Main Cast Revealed for Anime "Star Detective Precure!" Voice Actress Hikari Senga "Moved to Tears" Alongside Kaede Hondo and Nao Toyama.

On January 24, an online press conference was held to unveil the main cast of "Star Detective Precure!", the 23rd installment in the Pretty Cure series, featuring Hikari Senga, Kaede Hondo, and Nao Toyama. The new series is set to premiere on Sunday, February 1, at 8:30 AM on the ABC TV and TV Asahi network nationwide.

This series marks the first time the franchise has adopted a "detective" motif, featuring protagonists who excel as great detectives driven by their desire to "help those in need." The story kicks off when the main character, guided by a creature named Pochitan and a mysterious pendant, travels back in time from the present day to the year 1999.

During the conference, the cast shared their passion for their respective roles. Hikari Senga, who voices Cure Answer / Anna Akechi, reflected on her own childhood spent watching the series, expressing her joy at being cast: "The moment I realized I was becoming the PreCure I had always admired, I was moved to tears with emotion."Kaede Hondo, the voice of Cure Mystic / Mikuru Kobayashi, revealed her state of mind, saying, "It still hasn't sunk in yet; it feels so much like a dream."Meanwhile, Nao Toyama, who plays Cure Arcana Shadow / Luluka Moria, previously appeared in the series as a fairy. Returning now as a PreCure—and in an adversarial role—she commented deeply moved, "I never imagined I would be able to return to this series as a PreCure."

The comedy duo Cotton appeared as special guests to cheer on the show. Shinji Nishimura served as the MC, while Kyon made his entrance disguised as the show's producer.When asked by Nishimura why "detectives" were chosen as the motif for this series, Kyon—performing as "Producer Tada"—revealed the vision behind the project. He explained that in today’s world, where people are flooded with information, the theme is "to see, feel, and think for yourself to find the true answer." He shared that the detective motif was selected out of a desire for children to grasp the truth with their own hands.

During the conference, a playful skit was staged where Kyon—posing as the "Phantom Thieves," the antagonists of the series—"stole" Senga's precious voice-acting script. The new PreCure cast then showcased their skills by solving the mystery through deduction.To conclude the event, Senga sent a heartfelt message to the audience: "The PreCures will face many mysteries, struggling at times but always pressing forward. I hope you will enjoy the show while solving the mysteries right along with us."

(C)ABC-A・東映アニメーション