Pop Team Epic

Pop Team Epic
Cover of Pop Team Epic volume 1 by Takeshobo featuring Popuko and Pipimi giving the finger.
ポプテピピック
(Poputepipikku)
Genre Surreal comedy[1]
Manga
Written by Bkub Okawa
Published by Takeshobo
English publisher
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Manga Life Win
Original run August 29, 2014 – present
Volumes 2
Anime television series
Directed by Jun Aoki
Aoi Umeki
Produced by Kotaro Sudo
Written by Jun Aoki
Music by Gin
Studio Kamikaze Douga
Licensed by
Crunchyroll (streaming)
Digital Media Rights (streaming)[2][3]
Funimation (streaming, TV licensing, home video)
Sentai Filmworks (streaming, merchandise)
Original network Tokyo MX, BS11, AT-X, GYT, RCC
English network
Original run January 7, 2018 – March 25, 2018
Episodes 12[4]

Pop Team Epic (Japanese: ポプテピピック, Hepburn: Poputepipikku), also known as Poptepipic, is a Japanese four-panel surreal comedy webcomic and digital manga series written and illustrated by Bkub Okawa (alternatively romanized as "Bukubu Okawa"), which started serialization on Takeshobo's Manga Life Win website in August 2014. Takeshobo has released two volumes in Japan. The manga is licensed in North America by Vertical.

The manga chronicles the misadventures of two 14-year-old girls named Popuko and Pipimi, who encounter a variety of both mundane and bizarre situations and respond to them in equally bizarre and exaggerated ways. The manga is noted for its frequent parodies of pop culture and its combination of surrealism, absurdity, and non-sequitur, all of which have contributed to it developing a cult following among both Japanese and Western audiences. An anime television series adaptation animated by Kamikaze Douga and produced by King Records aired between January and March 2018.

Characters

Popuko (ポプ子)
One of two protagonists. A quick-tempered, short, blondish orange-haired school girl.
Voiced by:
Ep1: Masashi Ebara, Yūji Mitsuya (Japanese);[5] Christopher R. Sabat, Justin Briner (English)[6]
Ep2: Aoi Yūki, Toshio Furukawa (Japanese);[5] Trina Nishimura,[7] Sonny Strait[6] (English)
Ep3 / Pop Team Epic Kinen: Mikako Komatsu,[8] Ryūsei Nakao (Japanese);[5] Sarah Wiedenheft, Barry Yandell (English)[6]
Ep4: Yōko Hikasa, Tesshō Genda (Japanese);[5] Jad Saxton, Alejandro Saab (English)[6]
Ep5: Tomoko Kaneda, Yūichi Nakamura (Japanese);[5] Cherami Leigh, Eric Vale (English)[6]
Ep6: Yūko Sanpei, Hiro Shimono (Japanese);[5] Brittney Karbowski, Todd Haberkorn (English)[6]
Ep7: Satomi Kōrogi, Showtaro Morikubo, Tōru Adachi (Japanese);[5] Alison Viktorin, Greg Ayres (English)[6]
Ep8: Sumire Morohoshi, Masaya Onosaka (Japanese);[5] Stephanie Sheh, Johnny Yong Bosch (English)[6]
Ep9: Eriko Nakamura, Sōma Saitō (Japanese)[5] Alexis Tipton, Justin Cook (English)[6]
Ep10: Sora Tokui, Rikiya Koyama (Japanese)[5] Emily Neves, Cris George (English)[6]
Ep11: Nana Mizuki, Hozumi Gōda (Japanese)[5] Wendy Powell, Sean Schemmel (English)[6]
Ep12: Mami Koyama, Shō Hayami (Japanese)[5] Mikaela Krantz, Micah Solusod (English)
Bob Epic Team segments: Shunsuke Itakura (Japanese), Christopher R. Sabat (English)[6]
Japon Mignon segments: Fanny Bloc
Pipimi (ピピ美)
The second protagonist and Popuko's friend. A calm, tall, blue-haired school girl.
Voiced by:
Ep1: Hōchū Ōtsuka, Noriko Hidaka (Japanese);[5] Ian Sinclair, Colleen Clinkenbeard (English)[6]
Ep2: Ayana Taketatsu, Shigeru Chiba (Japanese);[5] Brina Palencia,[7] Mike McFarland[6] (English)
Ep3 / Pop Team Epic Kinen: Sumire Uesaka,[8] Norio Wakamoto (Japanese);[5] Jamie Marchi, Kent Williams (English)[6]
Ep4: Satomi Satō, Akira Kamiya (Japanese);[5] Caitlin Glass, David Wald (English) [6]
Ep5: Yū Kobayashi, Tomokazu Sugita (Japanese);[5] Monica Rial, J. Michael Tatum (English)[6]
Ep6: Kaori Nazuka, Yūki Kaji (Japanese);[5] Luci Christian, Jason Liebrecht (English) [6]
Ep7: Akiko Yajima, Kōsuke Toriumi, Shunsuke Itakura (Japanese);[5] Stephanie Young, Chris Rager (English)[6]
Ep8: Azusa Tadokoro, Daisuke Namikawa (Japanese);[5] Leah Clark, Robert McCollum (English)[6]
Ep9: Asami Imai, Kaito Ishikawa (Japanese)[5] Kara Edwards, Jerry Jewell (English)[6]
Ep10: Suzuko Mimori, Wataru Takagi (Japanese)[5] Jessica Calvello, Christopher Bevins (English)[6]
Ep11: Mamiko Noto, Banjō Ginga (Japanese)[5] Cynthia Cranz, Michael Sinterniklaas (English)[6]
Ep12: Kotono Mitsuishi, Jouji Nakata (Japanese)[5] Emily Green, Matthew Mercer (English)
Bob Epic Team segments: Tōru Adachi (Japanese), Ian Sinclair (English)[6]
Japon Mignon segments: Christine Bellier

Media

Manga

Pop Team Epic is written and illustrated by Bkub Okawa, previously known for his Touhou Project dōjinshi. The series was serialized in Takeshobo's Manga Life Win website between August 29, 2014[9] and November 7, 2015. The first tankōbon volume was released in print on December 7, 2015.[10] Okawa released the "second season" on the Manga Life Win website between February 18, 2016 and April 30, 2017. The second volume was released on June 7, 2017.[10] A "third season" began on the Manga Life Win website on October 10, 2017.[11] The manga is licensed in North America by Vertical[12] who will begin releasing the series in October 2018. A comic anthology based on the fictional Hoshiiro Girldrop manga featured in the series was released on January 9, 2018.[13]

No.TitleJapanese releaseEnglish release
1Pop Team Epic
ポプテピピック		December 7, 2015[14]
ISBN 978-4-8019-5419-9		October 2, 2018[15]
ISBN 978-1-94719-419-9
  • Chapters 1–15
2Pop Team Epic: Second Season
ポプテピピック セカンドシーズン		June 7, 2017[16]
ISBN 978-4-8019-5957-6		December 4, 2018[17]
ISBN 978-1-94719-425-0
  • Chapters 1–15
No.TitleRelease date ISBN
—Hoshiiro Girldrop Comic Anthology
星色ガールドロップ コミックアンソロジー		January 9, 2018[13] ISBN 978-4-8019-6153-1
  • "Hop Step Drop" (ホップ・ステップ・ドロップ, Hoppu Steppu Doroppu)[note 1] by Kamiya Fujisawa
  • "Stop! Sosogu-chan" (ストップ!そそぐちゃん, Sutoppu! Sosogu-chan) by Yukiko
  • "Abe-colored Girl Drop" (阿部色ガールドロップ, Abeiro Gāru Doroppu) by Romancing Abe
  • "Theory and Hime-chan Punch: The Distance Between Them" (理論とひめちゃんパンチ：ふたりの距離, Riron to Hime-chan Panchi: Futari no Kyori)[note 2] by Tetsuya Imai
  • "Huge Shizuku" (でっかいしずく, Dekkai Shizuku) by Fakkuma
  • "Sosogu is a Quiz Master!?" (そそぐはクイズ王!?, Sosogu wa Kuizu Ō!?) by Sadaji Koike
  • "Sosogu: The Life of a Star-colored Girl" (星色ガール伝そそぐ, Hoshiiro Gāru-den Sosogu) by Bkub Okawa
  • "Overflowing" (氾濫, Hanran) by Kafun
  • "Look, Shizuku" (見ろなのしずく, Miro nano Shizuku) by Heriyama
  • "Secret Drop Stars" (内緒のドロップスターズ, Naisho no Doroppu Sutāzu) by Auri Hirao
  • "Embarrassing Maternity Blues" (はにかみ・マタニティブルー, Hanikami Mataniti Burū)[note 3] by Riyo
  • "Final Chapter: Shooting Star" (最終話『流星』, Saishūwa "Ryūsei") by Mizunosoto
  • "Astromical [sic] Unit" by Popoko Hato
An anthology of comics from different artists about Hoshiiro Girldrop.

Anime

Promotion of Pop Team Epic in Akihabara, December 2017

An anime adaptation of the series was announced on April 2, 2017. It was initially teased as an adaptation of Hoshiiro Girldrop on April Fool's Day 2017. The anime features animation by Kamikaze Douga and production by King Records,[18] and is directed by Jun Aoki and Aoi Umeki.[19] The series aired 12 episodes between January 7 and March 25, 2018, following a delay from October 2017 due to an "error by King Records".[10][20] A television special will air on April 1, 2019.[21]

Taking after its source manga, the anime takes the form of an animated skit show, featuring numerous, typically disjointed shorts of varying lengths; while some of these shorts are adapted from the original comic strips, the majority of them are original creations. The various shorts collectively showcase a variety of animation styles, most often CGI, professional-looking 2D animation, and idiosyncratic animation from AC-bu. Each half-hour episode features two near-identical 15-minute segments, each containing different voice actors and other subtle differences.

The opening theme is "Pop Team Epic" by Sumire Uesaka,[22] while the ending theme titled "Poppy Pappy Day" is sung by Popuko (Yui Makino/Kenji Akabane (ep 1-6), Hiromi Igarashi/Toshiki Masuda (ep 8-9, 11)) and Pipimi (Yui Watanabe/Shunsuke Takeuchi (ep 1-6), Rei Matsuzaki/Wataru Hatano (ep 8-9, 11)), with Shouta Aoi performing the theme for episode 12. The ending theme for episode 10 is "Jinsei" (人生, lit. life) also by the Igarashi/Matsuzaki and Masuda/Hatano duos. The opening theme for episode one is "Twinkling Star" by Yui Ogura, Inori Minase, and Uesaka.[4]

Sentai Filmworks simulcasted the series on Hidive.[23] Crunchyroll simulcasted the series worldwide outside of Asia.[24] Funimation simulcasted the English-dubbed version in English-speaking territories as it aired;[25] Funimation also acquired the rights to release the anime on home video in North America.[26] Funimation also arranged the series to air on Adult Swim's Toonami starting June 30, 2018.[27] In Australia and New Zealand, Madman Entertainment simulacasted the series in both subtitled and dubbed on AnimeLab.[28] Aniplus Asia simulcasted the series in South East Asia.[1]

No.TitleOriginal airdate
(BS11)		United States airdate
(Adult Swim)
1"Encounter"
"Deai" (出会い)		January 7, 2018June 30, 2018
Hoshiiro Girldrop, a supposed-to-be animated series about a girl who is secretly an idol singer, complete with cold open and title sequence, is quickly abandoned in favor of the antics of Popuko and Pipimi. In the titular segment, Popuko experiences death and rebirth as she experiences many first encounters with Pipimi. Among other skits, Popuko is annoyed by a flight attendant asking whether each passenger will take beef or chicken, Pipimi questions Popuko on any wrong doings, and the two girls go to France in an attempt to use gestures to communicate.
2"Vanver — A Game in Another Dimension"
"Ijigen Yūgi Vanvū" (異次元遊戯ヴァンヴー)		January 14, 2018July 7, 2018
Popuko and Pipimi are inadvertently summoned to an unfinished animated fantasy series and make the heroes do impressions, much to the voice actors' consternation. Other skits include a stop-motion musical performance by felt dolls of Popuko and Pipimi, Popuko drawing a deluge of fortune slips, and Popuko being confronted with the harsh reality of time's passage.
3"The Documentary"
"Za Dokyumento" (ザ・ドキュメント)		January 21, 2018July 14, 2018
A documentary profiles how music producer PipiP decided to find the perfect bandmates for pop idol Pop-chin by cloning her. Other skits include Popuko dozing off while leaving for school and severely oversleeping, Popuko becoming obsessed with baguettes, and Pipimi attempting to hire Popuko as an assassin.
4"SWGP 2018"January 28, 2018July 21, 2018
Popuko takes part in the Skeleton World Grand Prix, facing many tough opponents. Other skits include a parody of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove", Popuko forcing an extraterrestrial being to evict from her house, and Popuko and Pipimi encountering a boss while exploring a dungeon.
5"Donca*Sis"[note 4]
"Imo Yoba" (イモ・ヨバ)		February 4, 2018July 28, 2018
Iyo Sakuragi becomes step-siblings with her admired upperclassman Hojo after their parents, portrayed by Popuko and Pipimi, get married. Other skits include a cooking show hosted by Popuko and Pipimi showcasing a simmered dish (煮), Pipimi literally growing with affection for Popuko, and Popuko doing a poor impression of Mickey Mouse.
6"The 30th Cyber War"
"Dai 30-ki Den'nō-sen" (第30期　電脳戦)		February 11, 2018August 4, 2018
Guided by the spirit of Pipimi, Popuko fights against the Elite Four in a shogi tournament. Other skits include Pipimi's fantasies about attractive male characters distracting her from Popuko's venting, Popuko demonstrating an increasingly bizarre variety of regional activities, and Popuko and Pipimi discussing modern slang.
7"Hellshake Yano"
"Herusheiku Yano" (ヘルシェイク矢野)		February 18, 2018August 11, 2018
Pipimi has a daydream of two narrators detailing the time when rock star Hellshake Yano held a concert by himself while his band mates were running late. Other skits include dealing with haters, Popuko turning into a baby, and Pipimi going fishing.
8"The Dragon of Iidabashi: Pipi's Revenge"[note 5]
"Īdabashi no Shōryū: Fukushū no Pipi" (飯田橋の昇竜：復讐のピピ)		February 25, 2018August 18, 2018
Yakuza member Pipi decides to take vengeance against her gang when they stray down the wrong path of committing YouTuber crimes. Other skits include Popuko trying to treat an injury, bacon trying to eat some bacon, and Popuko fools a dead tree by throwing some flour (instead of magic powder) against the tree.
9"Dancing with a Miracle"
"Kiseki to Dansu o" (奇跡とダンスを)		March 4, 2018August 25, 2018
Popuko and Pipimi encounter a young runaway boy while visiting New York City. Other skits include Popuko ordering latte art, Pipimi attempting standup comedy, and the girls trying French cuisine.
10"Ginza Hostess Detective"
"Ginza Hosutesu Tantei" (銀座ホステス探偵)		March 11, 2018September 8, 2018
While staying at a hot spring inn, hostesses Popuko and Pipimi investigate a murder that has taken place. Other skits include the girls playing soccer, Pipimi cooking some premium meat, and Popuko dealing with incompetent waiters.
11"Cursed Mansion"[note 6]
"Jukan" (呪館)		March 18, 2018September 15, 2018
A group of college students find the mansion they are staying in to be haunted by Popuko and Pipimi. Other skits include Popuko starting a dance craze called Eisai Haramasukoi, Pipimi becoming giant, and Popuko playing with a shark.
12"The Age of Pop Team Epic"March 25, 2018September 22, 2018
Popuko and Pipimi have a final showdown against the evil King Records organization after they sent a death squad on them, with guest appearance by time traveler Shouta Aoi. Other skits include a talking hamster going to school by hiding in his master's bag, Popuko trying to find her glasses, and Popuko and Pipimi singing about growing up and destruction. After the credits in the second half, there is a teaser trailer for a second season of Hoshiiro Girldrop.

Marketing

The Nendoroid figures of Popuko and Pipimi, dressed as Batman Ninja's Batman and Joker respectively, were displayed at the Warner Bros. booth at AnimeJapan 2018. It was suggested by Junpei Mizusaki at Kamikaze Douga; the studio animated both Pop Team Epic television series and Batman Ninja film. The crossover figures were accompanied by a 15-second television commercial, where Popuko and Pipimi (in the aforementioned costumes) re-enact a sketch from Pop Team Epic comics before it jumps to a Batman Ninja scene.[29][30]

On April 26, 2018, Japan Racing Association's Umabi.jp website launched the Pop Team Epic Kinen (ポプテピ記念, Poputepi Kinen) campaign, where users can create a customised avatar of either Popuko or Pipimi as a virtual spectator. It also hinted a surprise to be revealed when a number of avatars reaches one million.[31] As the number reached one million in late May 2018,[32] the JRA released a branded webisode on 14 June 2018.[33] Produced by Space Neko Company (which animated Pop Team Story segments and some of short sketches in the TV series), Mikako Komatsu and Ryusei Nakao reprised their role as Popuko in the first and second halves respectively, and so did Sumire Uesaka and Norio Wakamoto as Pipimi.[33] The JRA also held promotional events at Tokyo Racecourse.[31][33]

Notes

  1. ↑ Stylized as ホップ☆ステップ☆ドロップ
  2. ↑ Stylized as 理論とひめちゃんパンチ〜ふたりの距離〜
  3. ↑ Stylized as はにかみ☆マタニティブルー
  4. ↑ The English title is a contraction of "Don't call me your sister!". The Japanese title is stylized as イモ☆ヨバ, and is a contraction of 妹なんて呼ばないで!
  5. ↑ Japanese title is stylized as 飯田橋の昇竜 〜復讐のピピ〜
  6. ↑ Japanese title is stylized as 呪館 JUKAN

References

  1. 1 2 "Aniplus Asia to Simulcast Pop Team Epic". Anime News Network. December 29, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Pop Team Epic". AsianCrush. Digital Media Rights. July 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Pop Team Epic". Midnight Pulp. Digital Media Rights. July 7, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Pop Team Epic Anime Listed With 12 Episodes". Anime News Network. November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "キャスト". Pop Team Epic Official Website. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Pop Team Epic on Funimation". Funimation. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Brina Palencia". Twitter. January 30, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Pop Team Epic Anime Casts Mikako Komatsu, Sumire Uesaka". Anime News Network. November 29, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Pop Team Epic Publishes Soothing Key Visual". Crunchyroll. July 7, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 "Pop Team Epic Anime's Premiere Delayed 3 Months to January 2018". Anime News Network. August 10, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Pop Team Epic Surreal 4-Panel Manga Gets '3rd Season' in October". Anime News Network. August 8, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Vertical Licenses Pop Team Epic, The Delinquent Housewife! Manga". Anime News Network. October 9, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  13. 1 2 星色ガールドロップ　コミックアンソロジー (in Japanese). Takeshobo. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ ポプテピピック (in Japanese). Takeshobo. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Pop Team Epic". Penguin Random House. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  16. ↑ ポプテピピック Second Season (in Japanese). Takeshobo. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Pop Team Epic, Second Season". Penguin Random House. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Bkub Okawa's Surreal 4-Panel Manga Pop Team Epic Gets Anime in October". Anime News Network. April 1, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Pop Team Epic Anime Reveals Directors, Head Writer, More of Staff". Anime News Network. November 1, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Pop Team Epic Anime's Promo Videos Reveal January 6 Premiere Date". Anime News Network. December 12, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Pop Team Epic Anime Gets April 1 TV Special". Anime News Network. September 16, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Sumire Uesaka Performs Pop Team Epic Anime's Opening Theme Song". Anime News Network. November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses Pop Team Epic Anime for HIDIVE Streaming". Anime News Network. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Crunchyroll Announces Winter 2018 Simulcast License Acquisitions". Crunchyroll. January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Funimation, Crunchyroll Also Stream Pop Team Epic Anime". Anime News Network. January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  26. ↑ Beveridge, Chris (July 6, 2018). "Funimation Reveals Anime Expo Announcement Slate". The Fandom Post. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Toonami to Air Pop Team Epic Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  28. ↑ Bortignon, Tegan (December 29, 2017). "AnimeLab Winter Simulcast Lineup 2018!". AnimeLab. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  29. ↑ Sherman, Jennifer (March 23, 2018). "Pop Team Epic Teams Up With Batman Ninja for Collaboration Figures". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  30. ↑ Loveridge, Lynzee (March 26, 2018). "Pop Team Epic's Joker & Batman Definitely Aren't Upset". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  31. 1 2 "「ポプテピ」×JRA、オリジナルのポプ子とピピ美を100万人作ろう" (in Japanese). Natalie. April 26, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Pop Team Epic Gets New Net Anime With Japan Racing Association". Anime News Network. May 30, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  33. 1 2 3 "「ポプテピ」完全新作アニメ！キャストは... あなたが作った"ポプテピ"キャラの出演チャンスも" (in Japanese). IID. June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
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