| Pop Team Epic | |
 Volume 1 cover featuring Popuko (left) and Pipimi givingthe finger. | |
| ポプテピピック (Poputepipikku) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Surreal comedy[1] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Bkub Okawa |
| Published by | Takeshobo |
| English publisher | |
| Magazine | Manga Life Win |
| Original run | August 29, 2014 – present |
| Volumes | 7 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by |
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| Produced by | Kotaro Sudo |
| Written by |
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| Music by | Gin (BUSTED ROSE) |
| Studio | |
| Licensed by |
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| Original network | Tokyo MX,BS11,AT-X,Tochigi TV,RCC,MBS,Nippon TV,HTB |
| English network | |
| Original run | January 7, 2018 – December 18, 2022 |
| Episodes | 26(List of episodes) |
 Anime and manga portal | |
Pop Team Epic (Japanese:ポプテピピック,Hepburn:Poputepipikku) is a Japanesefour-panelsurreal comedywebcomic and digitalmanga series written and illustrated byBkub Okawa (alternatively romanized as "Bukubu Okawa"), which started serialization onTakeshobo'sManga Life Win website in August 2014.Takeshobo has released seven volumes in Japan. The manga is licensed inNorth America byVertical.
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 ofpop 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. Ananime television series adaptation animated by Kamikaze Douga and produced byKing Records[c] aired onTokyo MX and other channels from January 7, 2018 to December 18, 2022 for two seasons. The first season concluded on March 25, 2018, and two special episodes aired on April 1, 2019. The second season was co-produced by Space Neko Company[b] and premiered on October 2, 2022.
Pop Team Epic is written and illustrated by Bkub Okawa, previously known for hisTouhou Projectdōjinshi. The series was serialized inTakeshobo'sManga Life Win website between August 29, 2014[8] and November 7, 2015. The firsttankōbon volume was released in print on December 7, 2015.[9] Okawa released the "second season" on theManga Life Win website between February 18, 2016 and April 30, 2017. The second volume was released on June 7, 2017.[9] A "third season" began on theManga Life Win website on October 10, 2017.[10] The manga is licensed in North America byVertical,[11] who began releasing the series in October 2018. A comic anthology based on the fictionalHoshiiro Girldrop manga featured in the series was released on January 9, 2018.[12]
| No. | Title | Original release date | English release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pop Team Epic ポプテピピック | December 7, 2015[13] 978-4-8019-5419-9 | October 2, 2018[14] 978-1-94719-419-9 | |
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| 2 | Pop Team Epic: Second Season ポプテピピック セカンドシーズン | June 7, 2017[15] 978-4-8019-5957-6 | December 4, 2018[16] 978-1-94719-425-0 | |
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| 3 | Pop Team Epic: Season Three and Four ポプテピピック SEASON THREE AND FOUR | March 7, 2019[17] 978-4-8019-6549-2 | — | |
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| 4 | Pop Team Epic: Season Five ポプテピピック SEASON FIVE | March 5, 2021[18] 978-4-8019-7228-5 | — | |
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| 5 | Pop Team Epic: Season Six ポプテピピック SEASON SIX | December 7, 2021[19] 978-4-8019-7495-1 | — | |
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| 6 | Pop Team Epic: Season Seven ポプテピピック SEASON SEVEN | July 14, 2023[20] 978-4-8019-8099-0 | — | |
| 7 | Pop Team Epic: Season Eight ポプテピピック SEASON EIGHT | June 17, 2024[21] 978-4-8019-8329-8 | — | |
| No. | Title | Release date | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Hoshiiro Girldrop Comic Anthology ☆色ガールドロップ コミックアンソロジー | January 9, 2018[12] | 978-4-8019-6153-1 | |
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| An anthology of comics from different artists aboutHoshiiro Girldrop. | ||||
An anime adaptation of the series was announced on April 2, 2017. It was initially teased as an adaptation ofHoshiiro Girldrop onApril Fool's Day 2017. The anime features animation by Kamikaze Douga[a] and production byKing Records,[c][22] and is directed by Jun Aoki and Aoi Umeki.[23] The first season aired onBS11,Tokyo MX and other networks for 12 episodes from January 7 to March 25, 2018, following a delay from October 2017 due to an "error by King Records".[9][24] A television special aired on April 1, 2019 which consists of episodes 13 and 14.[25]
Taking after its source manga, the anime takes the form of an animated parody show, featuring numerous, typically disjointed skits 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 (AC部).[f] Each half-hour episode features two near-identical 15-minute segments, each containing different voice actors and other subtle differences.
The opening theme for episodes 2-10 is "Pop Team Epic" (remixed as "Pop Team Epic (Rebroadcasting Mix)" inPop Team Epic Repeat from the second half of Episode 4 to the first half of Episode 9) bySumire Uesaka,[26] while the ending theme for the first 9 episodes and episodes 11 and 12 is "Poppy Pappy Day" (remixed in Episode 5 as "Poppy Pappy Day (Route 66 Mix)" and Episode 7 as "Poppy Pappy Day (8 Bit Mix)"[g]) 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)), withShouta Aoi (portrayed by Shouta Aoi) performing the theme for the male part of episode 12. The ending theme for episode 10 is "Jinsei" (人生; lit.life) also by the Igarashi/Matsuzaki and Masuda/Hatano duos as Popuko and Pipimi, respectively. The opening theme for Episode 1, which opened with aHoshiiro Girldrop segment, is the first season's opening theme, "Twinkling Star" by Drop Stars (Sosogu Hoshifuri (Yui Ogura), Shizuku Tsukino (Inori Minase), and Korona Yuhi (Uesaka)).[27] Episode 12 used the classical music piecesNight on Bald Mountain andDies Irae in its storyline. The opening theme for episode 13 is "last sparkle" by Uesaka, while episode 14 uses the opening theme for the second season ofHoshiiro Girldrop, "Pretty candle star" by Drop Stars (Hiroshifuri (Ogura), Tsukino (Minase), and Yuhi (Uesaka)) in the first half and parodied by AC-bu (Shunsuke Itakura (voicing as Popuko) and Tōru Adachi (voicing as Pipimi)) (voicing as Yuhi) in the second half. The insert song and ending theme for episode 13 are "Popuko ni Sauce" (ポプ子にソース; lit. "Sauce for Popuko") and "Fūsen Hikō" (風船飛行; lit. "Balloon Flight"), respectively; both are sung by Popuko (Yuka Ozaki/Kent Ito) and Pipimi (Aya Uchida/Ryuichi Kijima). The insert song for episode 14 is "Bansaku neender", sung by the Ozaki/Uchida and Ito/Kijima duos and the Mendez/Tindle and Lee/Seitz duos as Popuko and Pipimi in both Japanese and English, respectively with Aoi (Portrayal: Aoi) singing his version of the ending theme "Fūsen Hikō" for episode 14a, as well as his own ending theme, "AOI Traveler" for episode 14b.
The series was renewed for a second season on December 26, 2021, following the finale ofPop Team Epic Repeat.[28] Jun Aoki returned as director and scriptwriter, while Space Neko Company[b] is animating the season alongside Kamikaze Douga, and aired from October 2 to December 18, 2022.[29][30] The opening theme for episodes 16-25 is "Psycho:logy" by Aoi (Portrayal: Aoi) and the ending theme for episodes 15-25 is "Nakayo Peace" (仲良ピース) (Remixed in Episode 2 as "Nakayo Peace (Super Budget Hero★Great Bari Bari Team Epic Mix)" (仲良ピース（超予算勇者★グレートバリバリピピック MIX）), Episode 5 as "Nakayo Peace (B-side Mix)" (仲良ピース（B-side MIX）), Episode 8 as "Nakayo Peace (Katsushika Shusshin Mix)" (仲良ピース（葛飾出身 MIX）), Episode 10 as "Nakayo Peace (Sweet Pop Mix)" (仲良ピース（Sweet Pop MIX）) and Episode 11 as ""Nakayo Peace (Dance Rock Mix) (仲良ピース（Dance Rock MIX）)) by Popuko (Manaka Iwami/Jun Osuka) and Pipimi (Ikumi Hasegawa/Hiroki Takahashi). The opening theme of episodes 15 and 26 is "Endless Love" by Aoi (Portrayal: Aoi), while the ending theme for the episode 26 is "Shota Aoi Gymnastics" by Aoi (Portrayal: Aoi).
Sentai Filmworks simulcast the series on Hidive.[31]Crunchyroll simulcast the series worldwide outside of Asia.[32]Funimation simulcast the English-dubbed version in English-speaking territories as it aired;[33] Funimation also acquired the rights to release the anime on home video in North America.[34] Funimation also arranged the series to air onAdult Swim'sToonami programming block starting on July 1, 2018.[35] In Australia and New Zealand, the series simulcast onAnimeLab.[36]Aniplus Asia simulcast the series in Southeast Asia.[1] The series became available onNetflix in February 2020 in what was originally 11-minute episodes. It was replaced by the original half-hour format due to complaints from users.[37] A remixed rerun titledPop Team Epic Repeat, which mixes up the voice actors from the original run, began airing from October 9, 2021 and is being simulcast by Crunchyroll.[38] It also features re-recorded versions of the Team AC segments and Japanese dubs of the Japon Mignon segments. There are also visual differences in theRepeat version.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 12 | January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) | March 25, 2018 (2018-03-25) | |
| Specials | 2 | April 1, 2019 (2019-04-01) | ||
| 2 | 12 | October 2, 2022 (2022-10-02) | December 18, 2022 (2022-12-18) | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Main segment by | Original release date | English air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Encounter" "Deai" (出会い) | Space Neko Company | January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) | July 1, 2018[h] | 0.21[40] | |
Hoshiiro Girldrop, a supposed-to-be animated series about a girl who is secretly an idol singer, complete withcold open andtitle 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 wrongdoings, and the two girls go to France in an attempt to use gestures to communicate. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Vanver — A Game in Another Dimension" "Ijigen Yūgi Vanvū" (異次元遊戯ヴァンヴー) | Space Neko Company | January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14) | July 8, 2018 | 0.17[41] | |
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 | 3 | "The Documentary" "Za Dokyumento" (ザ・ドキュメント) | Space Neko Company | January 21, 2018 (2018-01-21) | July 15, 2018 | 0.17[42] | |
A documentary profiles how music producer PipiP decided to find the perfect bandmates for pop idol Pop-chin by cloning her, with the Pop-chin clones taking over the world. Other skits include Popuko dozing off while leaving for school and severely oversleeping, Popuko becoming obsessed withbaguettes, and Pipimi attempting to hire Popuko as an assassin. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "SWGP2018" | Space Neko Company | January 28, 2018 (2018-01-28) | July 22, 2018 | 0.18[43] | |
Popuko takes part in theSkeleton World Grand Prix, facing many tough opponents. Other skits include a parody ofEarth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove", Popuko forcing an extraterrestrial being to evict from her house, and Popuko and Pipimi encountering aboss while exploring a dungeon. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Donca☆Sis"[i] "Imo☆Yoba" (イモ☆ヨバ) | Space Neko Company | February 4, 2018 (2018-02-04) | July 29, 2018 | 0.17[44] | |
Iyo Sakuragi becomes step-siblings with her admired upperclassman Hojo after their parents, portrayed by Popuko and Pipimi, get married and make their children's lives a nightmare with their antics. Other skits include a cooking show hosted by Popuko and Pipimi showcasing asimmered dish (煮), Pipimi literally growing with affection for Popuko, Popuko killing herself and Pipimi after choosing to self-destruct rather than die of hiccups, and Popuko doing a poor impression ofMickey Mouse. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The 30th Cyber War" / "30th Cyber Warfare" "Dai Sanjūki Dennō-sen" (第30期 電脳戦) | Space Neko Company | February 11, 2018 (2018-02-11) | August 5, 2018 | 0.15[45] | |
Guided by the spirit of Pipimi, Popuko fights against the Elite Four in ashogi tournament. Other skits include Pipimi's fantasies about Hellshake Yano distracting her from Popuko's venting, Popuko demonstrating an increasingly bizarre variety of regional activities, Popuko and Pipimi discussing modern slang, and Popuko thanking those supporting her fanbase while making death threats on the rest. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Hellshake Yano" "Herusheiku Yano" (ヘルシェイク矢野) | AC-bu | February 18, 2018 (2018-02-18) | August 12, 2018 | 0.19[46] | |
Pipimi daydreams of when rock star Hellshake Yano held a concert by himself while his bandmates were running late, told through akamishibai performance by AC-bu (Shunsuke Itakura and Tōru Adachi (voiced in English by Christopher R. Sabat and Ian Sinclair)). Other skits include dealing with haters, Popuko turning into a baby, and Pipimi going fishing. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Dragon of Iidabashi ~Pipi's Revenge~" / "The Rising Dragon of Iidabashi ~Pipi the Avenger~" "Īdabashi no Shōryū ~Fukushū no Pipi~" (飯田橋の昇竜 ～復讐のピピ～) | Space Neko Company | February 25, 2018 (2018-02-25) | August 19, 2018 | 0.14[47] | |
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 ofmagic powder) against the tree. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Dancing with a Miracle" / "Dancing with Miracles" "Kiseki to Dansu o" (奇跡とダンスを) | Space Neko Company | March 4, 2018 (2018-03-04) | August 26, 2018 | 0.16[48] | |
Popuko and Pipimi encountera young runaway boy while visiting New York City and made a lasting impression on him that shaped his ideals. Other skits include Popuko ordering latte art, Pipimi attempting standup comedy, and the girls trying French cuisine. | |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Ginza Hostess Detective" "Ginza Hosutesu Tantei" (銀座ホステス探偵) | Space Neko Company | March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11) | September 9, 2018 | 0.16[49] | |
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 | 11 | "Cursed Mansion" "Jukan" (呪館 JUKAN) | Space Neko Company | March 18, 2018 (2018-03-18) | September 16, 2018 | 0.16[50] | |
A group of college students find the mansion they are staying in to be haunted by Popuko and Pipimi, who do nothing as the students end up killing each other. Other skits include Popuko starting a dance craze calledEisai Haramasukoi, Pipimi becoming giant, and Popuko playing with a shark. | |||||||
| 12 | 12 | "The Age of Pop Team Epic" | Space Neko Company | March 25, 2018 (2018-03-25) | September 23, 2018 | 0.17[51] | |
Popuko and Pipimi have a final showdown against the evilKing Records organization after they sent a death squad on them, with guest appearance by time travelerShouta Aoi (portrayed by Shouta Aoi and voiced in English byApphia Yu). Other skits include a talking hamster going to school by hiding in his master's bag, Popuko trying to find her glasses, and the Popuko and Pipimi felt dolls singing about growing up and destruction. After the credits in the second half, there is a preview of the first episode of the second season ofHoshiiro Girldrop. The opening part is a parody of Ecole Software'sDeath Crimson for theSega Saturn, which is exclusive to Japan. HALO produced the ending part in the second half. | |||||||
Both episodes for the main segments are by Space Neko Company.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Opening animation by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "The Convenience Store" "Konbini" (コンビニ) | Sunrise[j] | April 1, 2019 (2019-04-01) | |
Popuko and Pipimi discuss potential careers in the future, playing out a scene where Popuko plays a convenience store clerk being hassled by both Pipimi andCthulhu,before it degenerates into a certain film. Other skits include Popuko allured by a food truck, aclay-mation of Pipimi playingDaruma Otoshi, and Pipimi telling Popuko what 1+1 is. The post-credit scene is the chapter 1 opening scene ofSquare Enix'sFinal Fantasy XV, called "Departure", only with Popuko masks on Noctis, Gladious, and Prompto, and a Pipimi mask on Ignis.Masami Obari supervises the prologue skit and opening animation. | |||||
| 14 | 2 | "Edo Era Pop Team" "Ōedo Popute" (大江戸ポプテ) | Asura Film AC-bu (parody in the second half) | April 1, 2019 (2019-04-01) | |
In Japan during its Edo Era, Pipimi is giving Popuko combat training when they accidentally kill a mountain deity, forcing them to battle a demon the deity kept at bay in a biker bar with a return appearance by Shouta Aoi (Portrayal: Shouta Aoi / EN Voice: Apphia Yu). Other skits include a song about how stupid the anime series is and how they ran out of voice actors to play the lead characters, using the power of imagination to get revenge on your boss, and Pipimi bringing a flower back to life. | |||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Main segment by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1 | "Identity" "Aidentiti" (アイデンティティ) | Space Neko Company | October 2, 2022 (2022-10-02) | |
Continuing from the previous episode,Shouta Aoi is featured in aKamen Rider parody as the show's opening, entitled "Endless Love", with HALO producing the opening part. In the main segment, Popuko and Pipimi talk about having a unique identity through a dance sequence. They have a press conference addressing their audience. They stand out in the street to see if anyone recognizes them. Some other skits include "Pop Team Epic: B-side", retelling their first skit through a parody of theyaoi genre, and the girls are attacked by aChocobo in the forest in the first special collaboration segment with Square Enix. | |||||
| 16 | 2 | "Here We Go! Biggus McHugeGuy Combination" "Deta! Chō Kuso Deka Gattai" (出た！超クソデカ合体) | Sunrise[j] | October 9, 2022 (2022-10-09) | |
The girls use their "Obari" power in a climactic battle against "King Recorder" in the final episode of "Super Budget Hero★Great Bari Bari Team Epic" (超予算勇者★グレートバリバリピピック,Chō Yosan Yūsha★Gurētobaribaripipikku). Epic Other skits include Popuko accidentally shaving a client's dog naked, Popuko asking for headpats from Pipimi and Popuko responding to a debate challenge with a nail bat. This episode features the special collaboration segment with Earth Corporation. Masami Obari supervises the main segment and ending animation. | |||||
| 17 | 3 | "Poputan" "Popputo~uan" (ポップトゥアン) | Space Neko Company | October 16, 2022 (2022-10-16) | |
SpoofingDora the Explorer, Poputan and Pipitan host an educational program. Other skits include Popuko accidentally drinking plain boiling water from Pipimi, Pipimi thinking Popuko's robot goes over budget, Nanachi (fromMade in Abyss) guest-starring on a ranking show, the girls doing a "kid-friendly torture" show in the park, Popuko doing a rap and the girls beingchocobos in the second special collaboration segment with Square Enix. The ending segments are live-action sequences of Popuko and Pipimi at theKing Records (first half) andTakeshobo (second half) buildings. | |||||
| 18 | 4 | "Train Battle" "Toreinbatoru" (トレインバトル) | Flat Studio | October 23, 2022 (2022-10-23) | |
The girls playjankenpon against each other. Popuko gets on a bullet train to Kyoto, and enters a Train Battle with Pipimi. Popuko wins a competition. Popuko throws away random junk. Pipimi defends Popuko from a rude teacher. Pipimi tests Popuko's eyesight. The girls fight each other for clout. The girls writeSenryū. Pipimi is the detective in an old adventure game. The girls battle each other with "dumbass personalities". This episode features a third special collaboration segment with Square Enix. | |||||
| 19 | 5 | "Shining Shoulder" | Space Neko Company | October 30, 2022 (2022-10-30) | |
The girls are evil bandits. Pipimi teaches English. The girls demonstrate the Backpow Workout. Pipimi considers pulling out Popuko's chair. Popuko's mind and body are out of balance. Pop Team Cooking shows off paella at an audience full of kids. The girls are talking trains. Popuko is carsick. Pipimi cuts Popuko's hair. A cactus and a sharp comb offer free hugs. Popuko talks about urban legends. Popuu terrorizes scarecrows in a 3D video game. The "Pop Team Epic: B-side" segment is cancelled, as Popuko destroys the Takeshobo building in response. This episode features the fourth special collaboration segment with Square Enix. | |||||
| 20 | 6 | "POP Memories to YOU" | Space Neko Company | November 6, 2022 (2022-11-06) | |
Popuko interviews the Earth. The girls are multiple characters in a romantic Visual Novel. Popuko is auto-tracking Pipimi. Pipimi does the same. A man makes fried rice. An ad for Kappa Sushi. Popuko tries to watch a horror movie. Pipimi has brown sugar. The ending animation is a parody ofThe First Take as Popuko does a live session. This episode features the special collaboration segment with Kappa Sushi. | |||||
| 21 | 7 | "Raising Hell: The Hellshake Arrow" "Raijingu・Heru 〜Herusheiku no Ya〜" (ライジング・ヘル 〜ヘルシェイクの矢〜) | AC-bu | November 13, 2022 (2022-11-13) | |
Pipimi daydreams about Hellshake Yano, who is trying to regain his fame through a 30-second talent show on television and must gain the power of the Master Pick to do so. The story is told by AC-bu (Shunsuke Itakura and Tōru Adachi (first half only) (JP Voice:Koichi Yamadera / EN Voice: Jim Foronda (second half only)) through akamishibai and includes a special collaboration segment with Apollon. | |||||
| 22 | 8 | "Pop Team Epic Battle Royale" "Poputepipikku Batoru Rowaiyaru" (ポプテピピックバトルロワイヤル) | Space Neko Company | November 20, 2022 (2022-11-20) | |
The girls playshiritori. The girls play in abattle royale game. Pipimi has her legs crossed. Pipimi does thedonchiki. Pipimi takes glamor shots. Pipimi uses whipped cream in Pop Team Cooking. Popuko turns into a harp. The girls say what they want to be. Popuko wants to listen to ASMR. Popuko has a charged Ultimate. Playing with vegetables. Popuko delivers a package. Pipimi reminisces about old videogames. Popuko gives Pipimi ajack-in-the-box. | |||||
| 23 | 9 | "Bump-Boo Crusaders" | Contrail | November 27, 2022 (2022-11-27) | |
Popuko kills a man. A parody of an oldbancho anime with Cthulhu acting as a main character. An old Brazilian-themed amusement park ad in a special collaboration segment with Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland. Pipimi tells Popuko what she likes about her. Popuko did not do her homework. A UFO makes a crop circle. Popuko reviews a floor. Popuko tries to catch a race car. This episode also features the fifth special collaboration segment with Square Enix. | |||||
| 24 | 10 | "The Kingdom of Nature" "Shizen no Ōkoku" (自然の王国) | Space Neko Company | December 4, 2022 (2022-12-04) | |
Pipimi baked a cake. Popuko shakes an otter's hand. Popuko is on trial. Popuko is on drugs. A documentary about reintroducing predators into a nature reserve is used in a game show. A young man reminisces about the "Picolino Cannon". Pipimi refills Popuko's coffee. The girls enter the land of Eorzea (fromFinal Fantasy XIV) in the sixth and final special collaboration segment with Square Enix. The girls start a chain conversation. The girls win a match of "Poppex Legends", a parody ofApex Legends. | |||||
| 25 | 11 | "Boomer Team Epic" "Jukunen Konbipipikku" (熟年コンビピピック) | Studio Crocodile | December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11) | |
Furry friends talk to each other. Popular comedians share a greenroom and reminisce about the past. Pipimi tickles Popuko. Popuko wants a shiitake mushroom log. Popuko talks to a torpedo. The girls interrogate a policeman. Popuko is a pro gamer. The girls play "Look That Way." Popuko tries to fix Pipimi with a Free Transform tool. The ending animation is done byKéké. | |||||
| 26 | 12 | "Endless Love" | HALO (live-action) Space Neko Company & Kamikaze Douga (animation) | December 18, 2022 (2022-12-18) | |
Shouta Aoi fights to defend the multiverse fromGeneral Nishikawa, who seeks to destroy all timelines that are not his own. He is assisted byYuichi Nakamura, the former commander of the Time Patrol squad, as well as another Nakamura from a different timeline, who is the leader of the Resistance (portrayed by Nakamura and voiced in Japanese byYuichi Nakamura). Shouta Aoi defeats Nishikawa with the help of all versions of Popuko and Pipimi from the previous episodes. The episode includes an intermission for a weather report for the Kanto region and an ad for Poptepip Candy. | |||||
TheNendoroid figures of Popuko and Pipimi, dressed asBatman Ninja'sBatman (voiced byKōichi Yamadera) andJoker (voiced byWataru Takagi) respectively, were displayed at the Warner Bros. booth atAnimeJapan 2018. It was suggested by Junpei Mizusaki at Kamikaze Douga; the studio animated bothPop Team Epic television series andBatman Ninja film. The crossover figures were accompanied by a 15-second television commercial, where Popuko and Pipimi (in the aforementioned costumes and being voiced by the film's respective voice actors) re-enact a sketch fromPop Team Epic comics before it jumps to aBatman Ninja scene.[52][53]
On April 26, 2018,Japan Racing Association's Umabi.jp website launched thePop Team Epic Kinen (ポプテピ記念,Poputepi Kinen) campaign, where users can create a customisedavatar 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.[54] As the number reached one million in late May 2018,[55] the JRA released abrandedwebisode on 14 June 2018.[56] Produced by Space Neko Company (which animated Pop Team Story segments and some of short sketches in the TV series),Mikako Komatsu andRyusei Nakao reprised their role as Popuko in the first and second halves respectively, and so didSumire Uesaka andNorio Wakamoto as Pipimi.[56] The JRA also held promotional events atTokyo Racecourse.[54][56]
the block will air Pop Team Epic beginning the night of June 30 at 12:00 a.m. (effectively the morning of July 1)