Hugtto! Precure – Episode 26

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re diving right back into Hugtto! Precure, in the wake of Harry finally revealing his troubled past. It turns out Harry was actually a former employee of Criasu Corp, along with his ragtag hamster companions. When confronted by his old friend Bishin, Harry was briefly consumed by Criasu’s negative energy; fortunately, Homare was there to remind him that we are not defined by our regrets, and that he is not alone.

It was an excellent climax for a variety of reasons, as one of Hugtto’s most closely-guarded secrets (Harry’s past) collided with one of its strongest emotional threads (the bond between Harry and Homare). As the unofficial group parents, it’s been delightful watching them support each other in times of trouble, and this served as the most resounding affirmation of their friendship so far. Meanwhile, the reveal of Harry’s former associates promises a whole new host of “villains” to defeat and befriend, as well as more information about Criasu Corp itself. What can you tell us about your old friend George, Harry? Let’s find out!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 25

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. It has been far too long since we last stopped in with Hana and the rest of the Hugtto crew, so today we’ll be remedying that post-haste, as we return to the charming world of Pretty Cure. The show’s last episode felt something like a post-act breather, as all the characters we’ve come to know joined together for a combined pool party and concert. It was a charming and low-stakes episode that nonetheless served as a key rite of passage for our team.

In keeping with Hugtto’s themes, that episode saw our leads taking tangible steps towards their futures, embracing adult responsibilities and taking charge within their community. The value of honest work, and the pride that comes from executing your craft, stand as core tenets of Hugtto’s philosophy. Having each struggled with doubts about their passions, our leads have learned to embrace their desires, whether those feelings lead them to figure skating or rock music or what have you.

Among all her friends, Hana remains the one without a clear professional trajectory. The very qualities that make her great at supporting others leave her personally unmoored; her talent is “supporting others in achieving their dreams,” and she’s at times wondered whether that’s really a talent at all. Her personality is a jumble of contradictions that make her perfectly suited to lead this narrative, and I’m eager to see how her journey continues. Let’s get right back to Hugtto Precure!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 24

At last, our mysterious villain has shown his face. With the ultimately sympathetic Popple having been defeated and rehabilitated, Criasu Corp has extended its claws further than ever, introducing both Doctor Trauma and its actual president, George Criasu. As expected, the mystery man who’d always been accompanied by such evocative visual fanfare was George himself, a man determined to halt unhappiness and injustice by locking the world in a perpetual stasis. Fortunately, just as our nefarious foe unveiled his plan, Hana unlocked her own potential: the ability to end stasis, and drive the world into forward motion through the same cheerful, unerring support she’s always offered.

Hugtto as a whole is a story about the natural insecurities of growing older, deciding who you want to be as an adult, and taking steps to achieve that dream. This process is difficult and frightening, and there are times when all of us doubt our path or potential, falling into static cycles rather than progressing forward. In the face of this universal experience, Hana stands as the ultimate champion of forward progress, someone principally defined by her ability to encourage others and push them onward. With Hugtto’s narrative and thematic cores now fully aligned, I’m looking forward to seeing Hana embrace this power, while hopefully teaching her friends to offer the encouragement that she cannot offer herself. Can Hana truly accept that she is just as valuable and strong as all the friends she cheers for? Let’s find out!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 23

Hello everyone, and welcome on back to Wrong Every Time. Y’all ready for some Precure? Considering last episode featured the original Precure tumbling out of a wormhole because Baby Said So, it would seem presumptuous to offer any kind of confident predictions about what happens next. That said, it does seem like we’ve reached a turning point in the narrative. Our full Precure team has at last been assembled, and with Emiru having resolved her immediate anxieties, it’s looking like they’re ready to turn towards the future. At the same time, Popple’s defeat clears out the initial wave of Criasu Corp antagonists, and opens the door for her mysterious benefactor’s actual debut. Given all that narrative board-clearing, I’m actually expecting this episode to be a light one, and serve as a sort of palette cleanser before we get into the next major arc. The crew has assembled and there’s evil afoot, so let’s dive right back into Hugtto!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 21

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we’re celebrating a truly momentous occasion, as Emiru and Lulu have at last achieved their goal of becoming Precure. It certainly wasn’t an easy road – I mean, Lulu’s a goddamn renegade cyborg, and in the end, it took a literal deus ex machina to split the final device and accommodate them. Even the gods of this Precure universe agree that Emiru and Lulu must not be separated, and deserve their long-awaited Precure glory.

Given the pacing of this arc so far, I’m expecting we’re getting one more victory lap before we move on to other concerns, and I’m all for it. Emiru has been my favorite Hugtto character from her first appearance, and seeing both her and Lulu flourishing through their love is a balm for the soul. It can be a dark world out there, but Precure is a jubilant reminder of the good things, like when cyborgs and tiny musicians become best friends. Without further ado, let’s touch back down in the world of Huggto Precure!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 20

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time! Today we’ll be returning to Hugtto! Precure, where when we last left off, Henri was busy destroying the gender binary. After Emiru’s brother attempted to lecture him on how girls aren’t allowed to be heroes, Henri confronted him in a full dress, and said that boys and girls are allowed to be what they damn well please. Even when held in the grip of a giant monster, Henri somehow kept his cool, and actually reached out to the monster with such empathy and understanding that he essentially won the fight himself. Hugtto! has always preached kindness in a general sense, but I was delighted to see it celebrate Henri’s specific, vital kind of self-love and tolerance.

With Henri having instilled that self-love in Emiru as well, she is now capable of admitting her own desires. Emiru wants to be a Precure, and goddamnit, we’re gonna make her a Precure. Let’s get to work!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 17

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. We’ve been enjoying an absurd slate of top-tier Precure episodes lately, and today I’m eager to get back to the story. Both the Lulu-Emiru episode and the subsequent Junna-Aki followup stand among the greatest of Hugtto’s accomplishments, featuring remarkably expressive animation, dynamic storyboards, and some of the most endearing, impactful writing of the series so far. The unique back-and-forth of Lulu and Emiru’s unsteady friendship, the vivid cinematography of Junna and Aki’s falling out, the absurd highlights of both episode’s concluding battles; Hugtto’s been an embarrassment of riches lately, and I’m happy to fully understand why my friends love this show so much.

With all that said, my understanding from fans of the show is that things are going to settle back down a bit now, as the production only has so many all-star storyboarders and key animators. Fortunately, even if we’re not in for another aesthetic spectacle on the level of the last two, this episode has something else in its favor: an urgent cascade of narrative continuity. Both Lulu’s cover and true feelings have been exposed, and if Hana and her friends are going to help her, they might have to go on the offensive against Criasu Corp for the very first time. Let’s continue the story of their charming robot friend, as we ramble through one more episode of Hugtto Precure!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 13

Folks, it has been altogether too long since we checked in with the stars of Hugtto! Precure, and I’m aiming to fix that right now. When last we left off, the gang was enjoying some well-earned time off, as they hosted a classic slumber party over at Harry’s quasi-treehouse. That episode concluded on a menacing cliffhanger, however, as we learned that Criasu Corp’s resident robot had somehow smuggled herself into Hana’s home, and even brainwashed her mother into believing she’s a member of their extended family. Having spent a great deal of time with some of twitter’s preeminent magical girl aficionados, I already know that Lulu the robot is a fan-favorite character – and with her currently disrupting Hana’s home life, I’m eager to see how the team deal with this unprecedented new attack. Let’s get to it!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 12

Folks, I am very excited to return to Hugtto! Precure! It’s been some time since our last episode, at least from my perspective, but I still remember it quite clearly. Hugtto’s eleventh episode was one of its strongest segments yet, elevating Hana’s relatable anxieties through isolating yet beautiful layouts, and culminating in a fight sequence that somehow embodied the terrifying, inhuman energy of an Evangelion battle. That climax ended on Hana resolving her doubts through a confident declaration of selfhood, as she refused to actually strike down her opponent, and instead chose to express herself through what she’s always done best: cheering people on, and inspiring them to reach their greatest selves.

That conclusion also served as a reiteration of Hugtto’s own themes, from its focus on finding a fulfilling path to careers and adulthood, to its insistence that we are stronger if we build each other up, rather than exploit each other for personal gain. And of course, by framing that contrast in terms of the distinction between the Precures and their corporate-themed antagonists, Hugtto also furthered its perhaps inadvertent message of “fuck capitalism.” I kinda doubt this entirely capitalism-grounded production, which is designed to sell children’s toys, is also promoting a deliberately anti-capitalist message, but hey, inadvertent subtext is also fine with me. Either way, I’m eager to see what Hana and her friends get up to in one more Precure!

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Hugtto! Precure – Episode 10

Folks, it is well past time to explore another episode of Hugtto! Precure. I have been loving my first dive into the sprawling Precure universe, from its sensitive exploration of sympathetic characters like Hana and Homare, to its delightfully whimsical art design and often remarkably executed action sequences. Though not every fight is a highlight, the show’s storyboarders and animators seem to possess an understanding of weight and impact that make its marquee battles some of the more thrilling sequences in modern anime, where you can really feel the thundering consequences of each larger-than-life blow. And in between those aesthetic peaks, Hugtto offers a diverse array of charming episodic vignettes, all the while exploring the complexity of figuring out how your passions and personality will ultimately integrate into the adult world.

Huggto’s last episode introduced a girl who might already be my favorite character, the passionate and deeply insecure Emiru. Emiru is full of self-loathing and terrified of making mistakes, consistently and understandably wondering if her friends simply consider her a burden. Though she ended up being praised for her own talents at the end of that episode, her journey is far from over, and I’m very much hoping this episode continues our investigation of The Precure With Anxiety. Let’s see what awaits in the next episode of Huggto!

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