The Pickruns (ピックルン )? are special living devices in the shape of keys and fairies in Fresh Pretty Cure!. They were used to give the girls the power to transform into Pretty Cure and later to power-up their attacks to their "Fresh" versions. In the movie Fresh Pretty Cure!: Omocha no Kuni wa Himitsu ga Ippai!?, Love's Pickrun transformed and allowed the Cures to be able to transform into Cure Angels. They are also capable of providing other abilities for their owners.
There are four Pickruns, one for each Cure:
- Pirun belongs to Momozono Love
- Burun belongs to Aono Miki
- Kirun belongs to Yamabuki Inori
- Akarun belongs to Higashi Setsuna
Appearance[]
The Pickruns resemble little keys with heart-shaped heads and short, thin arms. Their bodies have a cylinder form, and the key blades are on their back. On each of their heads is a heart-adorned accessory based on their masters' passions:
- Pirun wears a chef's hat, implying Love's passion for food and cooking.
- Burun wears a crown and a pearl necklace, alluding to Miki's modeling dream.
- Kirun has "cat ears", referring to Inori's dream to be a veterinarian like her father.
- Akarun wears a ribbon and has angel wings, foreshadowing Setsuna's change of heart.
In their white form, the Pickruns still maintain pale variations of their theme color on their heads, eyes, and accessories. They also gain big angel wings.
The colors of the Pickrun reflect their names- Pirun is pink, Burun is blue, Kirun is yellow, and Akarun is red. Both Burun and Akarun have tear-shaped eyes, while Pirun has round eyes and Kirun has "sharp" eyes.
Powers and Applications[]
A Pickrun can merge with a cellphone, changing it into a Linkrun. They remain in the Linkrun until called upon by Chiffon. When used in tandem with the Linkrun, a Cure Stick is summoned, giving the Cures the abilities to power up their attacks.
The Pickruns are vital to Chiffon's growth and development. With Pirun summoned, she can eat human foods, summoned by Love. With Burun, she can wear clothing, summoned by Miki. With Kirun, she learns to speak and Inori can to understand the language of animals. Akarun allows her or Setsuna to teleport herself or with others.
Story[]
When lightning strikes a temple in the Sweets Kingdom, four Pickruns fly out of it, and go to the human world.
The Pirun is the first to find its master as Love is walking out of the fortune teller's place. After seeing Love try to protect Chinen Miyuki, the Pirun goes into Love's cellphone, turning it to a Linkrun and triggering the birth of Cure Peach. Chiffon later calls upon the Pirun when Love is struggling against a Nakewameke.
The Burun found Miki spending time with her brother, Kazuki. When Kazuki falls sick during a Nakewameke attack, the Burun helps out by turning Miki's cellphone into a Linkrun and triggering the birth of Cure Berry. After Chiffon is touched by Miki's strong heart, she summons the Burun and Cure Berry later uses it in her fight against a Nakewameke. However, Cure Berry gets her Pickrun after Cure Peach and Cure Pine has gained theirs.
When the Kirun goes into a church, it sees Inori praying there. When Inori comes under attack by Lucky, whom Eas turned into a Nakewameke, it goes into Inori's cellphone. This turns it into a Linkrun, and triggers the birth of Cure Pine. When Cure Pine decides to go and help the girls against a Nakewameke, Chiffon summons the Kirun and Cure Pine uses it in her fight.
It took the Akarun quite a while to find its master. When it was first spotted, Love and the other girls went on a crazy chase trying to catch it ending up in front of Kaoru's donut café nested in the donut Chinen Miyuki ordered. When Pretty Cure were fighting Eas, Soular, and Westar, it took off. The next time it was spotted, it looked at the confrontation between Eas and Miyuki with Akarun flying off after a fight with a Nakisakebe. Due to being near Akarun whenever it was spotted, Miyuki was mistaken for being the fourth Cure. After Eas' death, Chiffon calls upon the Akarun, who resurrects Setsuna as Cure Passion revealing that she had been the fourth Cure all along, but was unable to grant its powers to her due to the evil aura surrounding her.
Etymology[]
- Pirun and Burun come from the Japanese pronunciation of the English words "pink" and "blue".
- Kirun and Akarun come from the Japanese words "kiiro" and "akai", which mean "yellow" and "red".
Trivia[]
- The Pickruns rarely speak at all, but if they do talk, they'll end most of their sentences with "~ki".
- The Pickruns share their voice actresses with their respective wielders from the same season.
- Pirun shares their voice actress with Yamamoto Aki from Yes! Pretty Cure 5, and its sequel.
- Kirun shares their voice actress with Yabe Chiaki from Futari wa Pretty Cure and its sequel, and Andou Kayo from Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star.
- The Pickruns are the first set of fairy-like creatures to help the Pretty Cure transform.
Gallery[]