The appeal and evaluation of NetGhost PIPOPA: An anime that reflects the modern digital world

NetGhost PIPOPA - A fascinating adventure in the online world

The TV anime series "Net Ghost PIPOPA", which aired from 2008 to 2009, is set in the high-tech city of Kamimai and follows the adventures of elementary school student Akikawa Yuuta and his net ghost Pipopa, who travel between the cyberspace and the real world. The 51 episodes were broadcast every Sunday morning from 8:30 to 9:00 on TV Tokyo. It was an original anime work, with a story by Iwata Naomi, directed by Kimura Shinichiro, and produced by Studio Hibari.

story

Akigawa Yuuta is a fifth grade elementary school student who transferred from the countryside to the high-tech city of Kamimai. One day, Yuuta receives a mysterious email, and the moment he tries to open it, he is sucked into his cell phone. When he comes to his senses, he finds himself in a vast, space-like space before his eyes, which is the world of the Internet, or cyberspace. There, Yuuta meets the cyber ghosts Pit, Pot, and Pat, commonly known as "Pipopa." Despite being attacked by viruses and exposed to various dangers, he is able to return to the human world with the help of Pipopa and the others. However, when he wakes up the next morning, he hears the voices of Pipopa and the others on his cell phone, saying, "It's thanks to us that you were able to return safely, so please help us out in various ways from now on." Thus begins Yuuta and Pipopa's mysterious adventure.

character

The main character, Akigawa Yuuta, is timid and timid, but through his encounters with the Pipopas, he learns the importance of courage and trust. Pit, the leader of the Pipopas, is a character who is proactive but short-tempered, has strong opinions, and quickly gets out of control. Pot is laid-back and airheaded, and a big eater, but is also the strongest man in the online world. Pat is a polite, calm, and intelligent person who is good at data analysis and operating programs, but he also panics when he can't get the answer he wants with his calculations.

Yuuta's classmate, Sobue Hikaru, is an active and curious girl who is interested in Yuuta and Pipopa's existence and acts together with them. Shindo Mamoru was Yuuta's best friend before he transferred schools and is a genius programmer with a wealth of knowledge about computers and the Internet. Enoshima Kazushige, Kitayama Kosuke, and Matsushita Shuzo are petty bullies in Yuuta's class and have a crush on Hikaru. Yuuta's parents, Akikawa Kenta and Akikawa Yuko, work as freelance photographer and programmer, respectively.

In the online world, a wide variety of unique characters appear, including the mysterious woman Net Venus, Biboba, who calls himself Pipopa's rival, and Jin Kazama, the young president of Dream Future Co., Ltd. In addition, many important characters who add excitement to the story also appear, such as Yuuta's classmate Karin Yukitani, transfer student Sayaka Elenkova, and the online ghost Ecoron.

Production Staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Net Ghost PIPOPA." The original story was written by Iwata Naomi, the director was Kimura Shinichiro, the series composition was Yamada Yasutomo, and the character designs were by Konuma Katsusuke and Iwasa Tomoko. The mechanic and prop designs were by Moriki Yasuyasu and Iwahata Goichi, the chief animation directors were Konuma Katsusuke, Iwasa Tomoko, and Yamagata Koji, and the action animation director was Kondo Takamitsu. The art director was Nemoto Kuniaki, the art setting was Kanehira Kazushige, the color design was Miyagawa Takae, the cinematographer was Watanabe Nobuyuki, the editor was Sakamoto Masaki, the sound director was Takahashi Tsuyoshi, and the music was Iwasaki Motoyoshi. The animation was produced by Studio Hibari, with production cooperation from transcosmos.

Broadcast information

"Net Ghost PIPOPA" was broadcast on TV Tokyo from April 6, 2008 to March 29, 2009, every Sunday morning from 8:30 to 9:00. It was a total of 51 episodes. It was broadcast nationwide on six stations: TV Tokyo, TV Hokkaido, TV Aichi, TV Osaka, TV Setouchi, and TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting.

Theme songs and music

The three opening themes are "Password@PIPOPA" (lyrics by Iwata Naomi, composition and arrangement by Iwasaki Motoyoshi, sung by Bungo Atsuko), "Get On Up" (lyrics by Yoko Hiji, composition by Ryuichiro Yamaki, sung by Sugimoto Sisters), and "Password@PIPOPA" (lyrics by Iwata Naomi, composition by Iwasaki Motoyoshi, arrangement by Kuraya Tomohisa, sung by COON). The two ending themes are "Hoshi Kirari" (lyrics by Noguchi Kei, composition by Kurebe Takuya, sung by COON) and "Virtual☆Love" (lyrics by Yoko Hiji, composition by Ryuichiro Yamaki, sung by Sugimoto Sisters). These songs are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the anime.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Net Ghost PIPOPA" was created as an anime for children, but the appeal of its story and characters has made it popular with a wide range of age groups. In particular, the setting of traveling between the cyberspace and the real world, and the adventures of the unique characters, have provided many viewers with inspiration and laughter. There are also many episodes that depict the problems of the internet society and the importance of communication, so it also contains educational elements.

This anime provides a good opportunity to teach children about the fun and dangers of the online world. Also, watching it with the whole family can be a good opportunity to deepen communication between parents and children. Furthermore, the unique setting of internet ghosts and the humorous characters of Pipopa and the others make it enjoyable for adults as well.

"Net Ghost PIPOPA" is a new type of anime that was born with the evolution of the Internet society, and the appeal of its story and characters continues to attract many fans. Please watch this work and enjoy the adventures of Yuuta and Pipopa.