Phaeton & Me

About

Phaeton & Me
Media type	Comic
Writer	Ryuji Masuda
Art	Wakako Masuda
Status	Cancelled

Phaeton & Me (パエトンと僕) was a comic that was being independently-produced by Ryuji Masuda and Wakako Masuda. Not too much was known about it before it's cancellation.

Something notable about this project is that it features an adult Popee, from the Masuda's first joint work, Popee the Performer. Adult Popee's design was revealed on twitter, shown with older versions of Kedamono, Papi, and Marifa.

In multiple tweets, Ryuji Masuda said it touched on a problem in Japanese society, though he did not say anything specific. It's possible the issue Ryuji Masuda referred to is the pressure put on people in Japanese society to achieve, and the fear of being unworthy or unloved if they don't. Popee himself feels this way, as stated in a tweet by the creator.

According to Ryuji Masuda, the story was similar to that of Mr. Stain.

On April 1st, 2024, when asked what the plot was going to be, Ryuji Masuda explained:

I was shocked by the nuclear accident. So I fantasized about a nuclear power plant that would escape earthquakes and tsunamis. It is in the shape of a person. That is Phaeton. Can that nuclear power plant and a boy become friends? This is the story.

Cancellation

As of May 27th, 2021, Ryuji Masuda had stated that the project had been "interrupted." They reason why was unknown, but was speculated to be related to Wakako working on Chinchikurin, Ryuji working on a new animation, and the fact that, because it was a political work, it would have been self-funded by the Masuda's and they may not have had the means to continue working on it at the time.

On February 6th, 2024, on his twitter account, Ryuji Masuda confirmed that the project had been cancelled, as Wakako Masuda was going to illustrate, and they had gotten divorced.

Known Characters

• Mori Genkai (ゲンカイ モーリ, Genkai Mori, previously thought to be translated as "Genny", who then had his surname and given name switched), twelve years old.
• Phaeton (パエトン Paeton), a robot. A flame appears to burn on their head. They were created by Popee.
• Popee (ポピー), originating from Popee the Performer. His adult design has been changed somewhat from earlier illustrations. After signing a contract with the devil Boron, Popee became a doctor and created the robot Phaeton. Popee is also noted, in this version, to have "become a bad adult due to various things."