, known as simply Pretty Cure outside Japan, is a Japanese magical girl anime series produced by Toei Animation and broadcast across Japan on TV Asahi's ANN network. It is the first series in the Pretty Cure metaseries created by Izumi Todo. The original series, directed by Daisuke Nishio, aired on TV Asahi between February 1, 2004 and January 30, 2005 in the same timeslot as Izumi Todo's previous work Ojamajo Doremi. It was the first of the Pretty Cure series to have received an adapted English-language version, which aired in Canada from March 2009. A direct sequel, , or simply Max Heart, aired in Japan between February 6, 2005 and January 29, 2006. Two Max Heart movies were released on April 16, 2005 and December 10, 2005 respectively.