Ai
main character
TV
5.8
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 12
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
- Format
- TV series
- Episodes
- 12
- Episode length
- 24 min
- Total watch time
- 4 h 48 min
- Status
- Finished
- Aired
- July 18, 2003 – October 3, 2003
- Season
- Summer 2003
- Source
- Visual novel
- Studio
- Shaft
- Director
- Shinichirou Kimura
- Original creator
- Petit Ferret
- Music
- Osamu Tezuka
- Age rating
- R — Mild Nudity
- Country
- Japan
- AniList score
- 58/100
Estimated watch time
4h 48m
⚡ 3 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Time Manipulation85%Female Protagonist79%Primarily Female Cast79%Nudity70%Tomboy70%Denpa70%Maids70%Artificial Intelligence60%Kuudere46%
overview details
Synopsis
Beautiful sisters Ai, Mai, Mii, their android maid Mea and slippery pet ferret Unagi make an amazing journey together through time and space without ever leaving their beloved mansion behind! Following the clues of the strange dandelion-like "Popotan," the girls are theoretically seeking the person who has the answers to their most personal questions, but they seem to have more than enough time to take side trips, meet new friends, visit hot springs and occasionally operate the X-mas shop they keep in the house along the way! Yet, the girls' ultimate destiny holds more than a few surprises of its own, and not every moment is filled with hilarity, as moving through time means having to leave friends behind as well. (Source: RightStuf)
Main cast & voice actors
Should you watch Popotan?
Only if you enjoy comedy, drama and ecchi, especially stories with time manipulation, female protagonist, primarily female cast.
Reception is lukewarm: 58/100 on AniList, with 22% of 1.9K ratings at 8/10 or higher. It's the #74 highest-rated anime of 2003.
11.3% of viewers drop it before the end, more than most, so give it a few episodes to see if it clicks.
At about 4 h 48 min in total, it is a short commitment — a weekend binge.
Where to Watch Officially
Availability, audio and subtitles vary by region and service.
Episodes
12 episodes are listed.
Creators & key staff
- Original creator
- Petit Ferret
- Director
- Shinichirou Kimura
- Series composition
- Jukki Hanada
- Character design
- Haruka Sakurai
- Music
- Osamu Tezuka
Related entries
Opening & ending themes
Openings (1)
- OP1“Popotan Hatake de Tsukamaete” · eps 2-12
Endings (1)
- ED1“S.U.K.I”
Theme data from AnimeThemes.moe.
If you like Popotan
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Popotan FAQ
How many episodes does Popotan have?
Popotan has 12 episodes of about 24 minutes each, roughly 4 h 48 min in total.
How long does it take to watch Popotan?
About 4 h 48 min back to back. At two episodes a day it takes 6 days; at one hour a day, about 5 days.
Is Popotan finished?
Yes. Popotan has finished airing — the final episode aired October 3, 2003.
Is there a season 2 of Popotan?
No sequel is listed for Popotan as of October 2026.
Is Popotan based on a visual novel?
Yes. Popotan adapts the visual novel by Petit Ferret.
Who animated Popotan?
Popotan was animated by Shaft and directed by Shinichirou Kimura.
Who sings the opening of Popotan?
The opening, "Popotan Hatake de Tsukamaete", is performed by an uncredited artist.
Where can I watch Popotan?
Popotan is listed on HIDIVE. Availability varies by region — check the streaming links on this page.