The appeal and evaluation of "Pusonikomi": A must-see in-depth review for fans

"Pusonikomi" - A relaxing anime born from a game

"Pusonikomi" is a short anime based on the popular SEGA game "Phantasy Star Online 2 (PSO2)". It was distributed on YouTube and Niconico Video from January 8 to May 20, 2019. Although it is a short 20-episode series of about 5 minutes each, it was loved by many fans for its humorous depiction of everyday life that makes use of the worldview of the game.

■ Public Media

WEB

■ Original Media

game

■ First appearance date

January 8, 2019 - May 20, 2019
0:00～

■ How it first appeared

YouTube, Niconico Video

■Frequencies

5 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 20

■Original Story

Pekeko

■ Director

Asao Yuji

■ Production

Produced by Point Pictures

■Works

©SEGA

■ Story

"Pusonikomi" is a work that depicts the daily lives of PSO2 players in the game. The players, known as ARKS, meet in the game, go on adventures, sometimes laugh, and sometimes worry, in a comical way. The appeal of the story is that it makes use of the worldview of the game while reflecting the feelings and communication of real players.

■Cast

・Mitarashi/Tanabe Rui・Tetra/Hikisaka Rie・Ichika/Kaneda Aki・Zekt/Sato Tomohiro・Makino/Senbongi Sayaka・Dolce/Kiyo Ayaka・Mitarashi Real/Tanabe Rui・Tetra Real/Hikisaka Rie・Ichika Real/Kaneda Aki

■ Main staff

Original story: Pekeko Director: Yuji Asao Produced by: Point Pictures Produced by: Sega Games

■ Main Characters

・Mitarashi・Tetra・Ichika・Sekt・Makino・Dolce・Mitarashi Real・Tetra Real・Ichika Real

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: An RPG that starts with "Happy New Year"
・Episode 2 / Arks has a history・Episode 3 / §Ichika§ and the mysterious Makino-kun・Episode 4 / Aiming for the bonus key gold・Episode 5 / The secret of the character name and the mug・Episode 6 / The secret of the screenshots・Episode 7 / Zect and a memorable weapon・Episode 8 / What is the ultimate character creation?
・Episode 9/That Obsession・Episode 10/My Girlfriend's Circumstances・Episode 11/Let's go to Thanksgiving!
・Episode 12/The Curious Dolce-san・Episode 13/The Old Man Level Max・Episode 14/Invitation On and Off・Episode 15/Welcome to ARKS Hot Springs・Episode 16/Honest Feelings and Pretense・Episode 17/Episode 6 and the Past I Want to Erase・Episode 18/Have You Known? Have You Not?
・Episode 19/Why I can't log in ・Episode 20/Everyone's boiled communication

■ Theme songs and music

・Theme song: "Niko☆Communication"
Lyrics: Beat Mario Composition: ARM, Beat Mario Arrangement: ARM, Beat Mario

The appeal and evaluation of "Pusonikomi"

"Pusonikomi" is a work that has been widely accepted not only by game fans but also by anime fans. Let's take a closer look at its appeal and evaluation.

Attraction for game fans

"Pusonikomi" is full of episodes that PSO2 players can relate to. For example, in episode 5, "The Secret of Character Names and Mags," players are shown to be particular about their character names and mugs (pets). This reflects the unique way of enjoying the game and the particularities that are unique to people who play it, and tickles the hearts of players. Also, in episode 7, "Zekt and Memorable Weapons," there is a scene where players talk about weapons that they have an attachment to, making you feel the joy of sharing memories in the game.

In addition, episode 11, "Let's go to Thanksgiving!", features the PSO2 event "Thanksgiving," and depicts players getting excited together. These episodes will have a special meaning for fans of the game, and you can enjoy both the game and the anime.

Appealing to anime fans

"Pusonikomi" is a comedy anime that can be enjoyed even without any knowledge of the game. Although each episode is only 5 minutes long, the humorous story and the individuality of the characters shine through. For example, the RPG that begins in episode 1, "Happy New Year," is a parody of an RPG that starts with a New Year's greeting, and even if you don't know the game, you'll find it funny. Also, episode 15, "Welcome to ARKS Onsen," is a comedy set in a hot spring, and you can enjoy the humorous exchanges between the characters.

In addition, the setting in which real-life and in-game versions of characters appear is unique, and the gags that go back and forth between the real and game worlds are appealing. For example, real-life and in-game versions of Mitarashi, Tetra, and Ichika appear, and you can enjoy their differences and similarities. These elements provide a fresh and fun experience for anime fans.

The production staff's commitment

The production staff of "Pusonikomi" have faithfully reproduced the worldview of the original game while putting in a lot of effort to develop a unique story. Director Yuji Asao is known as a PSO2 fan, and he produced the anime with a thorough understanding of the game's details. In addition, production company Point Pictures is particular about character design and background art in order to incorporate the game's graphics into the anime.

In particular, the theme song "Niko☆Communication" was created through a collaboration between Beat Mario and ARM, and is an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the anime. The attention to detail of the two artists involved in the lyrics, composition, and arrangement is conveyed to viewers.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Pusonikomi" has been highly praised by viewers. In particular, game fans have commented that "it faithfully reproduces the world of PSO2" and "it allows players to empathize." Anime fans have also commented that "the story is short but funny" and "the characters' personalities shine through."

Furthermore, social media and comment sections have become a place where viewers can share their gaming experiences and empathize with each other. For example, comments such as "The episode about Zect in episode 7 was moving" and "The hot spring scene in episode 15 was the best" have been seen, and viewers are actively communicating with each other. These reactions are proof that "Pusonikomi" is loved by viewers and speak to the success of the work.

Recommended points of "Pusonikomi"

"Pusonikomi" is a work that can be enjoyed by both game and anime fans. Below are some recommended points.

Recommended points for game fans

・Faithfully recreates the world of PSO2 ・Full of episodes that players can empathize with ・Enjoy a story that reflects in-game events and details

Recommended points for anime fans

・A humorous story that will make you laugh even though it's short ・The characters' personalities shine ・Enjoy the gags that go back and forth between the real world and the game world

General recommendation points

・The production staff's attention to detail is apparent. ・Active communication between viewers. ・The theme song "Niko☆Communication" adds excitement.

summary

"Pusonikomi" is a short anime based on SEGA's popular game "Phantasy Star Online 2." Making use of the game's worldview, this work depicts humorous everyday life and has been loved by many viewers, both game and anime fans. Although each episode is only five minutes long, the personalities of the characters and the charm of the story shine through, and there is lively communication between viewers. You can feel the commitment of the production staff in this work, so we highly recommend giving it a watch.