Toei Animation confirmed this week that Precure is getting a TV spinoff called Dual Shadow ~Precure Villain Heroines~, premiering in 2027 — and unlike almost every earlier spinoff, it runs on an original story and an original cast. With 23 main series behind it, this is the moment new viewers ask where to start, so here is the full watch order, where each era streams, and how the SenpaiRanks board ranks them.
Quick answer
Dual Shadow ~Precure Villain Heroines~ is a 2027 TV spinoff from Toei Animation with an original story and characters, built on the franchise's villain-turned-hero tradition. The main line is 23 series deep (2004's Futari wa Precure to 2026's Star Detective Precure!, now airing and streaming on Crunchyroll). Every main series is a self-contained entry point. According to SenpaiRanks Consensus, the top three are Go! Princess Precure (7.60), HeartCatch Precure! (7.54) and HUGtto! Precure (7.45).
The pitch
Per ANN, the spinoff leans into a thread fans have tracked since 2009, when Eas from Fresh Precure! switched sides and became Cure Passion. Toei has not named a studio slot, broadcast date or cast yet. The announcement landed while Star Detective Precure! — the 23rd main series, which premiered February 1 — is mid-run, and its movie opened at #3 in Japan on September 18 with 446 million yen in its first three days.
Precure watch order (main series)
Each year is a new cast and a new story, so you never have to start at 2004. The only true sequels are flagged.
- 2004 — Futari wa Precure
- 2005 — Futari wa Precure Max Heart (sequel to 2004)
- 2006 — Futari wa Precure Splash Star
- 2007 — Yes! Precure 5
- 2008 — Yes! Precure 5 GoGo! (sequel to 2007)
- 2009 — Fresh Precure!
- 2010 — HeartCatch Precure!
- 2011 — Suite Precure♪
- 2012 — Smile Precure!
- 2013 — DokiDoki! Precure
- 2014 — Happiness Charge Precure!
- 2015 — Go! Princess Precure
- 2016 — Mahoutsukai Precure! (Witchy Precure)
- 2017 — KiraKira☆Precure A La Mode
- 2018 — HUGtto! Precure
- 2019 — Star☆Twinkle Precure
- 2020 — Healin' Good♡Precure
- 2021 — Tropical-Rouge! Precure
- 2022 — Delicious Party♡Precure
- 2023 — Hirogaru Sky! Precure
- 2024 — Wonderful Precure!
- 2025 — Kimi to Idol Precure♪
- 2026 — Star Detective Precure! (airing)
Two adult-cast follow-ups slot in late: Precure Full Bloom (2023) after Yes! 5 GoGo!, and Mahoutsukai Precure!! Mirai Days (2025) after Witchy. Save the All Stars crossover films until you know a few teams.
How the board ranks them
SenpaiRanks Consensus puts Go! Princess Precure at 7.60, a hair above HeartCatch at 7.54, then HUGtto! at 7.45, Star☆Twinkle at 7.43 and Hirogaru Sky! at 7.41. Fresh (7.25) — the Cure Passion series the spinoff riffs on — sits mid-table. The 2004 original lands at 6.73, which is why we do not tell newcomers to start there.
That spread is the point of a dual-axis board: a franchise MyAnimeList collapses into one number splits cleanly by era here. Rate the seasons you have seen and watch where your taste lands against the crowd.
Where to watch Precure
Star Detective Precure! streams on Crunchyroll across the Americas, Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East, and Crunchyroll has carried the most recent entries. Netflix released Smile and DokiDoki! in English as Glitter Force. Older seasons are patchier by region — each series' catalog page tracks the ranking card as availability shifts. For the wider genre, see our best magical girl anime ranked board and the Detective Conan × Star Detective Precure crossover. Dual Shadow joins the 2027 slate alongside our winter 2027 and spring 2027 guides, and Toei's full ranked catalog.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is Dual Shadow ~Precure Villain Heroines~?
A: A Precure TV spinoff from Toei Animation premiering in 2027, with an original story and characters built around villains who become heroes.
Q: Where should I start watching Precure?
A: Any main series works as a first watch. SenpaiRanks Consensus rates Go! Princess Precure (7.60) and HeartCatch Precure! (7.54) highest.
Q: How many Precure series are there?
A: 23 main TV series, from Futari wa Precure (2004) to Star Detective Precure! (2026), plus sequels, spinoffs and films.
Q: Where can I watch Star Detective Precure!?
A: On Crunchyroll in North, Central and South America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and CIS.
Q: Do I need to watch Precure in order?
A: No. Only Max Heart (after Futari wa) and Yes! 5 GoGo! (after Yes! 5) are direct sequels.