TV-Series
Description
Natalie Blackstone, known in the original Japanese version as Nagisa Misumi, is the alter ego of Cure Black, one of the two central protagonists of the anime series Pretty Cure and its sequel Pretty Cure Max Heart. She begins the story as a fourteen-year-old second-year student at Verone Academy, where she is the ace player of the girls' lacrosse team. Her life changes when she becomes the caretaker of Mepple, a fairy from the Garden of Light, and gains the ability to transform into Cure Black, a warrior of light tasked with protecting the world from the forces of the Dark Zone.
Natalie's personality is energetic, outgoing, and hot-headed. She is passionate about sports and physical activity, excelling in lacrosse, but shows little interest in academics, often struggling with her studies. She has a strong sense of justice, though she can be reckless in her actions. Beneath her tomboyish and athletic exterior, she possesses a girlish side: she is image-conscious, dreams of a romantic love story, has a large collection of stuffed animals at home, and enjoys shopping, which often leaves her short on money. She loves sweet foods, especially chocolate and anything with the word yaki in its name, and has a large appetite. Her catchphrase in the English dub is "Give me a break!".
Her motivations are rooted in protecting her friends, family, and the innocent. She initially takes on the role of a Pretty Cure reluctantly, but her hidden sense of justice and care for others drive her to fight. She is sensitive and deeply cares for people, though she tends to hide her more emotional side until she is seriously pressed. Natalie is also popular among her female classmates, which she finds somewhat uncomfortable, and has a crush on an older boy named Shougo Fujimura, though this infatuation fades over time as her bond with her partner deepens.
Her central role in the story is as one of the two legendary Pretty Cures, alongside her partner Honoka Yukishiro, who transforms into Cure White. The two initially have a rocky relationship, but through their shared battles and experiences, they grow into inseparable friends and teammates, often commenting on the special nature of their bond. Their partnership is a core element of the narrative, and their combined strength is necessary to defeat their enemies. In the sequel season Max Heart, Natalie gains a third ally, Hikari Kujou, who transforms into Shiny Luminous.
Key relationships include her fairy partner Mepple, who, despite being a constant source of annoyance and trouble, is someone she deeply cares for and protects. She lives with her parents and her younger brother Ryouta, with whom she frequently argues but is ultimately protective of her. Her friends Shiho and Rina are also important to her everyday life. Over the course of the series, her relationship with Honoka becomes her most significant, evolving from near-strangers to a deeply trusting and loving partnership.
Natalie's development is marked by her growth from a carefree, somewhat lazy student into a responsible and courageous hero. She learns to balance her ordinary life with her duties as a Pretty Cure, and her initial reluctance gives way to a determined resolve to fight for what is right. She matures through her trials, though she retains her core energetic and fun-loving personality.
As Cure Black, her appearance transforms: her hair flares outward, her bangs are swept to the left, and she gains silver heart-shaped earrings. Her outfit consists of a black top with white ruffles, a large white bow on the front, a pink belt, black shorts with a black overskirt, black arm warmers with white trim and pink heart charms on the fists, and brown shoes with black leg warmers. In Max Heart, her costume is altered to cover her midriff, and the overall design gains extra ruffles. Her main ability is superhuman strength, making her the physical powerhouse of the duo. When she holds hands with Cure White, they can perform powerful combined techniques, most notably Marble Screw, which channels lightning energy, and Rainbow Therapy. Her transformation is triggered by swiping the Queen card across Mepple when he is in his Card Commune form, reciting the phrase "Dual Aurora Wave". A notable limitation is that she cannot use her special attacks without being in physical contact with Cure White, a weakness that villains sometimes attempt to exploit. Throughout the series, she also makes guest appearances in later Pretty Cure anniversary installments, reaffirming her legacy as the first Cure of the franchise.
Natalie's personality is energetic, outgoing, and hot-headed. She is passionate about sports and physical activity, excelling in lacrosse, but shows little interest in academics, often struggling with her studies. She has a strong sense of justice, though she can be reckless in her actions. Beneath her tomboyish and athletic exterior, she possesses a girlish side: she is image-conscious, dreams of a romantic love story, has a large collection of stuffed animals at home, and enjoys shopping, which often leaves her short on money. She loves sweet foods, especially chocolate and anything with the word yaki in its name, and has a large appetite. Her catchphrase in the English dub is "Give me a break!".
Her motivations are rooted in protecting her friends, family, and the innocent. She initially takes on the role of a Pretty Cure reluctantly, but her hidden sense of justice and care for others drive her to fight. She is sensitive and deeply cares for people, though she tends to hide her more emotional side until she is seriously pressed. Natalie is also popular among her female classmates, which she finds somewhat uncomfortable, and has a crush on an older boy named Shougo Fujimura, though this infatuation fades over time as her bond with her partner deepens.
Her central role in the story is as one of the two legendary Pretty Cures, alongside her partner Honoka Yukishiro, who transforms into Cure White. The two initially have a rocky relationship, but through their shared battles and experiences, they grow into inseparable friends and teammates, often commenting on the special nature of their bond. Their partnership is a core element of the narrative, and their combined strength is necessary to defeat their enemies. In the sequel season Max Heart, Natalie gains a third ally, Hikari Kujou, who transforms into Shiny Luminous.
Key relationships include her fairy partner Mepple, who, despite being a constant source of annoyance and trouble, is someone she deeply cares for and protects. She lives with her parents and her younger brother Ryouta, with whom she frequently argues but is ultimately protective of her. Her friends Shiho and Rina are also important to her everyday life. Over the course of the series, her relationship with Honoka becomes her most significant, evolving from near-strangers to a deeply trusting and loving partnership.
Natalie's development is marked by her growth from a carefree, somewhat lazy student into a responsible and courageous hero. She learns to balance her ordinary life with her duties as a Pretty Cure, and her initial reluctance gives way to a determined resolve to fight for what is right. She matures through her trials, though she retains her core energetic and fun-loving personality.
As Cure Black, her appearance transforms: her hair flares outward, her bangs are swept to the left, and she gains silver heart-shaped earrings. Her outfit consists of a black top with white ruffles, a large white bow on the front, a pink belt, black shorts with a black overskirt, black arm warmers with white trim and pink heart charms on the fists, and brown shoes with black leg warmers. In Max Heart, her costume is altered to cover her midriff, and the overall design gains extra ruffles. Her main ability is superhuman strength, making her the physical powerhouse of the duo. When she holds hands with Cure White, they can perform powerful combined techniques, most notably Marble Screw, which channels lightning energy, and Rainbow Therapy. Her transformation is triggered by swiping the Queen card across Mepple when he is in his Card Commune form, reciting the phrase "Dual Aurora Wave". A notable limitation is that she cannot use her special attacks without being in physical contact with Cure White, a weakness that villains sometimes attempt to exploit. Throughout the series, she also makes guest appearances in later Pretty Cure anniversary installments, reaffirming her legacy as the first Cure of the franchise.