Pretty Rhythm is a critically acclaimed ’80s shoujo sports anime made in the 2010s, featuring girls and boys figure skate-jumping to Mars and riding lions. I consider it the best TV anime of the 2010 decade. The arcade game which originated everything was released in 2010. The TV anime started in 2011 with Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream and ended in 2014 with the third season, Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live. A fourth season was aired right after, Pretty Rhythm All Star Selection, but was mostly made of re-airing past episodes. In July 2014 the Pretty Rhythm franchise was succeeded by PriPara. In April 2018, PriPara was succeeded by Kiratto Pri☆chan.
However, thanks to the staff’s tremendous effort and the fans’ support, in January 2016, a movie sequel to Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live was released, titled KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm. This sequel focuses on the male characters from Rainbow Live. The reason is, one of Pretty Rhythm‘s themes is solving the past generation’s mistakes, and the past generation in Rainbow Live was made out of men. Commercially speaking, the targeted demographic switched from little girls to older girls. However, Pretty Rhythm‘s Director would often say that “Pretty Rhythm isn’t for kids, it’s for everyone”, and this rule applies to King of Prism, keeping the same elements which made Pretty Rhythm a masterpiece.
The “Kinpri“ movie was completed with many hardships and the staff putting their jobs on the line. Three weeks after release when it was about to be deprogrammed from theaters’ schedule, the movie miraculously became a phenomenon. Long story short, it’s thanks to extremely dedicated fans on social media, advertising from various famous people, and Ouenjouei/Cheer Screenings of the movie, where it is possible to cosplay, scream&cheer and use glowsticks. Together with Your Name, Kinpri changed the history of Japanese cinemas in 2016 and revolutionized them, by popularizing Cheer Screenings. Following Kinpri, nearly every single movie releasing in Japan uses Cheer Screenings nowadays.
A sequel titled KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- was released in Japan and South Korea on June 10, 2017.
Another sequel, titled KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars- started in March 2019. SSS, or Sussussu, is made of 12 TV anime episodes. Each batch of 3 episodes also makes up 1 movie, and four movies released in theaters in total. The first movie released in Japanese theaters on March 2, 2019, while the TV version started airing in April 2019. Cunchyroll simulcasted the series worldwide.
As of 2018, the term “Pretty Series” is officially used to describe Pretty Rhythm, King of Prism, PriPara, Kiratto Pri☆chan, and Pretty All Friends.
This page contains Pretty Rhythm related translations and blogging I’ve been doing since Aurora Dream started in 2011.
Guides
Guide: Which Pretty Rhythm season is best to start with
Must read: The Pretty Series history. Explains the series’ relationships with Oshare Majo Love&Berry, Love Live, and Aikatsu!. What exactly happened between Pretty Rhythm‘s death in 2014 and its revival with Kinpri in 2016. How the 1st Kinpri movie became a phenomenon and more.
French version
English, complete version
Pretty Series news, production notes, events, and interviews translations
Pretty Rhythm After Party event (10 May 2014)
10th October is Hiro’s birthday (2014)
3rd March is Naru&Mion bday (2015)
Pretty Rhythm only doujinshi event planned for the 5th of March 2016
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm announcement (November 2015)
January 2016 (Kinpri’s 1st live stream and director’s speech about the movie)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm release (January 2016 part 2)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm earns more than 250 million yen (March 2016)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm earns more than 300 million yen (March 2016)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm bluray and DVD announced for June 17, 2016
KING OF PRINCESS 2016 April Fools
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm, 2nd Prism Elite Event (27 April 2016)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm earns more than 600 million yen
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm, 3rd Prism Elite Event (June 16, 2016,. This article is currently incomplete. I wrote it as I was watching the event, to try my hand at live reporting. I have a recording of the event, but I haven’t got the time yet to get back to it and complete the article)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm out on DVD/BD (Note: as of February 2017, Avex is now prohibiting online shops from selling their products outside Japan. If you want to buy the movie you need to use a proxy service)
Impressions and theories on KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhyhm/Kinpri1 (June 2016)
KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- /Kinpri2 announced (11 September 2016)
Kinpri Playstation VR/iOS/Android game announcement at TGS 2016 (September 2016)
Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live Blu-ray Box release commemoration event (9 October 2016)
Iuchi Shuji, one of the writers of Pretty Rhythm, passed away (December 2016)
KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- releases on June 10, new PV (January 2017)
Sugita Tomokazu voices Takadanobaba Joji, new Schwarz Rose character in KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- (January 2017)
Kinpri mobage announced: KING OF PRISM Prism Rush!LIVE (April 2017)
KING OF PRISM -Pride the Hero- PV2 released (April 2017)
Must read: All the info and interviews prior to KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- release day
KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- is out in Japan and Korea (June 10, 2017)
KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO– earned 180 million yen as of June 20, 2017
Kinpri stageplay announced for November 2017: KING OF PRISM -Over the Sunshine!- (Butakin)
KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm to be screened in USA on September 15 2017 (Also in Hong Kong with 4DX screenings starting August 26, same day the 4DX screenings launched in Japan, and in Taiwan starting September 1, with 4DX as well)
Puririzu Yakuza Chupacabra’s app stops the Twitter bots gore spam(January 2018)
PriPara’s successor Kiratto Pri☆Chan announced for April 2018 (January 2018)
Pretty Series movie, “Gekijouban PriPara&Kiratto Pri☆Chan ～Kirakira Memorial Live～” announced for May 5th 2018 (February 2018)
Akaii Meganee’s tradition will continue in Kiratto Pri☆Chan
Pretty Series Musuem, Pretty All Friends Episode 1 translation
KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars- announced at Rose Party 2018 event (June 10, 2018)
Pretty All Friends Episode 2, Episode 3 translation (July 2018)
Birthday dates revealed for Prizmmy☆, Dash Store Pretty All Friends collab announced (August 2018)
Controversy on Pretty All Friends official Big Cushion Covers sold at Comiket 94, “Taisho Roman style”/”Teashop Style” outfits (August 2018)
Pretty All Friends Episode 4 Translation (August 2018)
Pretty All Friends Episode 5 Translation (December 2018)
Pretty All Friends Episode 6 Translation (December 2018)
Pretty All Friends Episode 7 Translation (February 2019)
Impressions and theories on KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- (Coming Soon)
KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars- episodic blogging (Coming Soon)
Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live episodic blogging (April 2013-April 2014)&staff commentary from Twitter
Notes: staff tweets’ translations are included from episode 12’s post onwards. If there’s no separate twitter post, it means the twitter stuff is directly in the episode post. Pretty Rhythm director Hishida Masakazu used to delete his older tweets at least once a year and deleted his account completely at some point so all the original tweets cannot be found anymore.
Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live Episode 1
Episode 7 (there’s no episode 6 post)
Episode 27, twitter(eps 25-27)
Episode 30, twitter (eps 29-30)
11 November is Bell’s birthday
Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live halfpoint thoughts
New year week, no episode aired, twitter only
14 January is Kouji’s birthday
Pretty Series Guidebook translations (contain spoilers)
(I sometimes merge some questions together when translating so the question numbering may be different than in the actual books)
Rainbow Live guidebook presentation
Rainbow Live Guidebook Kato Emiri/Naru interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook Gotou Saori/Otoha interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook Sakura Ayane/Rinne interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook Serizawa Yuu/An interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook Komatsu Mikako/Ito interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook Uchida Maaya/Wakana interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook: Tomatsu Haruka/Bell interview
Rainbow Live Guidebook: Director Hishida Masakazu and Series Composition Tsubota Fumi interview
All Star Selection guidebook presentation
All Star Selection Guidebook Itou Kanae/Akaii Meganee Kaname Hye In interview
All Star Selection Guidebook Shishido Rumi/Juné interview
All Star Selection Guidebook Watanabe Akio interview
What I am planning to translate next if God wills:
All Star Selection Guidebook CG interview Director Hishida Masakazu&CG Director Otobe Yoshihiro&Kyougoku Takahiko interview
All Star Selection Guidebook Character Designer Matsuura Mai interview
All Star Selection Guidebook Series Composition Akao Deko interview
Pretty Rhythm Visual Book Director’s interview
Pretty Rhythm Visual Book Asumi Kana&Ookubo Rumi&Katou Emiri 3 main heroines seiyuu interview
Interviews in the KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm books (KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm Official Setting Book, KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm Ouen book)
Interviews in KING OF PRISM -PRIDE the HERO- official setting book
Talk shows, events, tv interviews etc that happened since Kinpri 2’s release (I saved it all in a folder without reading them to not spoil myself before seeing the movie. Some of the stuff said at those events might be repeated again in the Kinpri 2 guidebook)
Pretty All Friends Amo Café Valentine Collaboration Event Live Commentary Talk Shows
Asumi Kana/Naru (January 19, 2019)
Hara Sayuri/Rizumu (January 20, 2019)
Ookubo Rumi/Mia (January 26, 2019)
Kato Emiri/Naru (February 2, 2019)
Akaneya Himika/Laala (February 11, 2019)
Stuff in this list: Inexhaustive list of Pretty Rhythm related content in anime magazines
The Kinpri official novels (I genuinely wanna do it but probably will never happen, at least not in a few years as a professional translator)
Other
Tiger & Bunny Reference in Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream
One of the many Hokuto no Ken references in Pretty Rhythm Dear My Future
Saint Seiya reference in Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live
Pretty Rhythm reference? in Ryuugajou Nanana no Maizokin
Dear My Future Analysis: The failure of Serenon with Kaname
Over The Rainbow preview (Rainbow Live ending spoilers)
See end of this post: Takara Tomy explicitly said at a shares holders meeting “Bandai ripped off our Pretty Rhythm with their Aikatsu” and that PriPara is a counter attack to that.
If you like Pretty Rhythm, shows I suggest watching:
Attacker You! (A dedicated French person started subbing it in 2015. They do a lot of shows that were broadcast in France but don’t have english subs)
Hikari no Densetsu (Only 19 eps, as it got cancelled, I need to try reading the manga one day)
Glass no Kamen
(This is where Kyouko’s mom Kei is from)
If you especially liked the suffering in Pretty Rhythm but how things always end happily, and how it’s a particular kind of suffering that doesn’t use characters death or sexual assault in a way to say “look how serious my story is” you should check out those masterpieces:
Ie Naki Ko (1977 anime adapted from a French novel published in 1878. There’s a more recent anime where Rémi is a girl but I never watched it)
Princess Sarah (1985 anime adapted from a British novel published in 1888)
Les Malheurs De Sophie (Can be translated as “Sophie’s misfortunes”. It’s a 1997 French anime adapted from a French novel published in 1858. Only a french dub exists afaik. This is only if you know French or if you’re learning it. I also recommend reading the novel and making kids in your family read it.)
Lastly, stuff I haven’t seen myself yet but that other Pretty Rhythm fans like:
Various Notes:
If you ever checked my pictures in old Pretty Rhythm posts, you may have noticed how I tag them prad+number. Back when Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream was airing, when I saved pics related to it, I’d tag them “prad”, which is the show’s initials. When Dear My Future started, I started tagging things related to it as “prad2”. Etc. Basically “prad” became my general tag for anything Pretty Rhythm related. It’s much easier to use the search function that way. So I name files that way:
prad= Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream
prad2= Dear My Future
prad3= Rainbow Live
prad4= All Star Selection
prad5= PriPara
prad6= Kinpri
Starting Prichan’s episodic blogging, I just started tagging Prichan pics with “Prichan”.
One more thing. I used to have an obsolete version of MPC, and I couldn’t take screenshots with it. So all my screencaps in old Pretty Rhythm posts are copypasted on paint, and are in 1080p instead of the show’s actual 720p. I’m warning you in case you’re meticulous about screencaps person who feels like wasting hours of your life about them. I updated MPC when PriPara started so starting PriPara posts, the screencaps are the in the show’s actual resolution.
Nekketsu Nikki 
im sorry, but your link to how to get into pretty rhythm led to a pripara post?? 😦 so if i may ask a question, if i started watching from rainbow live should i continue going backwards with dmf or watch ad instead?
It links to a comment in the PriPara post where I answer someone asking me about how to watch pretty rhythm
Edit: I wrote a proper guide now
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May I dare give you a translation request, please? . I really want to know what did Akao Deko(=mieno hitomi) say about songs and pretty rhythm series. Beacuse Nth color, gift, DaDADA songs, and other puripara songs… all the lyric works that mieono hitomi have accomplshed really mean a lot to me. I have read many other posts you have translated and it was very helpful to me also. Like you jeer at Otoha’s fans with her voice , sympathetic to shishido rumi’s sad interwiew.. I hope to see your Pretty rhythm translation soon… thx
Hi
Thanks, I’m happy you enjoyed those posts.
I’m still planing to translate more Pretty Rhythm material in the future. But nowadays most of the free time I would spend on my blog now goes to my writing at a games site called DualShockers. I’m still planning to translate more soon, and I even renewed my blog at the end of 2019 with the new banner, but for now I don’t know when.
Don’t think too much about the comments I did in the past like the Oto stuff, those are just jokes. Oto is my favorite character like anyone else in Pretty Rhythm.