It was originally released as a PC game for CD-ROM on December 13, 2002, and subsequently re-released on DVD-ROM and for the PlayStation 2 with certain scenes removed.

The title Popotan is a nonsensical word meant to reflect the prominence of dandelions, spelled tanpopo (たんぽぽ) in Japanese;[n 1][3][4][5] Petit Ferret also produced a fan disc shortly before the DVD-ROM re-release.

Gameplay in Popotan follows a semi-predetermined plot; major events remain the same, but personal storylines can diverge from the player's choices.

The game focuses on protagonist Chris, a drifter who meets three girls, the youngest of whom is 11 years old, and their maid in a mansion near the ruins of Tokyo in the distant future.

Popotan is a visual novel in which players spend most of their time in reading dynamic text, representing either dialogue between the various characters or the inner thoughts of the protagonist.

The game pauses at these points and, depending on which choice the player makes, the plot will progress and may branch off in a specific direction.

[6] Successfully completing her scenarios unlock an omake option on the main menu, allowing the player to play the mini-game with different music tracks.

[7][11] Popotan takes place in the distant future within the remnants of Tokyo, destroyed by a cataclysm and since altered by geological transformations.

Popotan follows Chris's lifestyle changes, as well as the mysteries surrounding the spire-like object that caused the destruction of Tokyo in the past.

Chris asks permission to stay because the rent is cheap and the girls are pretty; they consent, but force him to take a part-time job.

The convenience store owner hires him, and as the story progresses, Chris opens up socially and begins caring about others as he interacts with the girls.

Seki Hayabusa and Iwashinichi Shimizu handled scenario development, and Akio Watanabe designed its characters while working under the alias Poyoyon♥Rock.

Petit Ferret requested applications for Japanese voice actresses from May to June 2002, seeking to fill the roles of the three sisters first.

[21] To increase pre-order sales, Ferret packaged the initial CD-ROM release of Popotan with a special maxi single CD of Under17's theme songs.

[23] The disc includes several character-based mini-games (including the original's "Magical Girl Mii" mini-game), new storyline content and routes based around Mii and Nono, a separate music CD containing background music from the original game, themed computer wallpaper, and desktop accessories.

[26] Scenes in the port were changed or removed to comply with Sony's ban on sexual content, but the release still warranted CERO 18 rating.

[30] WellMADE designed the games to be humorous and fun; the second allows Unagi to transform into her humanoid form after a certain point in the story.

Ferret released the second patch on July 7, 2003; it corrected grammatical errors, adjusted the game's difficulty, and enhanced stability.

[4][37][38] The anime's use of time travel allows focus on the older versions or children of previously featured characters, and contrasts their experiences with the protagonists' agelessness.

[39][40] Shaft released a teaser DVD entitled The Secret of the 3 Sisters (ぽぽたん 送開始記念版 もうガマンできない、３姉妹のひ・み・つ, Popotan Hōsō Kaishi Kinen ban Mō Gaman Deki Nai, 3 Shimai no Hi・Mi・Tsu) on June 27, 2003, featuring character designs by Haruka Sakurai.

The sisters meet Shizuku while traveling through time, who gives them the option to continue journeying or stay in the era they enjoy most; they choose the former.

They jump five years into the future when traveling through time and always arrive in different places, except for a split-party scenario in which Mai and Mea are left behind.

[67] Petit Ferret coincided the visual novel's premiere with the release of a special maxi single containing the anime's vocal theme songs and their instrumental counterparts, otherwise unavailable to listeners.

[22] A third Popotan image album based on the visual novel was packaged as a pre-order item with the PS2 port the following year.

), debuted on August 6, 2003, and featured full versions of the anime's opening and ending themes as well as Gem Stone, an image song collaboration between Under17 and Funta.

[70][n 2] Petit Ferret developed a radio drama named Poporaji, based on a song used in the anime's broadcast premiere DVD, The Secret of the 3 Sisters.

[72] Sasami Uachiruda and SPIRITE wrote and illustrated two novels, entitled Popotan～ Himitsu no Jumon～ Kōhen (ぽぽたん ～ひみつのじゅもん～ 後編) and published by Softgarage on June 20 and August 22, 2002.

Anime Jump gave it 1½ stars, stating that beyond the pretty pictures, "it is created specifically to sell DVDs, tiny figurines, and other merchandise to introverted adult men.

[37][38][97] Examining the Sentai Filmworks re-release, Theron Martin concurred that the anime improved towards the end despite rushed plot development.

[99] Anime News Network and Mania agreed that it was excessive;[4][64] one reviewer from the former likened it to "kiddie porn"[5] and another attributed its re-release to demand for nudity.