Popotan is a Japanese visual novel by Petit Ferret originally released in 2002 that was adapted into a PC game, an anime by Shaft and a radio drama broadcast on Osaka Radio.[1][2][3] Three soundtracks based on the visual novel have been released. The first is a maxi single titled "Popotan", published by Petite Ferret. It was a limited print run released with the visual novel. The single contains vocal and instrumental songs of the opening theme, "Say It! Popotan"; the closing theme "Answer"; and "Magical Girl Mii"'s theme, "Magical Girl Mii's Pong". All three songs were sung by Haruko Momoi of Under17. The vocals were later re-released as part of their Best complications. The songs "Answer" and "Say It! Popotan" were also sung during their live tour. A limited promotional DVD for the anime was accompanied by a CD containing the unabridged songs by Under17 from the visual novel, and the song "Poporaji", which was later used for a radio drama by the same name. The last visual novel soundtrack was released with the Popotan's fan disc, Popotan Fan Disc together with A·SO·BO, and contains tracks for the background music.[4]
Three soundtracks based on the anime have been released. Popo Music, an anime soundtrack, was released with music by Osamu Tezuka containing a TV cuts of the opening and closing themes by Under17 and Funta, respectively.[n 1] An extended play (EP) entitled Popotan e.p. was released jointly by Under17 and Funta. It contains the unabridged opening and closings of the anime as well as a new jointly produced theme song, "Gemstone" by both bands. An image CD, It's a PopoTime! was later released and contains character songs performed by the voice actresses for the series' three sisters: Ai; Mai; and Mii. The opening theme song for Poporaji is also placed on the CD. The opening theme was re-released as part of Under17's Best complications and performed during their live tour. Poporaji was later released separately on two CDs. The opening theme song "Popotan Kiss" was later re-released as part of Under17's second Best complication and performed during their live tour.
Soundtracks
Visual novel
Popotan maxi single
"Popotan Maxi Single (ぽぽたん Maxi Single)" is, as per its title, a maxi single. It was first released on December 28, 2002 in a limited print run of 2000 copies by Petit Ferret for the initial release of the Popotan visual novel.[5] The CD was later re-released commercially on May 4, 2003. It contains six tracks of the themes featured in the visual novel. The first three tracks are the vocals and the last three are the instrumental versions< used as background music in the game.[6][7]
"Magical Mii's Pong!!" (みぃタンの魔法でポン!!Miitan no mahō de pon!!)
Haruko Momoi
Koike Masaya
Koike Masaya
3:13
3.
"Answer" (こたえKotae)
Haruko Momoi
Haruko Momoi
6:42
4.
"Popotan" (ぽぽたん [Instrumental])
Haruko Momoi
Koike Masaya
3:26
5.
"Magical Mii's Pong!!" (みぃタンの魔法でポン!!Miitan no mahō de pon!! [Instrumental])
Koike Masaya
Koike Masaya
3:15
6.
"Answer" (こたえKotae [Instrumental])
Haruko Momoi
6:22
Total length:
26:28
Poporaji no Uta
Poporaji no Uta (ぽぽらじの歌, lit. Poporaji's Song) is a mini-CD released by Bandai Visual in a limited press run of 10,000 copies on June 27, 2003, along with the preview DVD, The Secret of the 3 Sisters (ぽぽたん 送開始記念版 うガマンできない、3姉妹のひ·み·つ, Popotan Hōsō Kaishi Kinen ban Mou Gaman Deki Nai, 3 Shimai no Hi·Mi·Tsu)[8][9] The mini-CD contains the main vocal themes from the visual novel performed by Under17 as well as the image song, which is also the opening theme for the radio show Poporaji, performed by the anime's voice actresses for the three sisters.[9]
"Magical Mii's Pong!!" (みぃタンの魔法でポン!!Miitan no Mahō de Pon!!)
Under17
Visual novel's mini-game theme
3:13
4.
"Answer" (こたえKotae)
Under17
Visual novel's ending theme
6:28
Total length:
16:49
Anime
Popotan e.p.
On August 8, 2003, Under17 and Funta released a joint album that includes the opening, closing, and album-exclusive theme songs for the anime Popotan: the opening theme; "Popotan Hatake de Tsukamae te" (ぽぽたん畑でつかまえて) performed by Under17; the closing theme, "Suki", by Funta; and a collaborative theme song, "Gem Stone". It was released by Lantis as an extended play entitled ぽぽたんe.p. (Popotan e.p.), which appeared three times on the Oricon albums charts and peaked at number 68.[10] The CD contains a vocal and instrumental track for all three theme songs.[11]
Popotan e.p.
No.
Title
Music
Length
1.
"Searching in the Field of Popotan" (ぽぽたん畑でつかまえてPopotan hatake de tsukamae te)
Under17
3:43
2.
"S･U･K･I"
Funta
4:21
3.
"Gem Stone"
Under17 & Funta
4:53
4.
"Searching in the Field of Popotan" (ぽぽたん畑でつかまえてPopotan hatake de tsukamae te [off vocal])
Under17
3:42
5.
"S･U･K･I" (off vocal)
Funta
4:21
6.
"Gem Stone" (off vocal)
Under17 & Funta
4:47
Total length:
25:37
Popo Music
On November 27, 2003, the original anime soundtrack Popo Music was published by Lantis.[12] The soundtrack contains 30 songs, most of which were composed by Osamu Tezuka. The first and last tracks are the TV cuts of the opening and closing themes by Under17 and Funta, respectively.[13]
Popo Music
No.
Title
Music
Length
1.
"Searching in the Field of Popotan" (ぽぽたん畑でつかまえてPopotan hatake de tsukamae te [TV edit version] by Under17)
Under17
1:35
2.
"Popotan Kiss" (ぽぽたん景色Popotan Keshiki)
Osamu Tezuka
1:57
3.
"Sunset" (夕焼けYūyake)
Osamu Tezuka
1:41
4.
"Everyone is Going Out" (みんなでおでかけMinna de Odekake)
Osamu Tezuka
1:44
5.
"Curiously Drifting" (ふわっと不思議なFuwatto Fushigi na)
Osamu Tezuka
1:41
6.
"A Peaceful Day" (のんびりな毎日Nonbiri na Mainichi)
Osamu Tezuka
1:02
7.
"Activity" (活躍ですKatsuyaku desu)
Osamu Tezuka
1:01
8.
"Good" (よかったねYokatta ne)
Osamu Tezuka
1:15
9.
"Given Path" (決められた道Kimerareta Michi)
Osamu Tezuka
1:59
10.
"Laughter's End" (笑いの終焉Warai no Shūen)
Osamu Tezuka
0:18
11.
"Popotan's Destiny" (ぽぽたんのさだめPopotan no Sadame)
Osamu Tezuka
1:58
12.
"Sad" (しんみりShinmiri)
Osamu Tezuka
1:24
13.
"Well, should we get involved?" (はてな、絡んでる? Hate na, owarun deru?)
Osamu Tezuka
1:08
14.
"It is Very Quiet Now That You Are Gone..." (とてもしんみりしちゃった... Totemo shinmiri shichatta...)
Osamu Tezuka
1:54
15.
"Mystery, 3 Individuals" (不思議、3人Fushigi, Sannin)
Osamu Tezuka
0:52
16.
"Mystery in the Mansion" (洋館の不思議Yōkan no Fushigi)
Osamu Tezuka
1:25
17.
"Isn't it gorgeous?" (ゴージャスなのかなGorgeous na no ka na)
Osamu Tezuka
0:50
18.
"The Popotan's Desires" (ぽぽたんの想いPopotan no Omoi)
Osamu Tezuka
1:48
19.
"Seriously, the Situation Deepens within the Mystery" (深刻、事態はさらに謎へ Shinkoku, Jitai wa Sara ni Nazo e)
"I am Insanely Cute" (かわいくバタバタしてます Kawaiku batabata shitemasu)
Osamu Tezuka
1:10
23.
"Try to catch him?" (捕まえてごらん?Toramaete Goran?)
Osamu Tezuka
0:54
24.
"Ignoring the Conversation" (話はそっちのけ Hanashi wa socchi no ke)
Osamu Tezuka
1:10
25.
"Magical Girl Mii" (魔法少女みいタンMahō Shōjo Mii-tan)
Osamu Tezuka
1:40
26.
"Reasoning" (推理Suiri)
Osamu Tezuka
1:46
27.
"Fragments of Thought..." (思考の断片が...Shikou no kotohen ga...)
Osamu Tezuka
1:29
28.
"The Whole Day" (毎日のことごとくMainichi no Kotogotoku)
Osamu Tezuka
0:49
29.
"Welcome Popotan" (ようこそぽぽたんYōkoso Popotan)
Osamu Tezuka
1:57
30.
"S･U･K･I" ([TV edit version] by Funta)
Funta
1:35
Total length:
42:22
Radio drama
It's a Popo Time
It's a Popo Time was released November 6, 2003, by Lantis, and peaked at number 296 on the Oricon albums chart.[14] The CD contains five songs, one for each of the three sisters. In addition, the CD also contains the opening and closing theme songs for the live radio broadcast Poporaji, which is based on the anime.[15]
All tracks are written by Masumi Asano, Momoi Haruko and Sayaka Ohara
It's a Popo Time
No.
Title
Music
Length
1.
"Ai's World" (あいのせかいAi no Sekai [Ai's image song])
"Poporaji's Song" (ぽぽらじのうたPoporaji no Uta [Poporaji's closing theme])
Masumi Asano, Momoi Haruko & Sayaka Ohara
3:53
Total length:
20:50
Poporaji
The first CD, A Poporaji-like CD (｢ぽぽらじ｣っぽいCD, Poporaji ppoi CD), was released on September 26, 2003, by Lantis.[16][17] The CD contains 27 tracks that are a mix of vocals and songs by Masumi Asano, Momoi Haruko & Sayaka Ohara[17] with a guest appearance Mai Kadowaki[18] as Mea.
The second CD, A Poporaji-like CD2 (｢ぽぽらじ｣っぽいCD2, Poporaji ppoi CD2), was released on February 25, 2004, by Lantis.[19][20] The second CD contains 16 tracks, several of which repeat the names from the first disc, but are not repeat tracks. The disc also continues the story from the first disc.[19] The second CD contains the voice actors from the original and includes Kadowaki as a main cast member.[20]
Poporaji-ppoi CD 1
No.
Title
Length
1.
"'Po' Drama" (｢ぽ｣ドラマ"Po" Dorama)
1:00
2.
"Opening ♪" (オープニング〜♪Ōpuningu~♪)
1:59
3.
"Amazing Mobile Phones" (驚きの携帯電話Odoroki no Keitai Denwa)
0:55
4.
"Maimai together with... Popopoppo♪" (まいまいといっしょに...ぽぽぽっぽっ♪Maimai to Issho ni... Popopoppo♪)
2:23
5.
"Popopo Love's Theater "Search for the Popotan" First Half" (ぽぽぽ愛の劇場｢ぽぽたんを探せ!｣前編)
3:11
6.
"The Amazing ☆ Spectacular Maimai's Case" (The 絶叫☆スペシャル まいまいの場合The Zekkyou ☆ Supesharu Maimai no Baai)
1:47
7.
"The Amazing ☆ Spectacular Sayasaya's Case" (The 絶叫☆スペシャル さやさやの場合The Zekkyou ☆ Supesharu Sayasaya no Baai)
1:18
8.
"The Amazing ☆ Spectacular Momoi's Case" (The 絶叫☆スペシャル ももーいの場合The Zekkyou ☆ Supesharu Momoi no Baai)
1:14
9.
"The Amazing ☆ Spectacular Masumin's Case" (The 絶叫☆スペシャル ますみんの場合The Zekkyou ☆ Supesharu Masumin no Baai)
1:28
10.
"Popopo Love's Theater "Search for the Popotan!" Second Half" (ぽぽぽ愛の劇場｢ぽぽたんを探せ!｣後編Popopo Ai no Gekijō 'Popotan o Sagase!' Kōhen)
Under17 later re-released their songs from the visual novel, anime, and "Popotan Kiss" from Poporaji in their "Best" albums. "Say It! Popotan", "Answer", and "Magical Mii's Pong" are all released on Under17 Best Album 1: Pretty Girl Game Love Songs (Under17 Best Album1 美少女ゲームソングに愛を!!, Under17 Best Album1 Bishōjo Geemu Songu ni ai o), which appeared twice on the Oricon charts, peaking at number 93.[21][22] "Catching the Popotan Field" and "Popotan Kiss" from the anime and radio drama respectively have been released in the second volume, Under17 Best Album 2: Thoroughly Investigating Moe Songs (Under17 Best Album2 萌えソングをきわめるゾ!, Under17 Best Album2 Moe Songu o Kiwameru zo!), and appeared twice on the Oricon charts, peaking at number 50.[23][24] "Say It! Popotan", "Answer" and "Popotan Kiss" were also re-released in Under17's final "Best" album, Under17 Best Album 3: And Thus to Legend... (Under17 Best Album3 そして伝説へ..., Under17 Best Album3 Soshite Densetsu e...), which ranked three times on the Oricon charts, peaking at number 58.[25][26]
"Say It! Popotan", "Searching in the Field of Popotan", "Popotan Kiss", and "Answer" were later sung during Under17's live tour, which was later released on DVD, Under17 First Live Tour: Final And Thus to Legend... (Under17 First Live Tour Final そして伝説へ..., Under17 First Live Tour Final Soshite Densetsu he...).[27]
Notes
^A TV cut is where a song is modified for broadcast on television to fit within the length of the credits.
^"Popotan TV Information". Radio Information (in Japanese). Petit Ferret/Popo House. Archived from the original on February 9, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
^Popotan: Vanishing House (back cover). Shinichiro Kimura. Long Beach, California: Geneon. 2004 [2003].{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Petit Ferret (2003). ぽぽたんファンディスク いっしょにA・So・Bo (in Japanese).
^ぽぽたん Maxi Single [Popotan Maxi Single] (CD) (in Japanese). Under17. Japan: Petit Ferret. 2002. GRW0212-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ぽぽたん Maxi Single [Popotan Maxi Single] (back cover). Under17. Petit Ferret. GRW0212-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Teduka, Makoto (2003). Popo Music (Media notes). Japan: Lantis. LACA-5239.
^"ぽぽたん｣ヴォーカルミニアルバム｢It's A PoPoTime｣" [Popotan Vocal Mini-Album~"It's A PoPoTime"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
^It's a Popo Time! (Media notes). Masumi Asano, Momoi Haruko & Sayaka Ohara. Japan0: Lantis. 2003. LACA-5216.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ ab"ぽぽらじ｢ぽぽらじっぽいCD｣" [Poporaji: Poporajippoi CD] (in Japanese). Jbook. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
^ ab"ぽぽらじ｢ぽぽらじっぽいCD｣ TBSラジオ系｢ぽぽらじ｣より" [Poporaji: Poporajippoi CD from TBS Radio Series Poporaji] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
^Doi, Hitoshi (June 25, 2009). "SEIYUU DATABASE"(list). seiyuu radio guest list. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
^ abc"ぽぽらじっぽいCD2" [Poporajippoi CD2] (in Japanese). Jbook. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
^ ab"ぽぽらじっぽいCD TBSラジオ系｢ぽぽらじ｣より" [Poporajippoi CD2 from TBS Radio Series Poporaji] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
^"美少女ゲームソングに愛を!!" [Pretty Girl Love Songs]. Oricon. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
^"Under17 Best Album2 萌えソングをきわめるゾ!" [Under17 Best Album 2: Thoroughly Investigating Moe Songs]. Oricon. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
^"Under17 ベストアルバム2 "萌えソングをきわめるゾ!!" [Under17 Best Album 2: Thoroughly Investigating Moe Songs]. Oricon. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2009.