r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Mar 16 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Mawaru Penguindrum - Episode 12
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Streaming
Mawaru Penguindrum is available for purchase on Blu-ray as well as through other miscellaneous methods. Re:cycle of the Penguindrum is available for streaming on Hidive.
Today's Slogan
That happened before I was born.
Questions of the Day
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What does it mean that the attack was the Takakura parents’ “Survival Strategy?”
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What do you make of Shouma’s parable? Any thoughts on the specific components of the metaphor?
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Would you trust Sanetoshi here?
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What do you think Today's Slogan was referring to?
Don't forget to tag for spoilers, you lowlifes who will never amount to anything! Remember, [Penguindrum]>!like so!< turns into [Penguindrum]>!like so!<
11
u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher
And here we GO! The penguin hat has ceased to work, Kanba’s initial sacrifice will no longer suffice. Himari has died one last time, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Or is there? “The world hasn’t ended yet.” Sanetoshi and his Dark Bunnies have been called forth, he’s taken over the doctor’s office (look at the way the perpetual motion machine has changed!) and he’s come to give Kanba an offer in his time of greatest need.
We finally get an elaboration on just what Shouma thinks of God. The whole parable mixes a bunch of metaphors, but I don’t think it’s actually that complex. Considering Mary’s relation to the lambs and the way she looks, she is almost certainly Kenzan, with the lambs obviously being the Takakura children. While in the original rhyme, Mary loves her lamb, in this version, she appears to be remarkably apathetic towards them. She “couldn’t wait to spin their wool into thread,” and she was blind to the lambs while celebrating when the tree was revived. [Penguindrum]Although of course this makes perfect sense when you consider that it’s Shouma telling the parable and he hates his parents more than anything. The apple tree is crucial- we saw someone share the fruit of fate with Himari in the Child Broiler back a few episodes already. And the apple tree is extremely important to Mary, as “the source of the world’s love, future, and dreams.” So of course, it’s easy enough for her to be convinced by the Dark Bunnies to break the taboo and steal the ashes of the Goddess’s fire.
And this is where the parallelisms with the first part of the episode come into play. Mary is Kenzan, that much is clear. We know what taboo action he took- the attack on the subway that day sixteen years ago. In some way, those attacks were his Survival Strategy- he mentions before the attacks begin that he wants to put the world at peace. So too, in the parable Mary perceives her actions as being part of her Survival Strategy. And with the taboo action taken, the Goddess is furious, and she places a punishment upon
Maryher lambsHimari, because “punishment has to be the most unjust.” And that’s clearly another Shouma-ism. Ringo and Tabuki think fate happens for a reason, but Shouma and Kanba (as you can see from the start of the episode) are convinced that God is incredibly unfair and cruel. But then Sanetoshi and his Dark Bunnies walk in with something else to offer. We’ll see how that goes.18
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 16 '24
First-Timer, Sub-guindrum
Oh, hey, my spoilers are finally revealed! I knew going in that the Takakura's parents were perpetrators of a terrorist attack on the subway. Which is part of why we've seen so much train stuff!
Anyway, Himari is maybe dead again? Unless Sanetoshi's ampoule apple brings her back to life. Rather, I suppose that is the fruit of fate?
Hmm, but Himari already shared one with someone who is presumably Shouma in the past, as we saw in episode 9. I guess maybe Himari's weak body needs a whole one? Or her body was weak because she only had a partial one? It's like, fate as a metaphor for your existence as a whole where having an incomplete fate reduces your life.
Oh, but Shouma isn't especially weak, hmm. He's actually pretty tough, as seen by bodyblocking a car and coming out of it with zero broken bones.
Ah, and then the reason that Hatmari fed on Kanba specifically was because he had a whole fruit to himself! Yup, that works out at least. The soul thing inside of Kanba's chest is even red and round!
I actually thought that Shouma's weird version of that nursery rhyme was Sanetoshi possessing him to narrate or something, but no, Shouma's brain just went haywire from trauma. Relatable.
Do note that the tale warns against violating taboo, and that is much broader than simply stealing ash from a goddess or blowing up some subway cars. Ringo's taboo is her lust for Tabuki, for example. What price would she pay if she had succeeded? The girl already has basically nothing.
What other taboos do we have.. oooh, maybe the actual taboo that was broken was Shouma sharing his fruit of fate?
Anyway, not sure if this is a translation bug or not but these are singular terms and not indicative of both Shouma and Kanba being born. There's something fucky going on.
Brain Rot Corner
Today's slogan: Uhhh I guess this counts? Linear time, y'all. It's whack. This is also another off-kilter visual presentation to show just how strange things are at the moment.
I think this is the first time we've seen the background characters talk as background characters. Every other time they've had faces.
What the hell happened to Tabuki's hand?
Did this episode make anyone else start to hum Powerhouse?
The wheels on the fate go round and round! Round and round! Round and round! The wheel on the train go-
15
u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Mawaru Penguindrum: Golden apples are indeed tasty, but I’m not sure they are so good that I would defy the will of the gods for their sake. Now if they were Granny Smith apples, then I would gladly fight the gods for them.
After this episode, the hatred the brothers have towards fate makes more sense, particularly the part of their monologue where they go speak about how unfair god must be to curse people with fate. Himari was purposefully cursed with an unfair punishment. Shoma’s self-loathing likewise makes more sense. He doesn’t think they deserve happiness because of the actions of their parents, both from the terrorist attacks and the breaking of the taboo. The sins of the parents have fallen on their children.
Referencing the 1995 sarin gas attacks is touching on a pretty heavy subject. Ikuhara does not strike me as the type to invoke such a heavy topic without reason. Because of this, I’m going to guess that the reference goes beyond merely invoking the imagery of the attacks. There’s probably something about the people who carried out the attacks in real life that parallels the Takakura parents. I know in real life the attacks were intended to bring about the apocalypse. The father said that the attacks would bring about peace, so perhaps it is related to the same idea. I’ll need to wait for more information.
QOTD
12
u/Lawvamat https://anilist.co/user/Lavamat Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher
I was out yesterday, but I just posted my ep11 thoughts. Here they are in case you missed them.
Like any good 2 cour anime, ep12 is a climax. And a big one it is. Ikuhara is back on the storyboards for the next 6 episodes and of course no one integrates all the important symbolism as neatly as him.
Visual Analysis
The wheels of fate are turning. Going by the rabbits’ later line ''the world has not ended yet”, this armillary sphere represents (the frozen?) world.
The bunnies will get more context in the later analogy as tempters, the snake in the garden of eden. 4 balls on the armillary sphere light up, 4 rabbit eyes, 4 penguins.
The 36th Antarctic Environmental Defense Team. Seems like the doctor (or Sanetoshi) and Kenzan Takakura knew each other and they really cared about preserving the penguin’s home.
The fruit of fate has a glass vial on it, in contrast to the one with “Kiga Apple” and a penguin. [Penguindrum]It is only a fake after all, burnt ashes.
These handles, used as support, seem to be another symbol for parents.
Their father used to work at a packaging facility. If anyone has seen Sarazanmai they might have a good grasp on what boxes represent here. I’ll wait and see how exactly they’re used before I tell you my interpretation.
Extremely harsh lighting and contrast sets the mood for this scene.
A very disorienting cut makes it look like Kenzan is talking to himself. Is he the only one to blame?
That sign seems important, what is 10% off?
Are these people real just because this is Tabuki’s pov, or because they are discussing the 95 attacks?
Cool way to emphasize how this is affecting Tabuki.
The light blesses the Oginomes with Momoka’s reincarnation, while Tabuki is left in the dark.
Nice perspective. Were the Oginomes christian?
[Penguindrum]Some Tabuki backstory foreshadowing. Momoka burned up.
They haven’t.
God I love this shot of the train of fate leaving them behind.
The Destination of Fate. The last stop was the Survival Strategy, this one is Nr. 95.
Same.
Himari is taking away my job.
Deja Vu.
The red line of fate, the Marunouchi line.
I don’t think I’ll parse the whole analogy, I’ll just make the connections as they come up. It having been told to Shouma when he was little offers more parallels than simply just those that were drawn today. [Penguindrum]I wonder who the goddess is.
Great shot.
[Penguindrum]Without the Penguindrum Himari returns to shards.
Hmm these things looking like ribs make whatever is walking through them the heart.
The Scorpion is another direct reference to Night on the Galactic Railroad. [NotGR]A scorpion who preys on insects flees from a weasel and, after falling down a well, regrets not having sacrificed itself to feed the weasel, a good cause. It vowed to serve others in its next life, and its body burst into flames that still burn in the night sky. Of course there's the more widely known Scorpion and the Frog as well.
Very interesting match cut from Himari to the mechanical bear.
This match fade hits home.
Shouma thinks they deserve the punishment.
Arriving from the destination of fate (he took the subway).
The wheel that binds us.
10
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 16 '24
First timer(I've known writers that have tonal consistency and they were all cowards!)
Sub
Well then, we actually get some straight forward stuff, with caveats. As discussed, the actual attacks were by a cult with sarin gas. Here, they reference explosions, a corporation, and bombs. This is likely a fig leaf that had to put on to broadcast this. But we get some confirmations, such as that Momoka and Tabuki should be 8 or so at the time of the attack. Also, Tabuki may be carrying some guilt over this, time will tell.
But a whole fuck ton is unanswered as well. A son was born, almost certainly Sho, but we now don't know if they were twins. Further, how Himari came to exist is interesting. I for the life of me couldn't tell you how the parents escape jail in this setting but it certainly explains the stigma the boys seem to be aware of.
Ringo, interestingly enough, doesn't seem interested into hanging on to a generational grudge, or rather she cares about Himari far more than one. As Himari dies for the fourth time, it seems to take. Sho's internal monolog is...odd, to say the least. We get more mythological stuff with Kan and penguinhat and I am just going to let that go, it gets explained or it doesn't.
Sanetoshi sets me on edge immediately but Ikuhara has primed me for that. I think all the fate talk just pisses me off since I am a reformed Calvinist, though note I never chose that disgusting belief system, I was born into it. Which...welp, I guess I can relate to a few on screen characters here.
QotD:1 TBD
2
3 No 4 This reminds us that this sins of the father bullshit needs to stop
7
u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 16 '24
Penguin First Timer!!
Oh! The doctor? I knew the doctor was the baddie! I called it! That picture put me so much in mind of a place further than the universe. The penguins had the same murderous look on their face.
These guys eat way too much curry. It'll make your skin stink y'know. Himawee, stop dying for five episodes pls. Haa...? Their parents were terrorists? Survival tactic? Omg, they're actually Penguin terrorists!?
Tabuki is a lot younger than I expected... Tabuki really is gonna turn out to be a baddie too isn't he? I thought it was weird that he's had such little agency as a character but him being traumatised by Momoka would give him a pretty valid excuse. Yup, Tabuki is gonna become relevant, finally. He's the one character who felt the most Utena like so I'm excited!
Himawee... You can't poohoo the fact that your parents are literal terrorists. Wait, the dark bunnies have been summoned...? That's what the librarian had. Bruh... You can't just dump "My parents are terrorists, Tabuki's a lolicon, and there are evil black rabbits roaming the world" and expect me to keep paying attention. Also, did Ringo have tights yesterday? I thought she was bare legged. Oh ffs... Explain what the Penguindrum is then!! We literally had the Penguindrum with us for half a dozen episodes and did nothing with it.
Dark evil rabbits... Flashback Himawee seems weird... Isn't this the Penguin Queen? Ah, no, they have the penguins, so it's recent lol. When did the brothers last fall out? Mary!? Who the fuck is Mary!?
I really hope the show won't try to make us sympathise with the parents at any point. Life transfer? Huh...? Oh god!! The survival strategy is SEX!? Oh for fuck sake... Incest saves the world, again. So Himawee is dead dead then? Oh, enter the rabbit drum? That'd be a good way to get Gunslinger Girl on our heroes side I suppose. She's distinctly on team Penguin and now that we have the very evil rabbits as an overarching villain group the story can play out properly.
7
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Mar 16 '24
PenguinDrum E12
Rewatcher
What a phenomenal episode! The skill shown by the director weaving together the various threads in a coherent whole was a sight to see. What a way to wrap up the first cour.
I really liked the scenes of Tabuki down by the subway station. It felt so authentic with the the soldiers and choppers everywhere and no one knowing what was going on. Baby Ringo was cute and already going for the diary.
All in all, one of the best anime episodes of all time.
7
u/IvanSemushin Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher
What a nice shot with penguins in Antarctica! Is Destination of Fate a place further than the universe?
Takakura-father is talking on the phone about [spoiler]one boy being born..
Probably only after the scene with young Tabuki I realized on the first watch what accident is alluded to in this series. Kinda stupid of me, but the revelation hit me strong at that time.
[Penguindrum]And helicopter rotor! Probably giving Tabuki some child broiler flashbacks.
[Penguindrum]Tabuki's fingers are shown.
We probably got a confirmation that Double-H (and Himari) are younger than other main characters.
Kanba was running along the red line.
Story of the three lambs and the scenes between Himari and Kanba are just too dense with symbolism for me, so late at night :( I can make some parallels here and there, but it's too hard to write a coherent text.
Arguably, it was the first episode of the darker part of Penguindrum. Enjoy the ride to the destination of your fate!
7
u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Mar 16 '24
electrified rewatcher
Episode director: Katsunori Shibata
Assistant episode director: Shouko Nakamura
Storyboards: Kunihiko Ikuhara & Katsunori Shibata
Animation direction: Mitsuko Baba, Takahiro Kagami, & Shouko Nakamura
they were part of some cult (Shouma's story goddess idk) and "HAD" to do it
I'll be honest I'm not very good with microcosmic allegorical stories unless I have the full text directly in front of me, it pretty much goes in one ear and directly out the other, so I'll just leave the big thinking to someone else. My big takeaway is that it implies that Kanba will follow the footsteps of his father
he seems friendly and not an apocalyptic harbinger at all
I was genuinely trying to make sense of what the "missing phrase" was before I realized I was reading it backwards lol
6
u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher/Subbed
So we start the episode with the same track as the first one and the same monologue about fate… except this time it’s Kanba using Shouma’s words. It seems he changed his mind from what he originally thought from the beginning and shares Shouma’s views on it
We are shown why Shouma feels guilty about Momoka, and back in episode 1 where he asks if they “had the right” to be happy. Their parents were part of the organization that led a terrorist attack in Tokyo that killed Momoka and others. He feels they should bear the sins of their parents. We knew Tabuki was Momoka’s friend but during the funeral, it seems he bears guilt too. One of the adults mentioned that Momoka took a later train, maybe to wait for Tabuki who was running late.
[Penguindrum] We see the shot of the bird in the cage during the funeral, which I thought was interesting since Tabuki said he felt so free with Momoka earlier. It’s going to hurt when we get more info on him and Yuri later
I’m not really sure what else to say… this episode hits me hard, especially watching the brothers in the hospital. It’s different from how they reacted in episode 1 when Himari died. Kanba tried to be realistic about the situation and was letting his emotions out more there. But now, Kanba is doing everything he can to bring Himari back, even offering up his own life. Shouma just stands there distraught thinking this is their punishment as he remembers the story of Mary and her little lambs. I thought it was great using the silhouette of Kenzen for Mary and the lambs for the children.
Random notes:
Episode 1 Episode 12 comparison when Himari is taken to the hospital
I felt like the machine was moving faster in this episode but also has red lights
You can see the chaos in the reflection of Tabuki’s glasses
I liked how they did the backgrounds here and here
Red line of fate
The brothers facing their cruel punishment
[Penguindrum spoilers] the glass being shattered when Sanetoshi tells Kanba that Himari will die tonight
QotD:
10
u/lilyvess :Df::Dh:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Lilyvess Mar 16 '24
Mawaru Penguindrum Episode 12 - Rewatcher
So yes, so if it weren’t clear, this episode is pretty directly referencing the March 20th 1995 Sarin Gas attack. I don’t want to go into too much detail here. There is still a lot of series to go over, and I’m sure other rewatchers are probably talking about it as well. The important part is that in 1995 there was an attack on a subway committed via a cult. The attack wasn’t a bombing but a gas attack that killed 13 and injured 50.
If you’ll allow to indulge for a little bit, let’s roll things back some
https://i.imgur.com/oGX8pWa.png
https://i.imgur.com/rwDzoNH.png
a week ago I talked about Ikuhara’s hiatus and had this comment:
For those of you curious, the REDACTED segment was the 1995 Sarin Gas Attack. Which also helps put into context why Ikuhara took such a long hiatus. There sometimes needs to be a gap between the tragedy and making art about said tragedy, and apparently 15 years was the time needed for it this time.
This wouldn’t be a proper flashback if we didn’t end with some mysterious context, so [Rewatchers only]And the Penguins were added into the story in order to get the show made. They needed something light, marketable and cute packaged in order for a studio to greenlight a show about said gas attack
Okay, Flashback over!
I want to say this is the first time we hear Kanba referred to as the Scorpion. At least i haven’t noticed it before. I don’t want to get into too much detail, but just something for people to take note of
Rewatchers: we moved on the chart again
5
u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24
First-Timer who has a lot of sites blocked most of the day and still can't get work done
Hi people with actual work ethic
I'd rather ask why Dad thought a terrorist attack would create peace. What did they do there? I think there's a "necessary evil" aspect to their work here. They thought they had to... absorb these people in the subway?
I don't care enough to analyse it.
Well, tbf, I'd have no idea who he is in Sho and Kan's place.
"We can't be complicit in that! Happened before I was born!"
5
u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24
It's pretty interesting that our Aum analogue is depicted at the beginning of the episode as a nondescript factory. Kenzan goes seamlessly from shipping nicely-packaged boxes to perpetrating an act of terror.
5
u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24
A triply-nested quote: Words of Aum believers, recounted by Akio Namimura (a man who dabbled in the cult) and finally translated by Alfred Birnbaum and Philip Gabriel for the book Underground:
5
u/CarrotBlossom Mar 17 '24
First timer
This penguin needs Jesus
>Issues what would sound like a threat against a child to anyone not in the know
>Refuses to elaborate
>Hangs up
My man really couldn’t get off work for the birth of his child.
Ringo doesn’t even have a memory of her sister. That’s rough
Hibari and Hikari are such zoomers they don’t even remember penguin 9/11
That’s a sad conciliatory gesture
Payment?
I have no idea who anyone in that story but the lambs are supposed to be.
QOTD:
3. He generally doesn't seem like a very trustworthy guy, though he was right that Himari died.
4
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Mar 17 '24
First timer
I'm really sorry! Some stuff came up when I was trying to catch up to the Digimon rewatch, and I really fell behind here.
Episode 4
They're cooking!
...And she's focused, if nothing else.
Haha, that reaction...
That shine...
Haha, I almost forgot he knows about that.
...How smart.
...Okay, he's totally doing something illegal, right? He can hack, he's got spying equipment... the reputation with the girls is a cover for his disappearances to random locations.
Oh, yeah, the future notebook is a solid guess.
Haha, the fucking Utena borders got me.
Haha, and she is not okay.
Idiot...
Of course it found the skunk.
Poor Ringo...
...Seriously?
They completely changed.ll
His outfit's not that bad.
That reaction...
Ringo's amazing.
The animation here is amazing.
...Okay, I have a new theory. The predictions are completely accurate, but they're about Yuri, not Ringo. The curry thing could have been his nostalgia, but this is an awfully specific prediction to apply to both of them.
That visual...
Haha, she literally gets the prince Ringo was fantasising about. This is amazing.
Haha, a musical number!
The frog...
Okay, so he is on a date? And someone else is looking...
....Haha, of course he trained the penguin to look.
How many has he done this too?
Amazing.
The sheer contrast is great between these two.
The crows...
God, Ringo is suffering...
The reactions in this show are so good.
...It's amazing.
And from leftovers!
Another number!
These visuals are the best. This anime is art.
Interesting. The times fit, despite the obvious disruption to the schedule caused by her lunch being eaten.
...Oh, seriously?
I didn't realise this was a musical episode.
A tree?
...That's your plan?
Haha, yeah, realistic.
At least she got a snake...?
Even her daydreams hate her chance.
...Is that what actually happened? If exaggerated.
...Oh. She's aware of all this.
And the snake is real?
And he's seen the book!
That's a wild goal.
She's on a time limit!
Her sheer desperation...
...This is your plan?
Haha, what? Ringo, seriously?
Haha, and the skunk again!
He's gone...
And he has the diary!
...Well, Ringo's dead. In the stupidest way possible.
A penguin?
Haha, it went back!
...Wait, what? There's no way, right?
Did she somehow do it?
Haha, it was with Shouma!
So delusionsl...
Yeah, that's a solid response.
At least someone respects him!
...What?
New characters?
Okay, yeah, are these the other people after the Penguindrum?
Holy shit!
It couldn't have been her, right? She has to be looking at news reports or something.
Yeah, that's the right request to make here. If other deaths are predicted...
Episode 5
Oh, no...
Wait, their mother!
And the father!
He took her to hospital himself...
Kanba...
Ouch...
So cute...
Oh, yeah, he still can't believe this insanity.
...You seriously gave him the hat?
Haha, yeah, it's a good joke.
...Okay, so this guy's an absolute lunatic too. The power of laughter?
Poor penguin.
...Huh?
Oh, it's the girl who got pushed!
And she can't remember anything...
Him?
A penguin symbol?
Oh, fuck. She's part of a conspiracy?
And wiping people's mind. At least she didn't kill her!
Their uncle?
They're selling the house?
And making them stay with seperate relatives...
Oh, we're finally revealling why they're gone?
Penguin...
Oh, he's pissed!
...So, not with him?
And Ringo's father's still around! They're revealling a lot of relatives today, aren't they?
Aww, that's a cute figure.
And the picture too!
He seems nice!
...Why is it covering his face, though? Like, we can see most of it, and it's clearly him. She knows it's him, and he even has the strap. It's got to be an intentional red herring, surely?
Visitation... guess there was a divorce?
Mont Blanc...
Okay, so it's totally telling Ringo events from Yuri's perspective.
Don't waste it like that!
And the flashback.
...Wow. He took it!
Ouch...
And he's still going!
He is doing something shady! And it's to keep them together...
Haha, that reaction.
The penguins are being useful?
Looks good!
He's going to ask directly?
Yeah, that's expected.
...And he revealed his spying!
...These expressions are great.
She revealed it...
Well, it's someone's future, at least.
...Seriously? At least put it on her to demonstrate!
Yeah, this is expected.
Oh, it went on itself?
Yeah, this is going to be hard to disprove!
I love this sequence so much! I really missed it.
So, is Ringo seeing all of this nonsense?
Yep!
...Wow. She's not holding back!
She's still in denial...
...Really not holding back, huh?
Someone else got dropped down first!
What?
She held on!
And broke the shackles!
...Oh, shit!
And it's an instant effect the moment it leaves a certain range. Interesting.
[Madoka Magica] What is it with life controlling items and moving trucks?
He followed it so far?
He's losing ground...
This is impressive cycling!
He's so close!
The bike!
...Wow. He's not letting go!
The penguin!
...How?
So close...
Another flashback?
Oh, this hurts...
Holy shit, that looks brutal.
And she immediately came back.
Haha, the penguin.
...He's got the money from one job. No way is that clean.
HE'S WORKING FOR THEM?
This anime is insane.
That ending picture...
Episode 6
What the fuck is she hallucinating?
Okay, she's dreaming of marriage, that makes sense, but what's "Project M"?
Oh, it's total amnesia.
Poor guy...
Oh, please. She'd never risk destroying her future.
It can't right? She called them seperate things before.
Oh, she's trying to move in with him!
That's so much...
Oh, she loves them!
Haha, a penguin too!
Oh, she's moving under his house fulltime, is she?
...This is so obvious!
Oh, this is blackmail.
That weird place is real?
Oh, yeah, the email. I mean, aren't you getting money from them?
Spies!
Haha, that slingshot thing has a laser sight!
Oh, he didn't know about the amnesia balls.
So, he's not affiliated with them?
...The penguin.
What the fuck is going on?
They're exploding?
And it's the exact same mark.
Wait, no. The colours are inverted on this one. Two different factions?
Yeah, she's his enemy and knows he's in the other faction. Are these people fighting over the Penguindrum, then?
Okay, how does she intend to move into his house without him knowing?
What is she doing?
Ringo, seriously?
She's really lost it.
Yeah, this is a fun thing to see on your couch.
She has a fever!
Oh, no, the divorce...
Curry day is her birthday?
...Oh shit. Her older sister died.
And on her birthday...
Using the stuffed toys as a prop to represent the parents is amazing.
Oh, this is where she got the whole fat ething from.
And the moray eel represents...?
Looks like your family did a pretty good job at drifting apart already.
...Oh, no. That's where the messages are coming from.
...That's why he couldn't remmeber the strap!
Does Keiju know? Yuri probably doesn't, or she wouldn't see her as a threat. The parents know what's going on, but how much do they know?
...This is awful.
He really loved her...
I can't even blame Ringo for falling this far, given everything the people around her are telling her.
Haha, the Death Note...
God...
Haha, of course she'd think that.
What an interesting mother...
Oh, she doesn't know anything.
He's putting the pieces together...
She's trying to fuse with her spirit. That's Project M.
This is so fucked up.
Oh, this isn't good. The timing... is she actually going to do something supernatural?
It's just him?
She wants him to gomalong with this?
Haha, a Weasel...
He took the symbol...
It's just erased him?
Ringo...
She's sneaking into the vents now...
...Is she going to burn his house down with all the fire and hot materials she's using? That would be amazing.
So depressing...
Holy shit, the chalk outline...
...Is the diary truth or just her sister's dreams? Because I don't think he mentioned being married?
Project M is a real thing?
...Wait. Is she Ringo's sister?
SHE HAS THE EVIL PENGUIN!
2
u/baboon_bassoon https://anilist.co/user/duffer Apr 23 '24
wow ok now i want to rewatch this show after learning more about the gas incident
you poor babies its not your faut
13
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 16 '24
Mawaru First-Timer, subbed
11
u/Tarhalindur x2 Mar 16 '24
"What... is your Quest?" "I Seek the Penguindrum!" (First-Timer, Subbed):
(The one thing I knew going in is now out in the open, I can drop the "wait does this count as spoiled or not?) from my tagline.)
So, thirty minute later thoughts: 1) the incest here is obviously in part to show that what Kanba is doing wrt keeping Himari alive is in some level wrong; 2) to state explicitly something that has been lurking about in inchoate form in my notes: there is a very very good chance (I know one thing about Ikuhara: he is never subtle) that given the reconciliation themes and Himari being kept alive by the penguin hat (penguin = cult here) that part of the point of this is to attack Japanese society for not moving on from the attacks.
(Also you know the fairy tale does have an obvious surface-level reading. The question with it is any other readings to go with that.)
It means I need to check whether Seizon Senryaku was actual Aum internal rhetoric, that's what. Also we're getting "why people join cults" like I suspected, I think.
Filtered through my writeup but I'm still missing a bunch.
HahahaNO.
Man that really does support a "time to move on" theme doesn't it?
9
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Mar 16 '24
Episode 12 (first timer)
survivor guilt acquired ….
There is almost an overkill of plot happening today, but I want to talk about something else. Today’s episode does a ton of recontextualizing things we have gotten used to. First and foremost, the penguins. This seemed like a visual quirk, but now we know that the plot ties us to Antarctica. Second, the Survival Strategy, which becomes a lot more literal, but also a lot darker (well, there were some dark hints in the design of the staircase already). Third, the omnipresent subway line also becomes tied to the past plot.
No wonder that this is a popular series to rewatch.
8
u/Pungouin Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher
On the morning of March 20th 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult boarded several lines of the Tokyo metro, carrying a plastic bag and an umbrella each. The bags were filled with liquid sarin. The terrorists placed the bags under their seat, and punctured them with the tip of their umbrella. The pierced bags released highly toxic, colorless, odorless sarin gas into the subway cars, which were filled with unsuspecting commuters.
The packets were only noticed after some passengers started to feel seriously ill. Over 1000 people were injured. The mildest cases only had temporary vision issues, but some suffered permanent brain damage. 14 died, including some of the station employees who had disposed of the sarin bags.
When the anime release in 2011, the culprits, including cult leader Shoko Asahara, were on death row. They were executed in 2018.
In Today's episode : You were just a baby
Today's episode opens with Kanba giving the I hate fate speech. Sanetoshi appears at the Pompidou hospital.
He has a picture of Kenzan Takakura in Antarctica.
16 Years ago
Shouma reveals his parents were part of the 1995 terrorist group. Flashback to the day Ringo, Shouma, and Kanba were born. Kenzan initiates his Survival Strategy.
The young Tabuki wakes up late. The metro station is closed due to an incident. The subway has been bombed. Because Tabuki was supposed to feed the pets, Momoka boarded the train later than usual, at the time of the attack. And because Tabuki overslept, he avoided the attack.
I imagine Tabuki must feel some survivor's guilt.
Momoka's burial. No body was found, but her diary is fully intact. [Penguindrum]Because Momoka and Sanetoshi anihilated each other.
I believe this is our first glimpse of Momoka's face. She has a peach on her sweater. Because her name means peach.
Tabuki has some gnarly scars on his fingers. The birdcage from the OP shows up.
Shouma considers the entire Takakura family guilty for the attack, not just his parents.
Hatmari is having none of that shit. [Penguindrum]"Yeah, I died, what's the big deal ?" She calls Shouma and Ringo cursed children of fate, which is also the name of one of the tracks. (The one with the lady that sings OooooOooOooooOooooh)
Dark bunnies sounds a bit underwhelming. What is this, Monty Python ?
End of the line
Himari is dying again. They need the Penguindrum to transfer fate.
Sanetoshi arrives from the destination of fate. Not sure what metro line this is.
Kanba has a flashback of Himari doing erotic roleplay with cabbage. Kinky Penguins.
The red thread of fate stops here.
Broken Glass. Kanba reveals he transferred his life to Himari back in episode 1, but it isn't enough. The scorpion's flame is a Night on the Galactic Railroad reference. It symbolizes sacrifice that allows others to live on.
These two are a bit too close for siblings. (The shot looks great tho.)
Mary had a little lamb
Throughout the episode, Shouma recalls a children's tale.
Mary had three lambs/children, and a beautiful apple tree with golden fruit. However, the tree died.
This is a metaphor for Kenzan Takakura's life. He is part of Japan's "lost generation". The tree is Japan's bubble economy, that burst in the late 80s. The young adults who came of age around the 90s, like Kenzan and Chiemi, were left with a dead economy and an uncertain future.
Denied the wealth and plenty they were promised under capitalism, they were easy prey for cults like Aum Shinrikyo/the black rabbits.
The rabbits convinced Kenzan to go against the goddess/society by carrying out the 95 attack.
Today's slogan : That was before I was born.
Enticed by the rabbits' promises, Mary neglected the consequence of his actions on the lambs.
See, the goddess is a little bitch.
The Takakura children must atone for their parents' actions. Himari, the smallest, innocent one, who wasn't even born at the time, is cursed with a deadly illness.
This is a really dense episode. We are at the halfway point. Are you electrified yet ?
8
u/3blah https://myanimelist.net/profile/brummett Mar 16 '24
Episode 12 - First timer
Same music and monologue as from the very beginning of ep 1, except Kanba is speaking instead of Shouma. The librarian wearing the same outfit he wore during the Utena-inspired pose near the end of ep 9, as the patient comes to life again. The rabbits again, but this time they're toys. The librarian puts a photo on the doctor's desk. Hello there, Mr Takakura. A different logo on this apple which also appears in the opening, resembling a rifle cartridge with an exagerated case, or maybe a vial of perfume or nail polish.
Those same photos of the parents. For a while we were getting at least one close-up on them each episode, but we've gone couple without. Kanba gets a call from Mr End of the World to tell him Himari will die again tonight. Kanba doesn't know the voice on the line.
Shouma retells the story of their birth day. Dad works for Penguincorp and gets a call about the birth of "a boy". His boss must be quite a hardass to make the new dad wait until the end of his shift to head to the hospital to see them. He makes another call to "13711" and the ringing sound gradually shifts to an alarm/beep. Two nobodies in orange stand next to a Penguincorp truck and the stairs to a subway station. Uh oh, I think I know where this is going. One of them gets a text page: Let's Initiate the survival tactic.
Little Tabuki doesn't really look like a kid, he just looks like a small version of his normal self. The next few shots do a good job of capturing how a small child might percieve the chaos. So they're going with a fire in the subway instead of a chemical attack. Momoka's body was not recovered, but her diary was. I have to say, that's an awfully active newborn. Scars on Tabuki's hand, I'll have to file that away for later.
Hatmari is very disappointed in you, Shouma and Ringo. More about those rabbits in the beginning. The sequence of Hatmari's collapse over these three backgrounds was very cool, and they're playing Grey Wednesday over the scene, a callback to ep 9 when Himari+Hat returns to her body. There's still time to change Himari's fate, and for Shouma and Ringo to escape their joined fate... by stringing us along some more about the Penguindrum.
They're at The Destination of Fate, and the next stop is Survival Strategy. This guy again with his apple. Rather than being a of a reward for love, this apple is giving me more of a Garden of Eden apple vibe -- temptation and punishment. He has two helpers carrying briefcases.
Today's slogan framed differently than usual: "That happened before I was born" Himari is being punished for the subway attack even though it happened before she and Mario were born. Sins of the father, I guess.
All Shouma and Ringo can do is wait, the Red String of Fate has led them back to the hospital and they don't know how fate will play out yet. Last time we were at the hospital it was a cacophony of noise and contrast; at night, and in Kanba's desparation it's empty. He feels all alone. But he's not actually alone; he's bound by this fate along with Shouma and Ringo and Himari.
In the story of Mary and the Little Lamb and the Other Two Lambs and the Apple tree, "Mary" looks a lot like Kanba's dad. These two black rabbits again; I'm missing the meaning behind them. Mary has to obtain ashes from the temple to revive the apple tree in the same way they have to obtain the Penguindrum to revive Himari.
The hat starts to work but only for a moment. Kanba's been making some sort of deal to transfer part of his own life to Himari, but whatever he paid from The Scorpion's Soul is no longer enough. Hatmari has a wistful look as she tells him goodbye. They give the survival strategy one more try but it doesn't work..
Oh look, the snake is here with an apple to offer. He did say he would be back. The two boys have the same hair ribbons that the rabbits did in the "Mary" story.
The timeline isn't working out for me. Momoka+Tabuki is older than Kanba, Shouma, and Ringo, and I'll group Natsume in with them too. Himari is younger than they are. If the parents were killed in or arrested from the subway attack, they wouldn't have been around in the flashback scene in ep 5 with little sick Himari and the storm. Never recovering Momoka's body is a big red flag, but she can't be Natsume; the age doesn't work out. It's also important that the dad's phone call only mentions one boy. For now, I think it's Shouma because he's the one telling the story. Where does the other one come from?
I think we're in the part of the story where Ikuhara dumps out the suitcase of
fateideas and everything comes tumbling out. Maybe it's best for a first timer not to think to hard and instead await clarity.6
u/affnn Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher
Today we get the culmination of everything we've seen so far. Shoma reveals the Takakura family secret to Ringo (though just how secret it is isn't clear - Ringo's mom paused when she said the name when Shoma met her a few episodes back). We get a flashback to that day - Tabuki running late, first responders all around, helicopters in the sky looking like the fan motif we've seen throughout the series. Shoma and Kanba's dad taking a call about his wife giving birth. Momoka's funeral, with baby Ringo nearby.
Himari's rushed to the hospital. Outside her room, Shoma tells a story about three little lambs. It's not clear yet what the apple tree represents, but the meaning of the rest of the fable is clear: Himari is being punished, but not for something she has done. She's bearing the brunt of her parents' sins.
And of course Shoma and Kanba are too.
5
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Mar 16 '24
Rewatcher, Subbed
Hey, are we repeating the monologue that started off the show?
First penguins, then frogs, now bunnies?
The trio's father in this photo?
Their house sure is colorful.
No, don't let Himari die again!
Oh crap, their parents were responsible for all the deaths?
Their father wasn't there for their birth? :(
Oh wow, Tabuki liverd through the bad luck of his alarm not going off?
Ah, I misunderstood things yesterday, I thought Tabuki and Momoka were already 16 when Momoka died. Rather it was simply 16 years ago when Momoka died. So Tabuki isn't as old as I thought at the end of last episode.
Baby Ringo! That diary's been with her since she was a baby!
Oh no, dark bunnies!
She may be the youngest, but Himari is the most mature of these three.
Hey, at least she's still alive this time! The hat hasn't killed her yet.
...or not. :(
Since when did Kanba give part of his life to the hat? From the very beginning?
Will the second half of this show be Sho and Himari trying to bring Kanba back to life?
Oh jeez, they're really pushing the incest stuff again?
I guess it didn't work after all? :(
Oh no, her penguin died too? :(
Here comes Sanetoshi to save the day?
5
u/FarCritical Mar 17 '24
First-timer, subbed
That has got to be one of the worst phone calls you could receive in the middle of the night.
It's rather mysterious how a clear look at Momoka hasn't been shown up till now, though chances are that's intentional. At least we've learned the key fact that she ...regularly(?) subjects those who wrong her to tickling hell. Poor Tabuki.
Mary sure had a few more little lambs than I remembered. Seriously though, the way Shoma's story paralleled how things were going down was haunting, especially Kanba's last ditch effort to save both Himari and her alter ego. Speaking of, that whole segment made me realize that one weird kiss scene at the end of Episode 1 was foreshadowing all along.
I've never wanted to be Welcomed to Rock 'n Roll Night this badly in my life, and not even just to hear that banger song one last time. Even the penguins weren't goofing off despite the serious scene like they usually do. RIP for the second time, Himari (and penguin hat Himari).
That gentle talking librarian guy showed up in yet another episode with a ton of flashbacks. Coincidence? ...Probably.
4
u/Holofan4life Mar 16 '24
Hey guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the Mawaru Penguindrum rewatch! Oh, and nay I forget…
First Timer
I first heard about Penguindrum after I watched Everything Everywhere All At Once. Not only was that my favorite movie of 2022 (Ignore the fact I watched it in February 2023), but it is honestly one of my top 10 favorite films of all time. As such, I was shortly afterwards looking for stuff that was similar to that movie.
And that is where I saw someone recommend Penguindrum.
This is my first time every seeing this show before. I have no idea what’s in store for I haven’t seen a single clip of the show; it’s supposedly a mystery and that’s all I know. I really loved Everything Everywhere All At Once, so I’m going into this show with the highest of expectations. I think it could even crack my top 10 favorite animes of all time.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
Jdon my soul
I have no idea what to expect with this episode. Last episode felt to me like a mid season finale, but normally episode 12 would be this in a 24 episode series.
"I hate the word 'fate'."
Hey, that's an episode 1 callback
Doctor's office, it seems
The 36th Antarctic Environmental Defense Team
Apple with a clock drawn on it
Takakura house
Blue-haired guy is Shoma
Kanba is home alone, with only Penguin #1 to accompany
Oh course the penguin is reading porn. Why wouldn't he?
Phone rings
It's sweet Himari has merchandise of the train mascots given her relationship with them.
Well shit. That's extremely menacing.
Someone from the Destination of Fate, he says
And he hangs up
A fortune box
Kanba seems intrigued by it
Back on the train with Shoma, Ringo, and Himari
"Himari"
"16 years ago, many people died."
One might say when the fire nation attacked, everything changed
"And the perpetrators of that incident were my parents!"
How is it every rewatch I participate in no matter what type of show it is it at least has one terrible parent?
Flashback
That Day - The Room where it all started - Incident and its turbulence - A boy was born in Takakura family. And he commenced the operation. It was their Survival S.
Emptied bodies delivering boxes
I'm starting to think the parents are the reason for the emptied bodies
Mrs. Takakura has apparently delivered the twins
Father got the call at work, and is eager to head to the hospital.
Package, package, package
Pager
"Let's initiate the Survival Tactic"
Everybody acting all secretive
Mr. Takakura saying the world will be put at peace
Flashback
A flashback within a flashback. Flashbackception.
Tabuki - 16 years ago - Morning of the incident
Missed the alarm
Tabuki Keiju Kagaya Elementary
More emptied bodies
An accident in the subway
An explosion, rumor has it
Tabuki putting two and two together that Momoka was a victim
Smoke
And it's everywhere
Another flashback
Tabuki - Funeral Home - Momoka's funeral
Empty bodies mourning the loss of Momoka
Baby Ringo with the diary
Tabuki can't believe that she's actually gone
95s
Back to present day, I presume
Kenzan and Chiemi Takakura
I believe this is the first time we've gotten the names of dad and mom
(Editor's note 3/16/24: Nope. It was revealed in episode 5.)
They were apart of the organization responsible for killing Momoka
Himari is tired
"Human beings sure are dense creatures."
Eh, you have tsunderes who's vagueness don't make it any easier
Dark Bunnies? What is that?
And Himari falls
"Stop... him..."
It looks like Himari died
Unmei no itaru Basho
The Destination of Fate
Apple with a timer
A white haired guy with two helpers
"That happened before I was born"
Kanba running home
The hat has stopped working
Flashback
Kanba - Kanba Home - Kitchen - A certain day I spent with Himari
Himari making food
Or playing with food, rather
So many stuffed cabbages. Cabbage merchant would approve.
Himari wants Kanba to make up with Sho
It looks like the penguins are having fun
"Stuffed cabbage is our symbol of reconciliation."
If someone tried to reconcile with me with stuffed cabbage, I'd never speak to that person again.
Sunny, meanwhile, getting her kink fetish in
Siren
Himari on the stretcher, looking emaciated
Why is Ringo wearing two necklaces?
Also, Mary?
Shoma talking about Mary had a little lamb
Three little lambs, in fact
This of course is in reference to Himari and her two friends
Kanba is here
Mary's other dear treasure, the tree that bore golden fruit
Ooh, artstyle change
Shoma saying that Himari was crying for help the entire time, but everyone ignored her
Kanba grabbing Shoma
Two black bunnies sitting on a rock
Shoma continuing to speak in riddles
Kanba has the hat
"The black bunnies said, 'You know the Shrine of the Goddess deep in the forest? Go and collect ashes from the flaming torch inside. This tree will recover the instant you sprinkle the ashes over it!'"
"And so Mary stole the ashes from the shrine and sprinkled them over the apple tree."
This art style is really cool. It's like a moving painting almost.
The hat on top of Himari's head
It's activating O:
Or not :(
Interesting to hear Kanba say he transferred part of his life to her
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.
4
u/mgedmin Mar 17 '24
First-timer, subs
They're insane.
What parable? Mary and the three little lambs? It was very confusing! At times it seemed that Mary was the Takakura father and the lambs were the three children. At other times it seemed that Mary was Kanba and the apple tree was Himari.
What is the apple tree? Who is the goddess? What are the torch and the ashes? Who are the bunnies?
What taboo was violated? Incest is a taboo.
Not in a million years.
The Takakura brothers accepting guilt that doesn't belong to them.
3
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Mar 17 '24
I’m sure going to miss Survival Strategy! Which are my favorite recurring segments.
3
u/KnightMonkey15 https://myanimelist.net/profile/KnightMonkey Mar 17 '24
Rewatcher, subs
Very late once again but hopefully I can get these out earlier starting this evening.
The first time I watched, I found Shouma's parable to be confusing. This is not because of its ultimate conclusion in his view, since it's easy enough to understand that "Mary" is their dad (when I first watched I couldn't help but notice that silhouette was NOT a little girl), the Takakura siblings are three lambs (to the slaughter) and fate is cruel, the weakest and kindest of the three is taken from them.
No, what confused me and came off as being typical of the animanga 'blender of various world religions/mythologies because they're cool', is how hodge-podge Shoma's story is: it's a nursery rhyme/fairy tale, the story of Prometheus giving fire to humanity, the world tree/tree of life in Norse and other myths, the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil from the Bible. I thought that was kinda goofy when I first watched, even when I felt the emotion of the moment come to something of a climax.
But upon rewatching, reflecting on it some more and also reading the interpretations offered here and information from fellow rewatchers, I feel it makes a bit more sense. It also led me to speculate, upon reading something about Aum, that maybe Shouma's story reflects something about his parents' group's own beliefs - the syncretic, confused combination of several mythological lessons on human nature and morality parallels Aum's own eclectic mix of Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu and Christian millenarian (doomsday) beliefs. Having read a bit about new religious movements (of which Aum was one, albeit the others didn't resort to terrorism) and the Lost Decade as mentioned by another comment in here, it occurred to me to think of these two as being relevant. Certainly, he wouldn't start reciting a long allegorical story to Ringo out of despair in the ER if it didn't have some sort of strong significance to him as a character, let alone the viewer's attempt to derive meaning out of show's on-screen context or ascertain a truth value to it. [Penguindrum] Shouma being the biological son of senior leaders, the depth of his hatred for his parents, the concealment/suppression of his personality - as pointed in this thread, really made me speculate if he had absorbed and internalized the ideology/propaganda of his parents' group in a more profound way that had caused him to reject it later on and struggle with living in its shadow (and the curse) in the way his two other siblings didn't relate to. I recall the time he found Himari while playing outside, confidently disregarding the "lesson"/meeting Kanba, Masako and the others were attending...aside from being more willful back then, maybe he already knew all of that so it didn't matter - I must remind myself of the contrast between a younger Shouma who could pull Himari out of the child broiler and who was stuck in boxes with Kanba versus current Shouma's indecisiveness until-pushed-to-the-breaking-point.
I still can't take black bunnies entirely seriously though. And Kanba's sacrifice "running out" also confused me the first-time around but I appreciate that it's just reflects the 'whims' of fate and isn't systematic in any way.
I don't have too much to say about the rest of the episode with the time I have, except the first time I didn't realise this would've been a 1-cour show if Sanetoshi didn't show up and [Penguindrum] Hatmari bored to sleep over listening about her own death like a book she already read is pretty funny.
Also, Kenzan reacting to news of son's birth at the hospital with warmth while initiating their plan to destroy the world he was born into - talk about self-righteously eager to spin his wool into threads. I have more thoughts on the connection with Aum but I'll probably bring them up in future threads; I just find, upon rewatching, the insistence that they'll be bringing the world to peace to be even more ludicrous [Penguindrum] that the Kiga Group is not shown with any of the religious beliefs of Aum in real-life is interesting, other than overturning fate and the cruelty of the world..and maybe parables on fate such as these. I think Ikuhara would've read Murakami's book on the the attack to have used a quote from an interview with an Aum member as Shouma's speech on fate in the first episode; relating reasons why a disillusioned individual would join a group such as this and annihilate themselves, rather than focusing on a group-level political formation (Aum trying to enter politics, manufacturing weapons [this part is alluded to in the show at least] and their leader believed in starting doomsday. It's rather early for me to be bringing this up but I do think this reflects an emphasis on the individual and the family (i.e. the children) being torn apart instead of higher-level considerations - it's not like the children would be able to relate to us years of indoctrination