This really makes me miss the days when Precure villains were an actual threat. Nowadays, they just seem so weak. I think props should also go to the villains from "Fresh", mainly because that was the only Precure season where the collateral damage wasn't magically fixed after each fight. It really made it feel like each fight had actual consequences.
I have to agree. I think that’s why most of the final battles in recent entries lacks the high octane stakes compared to Go! Princess and any season prior, the villains are either underwhelming or the Cures don’t do enough to make us root for them.
I feel that the Byogens were the last good villains we had in awhile. They had a simple goal, but all of their villains put up a fight and it lead to an interesting conflict for the MC.
I said it before and I’ll say it again, Joker is peak Pretty Cure villainy and the creators knows it because I’m surprised to hear that Smile received a sequel novel with him as the main villain. He raises the stakes, you know s**t gets real whenever he appears, he FORCES the protagonists to get stronger, he outshines the main antagonist easily, and he gets one of the best fights. I really appreciated how you pointed out why the Smile team is actually one of stronger Pretty Cure teams because of this. Especially since the new powers, abilities, or victories they gained felt earned, unlike some recent Precure installments, unfortunately. Seriously, Happy Shower Shining, Beauty Blizzard Arrow, Sunny Fire Burning, etc are attacks that reeks of badassery that has yet to be replicated imo. You know another lead Cure who could unleash a giant pink Final Flash/Spirit Bomb by herself? Didn’t think so. The best part is how he was defeated by a sense of irony. Dude was trying to kick the Cures down as much as he could, even as adults but hearing that all it did is made them even happier to overcome it with best girl Miyuki actually thanking him before giving him the coup de grace was both amazing and fitting. I guess since clowns were supposed to make people happy, he fulfilled his duty after all. XD Thank you, Adam. This is another splendid video on a splendid villain in the series with several lackluster ones in recent times.
The first time I watched Smile, Joker terrified me, and I’m honestly sad no other Precure villains have had that impact. And looking back, he did so much to not only make the villains a threat, but also build up the protagonists, and Smile would have lacked most of its high points if he wasn’t involved. Really, if I could write one letter to Toei, it would be about how they need more villains like him, not just to make the villains better, but to make the heroes better. Thanks for the video, I’d love to see more villain spotlights from you!
Honestly I love the way he went down in the novel. Nothing more satisfying than a villain going down without getting what they wants even when it's something as simple as wanting the hero to hate them all the way to the grave.
This was an amazing video essay. It made me realize why Smile PreCure is one of my favorite anime series. Not only are the characters great but their victories feel earned. Episode 22 really shows the importance of having your heroes lose, having them dispair for a while before they come out stronger. It also gave Joker the best introduction possible, as it showed how much he enjoyed being a villain. I've only seen this replicated with Battamonda, who really reminded me of Joker for one episode. But in that episode, it was mostly Sora having a crisis, not all the cures. I really wish we had more baddies like Joker who are both unpredictable and threatening. I would love to see more villain/character analyses from you.
Personally, I prefer villains that are more of a concept like King Selfish and Dsypair, but Joker really works as an effective antagonist against the girls. Smile absolutely has a problem with filler episodes at points, but every episode Joker is in, he manages to do some damage in a way that allows the girls to move forward. When things get too comfy, he acts as a trump card for the writers to use to bring tension, but it never feels unearned. It's clear from the start of his introduction that Joker is onto something and is using the other generals, but the audience is also aware enough to know that he's still a threat despite having useless underlings. He sees them as a means to an end, which I think makes him even WORSE because you know deep down it's not going to end well. He does almost succeed but ultimately the Precure's willpower and bond between each other is what saves them. While Joker sacrificed everyone to get what he wanted. The Precure built each other up, supported each other, and that allowed them to become stronger and ultimately take them down.
I really have no words to praise this really good villain in Precure. There is something about very evil and totally irredeemable villains in fiction, more so when those supposed villains not only were strong, had victories over the heroes, but also have a point. Joker is all of this, something that you would rarely see in Precure, especially in modern ones. I can even say Joker could've been the Dark Souls to Precure, due to him giving them the ultimate challenge, and the Precures not only grew stronger but also felt great after those hard earned victories. Now, while I don't agree that such a villain should be in every Precure series, but let's face it, after something like Delicious Party where the only villain that I can find at least entertaining is the final boss Godatz/Fennel due to TRYING to be the final boss, and then we have the current series where we don't really have any villains even worth mentioning. Because of this, the Precures really do feel like they are far weaker in comparison to previous ones that came before. More so when the conflict is not about them, or that the heroes are just going through unnecessary dramas that doesn't challenge anything. I say after Hirogaru Sky, we need someone like Joker again to spice the franchise up. Oh, and before anyone mentioned Kibou no Shikara, that doesn't count.
I go as far to say this problem has been prevalent after Go! Princess. Not that there aren’t villains worth mentioning such as Bibury and Daruizen but villains have been sorely lacking since then.
Nice to see Precure contribute to the phrase "Never trust a Clown." Still, Joker is undoubtably the best villain in the franchise for all the things you elaborated on in this video. Though I will admit a lot of my feelings for this guy comes down to personal preferences. I love villains that are scheming manipulators compared to pure power houses that don't really think though their plans. And I love villains that while their actions are absolutely horrific, they also have legitimate points that even the heroes have to concede to. Most of the Precure villains after Smile have been rather lacking in those departments. If there is one thing that hurts Joker is how he goes out in the anime series. Given how little Pierrot was built up as a character, I personally think he should have taken over as the final boss of the series. Looking forward to what this next video will be about.
Godatz? Okay maybe not the best take since I haven't watched Delicious Party but I have heard about it, and I believe he kinda just became a villain out of nowhere and we barely know much about him beforehand (yeah I spoiled myself 🥲).
Pissard, entire Max Heart group sans Uraganos, Galogre... I want to say that Hugtto overall had strong cast of villains but there was way too many of them. It could really be two separate series.
I mean would George count as the worst or just the grossest and worst handled villain most people probably had to take a cold shower just to get rid of the eww he generates?
I would argue what's hurt sales is that kids are getting as bored as we are with modern Precure. Note to Toei: kids like being scared. They like wondering how their heroes will win. It keeps them engaged and makes them want to buy toys because they representing something exciting. By making Precure safe, you might make the parents happy but at the cost of engagement of your target audience and customers.
Actually this is somewhat true, not entirely 1.Little girls in japan do not like to be scared 2. It is okay for boys to watch something more scary and such 3. Some little girls are apparently afraid of hand to hand combat 4. Little girls like cute stuff 5. The reason why past Precure are more scary is b/c parents are actually fine with it in the most parts despite some of the little children, especially 2-3 gets easily scared 6. This is why lighthearted seasons are more popular within little kids (Tropical Rouge and Delicious Party) 7. The scary stuff is more for teenagers or adults watching 8. It is true that making Precure more intense would increase the sales, Heartcatch did it, Suite almost becomes a darker season until the earthquake incident so they tone things down (adults are also buying merch)
@@e.h6522 The trouble is, Tropical Rogue and Delicious Party didn't move the merch which is the point of the exercise. The toys are what pay the bills, so toys not selling is a big problem. And is it that they don't like being scared, or it is assume they don't like being scared and they acquiesce to this expectation?
@@Al1701 Yeah, but they still don’t care. They prefer to go lighthearted to be cheap. It’s Toei, they care about money but they are afraid of scaring children. They already gave up after Go Princess low toy sales, and parents claims that the show is somewhat scary. Where is the motivation in that? Now they just give us content that is just a baby show rather than a story that is interesting about good v.s evil as the past seasons. Again, in alternative reality, if Go Princess was a success then Precure today would not have these problems
@@Al1701 There is Otona Precure and 12 episodes late night mahoutsukai precure. Maybe those 2 series will be more mature than the current tone down version
Joker was a fantastic villain, he corrupted the bad end generals, tormented the cures, took a disturbing interest in Reika/Cure Beauty near the end, oh and was the villain in the smile novel. As for his Reina/Joker ship? Its not the worse hello Daruizen/Nodoka anyone...
I mean at least with Daruizen/Nodoka they are roughly a similar age with Joker he is just as bad and an adult. Granted yeah Daruizen/Nodoka is absolutely toxic and horrible and I will never understand people who like it.
@@digitaltailsmon4096 Nodoka Daruizen? 90% certain is the fact he is a pretty boy. Joker/Cure Beauty? The corruption side is appealing. Done a few Joker/Beauty and I never paint it in a good light he is corrupting her not a she can change him.
@@andrewshearsby8125 I suppose that's fair. I just feel people who do romanticize it can be kinda umm creepy. But people who enjoy just him corrupting her yeah that's somewhat fine. Although I still think it can be very gross with people trying to make it romantic.
@@digitaltailsmon4096 i agree unless the villain has a redemption i don't paint the relationships as positive also have a bad habit in my HapCha fics that feature Blue off having his family jewels kicked in :D
In my opinion Northa and Joker are creepiest villains in precure. Not only can they supply a dark meme face folder but it feels like even when they lose they win thanks to having more tricks up their sleeves
This is something that higogaru sky precure is honestly missing!!! Like for a hero theme season the villains are so Stale that even Skearhead, a more competent villain, is still doing the same s**t the others were doing with no shake up.
Joker..Joker..Joker. Oh all the villains in this series I have got used alot in fanstuff recently it was him. And honestly I can’t blame them since even I got in on the fun with him. And because he is truly great. In an era of the franchise which gave us some of the most sympathetic and honorable villains in shows like Setsuna, Westar, Noise, and even the Heart Catch villain trio, Joker stood out as unmistakably evil. Not only as a true horror despite his design but also his role in the season. While I have my issues with Smile for feeling like a lot of its elements are rip offs and worse off ones from what came before, he is one of few that surpassed his predecessor. Kawarino is one of my favorite early villains and a truly great right hand man to his season's finale boss, yet I do think Joker worked better as a constant threat who felt larger and more powerful than anything. And while I think Kawarino trumps him with the dream land he placed his team of cures into, I think Joker just has a better presence to him making him so expertly handled. Above that he does get some great wins on the Smile Cures which is excellent to see especially two wins in a row in the mid season finale. Heck even more than that, not counting the manga, he is one of few villains to never die by the girl's hands but instead willingly giving himself to his god. Making him feel even in death as untouchable as he was since the girls won battles with him but never put him down for good again excluding the manga. And that manga really shows the strength of him as a villain and how frightening he can be yet also how the joke was on him in the end. Although I must disagree about him being the best villain in the show as to me, that is easily Goyan from Splash Star. Ironically for similar reasons to Joker due to his wins against our heroines and the massive amount of torment he puts them, their fairies, and their allies through. Not to mention always being a step above them like with the final episodes, and especially in the finale. This is where I would spoil stuff but tbh Splash Star is so in need of more people watching it to see all its cool aspects, that I won’t spoil it too much. Still I feel Goyan has everything Joker has with a bit more of a twist in the end that makes him that much more scary. As for me Joker’s biggest weakness is that great is to awakening his God moment. Because of that, Joker feels like he didn’t really have an end in the animated series. Which is why I am shocked the manager did so and I must tip my cap to the one who thought up that idea! Still even without that the Clown is in my top five easily as probably my favorite general in the series. Although I really gotta try and fix up that list of my due to additions I keep putting off. But overall a nice Halloween Video! I didn’t watch the first in this series yet due to wanting to wait till Halloween to enjoy it as a fun spectacle. Also the Doremi review this week I might not have time to watch for a while but I do hope to soon if I can! I do look forward to this last video of this month focusing on a villain group. I doubt you are being cheeky and showing footage of the group from DX2 and DX3 as who you will cover. So my prediction is either Mahou Tsukai’s first group of villains, or maybe (and my Splash Star bias might be affecting me here) but Dark Fall potentially. But my guess is more on for the Mahou Tsukai villains given there more halloween like look and the fact you said underrated which elementates many of the more popular groups like the musketeers, the dessertians, and so on. But with that said, it's always a great job and I hope you enjoy this spooky day! Hopefully no misfortunate or despair will come to you today!
There won't be anyone like this "goofy but terrifying" menace like Joker A great iconic villain in one of the best Pretty Cure seasons I've ever witnessed
Whoa whoa…MORE about Joker? Yes please OwO~ Now since u talked about the Best Precure Villain…how bout the worst? Or rather…the most disappointing, cause there’s a lot…moreso in the Modern Precure era =v=
@@nintendolife25 My best guess of being the worst villain - Godatz aka Fennel. We hardly know him. He hardly interacts with the Cures (apart from that one time…) and though his methods of World Food Law is good, his reasons are just plain stupid. All of that planning…out of jealousy? Of that ginger cat weirdo? Really? ^^;
@@bensonlineberger1852 i called it =v= As pretty as her design was, the moment i saw clips of all Cures fighting and she was nowhere to be seen is a red flag lol
Now it explains why i like fgo Douman so much, he kinda reminds me of him lmao, tho more pathetic(affectionate), hope if there ever going to be Shimousa adaptation Douman will be on par with Joker
joker: to think you bear my name, but rather than wield despair, you battle injustice and bring hope, with those useless friends you have, yet they proved themselves... ryuji: the power i wield might be compared to his, but i WON'T let you taint boss's name... I RATHER BURN YOU IN ELECTRIC HELL!! joker: so be it... it will be great to crush your hopes... especially having those girls see heroes of justice burning IN HELL!!! hahahahahahahahahahahah!! ren: then it's SHOWTIME... arsene!!! one fight latter joker: for a fool, bah, impressive, your strength fooled me, then i'll leave, besides the true self of these five has shattered their power... on my return, THEY'RE NEXT!!! ryuji: well, i'll seeing you FAIL!!
There are several interesting villains including Joker in the past. Since you’ve made this video. I can’t help but just be disappointed in the recent ones. Moving over to Skearhead, he could’ve been more interesting than the last three villains from Hirogaru. Maybe they can make him threatening and interesting like Joker since that was what they did in the beginning. Now Skearhead becomes those regular villains that does not bring the viewers many tensions. It is getting boring to see. Going back to Joker, there is things that made him more settling than Skearhead. It is the facial expression he does, insane smile, laughs, creepy looking face and his actions. Skearhead is basically emotionless at this point and just summoning monster without doing anything more to the Cures. Wasted potential. It is like he is at the same level as the others. Joker is different, he’s actually does more interesting stuff than the others in his group. At this point on, I’ve just lost hope with modern Precure in terms of villains or somewhat the story. They were able to focus on the Cures well but not the heroes aspects. It just seems lacking. All I’m seeing in recent Precure is it comes off as a slice of life show for little kids than anything. Tropical Rouge Precure and Delicious Party Precure gave us the same results which is not helping. No hope for 2024 season. The burnout is real for the most part. Maybe Otona Precure and Mahoutsukai sequel can save us
Yuji Mitsuya's performance as the menacing villain is so spectacular you would even love to hate Joker. Still, it would have been even better if Joker was voiced by another younger voice actor like Nobuhiko Okamoto or Nobunaga Shimazaki!
He maybe great but some of his scenes weren't suitable for yhetargent audience imo. To be fair a lot of stuff in early precure goes too far . That being said Joker's impact was bigger especially because Smile precure was more laid back and lighthearted he felt almost out of place and at yhe same time effective
Yes because Saban wanted to censored the show for American children. They think past Precure is too violence to American kids. Modern day Precure don’t need to be censored because they lack those intense moments that Precure used to have
@@leylamontenegro126 OP spam every video as if anyone cares or Toei would notice They don't care about Precure, they never talk about Precure in any depth besides DUB DUB DUB It's pathetic really OP needs to go to therapy and leave us alone Or azenzone can filter them
@@therealgdbestie Hey don't say that Deep Blue is a good villain in Tokyo Mew Mew. Well okay the reboot, the original is just kinda evil for evil shake god wants to destroy humans because we suck.
