English Dub Review: Pop Team Epic “Dancing with a Miracle”

Life in the big city.

Overview (Spoilers Below)
 
Dancing with a Miracle:
A young boy runs away to New York, and is saved by Pipimi and Popuko. He accompanies them as they go on adventures throughout the city, often venting his problems to them. He feels like these were the best days of his life, but it comes to an end when the girls ask him to slice up some bluefin. While he’s hesitant, he quickly realizes that it was his own cowardice that prevented him from growing up. The next day, he vows to return home, a changed man. Years later, he’s grown up to become the new mayor of New York and finishes his speech thanking the girls for changing his life. 
It’s a parody of a lot of soul-searching American films, where the protagonist leaves his hometown on a journey to find himself. A small thing usually ends up having a large impact on the protagonist, and it was the same this time as well– except the protagonist really was a small thing. Pipimi and Popuko didn’t actually talk to him at all, they were merely letting him hang around as they did their own thing.
Score

8/10

 

Taichan Body Parts:

A heart and a hand perform stand up comedy.

It’s definitely weird to see body parts with the girls’ features making puns onstage.

Score

5/10

 

Latte Art:

Popuko overhears some customers asking for latte art, so she orders one of her own. Before the waitress can put it down, Popuko drinks the whole thing.

The whole point of latte art is that it’s time-consuming and extremely detailed. In JP fandoms, it’s not uncommon to see fans creating latte art dedicated to their favorite characters or people. It’s still very trendy, and so Popuko tries it out– only to ignore it completely.

Score

9/10

 

What Would You Do:

Pipimi asks Popuko what she’d do if only 10 people out of 1000 liked her. Popuko begins to cry, asking Pipimi to please stay with her. Pipimi then counters by asking Popuko what she’d do if only Pipimi believed in her. Popuko is moved, and calls Pipimi the center of her universe.

This is clearly a romantic moment. Two people talking by the riverside in the sunset as people pass them by is a common sight in highschool romance series. The fact that Popuko responds so strongly to Pipimi is also pretty indicative of something more than friendship.

Score

8/10

 

Japon Mignon:

Popuko and Pipimi are in France, and decide to eat at a French restaurant. They order something from the menu, but it’s way too pungent for their tastes. Instead, they go to eat at a ramen shop.

Japon Mignon have always been fun sketches, poking fun at French culture while being made by a French animator. This time it makes fun of their cuisine, and how tourists trying to be fancy might end up ordering something they weren’t prepared for.

Score

8/10

 

Other Skits:

Popuko stalls a bunny that’s late for a party with some wild moves. When Pipimi tries to tell a joke, Popuko gets the dramatic music ready too early.

 

Best Sketch: Latte Art

Worst Sketch: Taichan Body Parts