The latest installment in the beloved Pretty Cure franchise, Delicious Party Pretty Cure, has been a hot topic since its title reveal and character introductions, drawing in even more fans to the long-running IP. This season, with its intriguing mystery arc, has kept fans guessing from the very start.
The four-episode "Cure Éclair Arc" had viewers playing detective, trying to figure out which of the four candidates—Eliza Kurusu, Rei Kaneda, Shiruko Ieiri, or Haneba Claire—was the true identity of Cure Éclair. The big reveal finally dropped in Episode 25, which aired on July 19, sparking a frenzy across Japanese social media.
(Note: This article contains spoilers for Episode 25 of Delicious Party Pretty Cure. Reader discretion is advised.)
Starting from Episode 21, which aired on June 21, the official team ran a four-week "Who is Cure Éclair?!" campaign. Fans were invited to guess the true identity among the four candidates: Eliza Kurusu, Rei Kaneda, Shiruko Ieiri, and Haneba Claire. The voting campaign garnered over 250,000 votes, igniting heated discussions among the fandom.
▼ Here's how the fan votes stacked up before the episode aired, with Haneba Claire leading the pack.
Episode 25 finally dropped the bombshell: Cure Éclair is none other than Haneba Claire! This officially expands the Pretty Cure team to a four-member lineup. Plus, Cure Éclair's fairy partner, ShuShuTan, made its grand debut.
Meanwhile, the official team also released comments from Ikumi Hasegawa, the voice actor for Haneba Claire, who shared:
I did audition, but I never imagined I'd actually get to voice a Pretty Cure someday, so I was absolutely floored! Then, the staff immediately told me, "You have to keep your role as Cure Éclair a secret from everyone, including your fellow cast members." My mind was just a whirlwind of question marks at that moment.
Surprise, joy, confusion—all these emotions swirled together. I spent that whole time trying so hard to resist the urge to spill the beans to my friends and all my supporters. So by the time this message goes public, I'll probably be excitedly shouting the news from the rooftops!
She also shared that for her, the biggest charm of Pretty Cure is how cuteness and coolness coexist perfectly. They're both girls and heroes. It's this unique blend of qualities that makes them so aspirational and deeply captivating.
Regarding her impression of Haneba Claire / Cure Éclair, Ikumi Hasegawa noted that among the four Pretty Cures, Claire has a distinct "big sister" vibe. Her interactions with Anna and the others in previous episodes clearly showcased her maturity and intelligence. Most importantly, she's someone who always puts herself in others' shoes and understands their feelings.
Because of this, she focused on conveying Claire's gentle and warm aura during recording. Hasegawa also teased a significant contrast once Claire transforms into a Pretty Cure, which she hopes fans will look forward to. She expressed her wish for everyone to get to know Cure Éclair better and grow to love Claire even more.
The official team really went all out, turning the long-hidden identity of Cure Éclair into a massive campaign, finally revealing it around the halfway point of the series in Episode 25. It just goes to show that Delicious Party Pretty Cure has plenty of exciting twists up its sleeve!
Fans are undoubtedly eager to discover more, like the full story behind Amane Kasai's past as Gentle and her involvement with the Bundoru Gang, and how Haneba Claire, who once lost her memories, will perform moving forward. The upcoming episodes are set to dive into crucial plot points and unravel even more mysteries, so make sure you're caught up!
via： X@プリキュア「名探偵プリキュア！」公式