Search - Popotan - Enigma (Vol. 2) on DVD

Its all in the underlying theme

Geoff H | Wellington NZ | 06/08/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A bit dificult to review disc 2 of 3 without generalising for the series. You will only buy this if you got disc one and liked that anyway.

The nuts and bolts: well drawn, nothing jars (such as poor frame rate). Sound is good. Subtitles pretty much agree with the English soundtrack, so you wont miss too much info if you listen to the Japanese (which is always more fun anyway).

The story. Not really a gripping tale; I kept watching to see where it was going. Of course, there was no resolution - that's for the next series! (Please give us the funds to make another series Mr Producer...) No, it's the human relationship aspect that really hooked me. I imagine anyone who has moved around alot residentially will appreciate this story and the lesson it gives. It wasn't what I expected going into it, but I liked it a lot by the end.

One weird aspect which may be the culture gap between Asia & ROW: the story could almost be aimed at 10 year olds (and up)and then BANG! the girls are all in the bath together. More nudity here than in Love Hina, Chobits and others of similar ilk. I'm not complaining mind, but the 16 up age restriction must have limited the market.

So, with regard to the above - 4 stars. There is better out there and this is not essential viewing, but you won't come away feeling you've wasted your money."

PoPoTan Revisited

Scott Martin Gavin | Klamath Falls, Oregon United States | 06/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second disk in a three disk series, and the episodes on this disk begin to pay-off on the premise set up in the first four episodes. These four episodes do little to explain the mysteries of the series - like who the girls really are - what is this quest they are on - and why do they keep talking to dandelions? Once again, the episodes are almost marred by an excess of "fan service" - which, I guess, can be explained by a series based on a hentai game - but the series begings to introduce some serious elements among all the goofiness. The sisters begin to experience some of the consequences of their traveling through time and space, and, due to a misadventure, are tragically separated. And Ai has a brief love affair with somebody who may be a hero or a villain. I began to fear that the producers were going to "Tenchi Muyo" us by suddenly introducing world shattering villans and giving the heroines sudden mysterious super abilities to combat the threat, but, instead, they threw a curve and instead give us an episode about a Shinto shrine maiden who longs to experience a Christmas party and her cranky grandfather who wants to give her a Christmas present but doesn't want to violate his Shinto vows in doing so. I was left thinking "where is this series taking us?" which is not a bad thing for the middle portion of a story arc. The emotions the girls displayed when the sisters meet up again (and I trust I am not spoiling the "surprise" since the back of the DVD gives away the reunion) make the episodes worthwhile. Anybody who has brothers or sisters with whom they bicker and tease but secretly care for will empathise with the Ai, Mai and Mii. Be sure to have flouride toothpaste on hand, as the final episode on the disk is so sweet it will induce cavities."