A yonkoma manga written and illustrated by Bkub Okawa, the beloved Pop Team Epic received an anime adaptation in April 2017 produced by two studios, Kamikaze Douga and Space Neko Company. The show proved popular enough to eventually be included in Adult Swim's Toonami block the following year as well.
Pop Team Epic was one of the most absurd anime to come out of 2017, and now Season 2 is slated to premiere in the Fall 2022 lineup on October 1. But before the second season premieres, here's a quick recap of what happened in season 1.
What Is Pop Team Epic About?
Pop Team Epic isn't necessarily about anything in particular -- and that's the beauty of it. It's weird, it's silly, and it's random as all heck. Starring two teenage girls named Popuko and Pipimi, the show follows them as they do stuff. There isn't a consistent narrative throughout the show, as the girls go through different situations and settings in each episode.
From parodies to puppets to fourth wall breaking, this show absolutely refuses to be predictable. Not even its voice cast is consistently the same each episode, employing a variety of veteran voice actors and actresses to voice its two female leads. It's weird and zany, and somehow, it just works.
What Makes Pop Team Epic Unique
Pop Team Epic is a variety show consisting of several different skits and segments throughout its 30-minute run. It employs the use of both 3D and 2D animation, with Kamikaze Douga responsible for the former and Neko Space Company behind the latter. Besides the animated portions, there are also a few segments that feature the use of puppets as well as a few live-action segments, even featuring a surprise guest appearance by popular voice actor Shouta Aoi in Season 1's final episode.
The show is also notable for being divided into two halves. Both halves feature the same segments, but the script and cast for the second half are distinctly different enough for it to qualify as completely new material despite recycling the same footage. The voices for Popuko and Pipimi also differ between the two halves, with one set being voiced by female voice actresses and another set voiced by male ones.
What to Expect From Pop Team Epic Season 2
The teaser for Season 2 brings a surprising twist by referencing the plotline from Season 1's finale. It's narrated by Shouta Aoi as he attempts to once again help restore the timeline within the Pop Team Epic universe, but an evil version of him seems to be getting in the way.
Of course, with this being Pop Team Epic, it's highly unlikely this storyline will be taken seriously -- or if it'll even show up at all, because that's what Pop Team Epic is all about. The narrative doesn't care about audience expectations or consistent plot threads. These characters are just doing their own thing, and their fans love them for it.
Where to Watch Pop Team Epic
Pop Team Epic's first season was notable for streaming on several platforms instead of just one: Crunchyroll, Funimation, HIDIVE, Prime Video and AsianCrush. Season 2, however, will be making history as the first-ever anime to premiere on TikTok Live. For North America specifically, Crunchyroll will be streaming Season 2 in its entirety, with the premiere set to arrive on October 1.