When Himeno Awayuki's father marries an extremely rich and beautiful widow,
her once ordinary life changes drastically. Himeno now lives in a huge,
sprawling mansion with maids to take care of her every need. She also gains
two stepsisters -- the haughty Mayune, and the quiet and reserved Mawata.
Himeno is having difficulty adjusting, and it doesn't help that some of her
schoolmates are gossiping about how "unfit" she is for her new family.
However, a chance encounter with a handsome young man named Hayate reveals
that Himeno is no ordinary girl. She is a Pretear, a girl who's destined to
save the world from impending doom...
Pretear Anime Review
The moment I saw and heard Pretear's magical opening sequence, I knew I was in
for a real treat. I had the same feeling about
"The Vision of Escaflowne" and "Fushigi Yuugi" some years back,
and they turned out to be two of the best anime series I'd ever seen. Pretear
is no exception.
Pretear is the story of a teenage girl named Himeno. Himeno's mother died when
she was very young. Her father remarries an ultra-wealthy woman some years
later, which results in a totally new lifestyle for both father and daughter.
Unlike Cinderella however, Himeno's stepmom treats her like a real daughter
and her two stepsisters don't really abuse her. Mayune is content pulling
pranks on Himeno, and Mawata mostly keeps to herself.
Himeno finds her purpose in life when she is approached by seven mystical
young men who call themselves Leafe Knights. It is the Leafe Knights' duty to
protect and safeguard Leafe, which is the essence of all life. But, in order
to do so, they need the help of a Pretear -- a special young woman who can
"merge" with the Leafe Knights and gain the neccessary powers needed to
dispel various evils that threaten the Leafe. Himeno is a Pretear. Thus,
Himeno spends her days practicing and training to be a Pretear.
The knights warn her that eventually she will be facing off with the Disaster
Queen Fenryl, who wants to drain all the Leafe the world possesses to bring
about the end of everything. It's not as simple as it seems though, for there
are many more secrets that Himeno must unearth. What's more, Himeno finds
herself gradually falling for the Leafe Knight of wind Hayate.
The art and animation are consistently lovely. Attractive character designs,
exciting battles, and backgrounds that seem rendered with watercolors make up
the whole series. It's also the first time I actually looked forward to
watching transformation sequences, because Himeno gets a new look and new set
of powers every time she merges with a different Leafe Knight.
For example, if Himeno merges with the Leafe Knight of ice, she gets a cool
fur-trimmed winter style costume and ice-based attack powers. The songs are
also worth mentioning, I especially liked the enthralling and tingly opening
theme.
Spanning thirteen episodes, Pretear is an enchanting, exhilarating, and
romantic series. It made me laugh, and even cry a little... I was so taken
with it that I watched the last eight or nine episodes in one sitting.
There's even an epilogue that shows what happens to the characters after
everything is over. Definitely a must-see, definitely a must-have.
Miscellanies: Pretear
Pretear: The New Legend of Snow White has already been released in the US, but I got the official Asian
release.
Prétear: The New Legend of Snow White (Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Prétear) | |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 13 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Apr 4, 2001 to Jun 27, 2001 |
| Producers | Kadokawa Shoten, Rondo Robe |
| Studio | Hal Film Maker |
| Rating | PG-13 - Teens 13 or older |
| Themes | Mahou Shoujo, Reverse Harem, Super Power |
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