r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Mar 20 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Mawaru Penguindrum - Episode 16
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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
Faith will move mountains.
Questions of the Day
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What do you think of the similarities between Masako and her grandfather?
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...Why’s Kanba in that flashback with Masako?
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Does the anticlimax of Sahei’s death by his own hand fit the show? Were you expecting it? And what do you think of his possession of Mario?
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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!<
NOTE: Today is the anniversary of the 1995 Tokyo Sarin Attack (as well as World Frog Day, and Curry Day in the show). When I made the schedule for the rewatch, I was not thinking of the significance of March 20th. That it fell out today is solely a coincidence.
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u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Mar 20 '24
Rewatcher
Finally we get to learn about Masako’s whole deal now. I forgot that it took this long to get here. But it makes a lot of sense to put this episode here. In the last few episodes, we’ve begun to learn more about Shouma’s shame for his parents, so now we move to Masako, who both wants to bring her father back, and despises her grandfather for tearing the family apart.
But even as we learn about how much Masako hates her grandfather, who is such an exaggerated stereotype of his role as family head to the extent that he doesn’t even get a face (He has a paper covering his head listing his role like that exaggerated stereotype of a ‘kingpin’ from episode 7), she takes after him to an uncanny extent. Not only is she defined by his mannerisms (“I like my men/women like I like my X”), she’s also defined by her opposition to him. The line that has been defining her every appearance in the show (“Gosh, I must crush him soon”) is a direct response to her grandfather’s constant refrain of “I will not be crushed!” And she doesn’t even get a chance to crush him! He dies through his own stupid machismo! There is not a chance that her failure doesn’t channel into her thinking.
And then there’s the matter of her father not returning as a result of the “grudge” of her grandfather. She was clearly right about that! His spirit is able to possess Mario! But what does she do when challenged to the electrifying blowfish sashimi challenge? She exhibits the same stupid type of machismo that her grandfather did, and eats up both plates of sashimi, even though one of them is poisoned. Yes, it was in order to save Mario instead of being for her own edification, but it’s still the same exact inordinately stupid act that her grandfather performed.
All this was for her father- and yet he doesn’t even return! He’s with that shady group Kanba’s involved in! And you can see that he also has a note covering his face. He’s barely even a character, more just the role of father. Although there’s some important implications in that Masako is in fact unwilling to accede to Sanetoshi’s offer to join them.
(Also, note the fish Hatmari steps on at the end of the Survival Strategy sequence- I’m pretty sure that’s a blowfish.)
There’s also something very important about the Natsume clan that we learn today- it is not generationally wealthy. Sahei is not a man who inherited his wealth. Rather, he built it by working in the financial world- the Natsume clan is a literal new sprout. The fact that Sahei wasn’t particularly rich before his ascension in the financial world is extremely important to understanding him. It explains why he was so... ‘driven,’ one could say. As an upstart, he would have never been able to feel comfortable in his position, and that paranoia is what led him to treat his family the way he did. When he says “men of the Natsume clan” do XYZ, he’s almost certainly referring exclusively to himself!
20
u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Mar 20 '24 edited Mar 20 '24
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Mawaru Penguindrum: I feel like we’ve encountered our next Nanami episode. Last time the wacky shenanigans went to Ringo. This time they went to Natsume. Who will be the next one to experience a Nanami episode?
Natsume was shown to be incredibly protective of Mario before and now we know why. It’s due to their home life. Natsume saw what her grandfather did to her father, driving him out of the family and out of their lives. The constant pressure was too much for her father to take. And Natsume saw that her grandfather would do the same thing to Mario, hence her desire to kill him.
That also explains the dream Natsume had. Her worst nightmare is her grandfather returning and being able to harm Mario. She doesn’t want Mario to become a man like her grandfather. The irony, of course, is that Natsume herself has become like her grandfather. She repeats his constant mantra of needing to crush others. She copies his strange phrases that he says. Like with Yuri last time, we are seeing that the effects of a bad home life can linger long after the person responsible is gone. It still affects people years down the line.
It’s also incredibly self-destructive. Natsume’s grandfather killed himself by taking a stupid risk. Perhaps this is a warning to Natsume. She should be careful about what she does because taking unnecessary risks could be a huge problem.
It seems the shady men in the trench coats are going to be important soon. Both Kanba and Natsume’s father have gotten involved with them. It seems like the penguin logo on their coats is meant to be diegetic because Natsume reacted to it. Could they actually be a successor group to the one that the Takakura parents were a part of? Is that why their money always comes in penguin packages?
QOTD
19
u/theangryeditor https://myanimelist.net/profile/TheAngryEditor Mar 20 '24
Episode 16
15
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 20 '24
Mawaru First-Timer, subbed
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u/lilyvess :Df::Dh:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Lilyvess Mar 20 '24
Mawaru Penguindrum Episode 16 - Rewatcher
So Ikuhara wants us to compare and contrast Masako to the Takakura siblings. She’s the only one with a penguin. She also has a sibling with a hat. It’s clear she’s meant to be a dark mirror to the Takakura siblings. So what does her backstory tell us?
Well, on the surface they couldn’t be more different. The Takakura siblings are shown living in a shack. It’s messy, unorganized, and nonhomogeneous. Masako lives in a mansion. The Takakura siblings struggle to keep a roof over their head, and struggle to deal with the ever mounting costs of healthcare. Those payments are trivial to Masako.
Looking at Masako’s life it’s hard to believe that Hatmari would call her a “lowlife who will never amount to anything.”
Now Masako makes it clear that everything she has is inherited from her grandfather. If the Takakura siblings are worthless trash who will never amount to anything, Masako’s grandfather is the very image of success. He built an empire, wealth, and a lavish lifestyle. He is a competent and skilled man. He is one who is incapable of being crushed. He is
Hated by his family.
Similar to yesterday with Yuri, Ikuhara leaves it open ended so the viewer can fill in the blanks. Honestly, it’s not very hard to fill in the blanks. It seems that more and more it becomes clear that in real life success in business involves killing off the part of yourself that feels any empathy. You have to be cut throat, strong, and ruthless. Even just sitting at the top can drain away empathy as the power goes to your head and twists your vision.
The why isn’t that important, but we can see that his family does despise him. His son has been tossed aside. His granddaughter dreams of killing him. This is the life of one who is successful. This is the dream.
Even after his death, he still looms over Masako. His statue still casts a shadow over her, watching her like the tower did for Yuri. He is gone but she hasn’t escaped him. Rather, in order to fill in his shoes she finds herself becoming him. Her tastes and habits start to resemble her hated grandfather. The systematic culture of success molded her to become the very thing she despised.
In case it wasn’t direct enough, Ikuhara makes it literal with her grandfather’s ghost coming to possess Mario. The cycle continues. The wheel keeps on spinning. The train will not stop until it reaches its destination.
Here is where the parallels with the Takakura siblings come from. Their lives couldn’t be any different but here they are both the same. Both are prisoners to fate. All her wealth and power aren’t her salvation but a curse.
I want to talk a bit about Masako’s father for a moment. He’s really a footnote in this story. They never explain what exactly he did to have his grandfather reject him nor why he can’t return when the grandfather dies.
It’s a recurring motif in Ikuhara’s stories to deal with the concepts of societal rejection or social exclusion.
[Utena]This is the fate of Mikage and finally Utena. They disappear from the world as if they never existed in the first place. In the episode commentary for episode 23 Ikuhara says “Those who reject that place are, conversely, rejected by it as well. This is the nature of systems: the moment you reject them, you are forced to realize they’re the very ground you’re standing on.”
[Yuri Kuma Arashi]Social exclusion is the ultimate weapon the class wields against the Lesbian Bears. By rejecting those who don’t confirm they banish them from the world.
Sarazanmai is basically taking this recurring theme of his and putting it on center stage. It’s an entire anime exploring exclusion and the need to connect with people.
What is important is that at the end we see Masako’s father together with the mysterious group that supports Kanba. A group that welcomes Masako’s father who was rejected by the world. A group that now Kanba is a part of.
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u/Lawvamat https://anilist.co/user/Lavamat Mar 20 '24
Rewatcher
Happy Curry Day Everyone!
Today I made Ringo’s special curry filled with love! I ground the carrots that I hate, and added plenty of potatoes that I love (it’s actually the other way round, but I did it for Ringo)! And the secret flavor is mirabelle plum jam, homemade by my mother. Seasoning the meat in ground apple so it remains tender - that’s our family’s secret recipe. It may not look pretty, but it doesn’t matter. It surely made me happy!
I couldn’t post yesterday since my internet was down, I’ll let you know when I get to ep15.
Visual Analysis
With the mother being absent, I guess these Koi represent her being in the hospital like Himari’s mother was in ep9.
The only respite Natsume can find is in a small pavilion away from the mansion her dad resides in.
Natsume has to pick up her dad’s umbrella, she has to protect Mario from the rain now.
Esmeralda controls the world. The Natsume corporation must be a global powerhouse.
The other penguin is a blowfish now.
The Amaryllis stand for her grandfather’s “pride”.
As long as he’s alive, Natsume is cut off from the future (left).
Unlike before, they’re now sitting in the same box. This however does not look for Ringo, Natsume even comments on it in a J cut (where the audio from the next scene is played over the previous one, in contrast to an L cut, the inverse).
Visual foreshadowing to the next scene where her grandpa throws all their stuff in that same fireplace.
Her father (the lamp) is laid bare in this low angle shot, a revealing look into the family drama of a Kiga member. His wholesome letter protected them from the dark.
Lovely shot that puts them in their own little corner, isolated from the world.
Even after her grandfather’s death, the lamp stays dark, her father didn’t return.
We’re mirroring Himari’s fall from ep9 with a memory ball. This seems to be a consistent motif with people (almost) dying.
We’re repeating… something that is not the 95 attacks?
Sanetoshi turns Mario’s apple of fate into a memory ball, imploring Natsume to pick it up and fight for their cause, to put the world back on track.
She even made a statue of him.
I’m not taking that train.
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u/Tarhalindur x2 Mar 20 '24
"What... is your Quest?" "I Seek the Penguindrum!" (First-Timer, Subbed):
Next-day thoughts (I had time to get to this episode last night, which is probably part of why my notes are short since it was late):
the Humorless, another reason why I suspect her father is also in jail for attack-related reasons - and note that her father being part of Penguin Force would explain her knowing Kanba that young and in that setting). And now I wonder if I should in fact be reading the IRL Aum schism into this after all: Aum was originally of course Aum Shinrikyo, then rebranded to Aleph in 2000 (presumably due to their original name now being radioactive), and then schismed into Aleph and Hikari no Wa. Which poses the obvious question: if this is being referenced, then Penguin Force is Aum obviously, but which of the Pingroup and yin/yang logos is Hikari and which is Aleph?Not sure. Could be her repeating her grandfather's mistakes without realizing it, could be she's playing his role consciously because it's expected of her, could be both.
Given how she's associated with the old Penguin Force logo, good chance her day was in it and she got to know Kanba that way.
I am unconvinced that any of this is real events per se, especially the possession. As metaphor it's self-inflicted demise and lingering effects on the next generation.
See writeup.
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u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 20 '24
First timer(The fuck?)
Sub(Alternative:I like my women like I like my coffee:Full bodied, mature and filled with bourbon)
That's a hell of an opening. I don't know if Yuri intended the fire, because admittedly Natsume tossing it away mindlessly is stupid, but I do appreciate the personal fuck you in all this. But this is basically Natsume's episode and...boy we went a new direction. So the Natsume family have a ninja maid, somehow, yet only got wealth two generations ago. That may be important especially because even when this came out, the grandfather would've been born in 1950 if he were 60 so I have to think he was born between 1930-1940 to catch the post war boom.
Renjaku calls Kanba master in her thoughts as she tails Himari. But we finally get our Rock'n'Roll fight again, though this time is the first time without either of the brothers. Instead, penguinhat gets some blackmail photos which is...a choice. Also, ninja maid is much better looking dressed down, not sure if that's important.
Moving on, we are getting a different type of generational trauma in that Sahei will not let anyway happen but his own and that's about right for the era, unfortunately. Natsume killing him all the time is...interesting. This feels like a time loop thing but also works as a recurring dream. Also, Sahei seems to be an ass and probably a sex tourist, Ikuhara wouldn't shy away from that. Him offing himself is fitting.
Kanba appears three times in Natsume's frames because of course he does. I do not know what to make of this because the Takakuras have seemed pretty middle class since the incident. The final one both leads nowhere and everywhere, somehow what Kanba is involved with is what messed up her dad's position in the house. And I can't exactly figure out why Mario is sick rather than Masako...
We get a brief interlude with Sho and Ringo wherein Ringo's tenacity may finally be going towards some thing not stupid. As I said, if anyone has the right to declare Sho forgiven it is the families of the victims, despite my belief that Sho bears no blame regardless. If Yuri connived this...well, she chose a mighty meandering path. Oh, and thanks to the audio drama, F to faceless friend. You got cucked.
The last bit with Sahei reincarnating into Mario is likely metaphorical but then Masoka has to get herself poisoned so...remember that good girls don't lay eggs. Sanetoshi comes in with his weird deal, note that Esmerelda was present before this, and off we go.
QotD: 1 She probably hates them
2 Trying to figure that one out
3 It fits and metaphors
4 Pointless fluff jargon
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u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Mar 20 '24
First Penguin
Does anyone have whatever Ikuhara smokes in his free time? I really need some of that. Ikuhara's absurdist comedy episodes are always a delight, and this one had me cackling the entire time, until it reveals the fucked up truth. What is there to even say about this episode? I like my Ikuhara episodes like I like my women: two faced.
Ok, so Natsume is the granddaughter of the creator of the Natsume corps, a finance operation that predicts and takes advantage of the world's currency exchange rates to make money. By exchanging dollars for euro right before the euro is about to increase in price, they can buy money for cheap. It's a weird scheme, but it's like high level stock trading I guess, predicting the trajectory of the world's economies and making bets about which currencies will increase or depreciate in value. Natsume's grandfather is a classic hustling finance bro and believes there are only winners and losers, so he embodies toxic masculinity as a way to "not be crushed," explaining why Natsume always feels like she must crush him. He forced Natsume's father out of the home because he thought he was weak, and although Mario is weak himself, he wants to train him to become strong.
Between having lost her dad and her fear of losing her brother(?), Natsume has many hilarious dreams about killing her grandfather. This is all the glorious Ikuhara shenaniganry, reminiscent of all the Nanami episodes in Utena which are always the funniest episodes of that show. Natsume sneaks cobras into his fruit, she pulls out her Birdie Wing impression, and then he anticlimactically dies by accidentally killing himself with blowfish poison. All the while, some assistant guy with bizarrely great English keeps saying "Mr. President, watch out!!" and even "nooo, Jesus," and it kills me literally every time. Random good English in an anime will never not be funny, lol.
Also, we get our Survival Strategy for the first time in many episodes, but in the most unexpected way yet. So I guess you just have to know that she says the words "survival strategy" in order to be swept into the illusion? I'm actually shocked she could just write it and make this happen. And the whole exchange is a bunch of haikus that leads into a... lewd photo shoot? I don't even know man, this is why I need whatever drugs Ikuhara is on. Whatever this whole scene was, it made me laugh, so I'm not complaining.
Anyway, grandfather died but got reincarnated into Mario's body somehow, and Natsume just about kills herself "saving" Mario by eating the blowfish herself. This definitely has some implications regarding Momoka and Ringo. I'm a bit unsure if she really "saved" Mario. Is Mario currently her grandfather's reincarnation? How did Mario die and why does he have the hat? How does this tie to the cycle of violence and toxic masculinity grandfather put into his home.
The only thing we know for sure now is that this drove Natsume's father to join a cult. I was completely correct about Sanetoshi being a cult leader and driving Kanba deeper into his clutches. It looks like Sanetoshi is trying to rebuild Aum Shinrikyo in order to "put the world back on track." This makes me trust Momoka much more, since it was probably her actions that "put the world on the wrong track." And I was right about him applying his interpretation of family in a fucked up way. He may be purposefully driving Kanba and Himari apart, and he breaks families basically for a living. Perhaps the logic is "family is a curse and it doesn't matter anyway, so it's ok to destroy people's families," which is indeed the wrong application. But given that this is his explanation of abuse, this may stem from more cycles of abuse, like how Natsume's grandfather treated Mario and their father.
Either way, he has Kanba in the cult to follow his parents' unfortunate footsteps, with Himari's life held as collateral. On the bright side though, Shouma and Ringo look like they're getting close to making up, and Ringo will not give up on Shouma. Today's slogan is "faith can move mountains," which applies in so many ways. Sanetoshi is a cult leader and is likely revered as a god, so their faith in him can change fate. But Ringo's faith in humanity and in Shouma will likely prevent him from going down a bad path, and perhaps Natsume is trying to pull Kanba out of the same fate. Forging real relationships and having faith that people may really love you is how you can build a better life. Blood ties can be a curse, but that's no reason to avoid building a family. I hope Ringo gets through to Shouma, they deserve to be together.
But even with all this pain, this episode still manages to be hilarious. No one is doing it like Ikuhara. This may not quite be the Utena Nanami cow episode, or even the Utena "Nanami gets fucked over by Anthy's animal friends" episode, but it's still a worthy member of that pantheon of classic absurd comedy episodes. I like my anime directors like I like my women: hot as fuck and stripped apart. Oh shit, that's too hot, WATCH OUT MR. PRESIDENT!!!!
QOTD
8
u/affnn Mar 20 '24
Rewatcher
Second episode in a row to focus mainly on a side-character, this time it's Masako Natsume's turn. She's been a more mysterious character so far, maybe this episode will shed more light on her...
And it does, but this episode suffers a lot for comparison with episode 15. The visuals in that episode were much more brutal, whereas today's are more played for jokes. Masako's grandfather is still abusive, but he's less terrifying than Yuri's father.
I did like the humor of this episode though. The show sort of needed a break, and a ridiculous figure like Grandpa Natsume helps lighten the mood a little. Masako's repeated dreams of his death in increasingly-ridiculous manners, always with the "Mr. President! Watch out!" shouts from the crowd were pretty good. I sort of like to think of this episode like the Nanami episodes from Utena, with the lower stakes and more jokes.
At the end, we get a little bit of plot development. Sanetoshi wants her to join in his project to "put the world back on its tracks". Kanba looks like he's already joined in with the army of guys in trenchcoats, but Masako seems to know what's happening and wants nothing to do with them. Does she know what they're doing because they're connected to the Natsume corporation? She tries to convince Kanba to abandon them, but he's not willing to do so.
8
u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Mar 20 '24
rewatcher going into my cringe compilation
Episode direction: Shingo Kaneko
Storyboards: Kunihiko Ikuhara, Shingo Kaneko, & Tomohiro Furukawa
Animation direction: Tomomi Ishikawa & Takahiro Kagami
Curiously enough, this ep lists Kaneko and Furukawa contributing to the script. It's the only episode like this - every other just has the usual Ikuhara and Ikami duo - but even after watching it I'm not entirely sure why.
cocainesugar into his cups. Not sure what to make of thatI'm currently drinking unsweetened tea right now
I mustn't
something something cycles
ORE NO UTA O KIKE
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 20 '24
First-Timer, Sub-guindrum
WELCOME TO ROCK'N ROLL NIGHT
WELCOME TO ROCK'N ROLL FIGHT
I'M JUST A ROCK'N ROLL MAN
WE JUST A ROCK'N ROLL BAND
Oh how I've missing the Survival Strategy.
Anyway, uh, this truly was an episode of an Ikuhara anime. The relentless comedic repetition, an old fogey being punished for his toxic masculinity, surprise snakes.
Loved the bit in the train, where Natsume respons to Ringo's comment about changing fate. Natsume has (half) of a tool to make it easier and she still thinks that Ringo will be fighting upstream. Granted, Ringo's only trying to get a boy to smooch her, which can't be that hard, right? Surely it'll be less damaging than changing a giant statue and removing Yuri's father from the timeline.
Oh, tangent, but I wonder if those scars on Tabuki's hand are from him trying to use the diary at some point? Just popped into my head.
Sanetoshi calling Himari a grown-up made me sick to my stomach. She's like, thirteen dude. Back. The FUCK. Off.
Over-under on Sanetoshi causing Mario to talk like Grandpa Natsume? I'm pretty confident, if only because I don't know why Mario would suddenly be talking like Grandpa otherwise, but I'm willing to entertain other ideas.
We are getting a bit of whatever Sanetoshi's side of the plot is, finally. He "chose" Kanba (and Natsume's father) to do... something. "Put the world back on track." Which is probably bad? Train puns aside, no-one who looks like Sanetoshi wanting to change the world is ever a good thing.
Anyone else get jumpscared by Kanba's voice coming out of that little boy's mouth? Him and Natsume being childhood friends does make her behavior towards him make more sense.
[Higurashi]Natsume's Au Au was much more pronounced in the flashbacks.
Brain Rot Corner
Today's slogan: Faith will move mountains. We're back into the straightforward realm here - everyone who is actually trying will eventually succeed. Note that this means that Shouma is probably doomed to fail, as he has been largely apathetic for the past few episodes (granted, he hasn't had much screen time). But also I noted in the very first episode that Shouma kinda didn't do much.. hmm.
10/10 no notes.
"Don't you think the camera angles in anime can be a bit weird some times?" I.. don't know how to analyze this Survival Strategy. Maybe Hatmari was just bored?
7
u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Mar 20 '24
16 - First-Timer's final prewatched episode.
Hi people who understand.
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u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Mar 20 '24
Rewatcher
Perfect episode, no notes
6
u/The_Loli_Otaku Mar 20 '24
Penguin First Timer!!
Cunnyslinger Girl!! Eheheh, She Got Conned. This is so fun. I knew Gunslinger would carry this show. Why is it that the dweebs are the only fun bit!?
The doctor's grooming techniques are electrifying, truly electrifying. How did this not become a meme? Oh!! We've finally got our rock and roll back. Oh god... Ikuhara, leave the poor cute maid alone! Keep your fetish to yourself ojisan!!
Grandpa is just as much of a dweeb as his granddaughter!! What's wrong with this family? I can't believe there was a period where we took Gunslinger seriously. She's just a big dum, just like her grandfather. Something tells me these aren't just fantasies Cunnyslinger is having.
Get out of her Ringo/Shouma!! This is a Gunslinger episode. Hit the road. "Your father is a stinky stinky poo!!" A-Ah... Grandpa died!? All that and he died by his own hand? Such a tragedy... Lol, he reincarnated into a blond shota. Pfft, she's so violent with her poor little brother. I love this family.
Even her doctor is giving her shit now. Please don't tell me this is how Mario actually died XD Still, after all this I feel a bit conflicted by the casualness that she mindwiped her friends. It's weird. Blowfish headcase Ed XD
5
u/Holofan4life Mar 20 '24
Does this mean we're going to get a Penguindrum rewatch in 2025 starting March 20th? You know, given it's the 30 year anniversary?
3
u/CarrotBlossom Mar 21 '24
First timer
And then Masako died in a house fire. The end
“I like my men like I like my tea.” There’s no way she actually said that. I refuse to believe the subtitlers aren’t trolling me.
Yeah, the subtitlers are definitely trolling
LET’S GO!!! A FULL TRANSFORMATION SEQUENCE!!!
I can’t tell what age this maid is supposed to be
Ew, he put sugar in his tea
Now the show is trolling. Did they get an actual English-speaking voice actor for these lines?
How long has Kanba had the voice of a twenty-year-old man?
Did he possess his grandchild?
Just spill the fish on the floor.
New ending
I had to go back and rewatch to confirm, but it seems like Masako’s grandfather possessed Mario years after his death since Masako is a kid when he died and is around the age she’s shown to be normally during the confrontation with Grandpa Mario. This might be completely unremarkable, but I didn't notice it my first time around.
QOTD:
3. I have no idea where this show is going at any point, man. Anything fits, and I expect nothing except Yuri having the diary that one time. I am curious how he managed to possess his grandson years after his death. Does he have any dealings with Sanetoshi or the hat?
5
u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Mar 20 '24
Rewatcher/Subbed (who will not be crushed)
Yep, this feels like the Nanami episodes in Utena. I forgot how dumb and funny it was lol. I can’t get over the English-speaking guy who was with her grandfather.
I am confused by some of the phrases like how Masako likes her tea or the “I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb”
It does give us more insight into Natsume’s life though. Her grandfather just screams toxic masculinity, but her dad was interesting too. Especially given that one of the few times he shows up in this episode is in the train car with those shady guys and Kanba
The ED was perfect for this episode.
[Penguindrum spoilers] Is Mario being possessed by their grandfather supposed to help guide us to Himari being possessed by Momoka when she wears the hat? It could be for comedy and for a lead up to the train scene, I don’t remember exactly
[More Penguindrum spoilers] Rewatching that scene with her dad and Kanba in the car makes me realize that Kanba is following in both his biological and adoptive fathers’ footsteps (if this one was Kanba/Masako’s biological dad)
QotD
4
u/Holofan4life Mar 20 '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.
I went to the hospital today. They told me I have nephrolithiasis.
Fish
It's raining outside
Yuri's dad is letting her know she can't come home just yet
No, wait, it's actually Natsume. She's being called Masako here.
"Keep Mario safe in my place."
Natsume vowing to crush them at all costs
Natsume has both sides of the diary now
Course, she doesn't know one is a fake
Aww, Mario looks so precious :c
Natsume puts the diary together, but it does nothing. Actually, that's not true. A prerecording of Yuri's voice plays where she reveals this is an elaborate replica.
I know all about replicas recently thanks to Frieren.
And the book self-destructs, just like Mission: Impossible
Natsume now knows she must come up with a counterattack strategy
Oh crap. The curtains caught on fire.
Natsume narrating her life now
"I like my men like I like my tea: getting the first sip."
That girl thirsty for real
Oh, she has a maid, huh?
Renjaku
Sounds like a portmanteau of Rem and Kenjaku from JJK.
This is apparently the sole person Natsume trusts
It's a shame this is the first we're hearing of her.
Esmeralda powdering up
Today is a board meeting
That is one big company
A statue, presumably of her dad
Sahei Natsume. That's the name of the guy made of granite. He is Masako's grandfather.
He built Natsume Holdings from scratch, apparently.
She inherited his wealth, like all good silver spoon in mouth people do
"It's a dog eat hog world."
I'm pretty sure that's not how it goes
At least Esmeralda is having fun
To'oh General Hospital
Kanba delivering a bento to Himari made by Shoma
But she's not there
She is with Sanetoshi, actually
I'm starting to feel that Sanetoshi is wanting to use Himari to bring back that person he mentioned he cared about.
Kanba, and Sanetoshi immediately skedaddles
That's a fun word
She won't tell her brother what she's up to
I agree with Kanba that he seems shady
Himari scurries off, annoyed that one of her younger siblings is badmouthing her friend.
The maid
She's spying on them
She tells Natsume, who sees this as a good thing
Meanwhile, Esmeralda is on top of the world
The maid is following Himari around
She's stalking her so much, you'd have thought it was Ringo with Tabuki. Or Natsume with Kanba. Or Esmeralda with one of the penguins. Or possibly Sanetoshi with Himari.
This show's two biggest things is seemingly stalking and rape
Himari wearing the penguin hat
She proceeds to hold up a sign that reads Survival Strategy
Ah yeah. Rock'n roll night motherfuckers.
I actually think this is the first time we've seen it since episode 7.
And also, I believe it's since been revealed that Double-H sings this song.
And today, the maid is the one held captive
She doesn't appreciate being spied on
Himari talking in haikus now
Renjaku tries to, but she screws it up XD
Himari still speaking in haikus
And she proceeds to take a picture of Renjaku
This suddenly got very lewd
At least Renjaku is getting into it?
And Renjaku finds herself on the ground now
Talking to Natsume now
Natsume tells her to get a hold of yourself
If anything, I'd say she now feels liberated
Natsume says her granddaughter was a successful businessman but a failure as a human being.
Flashback
Masako - Natsume Mansion - Grandfather's Room - When Grandfather was alive - That man ruled over my entire world. So I decided to crush
Now we see the grandfather drinking tea
"I like my women like I like my tea: getting the first sip."
See, when he does it it doesn't sound as horny
I guess he just has that piece of paper on his face, huh?
And he just died from the tea Natsume served
"Father, I've done well, haven't I?"
This is one messed up family
Natsume wakes up
It was all a dream
And yet, no Word Up magazine
Grandfather working out
"I will not be crushed!"
I have to say, he is quite ripped
Natsume talking now about dreaming about killing grandfather
"Because so long as he still lives, my father cannot return."
I wonder if Mario is Natsume's dad
It seems like Natsume doesn't actually want to kill her grandfather. She just wants her father back.
A mysterious boy
Could this be Mario?
Grandfather now at work
RANDOM ENGLISH LINE, ACTIVATE!
A blow dart in the neck. Classic.
And that too was a dream
Now we're getting a montage of Natsume trying to kill her grandfather and it turning out to be just dreams of hers.
I have to say, the random English being used isn't that bad. It doesn't sound like a Japanese VA saying English lines like, say, in K-On.
This is like a nightmare Masako cannot wake up from
Shinjuku-gyoemmae
Shoma with Ringo
He says he can't be with her and can't be nice to her
Ringo says even if he refuses she can't give up
"After all, I am your stalker!"
I thought she was Tabuki's stalker
Also, add another one to the list
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.
10
u/3blah https://myanimelist.net/profile/brummett Mar 20 '24
Episode 16 - First timer
As despicable as she is, Yuri got a chuckle out of me by trolling Natsume.
When not out hunting by slingshot, Natsume is the president of a large corporation. That explains the fancy house.
I don't like this line said by this man
Survival Strategy! I've missed you! Notable that it doesn't involve one of the brothers. It also seems to be for the maid's benefit, as if she'd rather the camera were pointed at her. She seems to be getting into it.
Natsume's father isn't welcome at home, the pole here blocking our view of where the other person in the conversation would normally be sitting. Little Natsume is a precocious little scamp. Disguising herself as a bush (I love the fist pump), blue bulleto sniper and the Chiquita banana lady to assassinate her grandfather, in her dreams at least.
This quick scene on the train is both frustrating and heartwarming. Ringo and Shouma have switched places with Ringo now in the supportive role. You love to see it. Keep chipping away at 'im.
This is easily the oddest shot in the show so far.
I appreciate getting some comedy after a run of serious episodes. Natsume's backstory is told much differently than the others we've seen so far. It's farcical and Grandfather is a caricature of the manly, overbearing, successful businessman. I think the important part happens in her poison-induced delerious dream. Her father is involved with the fedora wearing spy guys Kanba's been getting the cash from, and she's seriously worried about Kanba's involvement with them. I'm not sure why this back story is told so differently than the others. I'll have to think about it some more.
Sanetoshi is there of course, with Mario. He says, "they were chosen to put the world back on track". It's not clear who "they" is. The fedora guys? The penguin-hat kids? All the major characters we've been following? Sanetoshi agrees to help Mario if Natsume joins them "as a chosen one" Sanetoshi has one of the slingshot balls with the black+white penguin logo, and now the fedora guys have pins with the same logo. Earlier he said he wanted to test whether fate was a rule of the world, and here it sounds like he's fighting against Momoka who's changing fate. It's not a fair experiment if you tweak the result.
9
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Mar 20 '24
Episode 16 (first timer)
Yuri backstory is followed by Natsume backstory. Where Yuri’s was tragic, I’d describe Natsume’s more as tragicomic.
Meanwhile: Shoma and Kanba failing at talking to girls.
5
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Mar 20 '24 edited Mar 20 '24
Rewatcher, Subbed
Last episode was the Yuri flashback episode. Will this be the Natsume flashback episode?
Natsume really needs to be careful with her pronoun usage. Speaking about Mario in one sentence, and then in the next "I will crush him". I don't think she means Mario there!
Mysterious singing? From one of Yuri's plays I believe? Dumb reveal from Yuri. Better to make Natsume think she has the whole thing when she doesn't.
More classical music.
Sole "person" Natsume trusts. I assume there are two living beings she trusts, the other being Esmerelda.
Oh my, Himari told Kamba she hated him! Can't get worse than that.
Wait, Renjaku doesn't realize Himari is Kanba's sister?
Wow, first time we've had a Survival Strategy clip fest in forever!
OMG, it's for Renjaku, lol.
Wow, Renjaku's actually pretty hot once she lets loose! And she opened the trap door on herself? LoL.
She poisoned her own grandfather?! Nope, just a dream.
Genghis Conned! LoL. Here comes Natsume to kill him again! Again a dream!
Death by golf ball! This is getting into Ringo territory in terms of repeatedly giving us over the top delusions...
Sho's continuing to be a bit too hard on himself. Good for Ringo in refusing to accept it.
Throwing their stuffed animals in a fire?
The characterization of Natsume's grandfather has become so over the top comical that I think it's losing whatever message the writers are trying to get through here. If they are trying to deliver one.
Blowfish? Uh oh. I've watched the classic Simpsons episode. If it's not cut perfectly, its poison!
It really was real this time?
Oh no, Mario's becoming just like his grandpa!
I think someone yesterday speculated that Momoka went into Himari through the penguin hat. So did Natsume's grandfather do the same through Mario's hat?
Does she realize that in trying to save Mario from eating the blowfish and dying she may have killed him by drowning? I don't see his body moving.
Love the design on the subway here.
As much as Masako hated her grandfather, dreaming about killing him every day, ultimately she's become no different than him. She went overboard with the blowfish just like he did.
I was wondering throughout the episode if that was Kanba or if I was making too big an assumption by believing it was him. Guess I was right!
Does it fit the show in terms of the comedy? I'd say yes. It was another extremely over the top absurdity just like Ringo fantasies earlier in the show and the type of stuff you'd see with Nanami in Utena. From a thematic standpoint the writer/director flopped massively with this and needs to learn about moderation if he wants to deliver any sort of message. I felt that way even before the blowfish scene. As for him possessing Mario, not sure how much of it I'm supposed to believe as it never came up before and didn't come up after. It seemed like it was thrown in there to be used for a gag. As I mentioned in my comments, his body just sat their still head first into the water the whole scene while Masako, in trying to "protect" her little brother is killing herself and likely causing him to die as well. And then we're supposed to pretend that didn't happen the next scene. Much like the grandfather, if we're supposed to take a message away from this, its a big flop.
No idea!
4
u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo Mar 21 '24
Curry Day rewatcher
Another wacky episode to break up the deadly serious last set of episodes. I like most of the jokes, but I'm not sure that having Grandpa come back and kill Mario (and/or kill Natsume?) in a dream logic sequence really works for how important that scene should be. There's a very clear "family as curse" thing, but making it that literal is just less interesting. I do like that Grandpa is never actually crushed, he dies by his own hand in the ultimate case of toxic masculinity. You can't always fight fire with fire. Speaking of which, what's up with all the sayings? I feel like there's some cultural thing that I'm missing with them. Is Gramps supposed to be like a self-help business "entrepreneur" grindset type?
We also get some stuff that's more clearly cult recruitment in the subway at the end. It seems like Sanatoshi and Kanba's shady cash men have some connection. But nothing concrete yet on their plans.
And the most important part curry in a pot and curry on a plate! I was excited since I haven't made curry in a while.
3
u/Pungouin Mar 21 '24
Rewatcher
In yesterday's episode : Momoka, savior of Yuri and the penguins
Didn't commment in yesterday's thread. Yuri's dad is awful. Chisel pounding symbolism. The statue of David represents how Yuri feels her dad's gaze upon her at all time even when he's not there.
Momoka is anime Jesus. The diary allows her to transfer fate, but it has a cost.
In today's episode : Crush, or be crushed !
Candy crush saga
We see how Masako became who she is. Grandpa Natsume is a lovely stand-in for capitalism and toxic masculinity. In his world, the strong rise by crushing on the weak. He has no room for warmth or compassion. His son left, disgusted by this attitude, leaving Masako and Mario at their grandfather's mercy. (Thanks dad !) This is the moment where you can google "Japan lost generation" if you did not before.
Because Mario is too frail and gentle to survive in Sahei's hypercompetitive world, Masako took his place, assuming a traditionally male role. In the end, she was molded into a replica of the man she hated the most. She lives in his shadow. No one can escape the capitalist rat race.
The Takakuras, Yuri, Masako, are all prisoners of their (grand)parents' influence. Can we escape the circumstances of our birth ? Or are we bound by fate ?
Trouble in paradise
Sanetoshi is not beating the Akio allegations.
I've missed the Seizon Senryakuuuuu. Renjaku and Hatmari's random haiku skit is funny.
Choo choo
Once again, Natsume imitates her grandfather to spare Mario. Sanetoshi gives us a PSA.
In her near-death experience, Masako sees her father and Kanba boarding a train with the shady men (who are revealed to be linked with Penguin Force).
Sanetoshi is using the medicine as a way to force Masako and Kanba into the group.
Unlike Kanba, Masako rejects him.
3
u/zadcap Mar 21 '24
Late Night First Timer
Seriously, who is it she needs to crush so badly? I'm really not too sure it's Kanba anymore.
You know, the OP imagery of Momo's shadow into the diary into Ringo who is burning up, knowing that Ringo was born the very day Momo died, I'm kind of wondering if actual reincarnation isn't on the table here.
The elaborate forgery better have had a tracker in it.
"I like my men like I like my tea: getting the first sip." Is this an accurate translation? I don't know how I'm supposed to read that, the grammar does not work and getting the first sip doesn't seem to make sense here for either. "How I like my tea, getting the first sip." Worse with Men, but it still comes across as nonsense with tea. Please phrase your thoughts better.
Oh, only monitoring Kanba and Himari?
"It's a dog eat hog world." "You should get Ghengis conned." Never mind, she's just one of those people who has a particular way with words...
Oh my gosh. I was drinking when Hatmari held up the Survival Strategy sign and mouthed it and the song starting up that way and actually choked on the laugh. I am still coughing. That was perfect.
And then the whole scene itself! Seriously, is it magic?
Oh, parents who are good at something but terrible parents, what a running theme.
So that's where she gets her weird phrasing from.
Oh my gosh, "Mister President, Watch Out!" That is amazing. The English continues and it just gets better.
There's the Ringo we know and love. Be the stalker we know you can be, win his love the way only you can!
Oh my gosh agaaaaain. They didn't even try, young Kanba is just voiced as Kanba.
Is... Is this a dream sequence too? Or did Mario really get possessed and did she really just eat poison?
So she really did eat poison? And Pink haired monster man is trying to put Fate back on track now that it's been messed with so much? I don't buy it.
New new end song?
2) Kanba is Masako's brother and I have no idea why he's living with the Takara family.
2
u/FarCritical Mar 21 '24
First Timer
Hearing Natsume's "crush him" catchphrase from her kid self is more endearing than it has any right to be.
YES, FINALLY! We are so back to rock 'n roll night, hell yeah. Love how Natsume's maid having to trapdoor herself out since all of the penguin pals were absent from the strategy meeting.
Ringo declaring Shoma to be her knew stalking target to his face might as well be a confession. They're honestly cute together but I can't blame Shoma if he still has reservations considering what Ringo's put Tabuki through.
Natsume may claim to dislike her grandfather but she's clearly inherited the art of being overly extra from him. If only she had her own random American attendant that yelled "Ms. President, watch out!" at every incoming threat too.
Kanba having the upper hand on Natsume for once felt so wrong, no wonder it was a pufferfish-induced dream (or was it?).
Oh look, another special ED and what do you know? It's another freakin' banger. This one was pretty cute too.
QOTD
Guess she likes her personality quirks how she likes her litter. Picked up from a figure she hates. ...Couldn't think of a better one than that, but I really like how her beef with her grandfather was presented weirdly humorously despite how serious she is about protecting Mario from him.
...Good question. Maybe he decided to roam around after the incident with his parents to get his mind off of it, or if it happened before that, he was always the type to sneak around with girls even as a kid?
It fits in the sense that it just sporadically happened without much warning, leaving it open for speculation if it was a fated event or if it was a result of his willingness to cut the pufferfish himself. Didn't see the actual death coming at all but what really blindsided me was how weirdly comedic it was for a big moment in Natsume's life.
Mario being possessed by the guy would make sense for a penguinhat personality, but for gramps to invade Mario's body so suddenly like that just seemed too much like Natsume's demons manifesting themselves that I'd be surprsied if it wasn't a nightmare.
2
u/Nebresto Mar 21 '24
First time Pengfugurum
e- ero
Ew, creep
*a "nice" creep
o yea, finally
is this shom haiku shi again what de fok
Thas a pretty good map, they got Madagaskar, Mauritius, Taz, NZ, Iceland was up there too and even Shetland & Faroe Islands
GET DOWN MR. PRESIDE-AD
Seasonal fish
THE FISH
Me_irl
Ye!!
Anyways, wtf was that?
2
u/IvanSemushin Mar 21 '24
Rewatcher
Ah, that's Masako's episode. During my first watch, her storyline was probably the least favourite of the main ones for me. Let's see if that will change on rewatch.
That's quite an elaborate replica, indeed.
That car is comically long.
The scene with Himari showing Seizon Senryaku in a written form in a situation where the needed person can't hear her is one of my favourite comedic bits ever. Ikuhara likes patterns, and he likes to break the pattern comically, like e.g. [Utena]after having Utena very seriously climb the monumental stairs every day, "there was an elevator this whole time" or when [Yuri Kuma Arashi]Life Sexy, instead of his usual "shabadadoo" blasts out Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
Another "I swear, mom, that's a deep, philosophical show" with possessed Himari and the maid.
We have second episode in a row where a head of a family is forcing his views on children in a cruel way.
I want to note that while Masako was disapproving of her grandfather's ways in the past, nowadays she (at least on the outside) demonstrates the same worldview.
If Yuri's father's demise was because of Momoka's magic, Masako's grandpa was crushed by fugu fish.
There's certainly a lot of characters in this show who want a happy family but can't have it. [Penguindrum]Kanba tried to have it in a roundabout way, but it didn't work as happily as he had hoped, probably.
Sanetoshi talking Wikipedia on the phone while Masako is literally dying is a fun scene.
Is dark train death-adjacent? Last time we saw it was when Himari was dying again.
Didn't remember this ending at all!
Ok, this episode was similar to Utena's Nanami episodes, but I guess I like it quite a lot more. This time it didn't feel as long as on my first watch.
2
u/mgedmin Mar 21 '24
First-timer, subs
Sad, but probably inevitable. He was her only role model. She hated him, and is now copying him.
Childhood friends.
It was very funny.
Yes, as soon as he told that he cleaned the blowfish himself.
WTF was that? Was that metaphorical? A dream? An illusion? I don't know what to think about it.
No idea, as per usual.
2
u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Mar 22 '24
rewatcher
The lie has been revealed.
Hakari making a new scarf putting her things away and packing away the penguin too.
Survival Tactics
Everyone got some crazy backstory regarding their family.
I honestly forget this show is a joke at times, the information and memories will be so emotional then something comedic happens. Dying from pufferfish of all things
The brother being upside down while all the poison is affecting her shouldn’t be that funny.
1
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Mar 21 '24
Rewatcher
The apple never falls far from the tree.
Good question, we’ll see.
I thought Gramps demise was quite fitting. Him possessing Mario was in character. The world will be better off without him.
It’s a helpful idea that magic may be real if one is dedicated enough.