Popotan

Beautiful sisters Ai, Mai, Mii, their android maid Mea and slippery pet ferret Unagi make an amazing journey together through time and space without ever leaving their beloved mansion behind! Following the clues of the strange dandelion-like "Popotan," the girls are theoretically seeking the person who has the answers to their most personal questions, but they seem to have more than enough time to take side trips, meet new friends, visit hot springs and occasionally operate the X-mas shop they keep in the house along the way!

Yet, the girls' ultimate destiny holds more than a few surprises of its own, and not every moment is filled with hilarity, as moving through time means having to leave friends behind as well.

(Source: RightStuf)

Mii Main

Momoi, Haruko Japanese

Mea Main

Kadowaki, Mai Japanese

Mai Main

Asano, Masumi Japanese

Ai Main

Ohara, Sayaka Japanese

Shizuku Main

Shishido, Rumi Japanese

Unagi Supporting

Kawasumi, Ayako Japanese

Asuka Supporting

Nakahara, Mai Japanese

Amusement Park Guard Supporting

Shioya, Kouzou Japanese

Tractor Guy Supporting

Koyama, Takeshi Japanese

Big Brother Supporting

Toriumi, Kousuke Japanese

Kubota, Mitsutoshi Producer

Kananiwa, Kozue Producer

Takano, Takashi Assistant Producer

Kobayashi, Junka Assistant Producer

Reviews

Aug 13, 2023

Karasu994

Recommended

Popotan is an early 2000s anime which exists, it’s a strong contender for the most “literally made for me” anime I’ve ever seen, it’s a clusterfuck of early 2000s camp/aesthetics with a story about 3 girls finding a place in the world they live in at its core. I should acknowledge first that it’s an adaptation of a Visual Novel, although it heavily deviates from the source, essentially becoming its own original story, I have not touched the VN myself and doing so is not a top priority.

For 9 episodes, this series follows an episodic narrative and each one feels like a different self contained ... campy early 2000s anime. The production isn’t anything glamorous in the slightest, but I still really adore the type of aesthetic it’s going for, the show is set in a bright, colourful, surreal early 2000s video game world and as an enthusiast of the Denpa music genre, the OP and ED songs are among my personal favourites within the medium, each one being from a favourite artist of mine respectively. Popotan contains a lot of nudity, every girl gets naked at some point (even the underage ones) which can be off-putting for a lot of people, the way I see it is that it’s establishing a laid back, unsophisticated atmosphere, presenting its 3 main characters as very carefree people, I’d argue that it isn’t trying to be particularly arousing either, the ecchi scenes mainly existing for comedic purposes.

Popotan doesn’t have a clear goal to begin with and its characters don’t have a clear purpose they’re working towards, it follows an episodic formula in which its characters travel to a different location every episode, living their lives in each setting in a carefree manner at first, but gradually realizing how the world around them functions and the drawbacks that come with them living the way they do, the episodes vary between simple juvenile campy stories and more melodramatic ones (this may come across as a critical remark, but actually, I eat this shit up if its executed to my preferences), some of these episodic stories contribute more notably towards the central themes than others, the last stretch focuses on them facing reality and coming to a decision based on what they have learned. Popotan is ultimately about being confronted by reality, the series does have a fairly optimistic approach to this theme, the world it's set in is fun, happy, colourful and full of opportunities, the main challenge its characters have to face is the fact that chasing after one opportunity means missing out on another.

My interpretation of the series is that it contextualizes what it feels like to follow a path in life that is comfortable for yourself, but gradually be faced with the fact that you’re missing out on other opportunities by doing so, Popotan’s world is also presented in such an abstract manner that when its characters come to a conclusion, the show doesn’t feel like it's making any direct statement about which path in life is the correct one, it’s up to the audience to decide which path in this world looks more inviting and/or beneficial with the context they’ve been given.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Jun 14, 2022

_Kaorinite

Mixed Feelings

This review will have a spoiler free section with the ratings and a spoiler section after the ratings which you can avoid reading if you prefer to remain spoiler free but it is necessary for me to include the spoiler section in order to properly review Popotan. Rest assured I'll warn you when we come to the spoiler section and the spoiler section won't be before the ratings.

If you didn't see the genres/themes and didn't read the Synopsis for what this anime is about, then it won't be until episode 6 or around there that it's confirmed what genre this is, this in and of ... itself adds a nice little mystery of what's going on in the story and i suspect this was done intentionally back in the day. This review assumes you already know what the genre/theme is however there is one that is not on the list at this time of review which i feel SHOULD be on there as, Popotan is one of the better Slice of Life anime. How so? Its story and the characters you'll meet along the way is how. Despite not having all the answers we were hoping would be answered in the show itself, its story and the emotions you feel for certain moments and plenty of characters are what makes Popotan so delightful to watch. It can be heart warming and heart breaking at times.

Popotan seemed to have first been a Hentai VN based on what other reviews here have said and it's my guess based on the description of the Manga that only has 2 Volumes that it too is it's own adaptation, something that wasn't uncommon back when Popotan was made. So know that there isn't (To my knowledge) anything else for Popotan from where the anime ends, which is both fitting and yet a shame too as i would've LOVED to see more and get confirmation about some things but I do believe I know some unanswered questions you will WANT to know so when you finish the anime if you watch it that is, please be sure to come back and read my spoiler section.

With all that said there isn't much else to say except stuff in the spoiler section but I really am touched by how moving Popotan's characters and story is. I would also say that this anime has aged well and the art is still beautiful and cute as it most likely was back in the day. However, Popotan is NOT without some faults but nothing that would ruin your enjoyment of the story and it's characters and this is why much as I wish I could rate the anime higher, I cannot, yet my love for it, the enjoyment I had with it's characters and so on are why I'm giving it a separate rating from the first rating that I call a Love rating. I rate Popotan a 6.5 out of 10 and I give Popotan a Love rating of 7.5 out of 10. I know there are plenty of reviews harping on it but don't let that stop you from giving Popotan a chance.

The rest of this review will be the spoiler section, it's my hope when you finish the anime that you will come back and read it as it may provide some answers to some of the unanswered questions the anime has...


So let me get the bad stuff I have to nit pick out of the way before we get to the unanswered questions as those unanswered questions are the main reason why I was forced to rate the anime lower than my love score but these nit picks were also a small part of it. To start off, at some point in the anime the girls get to choose what point in time to go back to. Ai weirdly enough decides to go back to the child version of Daichi, when you'd think she'd have gone back to the grown up version of Daichi since they more or less made a promise when Ai and her sis' journey was over, she'd go back and tell him about it, but this version she cannot do this. Its also very ODD that she KISSED the child version of him... despite clearly being interested in adults. It just felt out of place but this was the LEAST of my nit picks and believe it or not, this had NO affect on the rating at all. Nope, the next 2 sisters do though, Mai is next and I found it believable she went to see Konami about a year give or take after she said her good bye, but this could affect the future? (This isn't explained, more later on this...) But I guess given other factors, going to a few years before when Konami's daughter Mai would've caused issues if its all 1 timeline and not multiple timelines/dimensions like other fans suspect. Sadly thats not confirmed far as I know so yeah, just odd... but even then going back at all would've had an affect on the future... so *shrugs* goes the anime.

Now, Mai wasn't THAT bad since its possible multiple timelines exist, even if not confirmed or explained in the show itself but Mii on the other hand? She chooses to go abck to the time period that had Nono... why is THIS a problem? Weeeell... in a previous episode Mi made a friend in a hospital, you know it, the girl from that Magical Girl mii episode where Mii made her debut as a Magical Girl. This girl is not shown in the characters page (sadly) so i can't recall her name but we never see her again besides standing next to the characters on the mid point intro cut in where everyone from the series shows up and says Popotan. She is seen there though this cut in isn't canon sooo... but the point is I can't even say the writers forgot about this girl cus they bothered to include her here... and to refresh your memory the reason WHY this girl whose illness Mi and her sisters and Unagi cured is a big deal is because Mii PROMISED to come back and play with that girl again, but instead LEFT said girl behind. This REALLY didn't sit well with me when Mai and the story itsef was making SUUUUUCH a big deal about how the oens they leave behind is causing them to suffer. It just felt in poor taste to make Nono the girl who mii goes back to when it SHOULD HAVE BEEN the girl in the hospital who Mii went back to see. Both girls and the ones taking care of them KNEW about either the house and or the powers they had so you can't even excuse that as a reason for why one and not the other... and its Nono and her Grandpa who kenw about the house so further reason you'd THINK it'd be the girl and her father from the hospital that Mii would go see...

And ofc, Mea, while she doesn't get to choose a time, this Android was stopped in a time period and LEFT THERE seemingly frozen... This REALLY bothered me in more ways than one because the girls just forgot about her and none of them chose to go back for her. There was SOME concern at first but that was gone as quickly as it went in one ear and out the other. THAT'S WHY this soured me and also ruined some believablility which affected the rating. Thankfully Mea was fine, and we know she cares about the girls, but this wasn't even the first time the girls showed they didn't care about Mea in return, it was the second time which ticks me off. Am sure they DO care about her, its just the writers messed that up twice... Lastly, there were a few moments in the anime where I felt they either needed more time or should've done things a bit differently, especially with Keith whom the story couldn't make up it's mind on what it wanted Keith to be...

This brings me to the unanswered questions and the MAIN reason the rating took a hit. In episode 6 I think it was, or around there I think, we finally come to know what the girls have been searching for... its a girl... eventually we come to know this girl's name is Shizuku but who or what she is, isn't properly explained, the most we know is, she is someone who helps travelers to either start a new journey or to end it. But hold on... that's odd, VERY ODD... early when we first see her, based on everything that'd happened b4 they met her, it sounded like she was THE REASON they were on that journey in the first place and yet, you're telling me, they dunno WHY they're on this journey and trying to find her in the first place? And wait, there were OTHER travelers who not only could speak to the Popotan like Ai can but also traveled through time like the sisters do and also had VERY SIMILAR experiences these girls have been having? Whom ALSO are searching for this girl and also wanted answers for why they're on this journey? Yet the divergence ended where those 2 boys gave up when Shizuku had no answers for them... I suspect Keith is one of those two boys, likely the older one and remember, they burnt their house down and that house, if its like the one the sisters use is what kept the boys immortal, assuming it had that function which it likely did so this checks out, though, assuming Keith wasn't lying when he said others would come for the girls if the truth got out no matter what point they were in and how he's been through that (Or that's what it sounded like), makes ya wonder even more about Keith, assuming that was the truth and assuming he was also telling the truth that he was once a traveler too...

Anyway, back to Shizuku and what the girls were searching for. Let's assume for a moment this was always the case, that the girls were on this journey and searching for this girl who they dunno even her name or what she looks like and dunno WHY they're doing this to begin with. Let's assume THIS as i said, was ALWAYS what Popotan's anime had in mind. If we assume this, doesn't that seem odd, out of place and leaves unanswered questions? Well, you're in luck as I may have an answer for what is going on here. Though and let me just say, since the anime is sadly over and this is where the story ends, this is just speculation on my part but I have 2 theories that may both go hand in hand or you could just pick one over the other. Its also worth reminding you that we never did see or get answers to how the girls came across the house that time travels. So, here is my two theories. The characters that can time travel are a life form of Popotan, or what they're also known as, Dandelions. I know I know sounds far out, what's this girl talking about but hear me out and keep an open mind here.

Think back on the show itself, every single time the characters time traveled and even the house, two things always happened, maybe 3, the 3rd am unsure of is Popotan were either almost always or always right by the house or not far from the house. The 1st thing is the characters and house always faded into light which looked exactly like the form Dandelions takes when they're seeds and in a fuzzy white state. Upon reaching their destination they fade back from light form to themselves. And the 2nd thing that always happened was when it was almost time to time travel or time to do so, a weird shape in the sky appeared above the house, when you see this in one episode, it's shape and appearance no longer seems odd and unfamiliar, for its the exact shape of a Dandelion that has had its seeds blown off it. Which is equally fitting for this time travel stuff and further leads into two other points am about to make here.

Some travelers can talk TO Popotan (Dandelions) while some cannot but the fact some can is further evidence but its the ending itself that finalizes this theory and also leads into the other theory too. At the end, the girls find their OWN answer for why they're on this journey, it's so they can bring hope to those they meet. I think if am recalling correcting the anime's English Dub even said seeds of hope.

My other theory is that Shizuku hasn't been truthful with the girls and other travelers. She seemed to be testing them, as if she herself wanted them to find their OWN answer to why they were on this journey. In the end many may feel Popotan has no conclusive answer to why the girls are on this journey but perhaps, the answer is just so they can bring hope to those they meet and the anime sure enough basically tries to end on this as the reason why, however, I am not satisfied with this ending as that'd mean forever traveling through time and always parting with those they care about. It also feels like there is no care for how time travel would affect the timeline(s) and in fact, even Keith tried to kill someone from the past... not to mention Shizuku sending travelers to any point in time they wish to go to. Not to mention the random time jumps b4 meeting her... Which may've and seemed to be planed by Shizuku herself which is why I believe Shizuku wasn't honest with the girls and that the journey isn't truly over yet and likely won't go on forever but alas, sadly this may never get a proper ending, as like i said, the anime seemed to want to end on the girls bringing hope to those they meet...

Ultimately, Popotan's story is finished, in a way that you wish there was more, but also doesn't truly answer questions and other plot points and that's why i was forced to rate it lower but i truly enjoyed it and my theories do bring some light on some unanswered questions, whether you can get behind the theories or not is up to you, but imho, I think the 2nd theory for sure is the case and its a shame that we never got a S2 to finish the anime with but if it was always intended to be this way then some stuff makes more sense if the girls were basically born on that house and it's Shizuku's role to look after her off spring which, is another theory of mine as we did see her basically sprouting out of a flowerbed of Popotan when they first saw her and she also seems to be the one who decides when and where the girls jump to amongst other things. So if this is the case, one has to then wonder WHY Shizuku is putting travelers, her potential off spring through all this? Perhaps its so they can find their own path in life? Their own destiny, home etc.? Or perhaps, its so Shizuku herself can find some answer to something that only the travelers can find the answer to that she is looking for?

All theories are valid and great and may shed light on stuff, while the 3rd sheds some light but also adds more questions... Ultimately whatever the take away is here, I personally believe that Popotan is trying to tell a heart warming and heart wrenching story with lovable characters that are full of life and that the slice of life elements are there to help you in some ways. Perhaps Popotan (the anime) wants you to take something positive away from it? Perhaps it wants to bring a seed of hope to you no matter if its small or big. Popotan did have plenty of life lessons after all so hopefully you enjoyed the anime and took something positive away from it and with that, I end my review of Popotan. It isn't perfect and I wish there was more, but it was a great watch and i hope you found it to be enjoyable too. Popotan~

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jun 13, 2019

cuteisanarchy

Not Recommended

Is there anything worse than bad-looking fanservice? If you said bad-looking fanservice padded with 12 episodes of inexplicable story, you'd be right, and this brings us to Popotan, an early 00's vehicle for breasts and panty shots very loosely inspired by an erotic visual novel by the same name.

I had very low expectations and ample warning for this show, expecting only said breasts and panty shots with a modicum of light storytelling to carry them. Unfortunately I was to be disappointed even in these very qualified expectations.

What Popotan is about doesn't matter - the show makes this very clear early on. Yes, there's a larger ... story about connecting with others which is given undue seriousness for such a light piece of entertainment, but what underpins it is a plot so half-baked you're risking salmonella poisoning by watching it. It's not even clear that the characters are time travelers until about halfway in, but by that point you've likely learned to take the show's storytelling in stride (or better yet dropped it). However, things just get more confusing from then on, with dramatic scenes falling laughably alongside gratuitous nudity for some extra tonal dissonance. Where did these characters come from? Who is the person they're looking for? Why do only two of them appear to be able to use magic? Why does Mai try so hard to befriend an anti-social girl when she knows that she's going to disappear and leave this girl alone, repeating the exact thing she now deeply regrets from a previous point in history? None of these and more will be answered.

Sadly, for those who can suffer a terrible story for some decent fanservice, the art of Popotan does its best to disappoint here as well. While the character designs themselves are distinct and cute, in motion here they're mediocre at best and sometimes reduced to blocky geometric shapes. Certainly some of the best animation is reserved for the frequent bath scenes, but even here the show fails to deliver consistently. On a side note - it's somewhat remarkable that for such a brazen work that features all of the characters with detailed upper-body nudity in every episode (often more than once) it's surprisingly skimpy when it comes to Mii.

As for positives? First and foremost is likely the capable voicework of Momoi Haruko as Mii, who is just as nauseatingly (enchantingly?) cute as you'd expect. You also get some nice early 00's atmosphere and a decent soundtrack. The fanservice is also decent when it wants to be, but is probably not worth the price of admission.

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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