"It’s Futago-sensei's Mystique!!" Ecstatic fans moved by manga artist Futago Kamikita's new illustration of "Star Detective Precure!" following the end of long-running serialization

Manga artist Futago Kamikita updated their official X account on April 22nd, sharing an illustration of Mikuru Kobayashi (CV: Kaede Hondo) and her transformed persona, Cure Mystique, from the series "Star Detective Precure!" The post has quickly become a hot topic among fans.

The post included a celebratory message, "Happy Birthday! Cure Mystique ❤ Mikuru Kobayashi," along with a single illustration. The artwork depicts Cure Mystique—recognizable by her signature pink hair and outfit—striking an energetic pose, with a smiling pre-transformation Mikuru shown in the foreground. The background is beautifully adorned with colorful flowers and a large "Happy birthday" message, making it a vibrant celebration of her special day.

"Star Detective Precure!" is the 23rd installment of the "Precure series," which has been airing since February 2026. The story follows the protagonist, Anna Akechi, who time-travels from the future to the world of 1999. There, she meets Mikuru Kobayashi, a second-year junior high school student and aspiring detective, and they transform into the "Detective Precure." Together, they solve mysteries caused by the "Phantom Thieves," a group that steals people's most precious belongings.

For approximately 22 years, starting from the very first series, Futago Kamikita was in charge of the manga adaptations of the successive Precure series in the magazine "Nakayoshi." However, that history came to an end in December 2025. Since there is no manga serialization by Kamikita for the currently airing "Star Detective Precure!", many fans feared they would no longer see the artist draw the newest members of the franchise.

As a result, seeing a new Precure drawn with Kamikita's signature beautiful touch even after the end of the serialization has sparked an outpouring of joy and praise. Fans reacted with comments such as, "It's Futago-sensei's Mystique!!", "I'm so moved!", and "Precure just isn't the same without Kamikita-sensei's art," highlighting the immense impact of this long-awaited illustration.

(C)ＡＢＣ-Ａ・東映アニメーション