PuPiPo!

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PuPiPo!

AniDB | ANN | MAL

Description: Fifth grader Wakaba can see things invisible beings other people can't. Because of this, she's bullied by her classmates and spends her days alone. But one day, she meets a strange pink creature who only says "Pupipo." It quickly becomes fond of Wakaba and protects her from evil beings. With its help, she befriends Reiko, a girl obsessed with the occult. [Shamelessly stolen from ANN]

naisho: 01, 02

4-minute episode format



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Well, it's weird, but cute. The art style has me sticking around more than anything. There's kind of a haggard look to all the character's eyes, and they are all almond shaped instead of the more standard anime-eyes. You could almost accuse her of being a schizophrenic, except everyone can see PuPiPo.

The lead is a new VA, Sasaki Shiho, but she sounds kind of like a cross between Komatsu Mikako (Miuna in Nagi no Asukara, Katou Marika from Morestu Pirates) and Sakamoto Maaya, which is at least pleasant to listen to.

This looked quite interesting, in a harmless and goofy way. I also like the art design regarding the characters' eyes. Even though it's a bit strange when everybody has tsurime but not necessarily the personality that generally goes with it in anime/manga. The short episode format fits this, but I wish the eps were just a little bit longer, like 8 minutes.

Finally back home from the holidays to DL this. When I decided to watch this, I didn't realize it was going to be short. Not that I mind; sometimes the best things can come in small packages (Cyclops Saipuu, Plastic Nee-san).

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Originally Posted by Kraco

I wish the eps were just a little bit longer, like 8 minutes.

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Agreed, unless they keep putting out two episodes a week. Even then, they could have just combined them and use the extra time for more content like why she's being haunted in the first place or what the meaning behind the painting was. Then again, apparently there's not much material to work with in the first place.

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Originally Posted by Ryllharu

The lead is a new VA, Sasaki Shiho, but she sounds kind of like a cross between Komatsu Mikako (Miuna in Nagi no Asukara, Katou Marika from Morestu Pirates) and Sakamoto Maaya, which is at least pleasant to listen to.

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I think most of the staff are fairly new. The only name I recognize is Keiji Fujiwara. Pretty sure it's like that with a lot series like this, which is fine since it's nice to have a bit of fresh air everyonce in a while. As much as l love people like HanaKana and Marina Inoue, sometimes it feels like they're everywhere. Or maybe I just watch too much popular anime.

Episode 3 - naisho




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These eps are too short! But then again, maybe the shows feel quite attractive because the exceedingly limited length makes sure there's no way to get bored or think it's too slow. Not that I'd have felt like that anyway with what we have seen so far, but who knows, if the source material is scarce, the studio would have needed lots of padding.

It was a really petty ghost, that's for sure. I wonder what's the deal with the kid with the dark aura, though. He's the same one who was able to see the ghosts in the previous episode and quickly backed off. In the scene where the other girls confronted Wakaba and Reiko in front of the school lockers.

Short but sweet. Like an appetizer before the main course.

So, am I the only one that finds Reiko a bit suspicious? Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it feels like she's riling up the ghosts on purpose despite Wakaba's warnings.

Nah, it's nothing suspicious. She's doing it. She loves ghosts, she's a occult otaku. Whatever happened between eps 2 and 3 that allowed Reiko to see the ghosts too made her really happy.

When she visited Wakaba's home, she brought some prized ghost photos (circled for easy identification) instead of something normal like rice crackers or barley tea. She's just weird.

It's the art style that makes you think she's up to no good. Everyone has those shifty eyes. Wakaba's are just larger so you don't notice it as much.

Episode 6 - Naisho





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That was kind of amusing. Yuuki apparently has better abilities than Wakaba and is able to see through the lies of the ghosts. Yet like a genuine brat he can't keep his mouth shut and thus ends up enraging the undead, possibly making them possess his body, although not to the point of losing control. But I reckon he's still carrying them around, polluting his spirit and maybe also affecting those nearby, since he doesn't want Wakaba to get close. At first it looked like he didn't want to go close to Wakaba because he didn't want to deal with the ghosts near her, but maybe it was the other way around: He wants to spare her from the mad specters following him.

I don't know. It's a sound theory, but I think it is something else about why he dislikes/is afraid of Wakaba. That said, I can't think of what.

I'm more concerned that now Wakaba is attracting malevolent spirits that are still alive.

Episode 7 - Naisho



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Originally Posted by Ryllharu

I don't know. It's a sound theory, but I think it is something else about why he dislikes/is afraid of Wakaba. That said, I can't think of what.

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If his own words are to be believed, then I got it right. It was pretty funny when he fatalistically told Wakabe they can't be friends because of the ghosts and the ill fortune they bring, yet Wakaba's only reaction was to deny even having thought about friendship... Good thing she didn't say it aloud. Although the other dude would have rejoiced if she had.

Yeah, maybe so, but it was the non-plot parts of this episode that were golden.

I really love the art style still. The evil girls (and the twisted-love boy) literally having sharpened teeth (though Azuma has had them too at times), and the shape of Wakaba's eye.

Her father's good at realistic art and the old guy calls it, "bad," and say he's in a slump. The "good" artwork looks like it was done by a 2nd grader with crayons.

I think the hints are starting to build that Po is Wakaba's grandfather or great-grandfather.

Episode 8 - Naisho





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I hope Yuuki won't really get rid of the ability. That would be boring. Maybe the dreams only meant what Po did to Wakaba: She can deal with the situation better now. Azuma is really energetic and her interests obviously larger than just the paranormal: Now she's even pairing those two with much glee.

I don't see why he wouldn't want to though. His powers are pretty nerve racking and he just doesn't seem to handle them very well. The only reason I can see that he wouldn't go through with it is if the cost is too high. I wonder why Po isn't hanging around Wakaba as much anymore. Too busy hanging out with her father maybe?

It might be that Wakaba doesn't need him as much anymore. I guess that gives Po more time to hang out with her father, who probably needs a little help too.

Like Reiko said in episode 6, the lightposts don't bother them anymore. Partly because they're afraid of Po-chan, and mostly because Wakaba doesn't let ghosts bother her as much anymore. Her ability isn't as much of a curse now because it let her become good friends with Reiko.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vejita613

I don't see why he wouldn't want to though. His powers are pretty nerve racking and he just doesn't seem to handle them very well. The only reason I can see that he wouldn't go through with it is if the cost is too high.

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Sure, if he was given the chance right now, he would do it, no doubt. But I just said I hope he won't really have the chance. He would be afterwards just an ordinary dude, nothing more, with hardly a role to play in the series anymore. I feel like he enriched the story thus far. Wakaba herself is kind of a gray character. Reiko is very positive and energetic, Yuuki negative and occasionally melancholic. It's a cast complementing each other.

Episode 9 - Naisho






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I suppose it's very understandable a kid of that age wouldn't want such a weird skill to affect his life and set him apart from his peers. He seems even more dead set on getting rid of it than in the previous ep. Too bad he saw a crying Wakaba and not a happy one; maybe that would have made him more positive. No wonder he wouldn't talk about it, of course. It would be quite embarrassing even for an older boy. Wakaba herself is super calm, that's for sure.

I'll keep hoping he won't, after all, lose the skill, even if Po apparently says the chance is true.

Wakaba's mother's face. :eek:

Really wonder what that precognitive vision was about. Maybe he was leaving Wakaba! Or maybe Wakaba lost a family member or friend.

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Originally Posted by Ryllharu

Wakaba's mother's face. :eek:

Really wonder what that precognitive vision was about. Maybe he was leaving Wakaba! Or maybe Wakaba lost a family member or friend.

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Indeed, very creepy.

I have a feeling it's the latter. Adult Yuuki kind of looks like he's wearing a lab coat or something. Maybe hes a doctor giving her bad news? Hard to tell from that small glimpse.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vejita613

Adult Yuuki kind of looks like he's wearing a lab coat or something. Maybe hes a doctor giving her bad news? Hard to tell from that small glimpse.

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Yeah, now that you mentioned it, the cloth seemed something like that. But I suppose it could have been just a thick shirt as well, considering we saw only a part of his upper body. I guess I'm too much of a romantic; I naturally thought they were a couple of lost a child or something.

Episode 10 - Naisho



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One should always bring a bottle of turpentine along when entering a magical painting. It's super effective against any monsters within.

Not overly much happened in this episode. I still keep hoping Yuuki won't get rid of his condition. The contrary would be nicer: Learning to value it.

Episode 11 - Naisho




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Looks like the trip won't be nearly as easy as Yuuki probably hoped for. They are all remarkably calm about it, especially Wakaba.

The King of the castle kicks ass. Reiko was lucky.

It's just got way weirder. I don't think there is anything more I could say.

Episode 12 - Naisho




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Quite a dodgy deal, probably far more so than Yuuki ever imagined. He would be wise to wait until they have found Reiko and seen the gallery of weird things he might be reborn into instead of simply his former self without the spiritual sensitivity. Even if he didn't get turned into something unnatural, who knows how much he would lose in addition to the ability he wants to get rid of. He might lose everything, memories and personality included.

For Wakaba it shouldn't be such a problem since she doesn't mind the ability so much anymore, so she could simply return without doing any reborning. It's more like she was dragged along by Yuuki and Reiko.

Even though it is usually what gets her in trouble, I love the mouth on Reiko. She doesn't take anyone's shit anymore (not that she really did in the first place). It's nice to have a occult fanatic who isn't gloomy, goth, or depressed. The only other person close is Maya from Occult Academy (when not in her skeptic phase).

I agree that Wakaba clearly doesn't want it anymore. She realized now that her ability is the reason she met not just Po, but Reiko as well. It may have isolated her before, but now she has extremely loyal friends she wouldn't have otherwise. I think Yuuki is starting to get the same idea.

Episode 15 Final - Naisho






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I suppose there was no avoiding it, or at least that's how the story would have it. Apparently their kid would have been twice as sensitive and attracted all kinds of foul demons even before it was born. Still, they sure have their futures all set, haha. It was pretty funny they didn't try to deny anything even out of embarrassment.

This was an interesting show, all in all. I retrospect it worked remarkably well despite so short episodes. It was very conclusive as well, which is something great many shows don't achieve even with episodes five times longer.

I really enjoyed it. Small time investment, good story out of it.