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Shelf Life - Dragon Age

If I only watch a title once, it's a rental, but if I find it morally repugnant, it's perishable. Like Popotan.

The truly disturbing thing about Popotan is not just that Mii exists, or that in the visual novel this series is based on, Mii gets more sex scenes than any other character.

I'd like to state here that I'm not some kind of prude.

Of course Popotan gets perishable, never mind the fact it's the only show with actual heart in this column.

The loli has been a staple of cliche harem characters ever since Tenchi Muyo! established the cliche harem lineup with Sasami. The other thing that must be taken into consideration is Japanese sensibilities again American ones.

That being said, I find it funny how a lot of reviewers mention that a show has "no social, educational, or societal value". To be honest, when I (and most everyone else) watch non-educational entertainment TV, we are watching simply to be entertained.

I can't help but be interested in Popotan ... the art is eyecatching and while it may be silly/dumb, I'm a sucker for fanservice, and if people talk about how scandelous something is (a la Kodomo No Jikan) I instantly want to see it, just to see what the fuss is all about.

That comment caught my attention as well. Personally, it varies for me. At times I want a show that's going to move me... one that has more substance. Other times I want something purely entertaining - that is mindless and fun.

Erin wrote:

If I only watch a title once, it's a rental, but if I find it morally repugnant, it's perishable. Like Popotan. The truly disturbing thing about Popotan is not just that Mii exists, or that in the visual novel this series is based on, Mii gets more sex scenes than any other character.

This will be the last Shelf Life column I read.

Erin, you seem to be very confused on the definitions of "sex scene" and "nude scene" and clearly choose to pass this confusion to your readers, who are trying to form an opinion on this series.

What I take from your statement, Erin, is that you find parents who take photos/videos of their nude children as repugnant people who fuel the child pornography engine. Never mind the fact these parents would also disagree with you.

I can't blame you for your position that seeing a nude child is instantly given a pornography label. You seem to be of the generation who grew up watching TV in the 80s with its "Little girl, if a grown man talks to you, run away and call the police" messages. If you were lucky to clear those, I'm sure those Dateline "Little girl, if a grown man wants to chat with you, disconnect and call the police" episodes put the final nail into the "every man is a pedophile" coffin.

Yes, child molesters do exist, as well as murderers, rapists, and white collar criminals who steal millions from law-abiding workers saving for retirement.

But to apply one "morally repugnant" form of an opinion in a column while dismissing others is pretty insulting to readers who then must figure out where the relevance to the series begins and the personal opinion, absolutely unrelated to the series, ends.

Erin wrote:

I'd like to state here that I'm not some kind of prude.

I'm sorry, Erin, but from where I'm sitting, this is exactly how you come across, especially when you purposely define a character (having childish behavior to call breasts "puffy puffs" and treats them as toys) as a "sex object" in order to defend your "perishable" rating over a personal "morally repugnant" definition.

I can't help but notice the irony here, given I'm the male and you're the female, but you're the one seeing Mii as the sex object.

Ranma824 wrote:

Of course Popotan gets perishable, never mind the fact it's the only show with actual heart in this column.

I'm going to make an assumption here given this remark seems to stem from the objections of Erin's unpleasantness regarding Mii's character.

For those who may not share Erin's position on the nudity: This title is perishable.

The story, although having a very good primer, fizzles and falls completely apart by the time the credits roll. Why were the girls on the quest? What reason does the house have to move through space and time? What role does Shizuku have, given she's the "girl" they're after?

The potential this series has remains just that: potential. Without execution, this series isn't worth a purchase unless those nude scenes is the reason.

When I stated 30% of my blind buys were considered "bad", this title is one of them. Yes, for its small number of episodes, you can find "entertainment", but I sure as hell wouldn't have spent $20 for it.

To those even curious about this title, fan sub or stream it. Don't even waste money renting it. The funds can go to other titles deserving of the cash.

Of course, if those nude scenes is why you want to purchase, just be aware there's a wasted story which will interrupt your form of entertainment.

Also, these forum posts will constant remind me to never review anime, because I would obviously do it the wrong way.