The upcoming anime film, “You and Idol Precure The Movie: Thanks for Waiting! Delivering the Sparkly Live to You!”, has captivated audiences with its recently released trailers and visuals, offering a glimpse into its story and featuring its theme song. The movie, based on the 22nd season of the enduring “Pretty Cure” magical girl franchise, is slated for a September 12, 2025 release in Japan.
A Sparkling Live Performance and Returning Allies
The new main visual for the film showcases a vibrant tropical island stage, setting the scene for what is described as the “#1 Idol Festival in the Universe.” This visual not only highlights the main cast of “You and Idol Precure” – Cure Idol (Uta Sakura), Cure Wink (Nana Aokaze), and Cure Kyun-Kyun (Kokoro Shigure) – but also confirms the exciting appearance of characters from two preceding “Pretty Cure” seasons: “Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure” and “Wonderful Precure!”. The tagline “A sparkling live show begins in theaters across Japan!” further emphasizes the central theme of performance and radiance.
Teaser trailers for the film have promised a “special movie-only performance,” indicating a grand spectacle unique to the cinematic experience. These visuals often depict the heroines, including fairies Purirun and Meroron, striking dynamic poses amidst cheering crowds with glowsticks, reinforcing the idol concert atmosphere.
The Story: Restoring Sparkle Through Song
The narrative of “You and Idol Precure” centers on Uta Sakura, a second-year middle school student with a profound love for singing. Her ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when she encounters Purirun, a fairy from Kirakiland. Kirakiland, a once peaceful and sparkling realm, has been plunged into darkness by the nefarious Darkine, the leader of the Chokkiri Gang, who are actively stealing the “sparkle” from people.
Driven by her desire to restore this stolen sparkle and bring light back to Kirakiland, Uta’s determination to “sparkle with her song” awakens her transformation into the legendary protector, Cure Idol. The series, and by extension the film, embraces an idol theme, emphasizing that “Because of ‘You,’ we shine brighter and grow stronger!”. The Precure idols utilize their singing, dancing, and fan interactions to combat the forces of darkness.
Uta, as Cure Idol, is characterized by her “idol smile” and the introductory line, “Singing with you, a glittering heart! Smiling brightly, I’m Cure Idol!” Her allies, Cure Wink (Nana Aokaze), a skilled pianist, and Cure Kyun-Kyun (Kokoro Shigure), a talented dancer, also embody fan-service elements with their “wink” and “kyun-kyun pose” respectively, further enhancing the idol motif.
The Melodies That Move the Narrative
Music is a core element of the “You and Idol Precure” franchise. The television series’ opening theme, “You and Idol Precure♪ Light Up!”, is performed by Ami Ishii, Chihaya Yoshitake, and Akane Kumada. The ending theme, “Trio Dreams,” is sung by the voice actresses of Cure Idol, Cure Wink, and Cure Kyun-Kyun themselves. While specific details about the film’s dedicated theme song in the trailer have been previewed, its full impact will be felt upon the movie’s release. The film’s director is Koji Ogawa, and the script is penned by Hiroyuki Yoshino.
