Luluka Moria Character Guide｜Cure Arcana Shadow, Voice Actress Nao Toyama & Full Profile
With the official premiere of Star Detective Precure!, a mysterious character has quickly become the most talked-about focus of the season—Luluka Moria. This Precure, who is only 14 years old but belongs to the villainous organization "Phantom Thief Gang," sparked widespread discussion even before the anime aired, when her character design was first revealed.
This article will delve into Luluka Moria's official character settings, the details of her transformation form "Cure Arcana Shadow," the clever origins of her name, and an introduction to the renowned voice actress Nao Toyama who breathes life into her.
Luluka Moria: The Enigmatic 14-Year-Old Girl Setting
In the story background of Star Detective Precure!, Luluka Moria (Japanese name: Moria Ruruka) is a being full of mysteries. Her area of activity is set in Shin Mirai City in 1999. Although her official age is 14, the same as the main protagonists, she exhibits a completely different aura—her art style and somewhat motherly appearance give her a sense of maturity beyond her years.
Official Character Settings Overview
- Name: Luluka Moria
- Age: 14 years old
- Birthday: November 1st (Scorpio) — shares the same day as her partner fairy Mashutan and the fairy Latte from Healin' Good♥Precure
- Eye Color: Purple ↔ Red (differs before and after transformation)
- Hair Color: Gray ↔ Blonde with pink gradient (differs before and after transformation)
- Image Color: Black
- Likes: Loves eating ice cream, often seen eating it when she appears, always with two scoops or more
- Personality: Independent and unconventional, usually doesn't talk much, but harbors passionate emotions within
- Area of Activity: Shin Mirai City in 1999
- Affiliated Organization: Phantom Thief Gang (one of its executives)
- Partner Fairy: Mashutan
The Dual Identity of a Phantom Thief Gang Executive
The most surprising aspect of her setting is her identity—although she is a "Precure," she belongs to the opposing force, the "Phantom Thief Gang," as one of its executives. Her superior is Usonoir, and her colleagues include Niji and Agessene.
This "neither purely good nor evil" dual identity, combined with her usual relaxed demeanor of eating ice cream, creates a huge contrast that is endearing.
Origin of the Name: A Tribute to the Criminal Genius Moriarty
"Moria" is taken from the character Professor James Moriarty in Arthur Conan Doyle's novel series The Complete Sherlock Holmes—a character widely regarded as the archetype of the supervillain and the arch-nemesis of detective Sherlock Holmes. In a Precure work themed around "detectives," naming a character after the detective's greatest adversary is a masterful design.
Cure Arcana Shadow Transformation Decoded
When Luluka Moria shouts her transformation phrase: "Envelop all mystery and secrets, Cure Arcana Shadow!" (神秘と秘密で包み込む キュアアルカナ・シャドウ！), she transforms into Cure Arcana Shadow.
Meaning of the Cure Name and Tarot Connection
Her Cure name is also deeply meaningful:
- "Arcana" means "secret," and can also refer to Tarot cards (the major cards in Tarot are called Major Arcana), perfectly matching her mysterious and unpredictable character positioning.
- She is also the third Precure in the series with a three-part Cure name, following Cure Flora and Cure Finale. However, unlike the previous two, the latter two parts of her Cure name (Arcana・Shadow) are not the same word, and there is a clear separator between them in the katakana notation.
Transformation Appearance Design
Unlike the bright color schemes of traditional Precure, Cure Arcana Shadow uses black as her main color. After transformation:
- Her gray hair changes to gorgeous blonde with a pink gradient
- Her purple eye color turns red
- The overall design exudes a strong aura of mystery and nobility
Unique Position in the Precure Series
Luluka Moria has set several records in the history of the Precure series:
- The first "enemy Precure" revealed before the series aired—this bold promotional strategy ignited fan discussions even before the anime premiered.
- The first villain character to dance in the TV anime ending sequence alongside other Precure—made possible by her unique status as both a Precure and a villain.
- The third main-team Precure with black as her primary color, following Cure Black and Cure Black (Mizuki Nana), making her extremely rare in the series.
The Masterful Performance of Voice Actress Nao Toyama
Breathing life into Luluka Moria is the renowned Japanese voice actress Nao Toyama. This casting has been praised by fans as "a stroke of genius," perfectly matching the character's multi-layered personality traits.
Nao Toyama's Deep Connection to the Precure Series
This is not Nao Toyama's first involvement with the Precure series. She previously voiced the fairy Puff in Go! Princess Precure. Her role as Luluka Moria makes her the third voice actress to transition from voicing a main-team fairy to becoming a Precure, following Ai Kakuma (Rabirin → Cure White) and Natsumi Takamori (Mimi → Cure Finale).
This "from fairy to warrior" transformation itself adds a special significance to the character.
Multi-Layered Vocal Performance
Nao Toyama is known for her wide vocal range, capable of portraying extremely cute fairy characters as well as cool, handsome, or mysterious girl voices.
In Star Detective Precure!, Luluka Moria's personality—taciturn yet hiding deep emotions—allows Nao Toyama to showcase her acting skills in balancing "restraint" and "outburst," making the character not just a "villain" in setting, but a three-dimensional character with flesh and blood that makes viewers want to understand her more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is Luluka Moria a villain or a Precure? Luluka Moria holds both identities. She is a Precure who can transform into "Cure Arcana Shadow," and she is also one of the executives of the villainous organization "Phantom Thief Gang," making her the first publicly revealed "enemy Precure" in the series.
Q2: Who is Luluka Moria's voice actress? Luluka Moria's voice actress is Nao Toyama. She previously voiced the fairy Puff in Go! Princess Precure, and this marks her third role transitioning from a fairy to a Precure.
Q3: What is the meaning behind Luluka Moria's name "Moria"? The surname "Moria" pays tribute to the criminal genius Professor James Moriarty from The Complete Sherlock Holmes, echoing the "detective" theme of this work.
Q4: What is the significance of the name Cure Arcana Shadow? "Arcana" means "secret" and also refers to the major cards (Major Arcana) in Tarot, fitting the character's mysterious and unpredictable positioning. She is also the third Precure in the series with a three-part Cure name.
Conclusion: The Most Unique Enemy Precure in Series History
The appearance of Luluka Moria has injected immense suspense and appeal into Star Detective Precure!. She is a 14-year-old girl who loves ice cream, an executive of the Phantom Thief Gang, and a mysterious warrior who transforms into Cure Arcana Shadow; her name paying homage to Moriarty hints at the exciting rivalry she is bound to have with the main protagonists; coupled with voice actress Nao Toyama's splendid transition from fairy to warrior, this character is a unique existence in the series, from her setting to her performance.
Whether you are a long-time fan following the Precure series or a new viewer who discovered the series because of Luluka Moria, delving deeper into her character settings will make you look forward to the upcoming story developments even more!