Flip Flappers

Flip Flappers

Company type	TV series
Industry	Anime
Founded	March 25, 2016 (2016-03-25)
Founder	Studio 3Hz
Headquarters	Japan
Key people	Kiyotaka Oshiyama (director), Yuniko Ayana (script), tanu (conceptual artwork), Takashi Kojima (character design), To-Mas (music composer)
Products	Anime television series

is a Japanese anime TV series created by Studio 3Hz, directed by Kiyotaka Oshiyama, with a script by Yuniko Ayana. The conceptual artwork was developed by tanu, character designs crafted by Takashi Kojima, and the musical score composed by To-Mas. The project was unveiled on March 25, 2016, during the AnimeJapan event and broadcast on AT-X alongside other channels from October through December 2016. This science fiction adventure centers around two protagonists, Papika and Cocona.

Plot

Cocona is an average middle schooler living with her grandmother who is uncertain about her future career path. Her life takes a turn when she encounters Papika, a lively and quirky girl who introduces her to Flip Flap, an organization dedicated to retrieving enigmatic amorphous fragments from alternate dimensions known as Pure Illusion, which are believed to grant wishes.

Following their initial mission, Cocona and Papika travel to another Pure Illusion realm, where they transform into magical girls—Cocona becomes Pure Blade and Papika adopts the identity Pure Barrier—to battle a menacing creature. Before they can finish the fight, three magical girls from a competing group arrive, eliminate the creature, and seize a fragment from it. Facing competition and danger within Pure Illusion, Cocona and Papika must synchronize their powers to strengthen their transformations and prevail.

Main characters

An ordinary second-year middle school student whose encounter with Papika alters her life trajectory. She carries an amorphous fragment embedded in her left thigh and is the daughter of Mimi and Salt.

An enthusiastic Flip Flap operative who teams up with Cocona. After collecting most fragments, she regains memories of her former self as Papikana and recalls her partnership with Mimi.

Cocona's childhood friend affiliated with the rival group Asclepius alongside Toto and Yuyu. She competes for amorphous fragments and initially holds animosity toward Papika. Though she initially manipulates Cocona for Asclepius’s aims, she develops sincere feelings that conflict with her mission, ultimately leading to her expulsion. By episode 11, she secures an amorphous fragment for Flip Flap.

FlipFlap

Head of FlipFlap, an organization focused on gathering amorphous fragments for reasons not fully disclosed. He shares a history with Papika and Mimi and is Cocona’s father.

A researcher working within FlipFlap.

Another scientist employed by FlipFlap.

A robotic companion to Papika, commonly referred to as .

Asclepius

An elementary school-aged boy and Yuyu's twin brother collaborating with Yayaka. Both siblings maintain emotional distance and prioritize acquiring amorphous fragments over cooperation but reveal deep sibling care following Toto’s injury.

Toto's twin sister and teammate of Yayaka, frequently seen outside Pure Illusion wearing a cast on her left arm.

The third amorphous child who replaces Yayaka, characterized by her energetic demeanor and friendly interactions with TT-392.

Other characters

Cocona’s pet rabbit named after the scientist Jakob von Uexküll.

An upperclassman in Cocona’s school Art Club whose personality changes after intervention in her Pure Illusion world by Cocona and Papika.

Cocona’s guardian since the passing of her parents; later revealed to be a robot connected to Asclepius.

A mysterious former partner of Papika and mother to Cocona. Subjected to experiments at Asclepius due to her Pure Illusion abilities, Mimi’s protective love fractured her mind, resulting in the emergence of a new antagonist persona aimed at protecting Cocona from capture.

Anime

Produced by Studio 3Hz, the anime series was broadcast in Japan from October 6 through December 29, 2016, consisting of 13 episodes. In North America, Sentai Filmworks acquired the license and provided simulcasts via Hulu, Crunchyroll, and the Anime Network. The opening song, "Serendipity," is performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme "Flip Flap Flip Flap" features To-Mas with Chima. The series was distributed across six Blu-ray and DVD volumes. The UK release was managed by MVM Films.

Episode list

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No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date

Reception

Miles Thomas from Crunchyroll observed that each installment prominently features "homosexual motifs" and delves into "Cocona's journey toward accepting her repressed sexuality," highlighting the narrative's emphasis on gender identity challenges faced by queer characters, particularly Cocona and Papika. Carlos Ross of THEM Anime Reviews provided a nuanced assessment, commending the show as "energetic, visually creative, packed with references...and emotionally impactful," yet he criticized its "blatant pandering to otaku culture" and the "sexualization of young schoolgirls." Ross noted the deliberate inclusion of yuri symbolism and fan service elements, especially Papika’s nudity, which he argued "undermines and trivializes" the storyline. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the strong character arcs and candid portrayal of same-sex attraction, drawing comparisons to titles such as Nausicaa, Madoka Magica, Maria Watches Over Us, and Kill La Kill.

Nick Creamer from Anime News Network characterized the series as a "unique and exceptional" anime labor of love that is "visually stunning, innovative, and deeply moving." He interpreted it as a coming-of-age story that explores themes including familial impact, societal judgment, and self-acceptance, weaving in narratives about intergenerational relationships, fractured families, and critiques of social suppression of authentic self-expression. Creamer lauded its "extraordinary blend of emotional depth and visual artistry," despite occasional fan service moments and some forgettable musical scores. He described the series as "impressive" in both its vision and execution, referencing influential works like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Penguindrum. His evaluations awarded an "A" grade to the subbed and dubbed versions, storyline, animation quality, and artwork, while assigning music a "B+," praising its intentional visual narrative though acknowledging some drawbacks related to fanservice.