As I write this I'm in the middle of watching the first episode. So far the characters are all surprisingly enjoyable. A bit wacky but that's to be expected from a Mahou Shoujo anime that doesn't try to take itself too seriously.

Such a cliche storm we've got here. In the first eight minutes alone the main girl...

-Is a new transfer student.
-Is late for school. I'm surprised she didn't have a slice of toast dangling from her mouth.
-Sits in that part of the classroom. Near the middle/back and closest to the window.

The music hasn't really struck me in any way, but I'll grow into it.

So far pretty good. Didn't get to appreciate the visuals on the tiny screen a website provided. Maybe next episode people will get on the ball..

Edit: I found it amusing that the red/orange Cure's name is Akane Hino. Not only is it an obvious reference to her having fire powers, but isn't there another famous Magical Girl with fire powers who has that last name? : P

Okay, I had a HUGE screen, with NO sound. Also, there was no pause button on the site I watched it on (actually there was, but I couldn't see it, the video was so huge), and I had to leave for a sec, so I missed everything from the halfway point to right after Miyuki transforms... luckily, I caught her henshin later on youtube.

Thoughts on Characters:

Miyuki seems exactly what I expected her to be. No more, no less. I really hate her twindrills.

Akane is a brilliant character in my opinion. She seems to strike this perfect balance between masculine and feminine... it's odd, but interesting. She seems like someone I would want to be friends with.

I still adore Yayoi. But... she seems less shy in the actual show than she was made out to be in the previews and the opening sequence. Is that just me?

No real opinion on Nao.

I think Reika looks really sweet. I wasn't expecting that. I thought she'd be a more cold, standoffish, but badass character. Kinda like Yuri, but with less win.

Animation Opinions:

Awesome

Opening Sequence:

The OP is pure perfection (watched it on my PS3 so I could have sound). I think it's my favorite with the exception of the Heartcatch OP. And that could change.

Closing Sequence:

Didn't see it, need to look it up.

Transformation:

Want to hear the music and talking, but I love the animation. The "makeup" foundation, powder, whatever it was... and the thing Miyuki used to transform... made me vaguely wonder if they were trying to recreate Heartcatch? It looked similar to Tsubomi's henshin with Yuri's object. Was that just me?

Just finished watching with sound. So, more thoughts.

Characters:

I wasn't so sure about Miyuki, but I ended up quite liking her. The bit with the 3 pigs and the whole banter with Candy about "What's a Precure?" made me laugh out loud.

Akane wins the world.

But Yayoi wins the universe. HNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

Still need to see more of Nao.

No change in my Reika opinion from when I saw this mute.

Opening Sequence:

I just wanted to reiterate LOVE.

Closing Sequence:

I honestly... did not enjoy it. There are people on tumblr who love it, and I don't see why. I don't normally complain about the CGI closings... I think they look cool... but this one just looked cheap. And the music was not catchy. I can't hum a single note of it. It just didn't stick with me. I hope they eventually change the ending sequence. Luckily they normally do, so I'm not too worried.

Transformation Sequence:

I'm going to post what is likely an unpopular opinion and say that this was my favorite transformation sequence out of all Precure shows. I love it. I can't even tell you WHAT I love so much... just that I do. And on that note, I think Heartcatch was about the same level of awesome, but despite the similarities, they're different shows. Heartcatch had the beautiful thing going on, Smile had the upbeat and awesome thing. On a different day, I might like Heartcatch's henshins better.

I watched the ep 5 times now. I'm not tired of it yet and I don't think I'll ever be.

Characters all seems really interesting so far and I can't wait to see how much they will grow.

Really like the theme of the story.~ Along with their own theme they called back to a LOT of other Percure seasons witch is so amusing to catch.~~~~

As for animation I can see it getting stale SUPER fast and some times I find myself trying to figure out what's wrong with the characters looks. I found a lot. But it hasn't bothered me, heck, I'm not picky to begin with. xD

Candy for some reason is kind of annoying some how. But thank got he is a little ram or I might hate him......her?......what ever. xD Still cute looking.~

Opening and ending where so cute.~~~~~ They better be able to fly like the opening makes them look like they do in those pretty halo princesses out fits. ;A;

eeee, Akane! She was the character I thought I was gonna dislike but she is my favourite!!!

I am tempted to draw Reika and Raeka in an outfit swap for being magical girls with the same name. Yes? No? probably not a good idea. lol

I'm not sure about Smile. I like that Miyuki is a hyper bookworm, that's cute and pretty original, but I have to agree with the OP. her whole introduction is so cliche and has been seen many times before.

the opening animation is wonderful, but I can't stand the song. I think it would have been better if they just spelled out "S M I L E" instead of chanting Smile five times. smile is a tough word to chant, since it looks like one syllable but it's kind of almost two. "Smi-yul," at least that's how we pronounce it in my neck of the woods. the ending song was pretty lackluster, but i LOVE the dance. it's the best since Fresh, IMO.

The transformation just screamed FRESH + HEARTCATCH to me. there was nothing original to it. I think the Smile Pact is cute though. I like Happy's reaction to transforming, that was very cute. I love how the villain attacked people, with the ink and the book, and how the monsters are summoned.

while there were things I enjoyed, Smile hasn't really enchanted me. I'm not sure if I'll continue watching. nothing in the first episode really hooked me, and I already had a bit of a tumblr fight about my feelings on Smile and that really turned me off of the series.

And just as you're amused by the fire cure's last name being Hino, just as a previous fire magical girl's name was, I find it amusing that the green cure's last name is Midorikawa, just like another green magical girl.