Ranked #3845

Popotan

Popotan is an ecchi drama with some light comedy added for some extra kick to this melancholy show. When someone says ecchi, some people close their eyes and ears because they assume its going to be another tasteless fanservice show. Indeed ecchi is intended mainly for fanservice, but when done right might even enhance a story into the adult world. Thats the case with this show.

Story (Great)
I couldn't understand if the story of the show was aimed toward children or adults considering how much boobs and service are in every episode. Even though theres fanservice in every episode its done pretty tastefully and don't really hinder the story at all. As far as the story goes, its about 3 friends who happen to embark on a journey in a teleporting house. The plot indeed sounds strange but the back story and drama throughout the show makes this show such a joy to watch. Just watching the tragic drama unfold will most certainly bring a tear to your eye. For what its worth, I enjoyed the whole thing from beginning to end.

Art (Good)
The artwork, like any ecchi related anime, are always pretty detailed and the women are all drawn in a cute manner. An extra step they managed to add that drives me crazy when they don't, is the drawing in of the nipples. Not because of the nudity aspect but more for the realistic aspect. Like its okay for guys to have nipples but girls cant? wtf. This is a perfect example to show nudity "tastefully". I put those in quotes because it was nice to notice in the first few episodes, but you'll get an eye full every episode. That might start to get old after a while. It would've been nice if they kept the nudity a little less frequent. Another thing that happens every episode is a shower scene. They always try to sneak a shower/bath scene in every episode. All the other artwork is perfectly fine and quite pretty considering its mostly consisting of light, pastel colors most of the time.

Sound (Fair)
The sound is always light and pleasant, it never interfered with the dialog. Theres a lot of environmental sound effects as well. The seiyu cast wasn't anything great but they all fit their roles perfectly fine. The sound was most definitely the mood setter throughout the show. I don't think the show wouldn't have been the same without such a emotional musical score as this.

Character (Very Good)
The characters are pretty stereotypical anime girl types. Obviously chosen for fanservice flair. But they pull off their drama so well its hard to just think of them as fanservice girls. They have alot of hilarious, ecchi, serious, and sad moments. They do well when its about releasing emotions from the viewers. But as i stated during the art synopsis, the nudity is kind of much. If they laid back on the nudity just a tad bit I could easily say this is the perfect example of an ecchi drama done right. Unfortunately, we'll have to go with best ecchi drama I have seen so far.

Enjoyment (Great)
After watching all 12 episodes, i still don't know if this is directed toward children or adults. But either way, it was an addicting fantasy drama with maybe about a dozen nude scenes too many. But what do u expect from a show based on an H-Game. I still the fantastical story all the way through. read more

I have to say that this is certainly one of the most inconsistent anime series I have ever seen. Its almost like it isnt sure where it wants to go and keeps switching between all sorts of anime types, its almost like Excel Saga only the changes are not done tongue in cheek and they are not as drastic. Ok maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration but I am not kidding you when I say that there are a few fight scenes in this anime...yeah ill try not to spoil anything but its gonna be hard.

Story: 7

Although inconsistent the story is interesting, in fact it is so interesting that I spent the entire series asking what the heck is going on. Seriously, so so many questions are left unanswered. We never even find out how the whole time traveling thing with the three sisters (who incidentally look nothing like each other but in between Ai-chan and Mai-chan im not complaining...). We also are not given much of an idea of exactly why they are traveling which leaves the characters without a solid motive for their actions but ill get more into that when I talk about the characters.

Despite the fact that we are never given much of an explanation for the plot, the story is still very solid and the last few episodes WILL tug at your heartstrings (id say more but its says no spoilers). All and all I think the story would have been alot better if they gave us some kind of backstory but instead we get an elementary school boy running headfirst into a naked woman's cavernous-cleavage...which isnt really that bad of a swap for some people.

Art: 6

Whoever drew the characters also liked to draw naked girls apparently. I am not kidding when I say that every single main female character in the series shows up bare chested on multiple occasions (granted most of which are bath scenes and the absence of any main male characters keeps them from being what I like to call "Love Hina bath scenes") That being said he (or she) did a pretty good job. Each character looks unique and there is no possibility of getting any of them confused (like I said the sisters look nothing like each other). The scenery did seem a bit dull though and the whole magic flower in the sky that makes the house dissolve and travel through time thing (which no attempt is ever made to explain) also looks a bit stale.

One last point to note, if you are like me and want to watch this anime because of the (in)famous MeMe with Caramelldansen, they never actually dance like that in the show itself.

Sound: 6

Like with the art, the best sound in this series involves the characters. Each of the voice actresses do a good job of conveying the proper emotions and give the characters a character all of their own. Also like the art, the sound was pretty stale on anything that didnt involve the characters. Now it wasnt bad but halfway through the series I found myself just skipping the opening song and I dont recall any times when the sound effects or music really added much to the scene but I also dont remember any times when they seemed off or inappropriate.

Character: 7

Ah the characters. As another reviewer mentioned, each of the main characters is basically an anime stereotype: Ai is the VERY well endowed mother-like gentle elder sister (who can talk to plants which is never quite explained). Mai is the athletic tomboyish type (and my personal favorite) who grapples with deeper emotions on the inside while looking cheerful and positive on the outside. Mii is...well Mi is the hyperactive little girl/magical girl character (complete with a "magic" hammer which she waves at people for the duration of an entire episode). Despite the stereotypes the characters do not fill two dimensional at all. The emotions are portrayed and dealt with very well and you really cant help but feel sympathy for them (especially around the end of the series).

Ah right I forgot to mention there is a android maid (actually I dont think its ever actually revealed that she is an android even though it says so in the intro on MyAnimeList. There are several occasions where the maid does bathe herself and also eats (alot) but based on behavior and appearance its a pretty safe assumption that she is in fact an android).

There are several reasons why I only gave a 7 for characters. One of which is that unlike the 3 sisters, most of the other characters really do seem two dimensional and sometimes they act almost spontaneously and inconsistently (example is the silver-haired guy who shows up in the second half of the series. His role is never explained much at all. The only thing he seems to be there for is to provide a fight scene or two using enhanced speed and strength which again is never explained.)

Enjoyment: 6

As I keep saying, this show would have been alot more enjoyable (probably up to an 8 overall or at least a 7) had they given us at least some explanation of why the girls are time traveling, how the whole thing got started with the house, who/what exactly is _____ (so many characters can go in the blank), how can Ai talk to plants (And for that matter, why?), etc.

Im the kinda guy who likes to at least be given a hint as to what is going on, I kept hoping that we would get some plot explanation at some point but it just never happened which left me with sort of a hollow feeling. Yeah the show was enjoyable, it made you grin alot and made you think a few times too but all that is lessened by the fact that at the back of your mind you are saying "What the heck is going on?" at least you are if you are me.

Overall: 6

Its not the best anime out there but there are alot worse ones out there. If nothing else it is certainly unique. Maybe if you go into it knowing ahead of time that you will never be given much of a hint as to the backstory then you may have more fun with it than I did but all and all I dont regret watching it. read more