Upotte!! (うぽって!!) is a Japanese manga series by Kitsune Tennouji which began serialization in July 2009. An original net animation (ONA) series by Xebec was streamed on Nico Nico Douga and Crunchyroll between April and June 2012.[2][3][4] The series started airing on Japanese television in July 2012.[5] Its title comes from reverse-spelling of 鉄砲 (Teppou, gun(s)).
Upotte!! | |
うぽって!! | |
---|---|
Genre | Comedy, girls with guns[1] |
Manga | |
Written by | Kitsune Tennouji |
Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
Magazine | |
Demographic | Shōnen, Seinen |
Original run | 2009 – present |
Volumes | 12 |
Original net animation | |
Directed by | Takao Kato |
Written by | Naruhisa Arakawa |
Music by | Yukari Hashimoto |
Studio | Xebec |
Licensed by | |
Released | April 8, 2012 – June 9, 2012 |
Episodes | 10 + OVA |
The series takes place at a school known as Seishou Academy. Unlike an average school, all the students are actually personifications of guns, training to one day become a useful weapon, and is divided up into elementary school (submachine guns), middle school (assault rifles & shotguns), and high school (battle rifles & sniper rifles). They are capable of drawing the weapons they represent from out of thin air and using them, and any student or her manifested gun can suffer from any gun-related problem the other might have. All students in Seishou train to shoot their target (literally) using live ammunition. The series mainly focuses on an FN FNC assault rifle nicknamed Funco and her friends with their human teacher.
The original manga by Kitsune Tennouji began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine from July 4, 2009, before moving over to Shōnen Ace from June 2011. A 4-Koma sideseries entitled "Upotte Nano" ran in 4-Koma Nano Ace from 2011 to 2013, when the magazine folded.
An original net animation series by Xebec was streamed on Nico Nico Douga and Crunchyroll between April 8, 2012 and June 9, 2012, also streaming on the Anime Network from May 9, 2012. A television broadcast of the series began in July 2012. The opening theme is "I.N.G." by Iori Nomizu, Misuzu Togashi, Kaori Sadohara and Misato under name Sweet ARMS while the ending theme is "Calendar" (ひめくり, Himekuri) by Kaori Sadohara. The anime has been licensed in North America by Sentai Filmworks.[7]
A Blu-ray containing an extra episode of the anime series was bundled with limited editions of the fourth volume of the manga series, released on October 13, 2012. Sentai Filmworks later released the series on Blu-ray and DVD on March 18, 2014.[8]
No. | Title | Original airdate | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Grip and Hold!" "Nigitte Tamotte" (にぎって たもって) | April 8, 2012 | |
A Japanese man travels to Seishou Academy to begin his new job as a modern lit teacher. He soon learns that all the students are this school are humanized assault rifles trained to perfect their weaponry, and he soon finds himself hospitalized after getting on the wrong side of Funco. | |||
2 | "Go for it! Pass it!" "Kibatte Ukatte" (きばって うかって) | April 15, 2012 | |
Funco, Ichiroku and Elle of the Assault Rifle Class are challenged to a battle by their seniors Fal and Ichiyon of the Battle Rifle Class. | |||
3 | "Wash and Scrub!" "Aratte Kosutte" (あらって こすって) | April 22, 2012 | |
The Japanese Teacher finds out a bit more about Funco and the other assault rifles and battle rifles. Later, the assault rifles takes the submachine guns out for volunteer work, which brings up the subject of the sad history of L85A1. | |||
4 | "Sing! Compete!" "Utatte Kisotte" (うたって きそって) | April 29, 2012 | |
The Annual Seishou Academy Team Battle is commencing soon, Ichiroku has a bone to pick with her partner Elle and is being menaced by the two new transfer students; the Kalashnikov-derived assault rifles, Sako and Galil, who are her main opponents in the Team Battle. | |||
5 | "Graze it! Beat it!!" "Kasutte Sakatte!!" (かすって さかって!!) | May 6, 2012 | |
The team battle begins and Ichiroku advances to the final match by herself while Elle is convinced by Sig to remember their friendship and lend a hand to her. Sako shows her merciless and sadistic side while confronting Funco in the semi-finals, much to the anger of her friends. | |||
6 | "Take it! Hurry!" "Ubatte Asette" (うばって あせって) | May 13, 2012 | |
To avenge Funco and Sig, Ichiroku and Elle have their face off against Sako and Galil in the final match. After the team battle ends, Funco's classmate Aug tries to overcome her shyness to get closer to her. | |||
7 | "Be Afraid! Visit!" "Burutte Mimatte" (ぶるって みまって) | May 20, 2012 | |
Winter comes and Funco and her friends play together in the snow, leading to an accident that ends with the Japanese Teacher becoming sick at home. Funco pays a visit to him to help him get better. | |||
8 | "Take a Look! Scold Someone!" "Mawatte Shikatte" (まわって しかって) | May 27, 2012 | |
The girls of the Assault Rifle class organize a maid café for the upcoming school festival. However, all their work is destroyed during a shootout between Ichiroku and her elder sister Ichiyon. When all hope seems lost, the Japanese Teacher encourages his students to work overnight to have everything ready in time. | |||
9 | "Burn Up! Go Mad!" "Moyatte Ikatte" (もやって いかって) | June 2, 2012 | |
The girls go on a class trip to a coastal town. They spend the day playing on the beach, exploring the town and relaxing in the baths. While heading to the shops, Ichihachi, Galil and Jeethree's younger sister HK33E are mysteriously shot down. As Ichiroku deduces the assailants are targeting her, Funco and the Japanese teacher also come under attack, but are safe thanks to the arrival of the others. As the assailants leave behind a message, declaring a war against the Western guns will begin at midnight, several explosions occur around the town. | |||
10 | "And then! Upotte!" "Demotte Upotte" (でもって うぽって) | June 9, 2012 | |
Funco, Ichiroku, Elle, and Sig accept the challenge and depart to confront the assailants. Sako, who was informed of the situation by Galil, appears to join them. The girls have a fierce fight throughout the city until Funco comes face to face with the enemy leader, the Nanayon. Genkoku tries to stand between them, but is shot by Nanayon, much to Funco's anger. However, Genkoku recovers from his wounds as guns can not truly harm anyone when not used by people. In the end, Nanayon and her crew decide to withdraw, vowing to return another day, and the girls get back to the academy along their beloved human teacher. | |||
OVA | "Behold! Laugh!" "Miatte Waratte" (みあって わらって) | October 13, 2012 | |
Funco, Ichiroku, Elle and Sig go on a camping trip in the mountains where they do some fishing in the river, smash a watermelon and relax in a hot spring. Later as the girls turn in for the night, Funco and Sig make a promise that they'll always be together. |