Episode Guide
Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 Pui Pui Molcar is one of the best anime of the year so far. It’s a wholesome, beautifully animated slice of joy and at only 2 minutes an episode, it’s a show that everyone should watch. Although predominantly geared toward kids, this stop-motion delight can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. There are lots of pop culture references here, deeper thematic work going on below the surface level cute-ness and the show is packed with some absolutely adorable characters. It’s no wonder then that this show is taking the anime world by storm. Each episode revolves around sentient beings known as Molcars; a weird Guinea-pig/car hybrid that roam around a big city. With wholesome themes including sharing, helping others and believing in yourself, Pui Pui Molcar blends these ideas in with an amusing episodic adventure tackling a variety of different topics. There are specific references to Indiana Jones and Back to the Future here, along with nods toward superheroes, conventional anime and even zombies. There’s a lot of creativity that’s gone into this show too and nestled throughout the season are some wonderful little Easter eggs and continuity nods to what’s come before. Episode 9 for example, brings back an earlier troublesome Molcar but this time paints them in a more positive light. Meanwhile, posters in the background of another episode show certain Molcars we’ve followed over the season, including Potato who’s about as close to a main character as you could get here. This really is a wonderfully detailed series and it’s hard not to fall in love with this. The detail on display is immediately evident in the stop-motion work which is quite simply staggering. While it’s not at the same level as something like Kubo and the Two Strings, the unique aesthetic uses toys, little human figurines and felt molcars in a really creative way. These are then blended in with some “interior” shots of people driving Molcars that show real humans but with specific freezeframe shots to keep things feeling consistent. Pui Pui Molcar is quite simply a breath of fresh air in an anime season dominated by sequels and spin-offs. Of course, this isn’t going to match the writing of something like Attack On Titan, but what it lacks in deep writing it more than makes up for in wholesome entertainment. This is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy sky, a cute and cuddly series that everyone should take some time to open their arms and cuddle tight this year. Pui Pui Molcar is a sure-fire winner.