Pop Team Epic is a story about two high school girls, Pipimi (the tall, blue-haired one) and Popuko (the short, blonde-haired one), who do insane things and swear like sailors in this absurdist comedy filled with references and meta-humor. The Pop Team Epic Editorial Note says, “We can hardly believe one of our own would write something so shameless,” and we can just see how true that is.
Pop Team Epic Plot
It is a surreal comedy manga series that follows the bizarre and nonsensical adventures of two girls named Popuko and Pipimi. The manga features a unique format where each chapter consists of four-panel comic strips that are often filled with absurdist humor, parodies, and meta-commentary.
Popuko and Pipimi engage in a variety of absurd and random scenarios, such as getting involved in strange video game competitions, visiting alternate dimensions, or encountering bizarre creatures.
What makes it interesting?
- The series frequently breaks the fourth wall, mocks popular culture, and playfully subverts storytelling conventions.
- Popuko and Pipimi’s interactions are characterized by their offbeat personalities and unpredictable reactions to the absurd situations they find themselves in.
What makes this manga more than it seems to be
This manga is worlds apart from the conventional manga that we are used to. It is so because of the-
- Format: The manga is presented in a four-panel comic strip format (known as 4-Koma in Japan), similar to a gag manga. This structure allows for quick-paced storytelling and punchy humor within each strip.
- Meta Humor: It is known for its extensive use of meta-humor. It often breaks the fourth wall, making self-referential jokes about manga, anime, and popular culture.
- Absurdity and Nonsense: The manga embraces absurdity and nonsensical humor. It thrives on unpredictable scenarios, bizarre characters, and unexpected twists. There’s no continuity from one strip to the next, sometimes not even between panels, but that’s what makes it fun. There’s variety in the jokes presented; you never know what’ll happen next.
- Artistic Style: The art style in Pop Team Epic is distinctive, characterized by simple and exaggerated character designs. It often incorporates a mix of different art styles, including references to famous works of art, manga, and anime.
- Cultural References: The manga is known for its vast array of cultural references to Japanese pop culture, including anime, manga, video games, and internet memes.
Anime adaptation
Pop Team Epic received an anime adaptation that aired from January to March 2018. The anime stays true to the unique and absurd humor of the manga. It follows the same four-panel comic strip format, with each episode consisting of multiple short segments.
The anime retains the meta-humor and self-referential jokes of the manga, often parodying and deconstructing various aspects of pop culture. It incorporates a mix of animation styles, including both traditional and computer-generated animation, adding to the visual variety and creativity of the series.
How is the voice acting in the series?
One notable aspect of the anime adaptation is the voice acting. The main characters, Popuko and Pipimi, are voiced by female voice actors, but during certain episodes, their roles are swapped with male voice actors, providing a comedic twist.
Where can you read and watch Pop Team Epic?
While the first volume landed in Japan in 2015, the series took a while to arrive in the States. Vertical Comics, an imprint of Kodansha USA Publishing, licensed the series and brought the first two volumes to the West, launching them at the tail end of 2018. You can buy the manga here.
You can watch the anime too as it is available on both Crunchyroll and HiDive.