Pretear

Pretear is an enchanting anime series produced by Hal Film Maker and released in 2001 by FUNimation. The series, often likened to a timeless fairy tale, is rooted in rich folklore and mythology but at the same time employs contemporary narrative techniques to tell a story that will capture the viewer's imagination like no other.

The story rotates around 16-year-old Himeno Awayuki, a blend of ordinary and extraordinary that comes to life in a refreshingly unique way. Himeno is a seemingly ordinary high school girl grappling with very typical teenage problems; new family, new friends, step-siblings drama, and a nurturing father with an eccentric, fairy tale-writing career. But in addition to these everyday challenges, Himeno’s life is about to get a whole lot more complicated, and peculiar because she’s a Pretear.

The keyword to Pretear is not just merely a title but a title of cosmic responsibility, a fusion of the words "princess" and "prete". It is the title of a mythical being said to be capable of countering the menacing threats to the world's balance by the dark Princess of Disaster and her demon larvae.

One day, her seemingly quotidian life is disrupted when she has a strange encounter with seven Leafe Knights. The Leafe Knights, the guardians of the life force, have been hunting for the new Pretear after the betrayal of the last one who transformed into the Princess of Disaster. Recognizing her as the Pretear, they plead for Himeno's help. Himeno now bears a colossal responsibility to save the Earth from the ruinous Princess of Disaster.

Each episode of Pretear is a slice of a major transitional phase, allowing an open window into Himeno's world as she evolves into her new identity, tackles emerging challenges, battles various minions, and learns to synergize her powers with those of the Leafe Knights. Each Knight has unique powers associated with elements and, depending on whom Himeno merges with, she gets to wield different powers.

The peculiar setup of the story allows a ceaseless flurry of excitement and suspense as Himeno struggles with accepting her unconventional destiny, coping with her evolving feelings, and her desire to protect the world from devastating chaos. Despite multiple themes such as coming-of-age drama, fantasy magic, and romance, the storyline is intricately knit with humorous strokes utility, minimizing plot profusions and side character confusion.

The adaptation of Pretear from Junichi Sato and Kaori Naruse's manga to anime presents aesthetically pleasing animation complemented by soft color palettes that mirror the emphasis on fairy tale undertones, highlighted with modern settings that give it an avant-garde feel. The series is equipped with a soundtrack that amplifies the fantastical ambiance, with music that beautifully complements the series's tonal shifts across dramatic and mythical landscapes. The series is neatly wrapped in 13 episodes managing to explore metaphorsical and literal battles of light and darkness.

With its unique blend of fantasy and reality, satire and tragedy, lightening humor and sober reflections, the anime prompts viewers - young and old alike - to self-reflect on complex themes. It does not shy away from dealing with heavier themes such as the impact of familial upheaval, isolation, challenges of self-identification, growth, facing adversity, the importance of companionship, and brave transformations.

As the story enfolds, it could get you questioning - is Pretear merely a story about Himeno's journey with her newfound destiny, or is it more than what meets the eye? Could it be a metaphorical exploration of a seemingly ordinary individual's power to bring significant changes in their own lives and the surroundings in a battle against overwhelming adversity?

Every twist and turn, battles and resolutions, lightnings, dark forces, friendships, and love in this series are bound to keep you hooked to your screens. This captivating journey of a girl swept from the mundanity of teenage life into the whirl of fantastical destinies and her constant struggle to save the world, while finding herself in the process, makes Pretear an anime experience worth delving into.