period in Japan.
- Luluka Moria (森亜るるか) / Cure Arcana Shadow (キュアアルカナ・シャドウ)
- Luluka is a mysterious girl who works as a member of the Phantom Thieves. Luluka has a laid-back personality and does not conform to stereotypes. She does not say much, but has a passionate side to her that she hides within. Her favorite food is ice cream. She first confronts Answer and Mystique during a heist at the Hosho Art Museum to steal the Starlight Princess, during which she helps them fight Ageseine's Hanninda created from the Starlight Princess. She is later revealed to have been a former Star Detective of the Agency's Japanese branch, who now seeks Pochitan's power. Her theme color is black.
- Mashutan (マシュタン)
- Mashutan is a fox-like fairy, who serves as Luluka's fairy partner and the mascot of the Phantom Thieves' Guild. A "fortune-telling fairy" who can accurately predict anything through her fortune-telling. Mashutan has a strong bond with Cure Arcana Shadow. She loves fashion and has an overly helpful personality. Mashutan's favorite food is marshmallows.
Monsters
- Hanninda (ハンニンダー)
- The main monsters of the series. They are created from the corrupted Makoto Jewels. Their name is derived from Hanni (犯人), meaning culprit.
Leader
- Usonoir (ウソノワール)
- Usonoir is the leader of the Phantom Thieves' Guild and the main antagonist of the series. He is a phantom thief who acts according to the prophecies written in the Tome of Mirages. His aesthetic is that theft is magnificent, elegant, and dramatic, with the Guild's hideout resembling a theater reflecting his hobby.
Generals
Underlings of Usonoir. They use different methods to steal objects that contain a Makoto Jewel; Nijee and Ageseine disguise themselves as someone else to steal the object unnoticed, Goemon takes the object by force, and Luluka disguises herself using the Pre-Kit Gloss to steal the object unnoticed. They possess the ability to corrupt a Makoto Jewel and transform it into a Hanninda by throwing a flower at the object they stole, taking away peoples' happiness. With the exception of Luluka, they are named after various criminals. They have bat wings on their body and wear a mask on their left eye. When they fail too many times, they will be sent to the trap room as punishment.
- Nijee (ニジー)
- Nijee is the first general of the Phantom Thieves' Guild to attack. A pretentious general who always carries a rose, he is a master of disguise and prefers to steal things in an elegant manner. He is based on "The Fiend with Twenty Faces" (怪人二十面相).
- Ageseine (アゲセーヌ)
- Ageseine is the second general of the Phantom Thieves' Guild to attack. A gyaru general who loves trendy things. Her favorite flower is the hibiscus, and her favorite phrases are "This is so wack" (チョベリバ) and "That is gonna fly" (チョベリグ). She is based on "Arsène Lupin", a male crook and master of disguise, while her name is derived from "ageage" (アゲアゲ), meaning "excited" and "elated".
- Goemon (ゴウエモン)
- Goemon is the third general of the Phantom Thieves' Guild to attack. A muscular, stylish, and cool general who takes it upon himself to help train any newcomers. Unlike Nijee and Ageseine, Goemon prefers to steal things by force instead of using disguises. His favorite food is dorayaki and his favorite flower is the cherry blossom petals. He is based on Goemon Ishikawa, the bandit leader in Azuchi-Momoyama period in Japan.
- Luluka Moria (森亜るるか) / Cure Arcana Shadow (キュアアルカナ・シャドウ)
- Luluka is a mysterious girl who works as a member of the Phantom Thieves. Luluka has a laid-back personality and does not conform to stereotypes. She does not say much, but has a passionate side to her that she hides within. Her favorite food is ice cream. She first confronts Answer and Mystique during a heist at the Hosho Art Museum to steal the Starlight Princess, during which she helps them fight Ageseine's Hanninda created from the Starlight Princess. She is later revealed to have been a former Star Detective of the Agency's Japanese branch, who now seeks Pochitan's power. Her theme color is black.
- Mashutan (マシュタン)
- Mashutan is a fox-like fairy, who serves as Luluka's fairy partner and the mascot of the Phantom Thieves' Guild. A "fortune-telling fairy" who can accurately predict anything through her fortune-telling. Mashutan has a strong bond with Cure Arcana Shadow. She loves fashion and has an overly helpful personality. Mashutan's favorite food is marshmallows.
Monsters
- Hanninda (ハンニンダー)
- The main monsters of the series. They are created from the corrupted Makoto Jewels. Their name is derived from Hanni (犯人), meaning culprit.
Makoto Mirai City residents
- Eliza Kurusu (来栖エリザ)
- Eliza is a mystery novelist who is currently in high school. She seeks help from the Cures to search for her missing glass pen.
- Taira Asai (浅井たいら)
- Taira is the owner of Patisserie ChuChu, who likes Japanese sweets.
- Kurea Howa (帆羽くれあ)
- Kurea is a pastry chef at Patisserie ChuChu.
- Shiruku Ieiri (家入しるく)
- Shiruku is a popular up-and-coming new Heisei actor in Makoto Mirai City.
- Mari Sohda (想田まり)
- Mari is the first client of the CUREtto Detective Agency. She seeks help from the Cures to search for the missing tiara, which her mother had previously worn at her wedding and which she had planned to wear at her wedding.
- Tomoka Fujii (藤井ともか)
- Tomoka is a friend of Mari, whose identity was assumed by Nijee to steal the tiara.
- Shota Utsunomiya (宇都宮将太)
- Shota is a photographer who came to photograph Mari Soda's wedding.
- Taizo Yamada (山田太造)
- Taizo is an office worker who was at the place where the thieving old lady was hiding.
- Minoru Akita (秋田実) & Suzumi Natsukawa (夏川涼美)
- Akita and Suzumi are a couple from Makoto Mirai City.
- Harue Tanimoto (谷本晴恵)
- Harue is a Heisei gal, whose identity was assumed by Nijee to steal the glass pen.
- Chiho Maeda (前田ちほ)
- Chiho is the owner of the Kamellia Interior, who seeks help from the Cures to search for the missing turtle figurine.
- Takuya Nakategawa (仲手川卓也)
- Takuya is the clerk of the Kamellia Interior, whose identity was assumed by Ageseine to steal the turtle figurine.
- Junichi Komatsuzaki (小松崎純一)
- Junichi is a university student aspiring to be a manga artist. He seeks help from the Cures to search for his missing bag, which contains his manga drafts.
- Mariko Kitamura (北村真理子)
- Mariko is a university student who seeks help from Anna to search for her sister, Keiko.
- Morio Hanamori (花森もりお)
- Morio is a florist, whose identity was assumed by Nijee to steal Jett's goggles.
- Tomoki Sakakibara (榊原ともき)
- Tomoki is a producer, whose identity was assumed by Ageseine to steal the dress.
- Moe Saiki (斉木萌絵)
- Moe is a client who seeks help from the Cures to investigate her mother's self-portrait.
- Chinami Hosho (宝生ちなみ)
- Chinami is the owner of the Hosho Art Museum, who seeks help from the Cures to protect her museum displays, namely the Starlight Princess, a necklace. However, after it is exposed that the museum's displays are fake and the truth is revealed to the public, she decides to display the real Starlight Princess.
Makoto Mirai Academy
- Keiko Kitamura (北村恵子)
- Keiko is Mariko's younger sister and a student from Makoto Mirai Academy, whose identity was assumed by Nijee to steal the swallow statue.
- Rei Kaneda (金田れい)
- Rei is the president of Makoto Mirai Academy's student council.
- Rie Asama (浅間りえ)
- Rie is one of Mikuru's classmates from Makoto Mirai Academy. She is known to be a huge enthusiast with a passion for dramas, and her favorite food is Kouign-amann cakes.
- Yumi Yoda (依田ゆみ)
- Yumi is one of Mikuru's classmates from Makoto Mirai Academy who is part of the track and field club, where she specializes in high jump. She always carries a MD Player with her.
- Momo Kofuji (小藤もも)
- Momo is a member of the drama club who seeks help from the Cures to search for the club's missing dress.
Production
The series' trademark was first confirmed by Toei in November 2025, and the official website launched on November 27, 2025. The series was fully revealed on January 11, 2026, along with merchandise related to the series.
Regarding the theme, ABC Animation producer Tada Kanako explained, "We hope the children can find the 'truth' with their hands throughout the journey of this series. In this flood of information and a fast-changing society, don’t feel lost, having the will to bridge the future. Respect others, care about others, speak up, and take action. Having their 'true feelings' equals 'the truth'. This is not something easy to do. Star Detective Precure! is a series that makes you think and find 'the truth' through your observation, feelings, and consideration." Soya Aramaki of Toei Animation explained, "Speaking about Detective stories, there is usually one absolutely perfect detective who brilliantly solves difficult cases that no one else has been able to solve. But this time, we deliberately made a novice detective the main character. Nobody can solve a case alone. However, with two of them...if there is a friend by her side, they can solve even the most difficult case! This is not just some ordinary detective story, but a story with girls who never give up, grow together with their friends, and stand up to great evil! This is the kind of Star Detective Precure! we would want to portray."
The series premiered on February 1, 2026 on Japan's ANN stations, replacing You and Idol Precure in its timeslot, with Koji Kawasaki as director, series composition by Isao Murayama, character designs by Akane Yano, and music by Erika Fukusawa and Misaki Umase. The opening theme song is "Hint in the Heart! Star Detective Precure!" (ハートにヒント!名探偵プリキュア!) by Ami Ishii, while the ending theme song is "Why? Mystery?! Answer" (なぜ?謎?!ANSWER) by Akane Kumada and Yūka Masui. Crunchyroll is streaming the series.
Episodes
Film
In April 2026, Toei Animation announced that the series would receive a film adaptation, under the name of Star Detective Precure: The Movie (映画名探偵プリキュア!), which is set to be released on September 18, 2026.
See also
- Super Hero Time and Nichi Asa Kids Time – The timeslot blocks by ANN in Japan, which the series is part of.
External links
References
- https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1770385745 animateTimes, February 7, 2026, retrieved February 7, 2026^
- https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/precure/character/niji.php Toei Animation, February 1, 2026, retrieved February 1, 2026^
- https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/precure/character/ageseine.php Toei Animation, February 15, 2026, retrieved February 15, 2026^
- https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/precure/character/usonoir.php Toei Animation, February 15, 2026, retrieved February 15, 2026^
- https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/precure/character/goemon.php Toei Animation, February 22, 2026, retrieved February 22, 2026^
- STORY TV Anime "Star Detective Precure!" Official Website, 31 January 2026, retrieved 31 January 2026^
- https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1771623995 animateTimes, February 21, 2026, retrieved February 21, 2026^
- https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1772198421 animateTimes, February 28, 2026, retrieved February 28, 2026^
- https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1774044673 animateTimes, March 21, 2026, retrieved March 21, 2026^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/655722 Natalie, 11 January 2026, retrieved 5 April 2026^
- https://natalie.mu/comic/news/666994 Comic Natalie, 5 April 2026, retrieved 5 April 2026^
- https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002175.000016719.html PR Times, 11 January 2026, retrieved 5 April 2026^
- https://mantan-web.jp/article/20260111dog00m200000000c.html MANTANWEB, 11 January 2026, retrieved 5 April 2026^
- https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1769782363 animateTimes, 31 January 2026, retrieved 31 January 2026^
- Toei Animation Announces 23rd Precure TV Anime Series "Star Detective Precure!" Crunchyroll, 2025-11-27, retrieved 2026-01-03^
- Star Detective Precure! Anime Releases 1st Trailer, Visuals and Main Voice Cast Members Crunchyroll, 2026-01-11, retrieved 2026-01-11^
- Star Detective Precure! Anime Streams on Crunchyroll Starting January 31, 2026 2026-01-28, retrieved 2026-01-28^
- Precure Franchise Announces Star Detective Precure! Anime Anime News Network, 2025-11-27, retrieved 2026-01-03^