Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
hypsin0
This series would be amazing if it wasn't so terrible much of the time. I'm going to keep it brief, but in short, there is a lot of weird sexualisation of underage girls going on in this show, as well as almost a glorification of stalking, sexual assault and rape as the perpetrators face no negative consequences. One can hyperanalyse the inclusion of these elements in the series, but ultimately, I would not have noticed their absence had they been removed or massively toned down.
The show pretends to be about a girl's ill-fated quest to get together with a considerably older man and win over his adult girlfriend, before becoming something very different. I can't even tell if those first few episodes were supposed to be funny.
The show also has lots of crass sex jokes and fart jokes thro…
Read at the sourceTrMin228
Does fate truly exist?. Are there really miracles in life?. Do children deserve to be abandoned or judged for the sins of the previous generation?. Does society have the right to “eliminate” those it deems dangerous?. Can love save the world?
Mawaru Penguindrum does not attempt to fully answer these questions. Instead, it offers a completely different perspective on how we might approach them.
At first, I thought the “Survival Strategy” was just a dramatic slogan. But the further I watched, the more I understood: survival here is not merely physical existence. It is surviving the era you are born into, surviving self-hatred, surviving the current of society, surviving abandonment and judgment for the sins of your parents.
Each character chooses a different way to coexist with that world…
Read at the sourceSupersonic_Pain
I've written an unfortunate amount of negative reviews on shows I've, to some degree, come in wanting to like but I think my least favorite review in that regard was Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Even now, I so desperately want to like it but every time I think about going back and giving it a third chance, I remember what I didn't like about the show and decide against it (although, that being said, now that I like a show of Ikuhara's, I'm sure I'll get around to it eventually).
Penguindrum is what happens when you take Utena and fix the majority of the problems I had with it.
I think the major one is the pacing. Utena was 3 cours and Penguindrum benefits the FUCK out of only being 2.
There are no recaps, no filler comedy episodes (as much as I liked those separately), and they don't over…
Read at the sourceke1pme
Penguindrum is absurd and it knows it (if it weren't obvious from the synopsis already). The initial plot beats can seem disparate, with new characters bearing seemingly little connection to the brothers’ quest for the Penguindrum being introduced. The show demands your suspension of disbelief — just a bit, or maybe a lot, depending on you. But the repetitive imagery, the strange appearances of the penguins, the questionable character behavior, the mystery of the penguin hat — it’ll all come together in the end.
As much as I love this show, I must admit that Penguindrum is deeply flawed. The level of absurdity in the first half feels unwarranted, like the show hadn’t quite settled on its identity yet. The pacing is sort of all over the place, characterisation isn’t always consistent, and…
Read at the sourceCrumbSteak
My favorite quality of Penguindrum is its ability to handle tone with professional ease.
Jokes are dispensed with regularity, but their method is rarely of the same stripe. Jokes that bleed into other ones, ones that are built up, there is a plethora of methods where Penguindrum derives its entertainment. Its tragedy is much the same way, capable of being unexpected, crushing and predicted, and other ways. I suppose the reason why I give it a 10 is because it unfolds in such a purposeful, beautiful way that I cannot help but think it masterful.
There is one episode that feels like a long, tragic backstory... and while the circumstances are bleak, the frequent comedy within the scenario keeps it fresh, entertaining, made me wonder what would happen next. Its unorthodox style made it incr…
Read at the sourceDompa112
Very much a Brains Base anime. But i do feel they kinda lose steam the more you see them. Baccano and first Durara were both an 8 for me. But for each new show/season i go down to 7/10 which this one is aswell. They are just very similar in approach. Convoluted storytelling that is a bit all over the place. Fate this fate that. So many characters. No real closure. Very little explaining. Jumping back and forth in time. For me it gets a bit to much.
Still its decent and enjoyable enough and if you like their other similar shows i mentioned you cant go wrong with this i think and its worth a watch. But didnt leave a lasting impact for me.
7/10
Read at the sourceDreamTraveller
What would be your goal, as a writer? And really, not just as a writer - but as an artist, in general? Think about it for a second. Is it to deliver a story, a message? Is it to make something enjoyable? Or something uncomfortable? And if so, whom should be the receiver? Are you making it for yourself? Or for an audience? Are you reaching out to as many as possible, or maybe only to a select few - to those who can think the same way, who can match the lock with the key? What should it be?
Maybe there's not an answer set in stone. Maybe sometimes you want one thing, and sometimes another. Yet artists are usually made distinct by a certain style, some rules they abide to, at least for a period of time. Some opt for character driven stories. Some opt for environmental storytelling. Some pref…
Read at the sourceinternetfemcel
'family' and 'love' are not always synonymous with one another. birth is not a tree which doles out equal fruit, it is not a golden goose which produces only miracles. not every child is brought up with the love of their family to guide them. adults push their sins onto their children and call it love, twisting the word and causing the kids to pass this on. each generation is made to hold the sins of the last and the children live with the original sin of existence, going their whole lives feeling dejected and unwanted.
'love' is a superfluous, dull word when spent on children that are not truly touched by it.
penguindrum is perplexing, a series with a definitive beginning, middle, and end yet many pieces to put together in between. the story is an onion, buried under layers of skin that…
Read at the sourceAndre200412
What leads us to believe that we're important enough to have destinies? Is it naïve to think that the universe itself has planned our entire lives the moment we were born? If everything we do was destined to happen in the first place then why do we live? If all our choices are already determined then aren't we simply spectators of our own lives? What a cruel punishment. This illusion of choice must be some sort of sick twisted joke; so why do we find fate so beautiful? If to live is to be punished then I accept; let us share the fruit of fate.
If questions like these have ever riddled your mind or given you an existential crisis then Mawaru Penguindrum is right up your alley. This show is definitely not going to be for everyone due to the artistic direction because put simply, Penguindrum…
Read at the sourceemyo93
Mawaru Penguindrum, a metaphor for Love and Pain. If fate exists, is it a blessing or a curse? Is it the luck of finding good people to endure through the pain or the despair of having to go through a fated life of so much suffering?
We are introduced to the Takakura siblings, who were meant to be nobodies since birth. Each of them is accompanied by a cute penguin i.e a bird that won't ever be able to fly, like the three siblings, who were never meant to accomplish anything. However, they find comfort in each others' existence, and no matter how grey the outside world is, their house is always colorful, abundant and joyful.
Their world starts to fall apart again when Himari, the youngest sibling, is diagnosed with a terminal illness. While she is at peace with herself, her brothers Kan…
Read at the sourceDDay
I watched this anime when it first came out and when I got to the end I realized this anime is a Masterpiece, but first time watches may find it a struggle to get past the first 11 episodes. For the most part, the first 11 episodes seem pointless, semi cringe, and you would probably develop a hate for Ringo. But it establishes the world, allows development of the main cast and allows you the viewer to feel something as you are watching a drama. I would say that episode 8 and parts of 11 (till the end of 11 where the taboo stuff seems to stop) is the most egregious part of the show, as it go into some odd places that even I wish it not to be in this show and I can semi take a stab at why it was... I'm looking at you, Kunihiko Ikuhara.
Yes the anime is cryptic, uses a bunch of symbolism, r…
Read at the sourceblanchetre
Hoooo boy, what a disappointment this ended up being!
Mawaru Penguindrum started very strong for me: an easy 8 but as episodes went by, the drearyness got stronger and stronger... and stronger.
I don't know what happened midway, if it was me or the series but things just stopped clicking.
The character design is a constant positive, voice actors have done a good job, music selection also a big plus (COTD being an instant win!) and the first Seizon Senryaku will forever be etched in my mind as it was this part that made me think I was in for a spectacular ride... sigh...
But, on the other hand, story and animation/editing weigh this anime down so much it became impossible for me to like it in spite of its shortcomings.
There is an impressive amount of reused animations and, of course, it…
Read at the source-ODA-
This anime really makes me amazed.
Anime that has twenty-four episodes usually has an interesting story. But from the beginning until the middle of this anime story relaxed and made me less interested. Even so, I continued because I hoped for a good story development, according to my experience with the previous animes that I had watched.
Well, the interesting part begins in episode 20 where the story is getting closer to the end. Here I began to feel an interest in the storyline of this anime. The problem in the story gets higher and more exciting. Then the storyline continues and the truth and secrets that have been kept by the author begin to appear one by one. Until finally the last episode, the ending part to be precise, I was surprised. Until i gape. What an unexpected ending. The e…
Read at the sourceRyanSpring
This is one of those anime that is really, really difficult to give an objective score to because it's extremely subjective from start to finish. Super unique, obscure and absurd, Penguindrum is unlike any other anime I've ever watched.
First of all, Penguindrum checks off all the boxes regarding its presentation. It's well-animated, colorful, has a standout soundtrack and is generally well-written and well-acted. The presentation is solid, period, but that's not the reason you'll possibly really love or really hate this show.
You might love it because it's brimming with symbolism, it's far more profound and artistic than the vast majority of anime and it's the kind of anime you could easily appreciate even more upon a second viewing.
You may hate it because it can be seen as slow, hard…
Read at the sourceKrankastel
If I were to summarize Ikuhara’s Penguindrum in a single word, it would be “bold.
Be it direction, thematic exploration, presentation, it screams being the artistic expression of a man who marches to his own (penguin)drum. Partially psychological, partially absurdist comedy and partially mystery, but 100% a brain broiler, it is neither orthodox nor easily digestible. Controversial themes are included, and the narrative is not to be taken face-value. I recommend against nitpicking at first watch, opting instead for an empty and open mind intuitively absorbing information.
Episodes are rollercoasters (or rather, trains) alternating or mixing seemingly incongruous elements, such as offbeat comedy, intrapersonal and societal themes, liberal use of plot twists, metaphors:
- Despite not bein…
Read at the source000_Asyl
This for me is the best anime that has been made of all that I have seen to date, even though my favorite is still Neon Genesis Evangelion.
I can't find any script errors in this work, because it sustains itself in a frightening way on top of its messages and its inviting charms with the viewer. Nothing is absolute within this work, and that makes it practically free from negative criticism, in my view.
Mawaru Penguindrum is electrifying, fun, exciting, mysterious, and dry. In fact, he is mysterious from start to finish. Nothing is ever what it seems to be in Mawaru Penguindrum, and re-watching the work is a plate full of signs that you certainly didn't catch the first time you saw it.
I had to watch this work a second time before coming here to comment on it with you, and I wanted to e…
Read at the sourceIlasma
Spoilers ahead
Oh My Gods I can't believe how bad this was.
The more I was watching, the more I was taking mental notes in order to give my 2 cents about this mess. But it soon became so overwhelming and full of absurdities (at a Mulholland Drive level, no joking) that I gave up. So I will just be very random myself about the experience. Incest. Zig-zagged, averted, reimplemented, whatever. Why? Oh why?
Rape and paedophilia, exploitation. If you put all these things together and you throw in the mix some "subtle symbolism", you might think you get art, but you'd rather risk to go pretentious.
You know what also is not art, but rather artsy, certainly lazy? Using toilette silhouettes to stand in for crowds.
I felt very offended that every time (oh so many times) a flashback started, th…
Read at the sourceVolugar27
Story:9
Art:9
Sound:9
Character:9
Enjoyement:10
Overall:9
Synopsis:
For the Takakura family, destiny is an ever-spinning wheel, pointing passionately in their direction with equal tides of joy and sorrow before ticking on to the next wishmaker. With their parents gone, twin brothers Kanba and Shouma live alone with their beloved little sister Himari, whose poor health cannot decline any further.
On the day Himari is given permission to temporarily leave the hospital, her brothers take her out to the aquarium to celebrate, where the family's supposed fate is brought forth with her sudden collapse. However, when Himari is inexplicably revived by a penguin hat from the aquarium's souvenir shop, the hand of fate continues to tick faithfully forward.
With her miraculous recovery, though, com…
Read at the sourcecryingeggroll
MAWARU PENGUINDRUM REVIEW by CRISTOU (spoiler-free!)
INTRODUCTION
Hi, I'm cristou and my brain was just hit with a freight train. I will probably be screaming at my friends to watch this soon so that I can talk to somebody about this.
I just finished watching "Mawaru Penguindrum" or just "Penguindrum" and thought, how could I not write a review on that?
So here it is, I hope this helps you.
SUMMARY
Strengths:
-Great art style and fluid animation -Strong characters
-A very interesting story
-Subverts your expectations a lot
-Well paced
Weaknesses:
-Inconsistent storytelling
-Story can be incredibly confusing
STORY - 7
From the very start, Penguindrum had a lot of strange things happening in its story. Things that the characters decide not to talk about or explain, however they're so sm…
Read at the sourceMatthewSweatshir
I’m gonna preface this by referencing you to an incredibly well done video essay that delves much deeper into some of the topics of this anime, called “Why mawaru penguindrum is like curry - meaning from multiplicity”
(The video has many spoilers)
I came into this anime, knowing almost nothing besides the fact that it had a theme of fate, and I came out of it with quite possibly the best experience of anime I’ve ever had. However, I’m not gonna pretend it doesn’t have any flaws at all and I’ll list some that I can think of now so that you don’t have to waste your time if this doesn't sound like an anime for you. It has quite a bit of goofiness to it as well as a good amount of comedy that you may like, or you may hate. Also, the comedy at times feels misplaced into more dramatic scenes. T…
Read at the source
