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Toei Posts 'Baton Passing' Video Ahead of Hugtto! Precure Premiere

Toei Animation posted a "A Message for Passing the Baton from Cure Whip to Cure Yell" video on Sunday. Toei Animation has posted similar videos in the past before a new Precure series premiered.

The video features Cure Whip from Kirakira ☆ Precure a la Mode, who thanks everyone for supporting her. Cure Yell from the upcoming Hugtto! Precure series then walks in, saying she's glad to be able to meet Cure Whip again. Cure Whip says the cake in front of her includes everyone's feelings, and both Precures say Cure Whip's magic words together. Cure Whip then says she loves everyone, and hopes they can continue to laugh.

The final episode of Kirakira ☆ Precure a la Mode aired on Sunday in Japan. Hugtto! Precure is the 15th and newest Precure (Pretty Cure) television anime series, and it will premiere on Japan's ABC, TV Asahi, and affiliated stations on February 4 at 8:30 a.m.

The show stars:

• Rie Hikisaka as Cure Yell/Hana Nono
• Rina Hon'izumi as Cure Ange/Saaya Yakushiji
• Yui Ogura as Cure Étoile/Homare Kagayaki
• Konomi Tada as Hug-tan
• Junko Noda as Hariham Hari

Akifumi Zako (Fresh Pretty Cure, Toriko) and Junichi Satō (Aria, Kaleido Star, Ojamajo Doremi, Prétear, Princess Tutu, Sailor Moon) serve as series directors at Toei Animation, and Fumi Tsubota (12-Sai: Chiccha na Mune no Tokimeki) is in charge of the series scripts. Yuuki Hayashi (Diabolik Lovers, Eiga Kirakira ☆ Precure a la Mode: Paris to! Omoide no Mille-Feuille!, My Hero Academia, Welcome to the Ballroom) is composing the music, and Toshie Kawamura (Smile Precure!, Yes! Precure 5, Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!) is designing the characters. Nagisa Nishida (Heartcatch Precure!, Smile Precure!) is the art designer, and the producers include Kazusa Umeda (ABC Animation), Fumi Yazaki (ADK), and Keisuke Naitō.

Kanako Miyamoto (Glitter Force Doki Doki's Makoto Kenzaki/Cure Sword, Kirakira ☆ Precure a la Mode ending) is performing the opeing theme song "We can!! Hugtto! Precure." The characters Cure Yell, Cure Ange, and Cure Étoile (as played by their respective voice actresses) are performing the ending theme song "Hugtto! Mirai Dreamer" (I'm Gonna Hug! Future Dreamer).

The title includes the English word "Hug" with the quotation particle "to," which is used in casual speech when the speaker is resolving to do something. The tagline on the website reads, "You can do anything! You can be anything! Embrace a shining future!"

Futago Kamikita is launching a Hugtto! Precure manga in the March issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine on February 2. Izumi Todo is credited with the original work.