Ueno Ken

Ueno Ken (上野賢, Ueno Ken^?) (also credited as 上野ケン^[1]) is an animation supervisor, key animator and character designer working on the various Pretty Cure anime series and movies.

He was the character designer for the Heartcatch Pretty Cure! movie, the Doki Doki! Pretty Cure movie, the Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure! movie, and the Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure movie. He has been working in key animation and animation supervision for Pretty Cure since 2010 and has been employed by Toei Animation since 1990.

History[]

Ueno was born January 7, 1962, in the Iwate prefecture. In the past, he also lectured at Toei Animation Institute. After graduating from animation university, he worked at an animation studio located in Ōizumigakuen. He produced in-between animation at first, then key animation and animation supervision afterwards and worked as a freelancer for several years. In 1986, he worked for Studio Hibari. He also did freelance work for Studio Sunrise, Studio AIC and Studio Deen.

After Toei Animation's Utsunomiko: Heaven Chapter OVA (1990) for which Ueno produced Key Animation and also worked as an Animation Supervisor, he was permanently employed at Toei Animation. He did the character design for the Mamotte Shugogetten anime (1998) and for GeGeGe no Kitaro (2007). Since 2010, he is heavily involved in Key Animation and Animation Supervision for Pretty Cure. ^[2]

His animation is known for energetic expressions and for its thick and yet refined linework. His character design features impeccable fashion sense, his Cure Mofurun design especially striking for its refreshing take on Cure concept norms. He was described as "one of Toei’s invaluable animation assets" by Sakuga Blog – The Art of Japanese Animation^[3].

More details about his work on the Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure! movie were shared in an interview in Animage's Pretty Cure issue (2016).

Work in Pretty Cure[]

Series	Year	Key Animator	Animation Supervisor
Heartcatch Pretty Cure!	2010 - 2011	10, Movie	Movie
Pretty Cure All Stars	2010, 2012	DX2, New Stage	None
Suite Pretty Cure♪	2011-2012	24, 37, 41, 46	13, 21, 30, 39, 46
Smile Pretty Cure!	2012-2013	3, 9, 23, 29, 39, 41, 47, Movie	9, 19, 29, 39, 47
Doki Doki! Pretty Cure	2013-2014	1, 6, 11	6, 12, 19, 46, Movie
Happiness Charge Pretty Cure!	2014 - 2015	1, 3, 6, 12, 17, 23, 24, 30, 44, Movie	6, 12, 23, 36, 44
Go! Princess Pretty Cure	2015-2016	1, 4, 5, 8, 22, 29, 38, 43, 47	1, 5, 8, 11, 18, 23, 29, 38, 47
Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure!	2016 - 2017	1, 6, Movie	6, 13, Movie
KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode	2017 - 2018	1, 5, 14	5, 14, 24, 32, 41
HUGtto! Pretty Cure	2018 - 2019	7, 11, 17, 22, 29, 38	7, 17, 29, 38
Star☆Twinkle Pretty Cure	2019-2020	1, 9, 22	1, 9, 17, 29, 35, 39, 46
Healin' Good♥Pretty Cure	2020 - 2021	OP, 3, 10, 21, 31	7, 15, 22, 31
Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure	2021 - 2022	1, 10, 43, 46	1, 10, 43, Movie
Delicious Party♡Pretty Cure	2022	Opening, 7	Opening, 7, 17
Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure	2023	❌	8