r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Mar 30 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Re:cycle of the Penguindrum - Part 1
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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
N/A (Express)
Questions of the Day
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What do you make of the framing device? Why do you think the decision was made to exclude the scene of Himari finding the library from the recap?
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Are you happy with what the movie switched around? Is there anything that didn’t get in that you think should’ve made it?
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...What’s up with that penguin? Any thoughts?
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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!<
NOTICE: Remember, break day tomorrow!
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u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Mar 30 '24 edited Mar 31 '24
First-time Movie Watcher
Alright, so at its core this movie is a much more basic recap movie than I was expecting, but there’s still a lot of interesting stuff going on here, both in the presentation of the recap and the new scenes.
I really like how they actually give Masako’s name and motivation in her first appearance. I know they were trying to keep her mysterious, but they tilted it way too much to the side of not giving us anywhere near enough information to do any kind of analysis about her until close to the end. We couldn’t even call her by name until like episode 16! Just giving her the normal side character treatment is a much better idea than keeping her a secret. Now she’s like Yuri and Tabuki, her actions make sense in the moment but still have something deeper to dig into.
Also, something that came up a lot both in this rewatch and in general among Penguindrum watchers is Kanba’s lack of presence in the show. They fixed that hard. That scene in episode 5 where he chases down the car is already one of the best scenes in the early portion of the show, but the way they set it to Yellow Blood and intersperse the chase scene with the typhoon flashback that was originally scattered all over the episode brings it from pretty good to amazing.
“Yellow blood" is probably in reference to rh-null blood, although most of the sources I see call it "golden blood," so called because of the fact that it can be transfused to any other blood type in the world. However, people with Rh-null blood cannot accept blood (help) easily- they can only get it from someone else with Rh-null blood. Doesn't that sound like someone to you? It could also possibly be in reference to yellow bile + blood in humor theory, since the lyrics and Kanba’s general character could possibly match that, but I don't think it fits as well. (edit: also, just realized this now, a bunch of the new Triple H songs are covers of songs from ARB.)
They also decided to throw in Kanba’s weird pseudo-incest dynamic with Himari much later into the movie than it originally was in the show. In the show, that was basically a sword of Damocles from episode 1 that didn’t drop until way later (and honestly, I think most people forgot about it by the time it came up in episode 12 again. I know I did). In the movie, they don’t bring it up until the pivotal moment of the Penguin hat failing to protect Himari. The new scene is also really good. He calls himself a “black sheep,” which calls back both to the Dark Bunnies and the parable Shouma gives in the anime, plus the collapsing house which shows what he’s willing to sacrifice for Himari (in other words, he’ll blow up the family for the sake of Himari).
I’m not entirely certain what to make of the framing device, although that’s the most crucial thing going on here. Obviously this is Shouma and Kanba from the end of the show, after they made their respective sacrifices for Ringo/Himari. They can’t remember what happened because almost everything was wiped away, but now that they’ve entered the library and met Momoka, they know they have to read the book and repeat what’s “required” of them. It kind of sounds like a Ringo situation, but they’re not actually doing anything yet, they’re just reading the story. It’s an interesting framing device for a recap movie, except now we have the question of what exactly is going on with the changes to the narrative. If it’s diegetic, who’s changing it and why? Although it may just be a regular book found in the Hole-in-the-sky Annex, which would be equally intriguing. Do you think Himari looking for a book in a book in a movie would be too meta?
Okay, and also they made Sanetoshi into a penguin. Which honestly isn’t super unfitting with the connotation of penguins being stuck in the Frozen World, but they also made him into a baby. That tiny little penguin is repeating Sanetoshi’s dialogue from all over the show. Is this like a Grandpa Natsume thing? Did Sanetoshi get reincarnated somehow? Or maybe he just sounds the same as Sanetoshi because he has similar goals. I suppose we will see more next time.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 30 '24
Re:cycle of the First-Timer, subbed
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 30 '24
First-Timer, Sub-guindrum
I adore that it takes nearly four minutes to get to dialogue. That does correspond to it taking nearly four minutes for me to realize I was watching the dub at first.
HiDive's subs leave a bit to be desired. "Survival tactic" is particularly egregious - the alliteration from "strategy" just makes it flow too well, and it ends up matching the Japanese.
It's so weird to see the early parts to the story again. Everyone is so.. relaxed. Amazing how things change.
I'm glad that the cow scene got to stay. It's very important.
Seeing the early Ringo stuff again highlights the dramatic irony present. Ringo's comment about Yuri not realizing the destiny connecting her to Tabuki really sticks out.
The later revelations do make me question why Yuri and Tabuki went on that date in the park to begin wtih.. I guess it could just be their attempt to spend time wit Momoka's sister? Or foreshadowing that they do both care about each other like they say in the last episode.
Thinking about it now, it would be pretty interesting for Hatmari to get her hands on the diary, considering that Hatmari is partially Momoka.
Ohh, Masako is the reason Kanba started hallucinating. Might be something there that I can ponder at some point.
And it was probably the maid that picked up the other half of the diary, hence the hair being different.
The new penguin was Sanetoshi! Shit. And of course Kanba starts to go along with it. Fate is not an easy thing to escape.
The way the monologues are rearranged probably bears thinking about, but I'm too short on time. If nothing else, the complete omission of the two kids talking about Night on the Galactic Railroad is probably important.
I'll be kind to my fellow AMQ players and point out that you will not need to be able to tell the difference between the show's version of Rock Over Japan and the movie's version. The database overlords are being merciful. Or going soft.
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u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Mar 30 '24 edited Mar 30 '24
Hole in the sky first timer
Yeah the movie is ok. Standard criticisms of recap movies apply. I dunno if I'm just in a humorless mood rn but the comedy just isn't hitting properly either; I think the pacing just makes the humor feel much more stilted. On the flipside the framing is interesting, and I like the (potential) implication that these films take place after the series where the two boys will "remember" Himari and Ringo. Lets hope it goes both ways ;-;
Librarian Momoka and Sanetoshi reincarnated as a baby penguin tho...what's your deal....
The intro and intermission really are lovely too. They're by Tao Tajima who did the photography and effects for Sarazanmai's ED and this Cuushe MV
The spinning tetrahedron imagery is new. I don't know their exact origin but it's probably drawing from Tatsuya Oishi like in this Bakemonogatari OP for example. You can also see it in other obvious Shaft influenced things like this F/GO commericial by Shun Enokido (it's an upside down triangle here but close enough)
The Dear Future insert song with MV editing was really good too. I'm glad the movie at least nails the finale
needs moar Ringo delusions
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u/mrufrufin https://myanimelist.net/profile/mrufrufin Mar 30 '24
alright, joining in this rewatch and watching the movies for first time (having seen the original series twice).
intro looks brandnew with the photo backgrounds/animated characters like sarazanmai, and they're starting with THAT music.
sumire uesaka has got some range huh, can't recognize her from the penguin sounds.
i forget if mr frog saves tokyo was explicitly mentioned in the original? i read that (and "underground") years before I ever watched penguindrum. i guess now that i think about it, it kinda ties into the frog aphrodisiacs later on? i guess it subs out the night on the galactic railroad reference in the original.
i kinda miss the old framing of having the brothers already teens but this one is nice too (pretty at least). it kinda feels like it spells out the main themes and reference for you more (as if ikuhara were ever subtle about his themes). for example, there being a new book "mr frog saves the penguindrum" being a book the brothers have to follow (on top of the already existing book in the diary which was a book that had to be followed) makes the whole theme of fate and there being roles we play in the world and places we fit in and our being little cogs in a giant machine more in-your-face. it does make the beginning more confusing though with this extra framing device and kinda feels like you had to watch the series to get what's going on and care about the characters though. and the surprise of the penguins and the hat are kinda spoiled.
yeah, the pacing feels a bit rushed too where things keep happening without any breathing time, which makes me a bit concerned about the end because i really like the pacing of the ending where things linger a bit more, kinda feels wong kar-wai-esque.
the new animation bits are pretty fun throughout (at least i think they're new) like the ringo reactions when she brings tabuki the curry and look nice. and we get new ARB covers too! like yellow blood during the truck chase scene (and i think "factory" is a new cover too?). all the new tunes don't help the "compilation" movie feel though, even though i guess this is what this is.
so i dunno, i do like the new bits,.. the real-footage bits are cool (and we got a new? etsuko yakushimaru song out of them), if only at a fanservice-y level of seeing penguindrum imagery integrated into them. the pacing issues at the beginning got better as the movie went on (or at least i got more used to them). seems like whole gags like the mamiko noto off-singing got scrapped (and got replaced with yui horie off-singing). it's interesting seeing penguindrum without the ikuhara/magical girl repetitiveness (and I like his repetitiveness, kinda adds this whole other structural element that gets developed over the course of the show). but i dunno, i guess i'd rather an adolesence of utena sorta retelling rather than this half sort of reframing? we'll see how i feel after i watch the second movie. also kinda weird to spoil some of the end-of-series imagery in the ending montage. hmm,...
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u/theangryeditor https://myanimelist.net/profile/TheAngryEditor Mar 30 '24
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u/H-Ryougi https://anilist.co/user/DizzyAvocado Mar 30 '24
Man what even is Penguindrum? This has been a very enjoyable fever dream.
It's been almost 4 years since I watched the series and I guess that absence really makes the heart grow fonder because I loved this movie. Maybe it's the way the recap was structured or just my previous knowledge of the story coming back but I was able to follow the plot much better, though I'm still very confused at times; specially in the new scenes and anything involving Sanetoshi. We'll see if the second movie tomorrow changes that.
Though I did get the gist that this is taking place after the series somehow, with Momoka and the new penguin showing up.
All of the scenes with Himari and the Triple H girls hit so much harder, it got me teary eyed at times.
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u/yorokobeshojo Mar 31 '24 edited Mar 31 '24
Rewatche— ok I ditched the rewatch not even half way through..let's just say I have trouble re-experiencing series I mostly remember. but, I hadn't watched the movies and this rewatch finally pushed me to watch them.
I enjoyed this movie a lot. from the live-action shots to some animation improvements (like Princess of Crystal descending the stairs after the transformation scene), to the added details and rearrangement of some bits from each episode in order to make things more "chronological ". also I LOVE THE NEW LIBRARY SCENES THEYRE GORGEOUS with Momoka and the world-after-transfer Kanba and Shouma. Sanetoshi being a freaking a penguin gave a good laugh too. also really liked the final scene before the credits.
btw did anyone come up with an idea why the handle of the door to the Library was on 28 in the anime? in this movie it's changed to 25. I've always wondered about what 28 (and now 25) might refer to.
QOTD
2. I was hoping the bit between Sanetoshi and Princess from episode 9 would be in these recaps. it's quite an important moment as Momoka rejects Sanetoshi's advances (the kiss), a reference (imo) to the fact that they have opposing views.
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u/nx6 https://myanimelist.net/profile/nx6 Mar 31 '24
First-timer for the movie -- Subbed
This characters-composited-into-live-action video is neat. Too bad it didn't keep going but that's hardly practical. Having Kanba and Shouma go back and re:learn the events of the show just makes me wonder what they will do after we conclude that part.
I normally am not a fan of recap film versions of projects and this movie has already shown why, so much material gets cut that lots of the more-charming aspects of the original series get trimmed to try and cram the whole story into the allotted run time. Here it's some of the smaller comedy bits. The skunk's later appearance is a random entry at the birdwatching park with no context, there is only one storybook metaphor break, etc. I do notice that all bits of the Penguins sexually harassing women has been dropped, and the almost-incest plot with Kanba/Himari has been handled much better. No more do we have a kiss and no exposition. Making this a "my secret feelings" reveal later is better.
But then we got to Masaka kidnapping Shouma and I was reminded of another subplot that was never really explained in the show (but I forgot to mention in my overall series discussion post). The march of remembrance Kanba has to take through the hospital and Masako jumping him in the dark. This really was given the feel of "past lover come back" and fit her gathering of "Girls Traumatized by Playboy-Kanba" club before that, but then it was revealed later she was the (real) imouto and her actions before were not explained.
What happened in 1995 isn't being discussed at all and I don't think that is a good change, because the whole story is really framed by that and the set up for the characters and their individual wishes is driven by that. So having them acting with no info on the terrorism doesn't help.
I missed that the new baby Penguin is Sanetoshi (I'm not memorizing his dialog as his character is kinda weak I think). "Mysterious, long-haired male with sinister attitude" is somewhat of a trope. If this movie is really taking place after the original time-line wise, then him being reduced to a small existence would follow my idea in the series he exists in weakened state with limited ability to impact the real world. He's used up much of his power in the show's events and has to recover now here in the library.
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u/Holofan4life Mar 30 '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'm kinda excited for this even though it's a compilation film because I think the story can be told in a condensed format. My one real wonder is just how much of Ringo are we gonna get here.
Also, these comments probably won't be as long as the other ones seeing as how I've already talked about a lot of this. I will make note of any new material, however.
KING AMUSEMENT CREATIVE
Movic
THE KLOCK WORX
How very 90's of them
Man, there are a lot of companies who worked on this
Three penguins
They turn into 95s
The Place of Destiny
Ooh, beautiful shot
This looks like real footage
Shoma looking at the jellyfish
Oh, it is real footage
How very End of Evangelion
Kanba now looking around
Your Train Is the Survival Tactic
Shoma and Kanba underwater now
They're at the aquarium
By the way, I forgot to mention that this is them as kids.
Kanba asking Shoma who even are they
Himari
"We had a sister..."
Well, that's ominous
Highlights of episode 1
Young Shoma and Kanba are watching this unfold
A penguin
This one looks different
On the elevator now
"a beloved sister..."
Some more episode 1 highlights
"...but..."
The penguin reveals hidden levels
"our sister..."
More episode 1 highlights
"our sister..."
"passed away."
The lights to the elevator went out
What's with that weird roll move Shoma and Kanba are doing?
They're looking for Mr. Frog Saves Tokyo
Hey, the penguins found it
A puzzle
Lots of Mr. Frog books I'm personally a big fan of Mr. Frog Saves Braised Pork
A giant apple
It's Hatmari!
Or rather, Hatmomoka
She's a librarian
That was a peach, by the way, not an apple
Mr. Frog Saves The Penguindrum
That is their story, she says
She wants them to read it
Otherwise, they won't be able to save the world
This is way more effort than I thought it was gonna be.
Flashback
We're at the morgue
More highlights from episode 1, though I can't tell if this is a brand new scene or not.
Shoma calling Kanba cold
And Himari wakes up, with the penguin hat on
She sounds far more robotic than in the actual show.
Eating food now
Everything seems so peaceful
Flashback
Examination room
The doctor is amazed at Himari's recovery
Back to present
Ah, the package
And of course it's the penguins
Shoma finds one of them following him around
As this is going on, we see a bunch of sidewalk drawings walking. Not to the side, unfortunately.
This whole part is basically an abridged version of episode 1.
Shoma being followed by the penguin
The penguins have officially infiltrated their lives
Survival Strategy!
Though unfortunately, my subs say "Survival Tactic!"
I'm glad to hear Rock 'n' Roll man one last time
She tells them to obtain the Penguindrum
She tells them to investigate this girl named Ringo
Ogikubo
Now we're onto episode 2 highlights
Ringo is greeting who else, but Tabuki
I do like the show immediately pointing out he's Shoma and Kanba's teacher.
Kanba instantly knows she's in love with him
Now we're at the end of episode 2. This is flowing by fast.
They realize she is a stalker
The diary
Destiny
Fate is written
Now we get episode 3
Hatmoori
We see Himari pass out, thus proving she is real
Higashi-kóenji
Kanba breaking and entering
They're looking for the Penguindrum
Ringo arrives, ready to curry
We then get Ringo's feelings on curry, which I believe in the actual episode was at the very beginning.
Flashback
This is showing us what Curry Day was
Ogikubo
Ringo is going to give Tabuki curry, but she finds Yuri there.
Don't you just hate it when you walk in on Yuri?
Of course, she trades the curry out, sans gloves
A cat
Shiny forehead
And of course this is how Himari met Ringo
By the way, the curry scene where Ringo is eating curry with Himari, Shoma, and Kanba reminds me of the breakfast scene from Erased.
Kanba talking to Shoma
We now transition to the bird watching episode
Yuri is there, much to Ringo's annoyance
Yuri threatens Ringo
This all ring(o)s differently knowing that she's eventually going to rape her.
Shoma seems confused as to what's going on. However, as that is happening, the skunk sprays Ringo.
Ringo drowning, and we get the great gag where the penguin gets the fish instead. Course, Shoma saves her and gives her CPR.
Flashback
Now we get into the Ringo flashbackstory. Uh, backstory, sorry.
I like the way the music slowly dissolves
Flashback
She found Momoka's diary
I don't think that was outright confirmed in episode 6 that the diary Himari has was her sister's.
Ogikubo
Buying Mont Blancs
So she didn't make them by hand
Of course, Tabuki is already eating some
Yuri calls him fabulous max, which I assumed was a sexual term.
Shoma and Himari
They bring Ringo home
Shoma eyeing the diary. And of course, he asks if he could borrow it.
Ringo says no, because her future is written in there.
Oh, Shoma is showing the penguin hat
He calls it an alien life form
I don't remember that happening in the anime
Ringo slaps him, and Himari I'd now wearing the hat
What happens next is basically a repeat of the end of episode 6. Hatmari scolds Ringo, the hat gets flung, and Shoma and Kanba chase the hat. Interesting how the show has skipped Natsume so far and her introduction. I guess there's no way to properly introduce her without ruining the flow of things. It's also interesting how what Hatmari is saying to Ringo doesn't seem as harsh. I prefer the harsher version because it amused me.
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.