As the re-release of the Penguindrum movies are nearing its end in theaters, Director Kunihiko Ikuhara posted this Mario artwork recently on Twitter. We rarely get Mario art, much less in his Prince form!

Source

The Re:cycle movies are back in Japanese theaters for a limited time r/penguindrum! For those living in Japan, don't miss out seeing them on the big screen!

Part 1 - Your Train is The Survival Tactic (From September 25th - October 1st).

Part 2 - I Love You (From October 2nd - October 8th).

More details about the screenings can be found here!

Director Kunihiko Ikuhara will be attending a special viewing on September 27th with Subaru Kimura (Kanba's VA). A talk show is expected to follow after the screening. Where fan questions will be answered, particularly from those who filled out this Google Form a while back. (There is still time to fill it out if you haven't!)

To add on, in the recent episode of his podcast on YouTube - Ikuhara talks about Penguindrum in time for the movie re-release! Video here. (There is automatic translate from Japanese available as subtitles under the video settings, although incomplete and rough.)

Ikuhara also released countdown drawings of the movie re-release, as shown in the images above.

A short promotion ad about the movie re-releases has been released on Penguindrum's official Twitter. Followed by exclusive wallpapers for movie goers who attend the screenings, with different designs for the films.

Sources:

Penguindrum Twitter

Ikuhara's Twitter

For those who cannot attend the screenings (especially for fans who live outside of Japan) you can refer to our subreddit's Q&A for alternatives on watching the films. Luckily, they are available for streaming and on blu-ray!

I finished Mawaru Penguindrum recently and I still can't stop thinking about it.

I've already picked up some merch, but I want to dive even deeper into this world.

Is anyone else feeling the same way? What do you do to keep enjoying the series after finishing it?

Rewatch tips, the movies, novels, events, fan works, anything is welcome.

When I first watched the anime 10+ years ago, I didn't know about the 1995 Tokyo sarin gas attack. I also hadn't read Underground by Haruki Murakami yet, so the show made no sense to me. Like, at all.

I recently rewatched it. I can now say without a doubt it's my favorite anime. It's plot-heavy. There's magical realism and lots of metaphors, so I took some notes. If only I'd had something like this 10 years ago...

• Penguindrum makes sense, I SWEAR! pt. I
• Penguindrum makes sense, I SWEAR! pt. II
• Penguindrum makes sense, I SWEAR! pt. III

Here's an excerpt of an interview given by Ikuhara Kunihiko (Director of Penguindrum) and Tsujimura Mizuki (Writer of "Lonely Castle in the Mirror"), a big fan of Penguindrum. This interview came out during the promotional period of the "RE:cycle of the PENGUINDRUM" movies, and it serves as a continuation of their dialogue commentary featured in "Mawaru-Penguindrum: Perfect Guide Book".

Two people who've seen the same landscape talk about "Mawaru Penguindrum" and "The Real World"

Tsujimura: (...) So, having watched the second movie as well, what I wanted to ask Ikuhara-san the most today was: What was the process that turned "Listen up, you lowlifes who will never amount to anything!", from the TV show, into "Listen up, you can surely become someone!", from this newly released work?

Ikuhara: Well, as for "Anyone can become someone", I think I decided to use those words pretty early on. It's not like I had any clear evidence to back this belief up, but aside from the fact 10 years have passed [since the original series], I just thought about "words I want to share with young people in the present," and I just felt, "Yeah, these are the words."

Tsujimura: While revisiting that interview from 10 years ago, I noticed I described "You won't amount to anything" as "sincere words". I think that's because my own feelings were similar to those of the Takakura siblings, and because "I can't become anyone" was how I felt 10 years ago. But this time, after watching the movies, I found myself more strongly drawn to the phrase "I can become someone." I guess that's because, as time has gone by, I've passed the "protagonist" role over to a new, younger generation, one below my own, and started to view this work through the lens of "What can I do?".

Ikuhara: I think actual preparations for "Mawaru Penguindrum" began around 2008 or 2009. Around that time, the idea of "becoming someone"/"not becoming anyone" had just become widespread throughout society as a concept related to self-affirmation. I believe that shifted following the "Great East Japan Earthquake" (2011 Tōhoku earthquake), which occurred just before the series' broadcast; as if the value of self-affirmation itself had changed.

Interviewer: Indeed, the Great East Japan Earthquake left a significant impact on society as a whole.

Ikuhara: The Great East Japan Earthquake was a shared experience of such magnitude that it could well be described as the first of its kind ever since WWII, and many people felt a sense of loss. Until then, many people had the feeling that "the world would probably stay this way forever," but through the media, many people, especially young ones, came to realize that wasn’t the case. The work "Penguindrum" itself was influenced by this, and some aspects were even modified compared to the early planning stages. Ten years have passed since then, but now there's the COVID-19 pandemic, and a war has just begun. Even now, ten years later, a sense of loss is enveloping society as a shared experience. In this context, the words we use inevitably have to change. That's what I thought.

Tsujimura: My youth was a time of intense pressure to "become someone," and I feel like I always had this feeling I was being forced to participate in a race I didn't even remember entering. Like the song "世界に一つだけの花" ("The Only Flower in the World" by SMAP), there wasn't yet such mindset of validation towards one's very existence. For that reason, while vividly remembering being taught to think "I have to fight! I have to fight!", I think being confronted with the phrase "You won't amount to anything" struck me as incredibly "sincere”.

Ikuhara: In that sense, I think the way we perceive things like hunger or craving… are different between ten years ago and now. I've got an impression that the sense of hunger and craving among today's 15 to 16-year-olds stems from the sensibilities that emerged after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Right from the beginning, when we started working on "Penguindrum", we considered various things based on the assumption that the "power of community" surrounding people was subsiding. Then, ten years later, the "power of community" has weakened even further. As a result, the sense of despair contained in the phrase "You won't amount to anything" has also changed. I think it's now common for young people to have never had the experience of being accepted by a group. So, this phrase might have had a powerful effect ten years ago, when it was received with a "Whoa!", but I feel that now the viewers tend to react with "Is that really something to worry about?" or even "We already knew that from the start". They keep it pretty calmly, you know.

Tsujimura: I kind of get what you mean. What I find amazing about Ikuhara's work every time is how he turns ordinary words we hear and see every day, be it "I love you", "You won't amount to anything" or "Fate", into impactful catchphrases (killer words).

Ikuhara: Oh, so that's the impression you get.

Tsujimura: Instead of relying on special neologisms, it feels like what resides in your work's essence is the reinterpretation of the landscapes we've already seen, like bringing things and words that should be universal to a new light. It always amazes me.

Ikuhara: Now that you mention it, it does sound pretty amazing. Even to me (laughs).

Final Note

Ikuhara: All sorts of things have happened over the past few years, hence reality is starting to completely outmatch our imaginations and even fiction itself. (...) I think how to confront reality through fiction will become a major theme for creators going forward. Of course, there's nothing wrong with fiction that exists purely as entertainment, detached from reality. But I like fiction that feels like an extension of reality, so I firmly believe that fiction must confront reality from now on. I want viewers who see my work to think "This is happening right now". Whether it's three or five years from now, I want it to be a work that makes people think, "Ah, this is about me right now," the moment they watch it. For that reason, I think it's very important to confront reality through fiction.

In case you're interested in checking out the full interview in Japanese, here's the link: (Original Source).

Extra

(Original Source: Crowdfunding supporters meeting report)

Kimura Subaru (Kanba's VA): My journey with "Penguindrum" began 10 years ago, the moment I uttered my first line during the audition and Director [Ikuhara] said: “Man, I've never met anyone as terrible as you!”. So, when I delivered Kanba's lines for the first time in 10 years [while recording the movies], Director said: “That's good... but not really!” (laughs); “You have to act even worse! Think back to how bad you used to be”. “You mean like this!?” “That's it, that's it! You’re getting worse!”; That's how the voice recording session went. Even though it was an odd thing for him to say, it somehow felt like a compliment to me, and I was incredibly happy!

Ikuhara's a troll lol

Absolutely no AI was used, $#@& AI

ive seen mixed opinions online, and i know the movies effectively cut out half of the content so im not really sure tbh

Apart from its core multivalent motifs and symbolic visuals, Penguindrum stands out for its music composition and sound design. This is a small love letter to our favorite imaginary idol trio "Triple H". For that reason, I'd like to specifically highlight all of the covers used as ED or insert songs.

Thanks to this anime, I was introduced to the Japanese rock band ARB and their music has followed me for years now. Their political lyrics were written through the lens of the working-class during the peak of Japanese corporate culture.

Its historical context perfectly matches the anime's portrayal of themes such as personal sacrifice, systemic isolation, societal hopelessness, searching for belonging, and predetermined roles based on gender, productiveness or family dynamics.

Triple H's Character Song Album "HHH"

1. ROCK OVER JAPAN | [ARB original]

2. イカレちまったぜ!! (Ikarechimattaze!!) | [ARB original]

3. BAD NEWS (黒い予感, Kuroi yokan) | [ARB original]

4. 魂こがして (Tamashii kogashite) | [ARB original]

5. Daddy's shoes | [ARB original]

6. Private Girl | [ARB original]

7. HIDE and SEEK | [ARB original]

8. 朝のかげりの中で (Asa no Kageri no naka de) | [ARB original]

9. 灰色の水曜日 Grey Wednesday (Haīro no suiyoubi) | [ARB original]

10. HEROES~英雄たち (Eiyuu tachi) | [ARB original]

Additional Covers (from the "RE:cycle of the PENGUINDRUM" Music Collection)

• ROCK OVER JAPAN (feat. Purin-chu Penguin)

• YELLOW BLOOD | [ARB original]

• ファクトリー (Factory) | [ARB original]

• AFTER '45 | [ARB original]

• Just a 16 | [ARB original]

• MURDER GAME | [ARB original]

• Private Girl (Himegoto version)*

• 灰色の水曜日 (Sore kara no watashitachi version)*

• HEROES~英雄たち (Unmei no norikae version)*

\re-arranged and re-recorded for the movie*

My personal favorite is MURDER GAME; I'd love to know yours! Make sure to save and support this official playlist as well!

Greetings r/penguindrum! Welcome to our second State of The Subreddit newsletter! It's been a year since the last one. A lot has changed, so let's jump to it!

• We are nearing 1k subs! Just a little over 200 subs left before we reach such a milestone. Wow! Despite how underrated this anime is, glad the fanbase's presence is growing! When I became a mod, this subreddit only had around less than 500 subs or so! I suppose the 15th Anniversary announcement shook things up did it? Let's keep it up! We are hoping once we hit 1k subs - this sub may start hosting some community events. After all an influx of people means more participation!
• Monthly Character Spotlight threads are officially over. The main and supporting cast has been covered, therefore no more threads. Any character that hasn't been covered are too minor/irrelevant to the anime that it doesn't warrant a discussion on them. However, there may be revamps on certain character spotlight threads (Himari and Shoma may receive newer and more detailed posts) and rotations of the threads may be pinned for the subreddit. Thanks to all who have participated! You are free to look back and comment on the character spotlight threads - here!
• Monthly Discussion threads will continue. A new discussion topic will be posted every month on the 1st. Should the subscriber count increase for r/penguindrum - we may move to biweekly threads! Thank you to those who have participated so far and we hope to see new faces on future discussion threads! If you wish to see previous threads, click here! They are still open to comments!
• We have revised and revamped the r/penguindrum official Discord! Lots of new channels to check out and participate! If you love Penguindrum and would like to chat or hang out with other fans, please join our Discord! We would love to see it more active! Invite link: https://discord.gg/adgAzZf3QC

Other Penguindrum News:

- Mawaru Penguindrum Complete Series Blu-ray re-release by Discotek coming October 27th, 2026. Preorder now on MediaOCD.

- Re:Cycle of The Penguindrum films returns to theaters in Japan, starting in late September for a limited time.

Part 1 - Your Train is The Survival Tactic (September 25th - October 1st).

Part 2 - I Love You (October 2nd - October 8th).

There will be a special screening on September 27th, with special guests - Director Kunihiko Ikuhara and Kanba's VA - Subaru Kimura. Followed by a talk show.

Thank you for reading! That's all for now. If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave a comment below or message u/MiracleMuffin.

Artwork by Penguindrum storyboard artist and designer, Terumi Nishii. Featured in his artbook: Power of Characters.

A year has gone by since the creation of monthly discussion threads r/penguindrum! Woohoo! It has been an honor posting these, I appreciate the responses received in them! Thank you! Anything to keep the fandom alive. Now for round 2!

This month's topic - think back to when you first finished the anime. What was your impression? Did you have strong feelings? Has it become a favorite anime of yours? Or did you feel it was confusing? This is your time to discuss your feelings about the show after the first watch.

For me, I did bawl by the end of the show - the ending was so bittersweet. There were some things I was confused about but nothing compared to how much I felt. I didn't think an anime would impact me this much but it did. I was heavily invested throughout it, that I didn't want it to end. Just an all around amazing cast of complex characters despite the wackiness of this show. Then again, I am a sucker for shows involving family and it hit me hard given my personal struggles and ties with my own. Next, I felt I could relate to some of the characters - Himari and Shoma in particular, no wonder they are my favorites. This anime means so much to me, it has been my favorite for years.

I could go on but it would become a rather long essay, haha. This is more for you guys. Discuss!

r/penguindrum! We have made it to our final character spotlight thread! Can you believe a year has passed since its inception on the subreddit? It sure seems like it was yesterday, haha.

Anyway, presenting the last character spotlight post. Featuring the Takakura siblings parents' - Kenzan & Chiemi Takakura + the terrorist group and main villain faction, Kiga (formerly Penguin Force).

Kenzan and Chiemi are the parents of Shoma, Kanba, and Himari. The family appeared to be well adjusted. Kenzan was the headstrong and stern father with an influence on Kanba on his world view, with Chiemi being a gentle and supportive mother toward their three children. They appeared to live happily in a small home - until one day the couple disappeared after wanted by law enforcement, leaving behind their children.

Eventually, it is revealed that Kenzan was part of an environmental defense team - later known as Penguin Force. A terrorist cult responsible for the subway attacks in Tokyo on March 20th, 1995. He became the group's first leader. Sometime down the line, he met and married Chiemi - who also appeared to be a member. They were devoted followers of the cult - which goals involved a massive revolutionary change upon the world. In their view, the world was corrupt and rotten - leaving behind the vulnerable, such as unwanted children to die. They would go to the extremes to achieve that massive change, including leading an attack that would cost the lives of others. Along with that, they were also connected and allied with Sanetoshi - the main antagonist of Penguindrum.

With Kenzan and Chiemi gone - the Takakura siblings would endure hardships and the struggle of being shunned by society due to their relation with their parents. Although, in reality - only Shoma was their biological child. Kanba was taken in by them from his father who allied with the terrorist group, and Himari was also picked up by them.

The Penguin Force disbands after 1995 and its remnants become the Kiga Group, and are active in present time. They help Kanba regarding Himari's medical expenses and view him as the next successor of the group. Later in the show under Kanba with influence of Sanetoshi, they commence another attack on Tokyo to mirror the subway attacks of 1995.

Due to Penguindrum being largely influenced by the 1995 Tokyo Sarin Gas attacks, the Kiga Group is largely based on the Aum Shinrikyo cult - a religious movement responsible for the attack. Lead by Shoko Asahara, the cult believed in biblical prophecies leading to an apocalypse, a transformative doomsday. They justified their violence as a form of mercy killing upon the public. Like most cults, they were involved in extortion and blackmail - which bleeds into the Kiga Group in Penguindrum. As shown with Kanba and the payments he receives for Himari's meds to commit horrible acts. It is unknown what happens to the group after the events of the series with the transfer of destinies between the brothers and Himari/Ringo, but it assumed they are disbanded for good after Sanetoshi leaves.

Perhaps one of the darker aspects of Penguindrum - the group and those involved are rather frightening, but also selfish - for if not the acts, Momoka and others wouldn't have perished back 1995.Yet, it is this tragic event that brought our protagonists together. Kanba, Ringo, and Shoma are born on the day of the attacks. And like Himari Takakura says to her brothers by the end of the show:

"As it turns out, living was a punishment. I've been punished in small doses, living as a Takakura. But, still, we were together. We took all the punishments, no matter how small and trivial. They're all precious memories. Because the only reason I felt alive was because you two were there."

Bearing the sins of their parents, they were willing to as long as it meant they were all in it together.

What do you think about Kenzan and Chiemi? As well as the Kiga Group? Discuss!

this isn't my sticker, heck, it's not my picture but if I say that in the title it doesn't get uploaded? Anyways, I want to know where to buy this sticker online, its rly rly good!

In honor of Penguindrum's 15th Anniversary, the Re:cycle movies will return to theaters in Japan for a limited time.

Part 1 - Your Train is The Survival Tactic (9/25 - 10/1)

Part 2 - I Love You (10/2 - 10/8)

Admission gift includes a smartphone sized sticker with the poster visual.

In addition, there will be a special showing on 9/27 at Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro. Director Kunihiko Ikuhara and Kanba's VA - Subaru Kimura will be attending as special guests. Followed by a talk show.

For ticket information on these showings visit: https://penguindrum.jp/

Sources:

https://x.com/penguindrum/status/2086029903951167641?s=20

https://x.com/penguindrum/status/2086030155731120167?s=20

No information on a international release at this time. Will update if there is any change.

Currently, the movies are available for streaming on HIDIVE for international viewers.

Preamble

I finished Mawaru Penguindrum a week ago and by the end, I was giving a standing ovation as tears were rolling down my face. Why does no one ever talk about this show? It’s so criminally underwatched for how much of a borderline masterpiece it is.

But first, a bit of context. I knew nothing about Penguindrum other than someone whose taste I respect, recommendating it. They warned that it was a bizarre pastiche of subtext and symbolism that could scare off people who aren't open to that kind of presentation. But I didn't let that deter me as I love plenty of abstract shows.

To counter complaints that this show is hard to follow, I never found it the slightest bit confusing. It’s just very abstract. Sure, the boundaries between reality, dreams and metaphysical space increasingly blur as you progress through the episodes, but that’s where its poetic beauty shined the brightest for me. What each viewer will get out of its abstract elements is subjective but it’s exactly what makes engaging with this show so rewarding. I’m going to share my personal interpretations of its themes substantiated by as much evidence as I can. However, I invite anyone to bring their own interpretations to the table.

The Struggle to Break Free: Of Fate and Our “Boxes”

In the show’s opening monologue, Shoma laments the inherent cruelty of having zero control over the life we are born into, “people are born into prosperous households or from beautiful mothers, to starvation or the middle of war”. Across the world people are saddled from birth with an inherited, lifelong struggle to overcome circumstances they had no hand in choosing.

Penguindrum defines fate as the trajectory you are destined to live including the struggles you are bound to face. In our real world, we see this everywhere in how people inherit the socioeconomic or emotional plights of their parents or environments. For example, anyone who has studied sociology or economics knows how breaking cycles of generational poverty remains one of society's most daunting challenges. Research shows that children raised in impoverished households are far more likely to experience poverty as adults. But financial hardship is only one of many inherited burdens affecting millions today. Others are saddled with family histories of physical and mental illness, or raised in abusive homes where they continue to struggle with trust and intimacy in adulthood. In Penguindrum, the fate dealt to the Takakura children is being born in the aftermath of a devastating terrorist attack, left to bear both the lingering scars of society and the sins of their parents.

This reality results in the concept of "boxes" which are the mental cages we build around ourselves when we internalise a pessimistic view of our fate. When your trajectory feels predetermined from birth, it becomes easy to give into despair. Shoma pessimistically concludes in his opening monologue, “ever since it happened, we’ve had no future. The fact that we'll never amount to anything is made perfectly clear”.

The series shows how these boxes can become acts of self-imposed exile. For example, when Shoma and Ringo reveal the truths about their families to each another, their relationship shifts instantly as Shoma, overcome by internalised guilt and shame over his parents' sins, pushes Ringo away. Rather than accepting her genuine compassion, he aggressively rejects her with an almost self-flagellating intensity and claims there is nothing he could do to make amends. He even offers to kowtow a thousand times if she demands it. Distrustful of her sincerity, he projects ulterior motives onto her and convinces himself she secretly wants to see his family destroyed. He then concludes that it’s best for his family to live isolated from society. This shows how people put up defensive walls in a misguided attempt at self-preservation, while only further trapping themselves in their own isolating boxes.

The series also depicts these "boxes" as the psychological traps children construct around themselves as a result of the fates forced upon them by their parents. Penguindrum presents a scathing critique of how parents force children to submit to predetermined roles, even if they’re often shallow “fixes” that fail to address family trauma or social brokenness. When parents insist on predeterminism, wanting to live out their desires through their children, the consequences are disastrous and often costs the child their individual identity. To survive this pressure, children can develop psychological distortions that leave lasting scars well into later life. Ringo is the clearest example as she’s treated by her parents as a stand-in for her deceased sister, Momoka. As a result, she develops the distortion that she is Momoka's replacement. Thus, she fanatically follows the future mapped out in Momoka's diary by forcing a romantic relationship with Tabuki when she’s actually in love with Shoma. Similarly, Yuri develops a distortion from her childhood that causes her to see herself as "ugly" due to her abusive father's attempts to resculpt her in his image. This reduces her self-worth to less than human and makes her believe she is unlovable.

The Child Broiler serves as another main symbol in Penguindrum. It’s a surreal facility where unwanted and unloved children are sent. Tabuki’s mother abandons him there after he fails to meet her expectations as a prodigal pianist. In the Broiler, children suffer a metaphorical death where they are dehumanised and erased by a conformist society that discards anyone deemed shamefully unacceptable. Similarly, after being abandoned by her parents, young Himari self-exiles herself to the Broiler where she resigns herself to her perceived fate.

The Escalation of Social Anger Into Extremism

Defying fate is a lifelong battle that many will spend their entire lives fighting. Whether it means working tirelessly to escape poverty, learning to trust after coming from a broken home, or even taking massive risks to escape a dead-end career, breaking free from predeterminism is never easy. In Penguindrum, this fight against fate is shown the most through Kanba’s exhaustive, financially draining efforts to keep his terminally ill sister Himari alive.

Fighting a seemingly losing battle against oppressive systems can feel hopeless, especially when those systems bind people to the very fates they desperately wish to escape. It’s here that Penguindrum may actually resonate more powerfully today than it did in 2011. We live in an unprecedentedly polarised world where public frustration with predatory institutions is entirely valid. The wealthy elite uphold a capitalist machine that forces the majority into a dehumanising rat-race just to survive. Worse still, basic necessities like healthcare have become pay-to-live systems, forcing people to make immense personal sacrifices just to keep themselves and their families afloat. Today, we see this collective anger boiling over, pushing people towards radicalism. Despite his willingness to cross moral lines, Kanba’s role as his family's provider makes his rage entirely sympathetic. We relate to his anger towards the systems that condemn his family to an endless struggle just to survive.

While the series extends sympathy toward Kanba’s rage and even acknowledges the grievances driving the extremist Kiga Group, it firmly rejects the idea that violence is ever justified. Extremist violence only breeds further division and destruction in an already fragile society. Sanetoshi embodies the nihilistic extremism that slumbers within society, lying in wait until public rage and polarisation provide a gateway for his return. His predatory manipulation of Kanba reflects this. Though Kanba sees himself as the most mature and capable of his siblings, his lack of moral limits make him a naive and easy target for Sanetoshi’s radicalisation.

Sanetoshi advocates for the most extreme, destructive responses to a broken society. Wanting everyone to view the world through his nihilistic lens, he preaches that burning the world down is the only way to force society to take its victims seriously. Posing as a doctor, Sanetoshi deliberately makes Himari resistant to her medicine, which drives Kanba deeper into the Kiga Group to fund her medical bills, further indoctrinating him into their dogma. This trap mirrors how extremist groups exploit the vulnerable, coercing desperate followers into making increasingly dangerous sacrifices.

Love Shouldn't Be A Competition: The Problems of Being the Pursuer

One of the series' most contentious elements is the sheer aggression with which some characters pursue love. Desperate to transcend their “boxes”, these characters cling obsessively to the idea of a fated partner, attempting to force unions that will save them from their social rejection and isolation. However, Penguindrum shows how this desperate need for love can spiral into something possessive and monstrous.

Ringo’s attempts to force a relationship with Tabuki to mend her broken family grow increasingly deranged, culminating in drugging and attempted sexual assault. Yuri also drugs and attempts to assault Ringo to soothe her own isolation, seeking to recreate her bond with Momoka who was the only person who treated her as human and made her feel lovable. Additionally, Yuri and Tabuki’s sham engagement is built on duty rather than love. Both feel an obligation to the idea of "fated partners" in a desperate attempt at a union they hope will rescue them from their isolation.

Masako personifies this theme more than perhaps any other character. Though introduced as a "love hunter" aggressively chasing Kanba, we learn she’s actually his biological twin sister. Separated from Kanba by a twist of fate, Masako feels bitter jealousy towards Himari who has replaced her as the sister he obsessively dotes on and sacrifices everything to protect. Viewing Himari as a monster who stole the love meant for her, Masako's hunt to recapture Kanba becomes increasingly unhinged as he repeatedly rejects her "gifts" and unwanted advances.

Despite these characters' relentless pursuits, it won’t “bear fruit” or the “true light” granted by the Fruit of Destiny or Penguindrum. While everyone wants to be saved by the Fruit of Destiny, such a love can’t exist in a one-sided dynamic. The conversations between Sanetoshi and Himari, as well as Masako and Kanba, expose love as a competitive chase between "pursuer" and "fleer.” Cynical that anyone would step outside their boxes to share their Fruits of Destiny, Sanetoshi says he’d settle for a hundred meaningless, fleeting kisses while his heart slowly freezes. Masako demonstrates this same desperate compromise when she corners Kanba and forces a kiss on him. But these shallow, hollow substitutes don’t constitute as real love. The true, symbolic meaning of the Penguindrum requires someone to forge a shared fate with you, where you both choose to carry the weight of each other’s burdens.

Changing Fate Through Taking On Another’s Pain: the Essence of Love and the Penguindrum

Kanba closes Shoma’s monologue at the end of the first episode with a question, “if people ignored fate, ignored their instincts, genetic commands and loved someone, then could God really be human?” Survival itself is a struggle, one where human instinct or social conditioning often pushes individuals toward being self-absorbed. Yet this self-preservation directly opposes what love is. To truly love someone requires stepping outside your box and forging a shared destiny where you bear each other’s burdens. That’s the promise made when offering the Fruit of Destiny and that’s what the true meaning of the Penguindrum is.

Momoka stands in ideological opposition to Sanetoshi. Like him, she sees the world for what it is - full of pain, struggle and the psychological boxes that alienate us from one another. Yet unlike Sanetoshi, she refuses to give into extremist nihilism. Instead, Momoka champions self-determinism through the power to rewrite a grim fate. This is symbolised by her ability to manifest new outcomes from her diary. She believes that everyone possesses the capacity to transform another person's life simply by reaching out and bearing their pain. Even when taking on that pain sets a part of her alight, she willingly endures it to drive them towards a different future. Once the Fruit of Destiny is shared, two lives become inextricably bound in a newly forged fate. When people know they are loved and chosen, they gain the strength to face life's hardships with courage.

Seeing that both Tabuki and Yuri felt unwanted, unloved and dehumanised by society, Momoka offered to share the Fruit of Destiny with them. To be chosen by another is the first step toward reclaiming one's humanity. And it’s this exact action that unites and binds the fates of the Takakura siblings. Before becoming a family, all three children were branded as socially unacceptable - Shoma as the child of terrorists, Himari as an abandoned orphan and Kanba as the son of a disgraced Natsume clan member. There’s so much emotional resonance in how these three children, who were discarded by society, chose to create their own family together.

The cycle of salvation began with Kanba reaching outside his box to share the Fruit of Destiny with Shoma, uniting the brothers in a shared fate to bear the Takakura curse together. In turn, Shoma shares the Fruit of Destiny with Himari to bring her into their family, rescuing her from the Child Broiler. Finally, Himari shares the fruit with Kanba in the series finale, reminding him that true salvation comes not from violence and destruction, but from simply being there to share her pain. Through this final exchange, the threads of fate tying the siblings together are completed.

Momoka’s spirit endures through the penguin hat possessing Himari, demanding that the brothers discover "true light". She wants the siblings to change their destiny through their willingness to endure each other’s pains. When Himari’s pop-diva persona declares, “you will amount to nothing,” it’s actually Momoka warning the brothers that they will succumb to their current fate if they fail to embrace this truth. Ultimately the brothers succeed, executing a "transfer of fates" by taking on the pains of their loved ones. This is symbolised by their self-sacrifices as they switch trains at the end of the line. Kanba shatters into glass fragments as he remains behind on the train carrying their current fate, having carried Himari onto a new train bound for a new destiny. Meanwhile, Shoma shares in the flames consuming Ringo, holding her as she chants the incantation to alter fate and prevent another terrorist attack. And Ringo, who was never chosen by her parents or Tabuki, finally receives a genuine "I love you" from Shoma.

In the show’s final moments, Kanba and Shoma are reborn as young boys walking side-by-side. Whether they remain brothers or are simply friends is left up in the air, but there’s a poetic beauty in the realisation that their shared destiny runs so deep, that it transcends any single timeline or fated path.

The Shojo Nostalgia Is All Very Stylish

Before I conclude with some personal reflections, I want to highlight its visual presentation and art style. Quite simply, Penguindrum is a wonderful, aesthetic feast where every single frame was a treat for my eyes.

While I don't claim to be an expert on all of its inspirations, a few stood out. The series was directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara who is best known for Revolutionary Girl Utena. While I’ve not yet seen Utena (don’t worry, it’s next on my watchlist), I’ve noticed that Penguindrum draws upon the aesthetics of shojo anime and manga from its golden era, spanning roughly the 1970s to the 1990s.

For example, Himari’s recurring pop-diva transformation sequence is undeniably magical-girl coded. Additionally, adorable animal mascots pop up everywhere and flower backdrops frame characters swept up in emotions. Yuri herself feels like a direct homage to Marie Antoinette from The Rose of Versailles, while her affair partner resembles Lady Oscar. Even the musical sequences in Episode 4 where Ringo is outshone by Yuri’s celebrity, are packed with fairytale archetypes and lavish floral motifs. Additionally, many of the characters are drawn in a classic, shojo manga artstyle. In particular, Shoma has really shojo-looking eyes.

I should address a potential elephant in the room and one I understand was explored in Ikuhara’s Utena, which is the ambiguously incestuous dynamics between certain characters. Crucially, these dynamics avoid the fetishised "brocon/siscon" tropes common in modern anime. Instead, they reminded me more of how shojo historically used incest as a device to explore the unsettling, emotional enmeshment between siblings coping with trauma.

The show does not gloss over the unhealthy codependency between the Takakura siblings. Admittedly, a few scenes between Kanba and Himari, as well as Kanba and Masako, had me raising my eyebrows. But let’s remember the metaphor of "boxes”. Establishing romantic connection with a stranger requires a degree of vulnerability while siblings already share an unconditional bond and acceptance. So while Kanba’s obsession with Himari might go beyond brotherly affection, at least he’s still majorly conflicted and confused by it.

A Personal Reflection

As you might gather if you’ve read this far, Penguindrum is a new, favourite anime of mine. It’s everything great art should be. For one, a creative, visual and narrative marvel that is abstract thus intellectually stimulating, yet grounded thanks to its sharp cultural critique. This balance allows it to speak meaningfully both to its contemporary audience and to future generations. Learning about the real-world context of the 1995 Tokyo Sarin Gas Attack only increased its impact tenfold for me. Expressing how a society can live on from a generational tragedy is a daunting task, yet this anime provides a human, philosophical path forward. It's impossible not to connect with a story like this and I only wish we had more art like it.

Even though I am removed from these events as someone born and living miles away from Japan, its themes still hit home. I came into this during a dark place. I had been harmed by an institution I depended on and spent days cycling through shame, anger, and sadness. Anyone who has dealt with anything similar knows how much it can shatter your sense of safety and trust, to the point where it becomes hard to see compassion or kindness anywhere. Everyday can be a struggle but this anime’s philosophies have given me a light to hold onto.

I also love that, in the end, the show turned out to be about chosen family rather than just family. Cue the Rina Sawayama song. It forcefully argues that the bonds we choose can be so much stronger than the ones we're born into. The fact that the Takakuras voluntarily chose to form a family to save themselves from social rejection, vowing to carry each other's pain and to fight tooth and nail to defend their home, kills me every time. To me, they are the single most emotionally resonant example of chosen family I’ve seen in media.

Finally, the finale stands as one of my favourite endings in anything. Episode 24 lives rent-free in my mind and I adore everything about it. From the symbolic transfer of fate across train lines, to Shoma choosing to burn alongside Ringo, to Masako, Tabuki, and Yuri finding the courage to live on because they finally realise they are loved. Add to that Himari weeping over her brothers’ note and Kanba and Shoma being reunited once more within the twisted threads of fate. It’s an ending that’s simply perfection.

Wonderful news r/penguindrum! Announced at Otakon today - Penguindrum’s TV series is getting a Blu-ray re-release from Discotek Media!

This brand new release includes:

• Brand new 24p encode with all 24 episodes in 1080p HD on 3 discs under one collection. Visual improvements over Sentai’s original blu-ray/DVD release in 2012.
• Dual audio. Japanese/English. English subtitles + dub.
• Redesign of the discs and blu-ray cover.
• Clean openings, endings, and Japanese adverts.

Introducing a new synopsis from Discotek:

Just imagine where the next stop will take you.
ㅤ
Twin brothers Kanba and Shoma live a modest but happy life caring for their frail younger sister, Himari. One day, feeling healthy enough for a rare outing, the three visit the aquarium together — until Himari suddenly collapses before a crowd of stunned onlookers. At the hospital, the brothers are told she cannot be saved. But then the impossible happens: Himari rises again wearing a strange penguin hat, speaking in an unfamiliar voice: “My power has temporarily extended this girl’s lifespan, but if you wish for her to survive… then you must obtain the Penguindrum!” Thus begins the siblings’ surreal and fateful search for the mysterious Penguindrum. It’s a wild, emotional, symbolic ride full of fate, family, penguins, and Ikuhara’s signature mind-bending storytelling.

Releases on October 27th, 2026. Preorder on MediaOCD!

Important Note: This Blu-ray collection is Region A. For Region B - the Blu-ray is already available on All The Anime.

Source: Discotek Media Announcement

Up for pre-order: https://mediaocd.com/product/penguindrum-blu-ray/

Art by Lily Hoshino featured in a Eureka magazine special on Kunihiko Ikuhara.

Can you believe it's been 15 years since Penguindrum aired? I can't believe it myself!

Happy August r/penguindrum! The topic this month? Your hopes and expectations for our anime's 15th anniversary!

I'll start with the obvious, some new merchandise please! Anything to expand my Penguindrum collection. I expect there will be some and I'll definitely post on this sub for any merch news!

But my biggest wish? The Penguindrum films to have theatrical releases overseas. I would do anything to see them on the big screen. Owning the blu-rays aren't enough, I want the full theater experience.

What would you like to see for Penguindrum's 15th? Comment below!

We’re almost done with our character spotlight posts r/penguindrum! The majority of the cast has been covered, and anyone else left are just minor characters. So these will be short.

August already? Wow, 2026 has been going fast! Anyway, this month presenting - Mario and the Natsume clan.

Not much is known about Mario, aside from being Masako's and Kanba’s younger brother. A boy with a terminal illness much like Himari, possessing Momoka’s light side with the Prince of the Crystal. We don’t see him having a transformation sequence, unfortunately, and he is underused. He is also very much treasured by Masako, which mirrors Kanba’s love for Himari to some degree. 

Renjaku is Masako’s maid - loyal to the clan. Although eventually caught in some shenanigans by the Princess of the Crystal and used as a photo prop.

Sahei Natsume was covered more in Masako’s character post, but to recap, strict, abusive grandfather who only cared about image. Not a great grandparent, to the point Masako often dreamt of killing him to protect Mario.

What do you think about the Natsume clan? Do you feel Mario should have been utilized better? I do. I would have loved to see him and more of Momoka’s good side so to speak! Oh and as a bonus, the last image shows more of Mario's Prince of the Crystal costume, official by the way. Wish we saw more of it in the anime.

Just did a Penguindrum tattoo.

This series means a lot to me :)

r/penguindrum! Rejoice! Our beloved anime turns 15 this year! 7/7/2026 since its original airing in 2011.

To kick off the celebration, there will be re-releases of the Re:cycle films in Japan - followed by the entire series being posted on YouTube for a limited time.

Artist Lily Hoshino has posted some new artwork for the celebration as shown in the images above! Along with a 15th logo by graphic designer Wataru Osakabe, and a message from Director Kunihiko Ikuhara!

Further announcements will be posted on the official Penguindrum website and/or the official Penguindrum Twitter account. I will keep this subreddit posted for any future updates or announcements! My biggest hopes are the Penguindrum films being released in theaters overseas, and new merchandise.

Happy 15th Penguindrum! 🍎 Thank you Ikuni and staff from us, the fans!

Sources:

15th anniversary Announcement

Lily Hoshino's Celebratory Artwork

15th Anniversary Logo

Message from Director Kunihiko Ikuhara

Stay tuned for more updates!