Pop in Q (ポッピンQ, PoppinQ) is a 2016 Japanese animated fantasy dance film directed by Naoki Miyahara and written by Shūko Arai from an original story conceived by Izumi Todo. Produced by Toei Animation and distributed by Toei Company, the story of the film revolves around five middle school girls being sent to a fantasy world a day before their graduation day, and must avert the crisis through the power of dance and unity. It was released in Japan on December 23, 2016.
Overview[]
This is an original theatrical anime produced as part of the 60th anniversary project of Toei Animation, directed for the first time by Naoki Miyahara, who has been involved in the animation and CG production of numerous Toei anime such as "Dragon Ball Z" (animation director, CG director), "Digimon Adventure" (chief animation director), and the "Pretty Cure" series (CG director, etc.).
The screenplay is written by Yoshiko Arai, who has worked on many drama scripts, including "Bengoshi no Kuzu." This is Arai's first time writing a script for an anime work. The original character designs are by Kōhaku Kuroboshi, who participated in "Kino's Journey" (illustrations) and the "Summon Night" series (character design), among others.
The story is a coming-of-age tale featuring five girls on the brink of graduating from middle school, set primarily in the otherworldly "Valley of Time," and unfolds around music and dance.
The project publicly began in April 2015 under the title "File(N): project PQ," and a pilot version was released as part of a dance feature page on Yahoo! Kids, showcasing videos of the heroines and the Poppin' tribe dancing. Initially scheduled for release in January 2017, the film was moved up to December 23, 2016, due to an overwhelming response that exceeded the expectations of the production team. Toei, the distributor, decided to promote it as the first major film of the New Year and a key release for the winter break.
Subsequently, crowdfunding projects for a sequel were conducted twice in 2019 and 2020, both of which significantly exceeded their funding goals. On October 14, 2021, a novel serving as a sequel to the film was released (for details, refer to the movements towards the sequel).
Synopsis[]
The story begins the day before the graduation ceremony. Five middle school girls each are preoccupied with their real everyday lives. These girls meet each other in a fantasy world after being sent there through a sudden occurrence. There, they learn about the impending crisis that this world is facing. The way to avert this crisis is for the five to collaborate and bring their five hearts together as one through dance.
However, the five cannot come to love the world, and cannot tell their true feelings to one another, so their hearts are unable to unite. The time limit is fast approaching. Can the dance of the five girls save the world? And will they be able to graduate?
(Source: ANN)
Published Book[]
Additionally, a comic adaptation illustrated by Chihiro Komori has been serialized in Shogakukan's "Ciao," and a two-page manga illustrated by Yūki Harami has been published in "Puchigumi." Novelizations have been released under the names Izumi Tōdō and Masamizu Akitsu, published by Shogakukan's Junior Library. Separately from the aforementioned comic adaptation, "Pop in Q reverse," a web series summarizing the prequel to the film, has been distributed in "Comic Newtype," illustrated by Saki Sanju.
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Manga Title Volume | Pop in Q Reverse |
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| Original Released Date | February 25, 2017 | |
| Original ISBN | 978-4-04-105457-4 |
Furthermore, from May 5 to July 30, 2017, a side story consisting of six episodes titled "The Story of the Five Heroines Until They Enter High School" was exclusively published in Animate Times, illustrated by Yamazumi.
Film[]
The film was announced in April 2015. A teaser trailer was released in March 2016. A crowdfunding campaign for a sequel novella was launched on October 28, 2019, with the goal being reached the following day. A crowdfunding campaign for a second novella was launched on December 7, 2020, and was later reached on January 25, 2021. The film stars the voices of Asami Seto, Shiori Izawa, Atsumi Tanezaki, Ari Ozawa, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Marina Tanoue, Kaori Ishihara, Kaede Hondo, M・A・O, Satomi Arai, Unshō Ishizuka, Erii Yamazaki, Azusa Tadokoro and Megumi Toda. Pop in Q is the 60th-anniversary production of animation studio Toei Animation.
- Staff:
- Director: Naoki Miyahara
- Screenplay: Shuko Arai
- Storyboard: Miho Hirayama, Naoki Miyahara, Yūya Takahashi
- Music: Hiromi Mizutani (Team-MAX), Shūji Katayama (Team-MAX)
- Original Work: Izumi Todo
- Original Character Design: Kouhaku Kuroboshi
- Character Design: Takayuki Uragami
- Art Director: Minoru Ōnishi
- Chief Animation Director: Takayuki Uragami
- Animation Director: Ikuko Ito, Takayuki Uragami
- Art design: Nobuto Sakamoto
- Sound Director: Naoki Miyahara
- Cgi Director: Daiki Nakazawa
- Director of Photography: Shunsuke Nakamura
- Executive producer: Hajime Satomi, Hiromi Kitazaki, Minoru Iwaki
- Producer: Hiroshi Kanemaru
It was broadcast on Kids Station from 9:00 PM on September 15, 2018 and from 9:00 PM on December 22, 2018. The Blu-ray and DVD were released on June 2, 2017.
| TEASERS | |
| TRAILERS | |
Web Radio[]
Under the title "Radio Pop in Q - Just a Little More Interesting, That Alone Can Change the World," it began streaming on Onsen from March 27, 2016. It was updated bi-weekly on Fridays starting from the second episode on April 29 of the same year. From July 22 (the sixth episode), it also began streaming on HiBiKi Radio Station and Animate Times. Updates switched to weekly Fridays starting October 28 of the same year. From April 7, 2017, it returned to bi-weekly Fridays, concluding with the final episode on June 30 (the 41st episode). The personalities were Asami Seto (playing Izumi Kominato), Ari Ozawa (playing Asahi Daido), and Tomoyo Kurosawa (playing Saki Tokui). Additionally, a special mini-program titled "Radio Pop in Q 'Let's Find Cute Things with Asahi Daido♪'" was streamed on the official website.
Online Program[]
"Mafia Kajita Can't Stop Thinking About 'Poppin Q' Exploration Team! (マフィア梶田が気になってしょうがない「ポッピンQ」探検隊！)" was uploaded on the YouTube "Animate Times" channel every third Friday of the month starting July 22, 2016. The cast includes Mafia Kajita (Game Writer) and Hiroshi Kanemaru (Producer of 'Poppin Q'). In the second episode, A.O.P's Yui Fukuo made a guest appearance.
PR Activities[]
In 2016, various events and collaborations were conducted as part of the film's PR.
At Sanrio Puroland, multiple special stages were held where the Poppin' Tribe danced with Hello Kitty. Additionally, Poppin' Q sponsored the "Village Shop" as the 2016 Friendly Company within the park.
A Poppin' Tribe show was held on a special stage at the "Miki House Land" event hosted by Miki House.
Character[]
The protagonist is a third-year junior high school student living in Nakatosacho, Kochi Prefecture. She belongs to the track and field club. She regrets not achieving the results she wanted at the prefectural track and field competition. Due to her father's job, it has been decided that she will move to Tokyo after graduation, but she cannot accept this and is rebelling against her parents. She has a bright personality and hates to lose, but this sometimes leads to a lack of consideration for others. She picked up a piece of sand from the beach near "Hoshigahama Station," which she visited while riding a train on his way to school (heading in the opposite direction and outside of his commuting area).
She meets "Pocon" in the "Valley of Time" and takes on the role of saving the "crisis of the world." His counterpart is Pocon. The origin of her name comes from the Kominato Railway and Isumi Railway running in Chiba Prefecture. In the side story, she participated in karaoke at a farewell party and left for Tokyo with her family the next day. However, she accidentally sent a message to Miharu and the others on LINE, and he was blushing in the airplane, thinking, "I messed up."
Abilities[]
"Sometimes people face trials which they should not escape from. — Is what my grandpa said."
― Isumi Kominato
Poppin Dance Form
As the graduation ceremony, which Izumi thought was just a checkpoint, approached, the third-year middle school student found herself unable to move forward. One day, while on the train to school, she picked up a beautifully shining "Fragment of Time" on the sandy beach near "Hoshigahama Station." In a hurry to return to the station to catch her train, she tapped her commuter pass at the ticket gate and suddenly got lost in a mysterious world called "Valley of Time." There, she met her peers Aoi, Konatsu, and Asahi, as well as the Poppin tribe who live in the "Valley of Time" and manage the "Time of the World."
She meets "Pocon" in the "Valley of Time" and takes on the role of saving the "crisis of the world." Her counterpart is Pocon. To escape the crisis, they had to gather the "Fragments of Time" they possessed and perform a "dance" that synchronized their minds, skills, and bodies. They embarked on a journey to the distant "Castle of Time," facing the impending crisis and the strict dance training from the Poppin tribe, leaving Izumi and her friends bewildered. In the midst of this, Saki, an experienced dancer, appeared.
- In the story, five girls obtain crystal-like, fan-shaped fragments called "Fragments of Time (時のカケラ)." In reality, these are pieces of a control device called the "Seed of Time," which governs the time of various worlds. One of the six divided pieces leads the heroines to the "Valley of Time."
- A hub that connects the timelines of all parallel worlds is called the "Valley of Time (時の谷)." It is inhabited by a race known as the Poppin tribe, who manage and operate the "time of the world" using the control device called the "Seed of Time." If the "Seed of Time" malfunctions, it risks disrupting the timelines of all worlds, including the human world, potentially leading to their collapse.
Her "Poppin Dance Form" wears pants, goggles on the head, a long scarf around the neck, and red scrunchies on both wrists the legs are adorned with heel-type shoes, and the lower legs are tied with long ribbons, it has designed to protect the user from the effects of being in a world with a different time flow. This appearance enables high-speed movement (according to Ao's ability, "DASH"). The ability awakened by mastering the Dance of Courage is 【DASH】. As the name suggests, it is the ability to run at high speed. According to the setting materials in the pamphlet, it converts determination into power to enhance physical abilities.
Isumi channels that power into her legs, enabling high-speed movement. Her leg strength is astonishing, capable of kicking the ground with such force that it cracks the surface. (For this reason, its use may be restricted in areas with poor footing.) The origin of the ability is, needless to say, derived from Isumi's strong desire to "run."
In the Last Dance of the Time Keepers. A short promotional video and novel created through crowdfunding. As a high school student, Isumi Kominato reunites with her friends (Aoi Hioka, Konatsu Tomodate, Asahi Ōmichi, and Saki Tsukui.) And once again, she transforms to protect the world from the brink of destruction against Reno Kirishima and Luke.
| POP IN Q's INSERT SONGS | |
| 《Gallery》 |
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Event[]
Project19[]
On December 22, 2018, the second TV broadcast took place, and it was announced on the official Twitter that a crowdfunding project was underway. About eight months later, on August 24, 2019, a fan meeting called "project19" was held in Tokyo, where the outline of the project was revealed. The content of the returns primarily consists of short stories depicting the daily lives of the five heroines during spring break, as well as the unsettling developments quietly occurring around them, written by author Senya Mihagi in collaboration with director Miyahara.
The project started on October 28 at 20:00 and surpassed its target amount of 2.5 million yen in less than an hour. The reception continued until November 29 at 23:59, and the total amount raised by the end was 12,277,200 yen. Miyahara did not anticipate such a response and had initially thought of using his funds as a catalyst for the project.
On February 8, 2020, an event for one of the return courses was held in Tokyo, where 120 participants received return goods directly from Miyahara, along with autographs and handshakes. The project is planned to continue as "project20," and it has been revealed that video adaptation is also being considered.
Project20[]
As the second project, it started on December 8, 2020, at 20:00 and reached its target amount of 14,500,000 yen on January 12, 2021.
The main returns included a full-length novel depicting the aftermath of the film's end credits, as well as the production of an animated PV that visualizes part of it, marking the project as the most significant climax. Additionally, the novel was set to be released to the general public. The full-length novel was written by Senya Mihagi, continuing from the short story in the previous "project19," and the cover is planned to feature a new illustration by Kuroboshi Kouhaku.
The Pop in Q NEXT STAGE! acceptance continued until 23:59 on January 25, 2021, with the total support amount at the end reaching 25,669,319 yen, which is 177% of the target amount.
Subsequently, it was announced that two novels, "The Last Dance of the Timekeepers (Tokimori-tachi no Last Dance, 時守たちのラストダンス)" and "Welcome Home on Tanabata Night (Tanabata no Yoru ni Okaeri,七夕の夜におかえり)," would be released simultaneously on October 14, 2021, as a collaboration project between Kawade Shobō Shinsha (河出書房新社) and Toei Animation, along with the release of a 90-second version of the animated PV produced during the project.
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Light Novel Title | The Last Dance of the Timekeepers (時守たちのラストダンス) |
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Light Novel Title | Welcome Home on Tanabata Night (七夕の夜におかえり) |
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| Released Date | October 13, 2021 | Released Date | October 13, 2021 | ||
| ISBN | 978-4-30-902994-8 | ISBN | 978-4-30-902995-5 |
The animated PV was created with the main staff of the film, including director Miyahara, and the theme song "Fairy Tale" by Yuki Tsujimura was selected. The recording featured Asami Seto, who played the protagonist Izumi Kominato.
Game[]
From February 23, 2017, to February 28, 2018, Sega Games released a music game app for iOS and Android called "Poppin Q Dance for Quintet! ( ポッピンQ Dance for Quintet！)" This game is a one-time purchase type. In addition to the Poppin Dance Form that appears in the story, the heroines have an original game costume called "Rainbow Quintet Form," which can be selected during gameplay.
Release[]
In March 2016, it was announced in the teaser that the film was scheduled for release in the winter of 2016. A trailer released in July 2016 announced that the film was scheduled for release in January 2017. Another trailer released in September 2016 announced that the film would be released on December 23, 2016. It premiered in 221 theaters in Japan.
External Link[]
- Film "Pop in Q" Official website - Toei Animation (in Japanese)
- Film "Pop in Q" Official website (in Japanese)
- Film "Pop in Q (Holiday Event)" Youtube website (in Japanese)
- Game "Poppin Q Dance for Quintet!" Official website (in Japanese)
- Film "Pop in Q" Official (@POPIN_Q_staff) - Twitter X
- Pop in Q Reverse — Official Manga Website
- Theatrical Anime "Poppin Q" Complete New Short Story (Novella) Production Project - Crowdfunding CAMPFIRE (1st Project)
- "Poppin Q" NEXT STAGE! New Novel & Anime PV Production Project - Crowdfunding CAMPFIRE (2nd Project)
- Radio "Poppin Q ~Just a little bit of fun can change the world~" — Wayback Machine (Archived on April 1, 2016)
- Poppin Q — Wikipedia JP
- Poppin Q — Wikipedia EN
See Also[]
- Isekai Tenisha no My Pace Kouryakuki, is a another manga series with the same illustrator.
Trivia[]
to be added.