2 (Anime Series) Prétear (complete)

Prétear (新白雪姫伝説プリーティア, Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Purītia^?), also called Prétear - The New Legend of Snow White, is a manga series written by Junichi Sato and illustrated by Kaori Naruse. Spanning four volumes, the manga series was originally published in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten from May 2000 through July 2001. It was published in English in North America by ADV Manga.

The series was adapted into a thirteen episode anime series by Hal Film Maker, Kadokawa Shoten, and Rondo Robe . It aired in Japan on WOWOW from April 4, 2001 until June 27, 2001. Geneon released the series episodes across four volumes in Japan in both VHS video and DVD forms. ADV Films licensed and released the anime series, with English subtitle and audio dub track, Region 1 DVD in North America and Region 2 DVD in Europe.

Plot

A high school girl named Himeno Awayuki is attempted to adjust to her new life after her widowed father remarries wealthy divorcee Natsue. While taking a short cut to school, Himeno accidentally steps on a flower. As she tries to think of how to help it, a little boy named Shin, tells her to take his hand. When she does, the flower is healed but Himeno collapses. When she awakens, she finds herself surrounded by the seven Leafe Knights, Hayate, Sasame, Goh, Kei, Mannen, Hajime, and Shin. They tell her that the red snow that has been falling on the town recently is being caused by the Princess of Disaster who is awakening, and that she is using demon larva to absorb Leafe, the essence of all life. They ask Himeno to become the Prétear and help them protect the world. Himeno is initially reluctant, believing they are part of a cult or trying to play a trick on her. When a larva attacks the city and begins stealing leafe, including from her friend Yayoi, Himeno agrees to help. Hayate tells her to take his hand and she merges with him to become the Prétear of the Wind. After adjusting to her new powers, Himeno is able to defeat the larva.

As the series progresses, Himeno finds herself slowly falling in love with Hayate, who is initially cold and refuses to acknowledge her as the Prétear. Eventually she learns the Princess of Disaster was once a girl named Takako, who was the last Prétear. She had not enjoyed fighting, but did it anyway, also falling in love with Hayate. When he could not return her feelings, her anguish caused her powers to turn to evil, changing her into the Princess of Disaster.

Mawata, one of Himeno's stepsisters, has been overwhelmed with grief since the death of her father and holds herself distant from her family. She and Himeno temporarily connect over their shared feelings, but Mawata is hurt when she sees Himeno with Hayate. Mawata is in love with Sasame, but it is revealed that he was in love with Takako. He throws away his status as a Leafe Knight and joins Takako to become her Knight of Darkness. Takako uses Mawata's love for Sasame to hurt her even more, enabling Takako to use her to fuel the Great Tree of Fenrir.

The town is overrun by the Great Tree. To protect the rest of her family, Himeno reveals her Prétear powers to them, then begs them to escape while she rescues Mawata. Instead, the family refuses to leave Mawata behind and put themselves in great physical danger to rescue her. Hayate and Sasame engage in a battle to the death, and Himeno climbs the Great Tree of Fenrir. Himeno's family starts attacking the bubble holding Mawata, calling to her desperately. Himeno continues up the tree to confront the Princess of Disaster. Mawata is freed and Himeno's kindness reaches out to the Princess, enabling her to return to herself, but not before Hayate is killed by Sasame. Out of control, the tree attacks Takako. Sasame shields her and is struck instead. As he dies in her arms, she cries for him and realizes she loved him too.

To stop the tree, Himeno calls upon all of her powers, becoming the legendary White Prétear and pouring out a massive amount of Leafe. The town is restored, the Leafe Knights healed, and Sasame and Hayate are brought back to life. Hayate awakens to find the others crying over Himeno's lifeless body, lying in the grass as if she were sleeping. In agony, he holds her, then kisses her, which restores her life and enables her to awaken. At the end of the series, Himeno and Hayate are a couple, Himeno and her family are closer, Mawata is happier, and Takako is seen quietly sitting with Sasame.

[edit] Differences in the anime adaptation

The anime adaptation retains the overall story of the series, but changes many of the details. The beginning of the story and how Himeno meets the Leafe nights is changed to have Himeno jump from a bush and land on Hayate. The personalities and appearances of the Leafe Knights are changed, with the older knights given more mature appearances. Sasame is changed from a joyful flirt to a quieter more serious man. Some of the circumstances in the Awayuki household are also changed. In the anime, Natsue's husband died rather than their being divorced. The servants of the house are kind to Himeno instead of picking on her. Mawata is less interactive with her family, while Mayune only plays pranks on Himeno, rather than attempting to ostracize her at school or cause trouble with Natsue. Natsue is also changed to be distant, but relatively friendly to Himeno, with her jealousy of the girl removed completely. The anime also has the family unaware of Himeno's association with the Leafe Knights until near the end of the series.

Episode 01 | Episode 02 | Episode 03 | Episode 04 | Episode 05
Episode 06 | Episode 07 | Episode 08 | Episode 09 | Episode 10
Episode 11 | Episode12 | Episode 13