Also, distinguishing between reality and imagery was difficult, yes. The show have it’s own supernatural elements. I just finished the series and I honestly can't tell what went on. [Not shown but implied] Pingroup sends Esmeralda to Masako. It just mess with your mind on so many levels. I don’t think the character developments are too quick. That being said, Mawaru Penguindrum holds up to be one of my favorite anime series of all time, perhaps just for the complexity it guises underneath layers of primary colors and outrageous scenarios. I have loved reading this as much as I love the anime. In the final episode, Shouma and Himari return all the pieces to Kanba, which he then uses to save Himari for the last time. always love to read smart, interesting, philosophical, deep, & thought-provoking articles like this, which discusses interesting (yet unfortunately/sadly quite underrated / not too ‘mainstream/popular/trending/hype’) anime. On 20th March, 1995, members of the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo, under the order of their leader Asoko Asahara, released sarin gas in five subway lines in Tokyo, killing thirteen people and injuring a thousand more. Their plans failed, as the police quickly arrested members of Aum Shinrikyo and held them responsible for the sarin gas attack (Asahara was sentenced to death, but to date his execution was still kept in prison; in 2012, the last suspect on the run was arrested). The Subway Sarin Incident caused a public panic and added to the society’s despair when the deteriorating economy was making people suffer. Thank you for this article. However, Campanella soon disappeared from Giovanni’s eyesight when the train approached another station. The penguins, hence, could be seen as what the characters were really thinking, despite the fact that their actions might entail otherwise. The show is a fest of symbolism. The only logical reason I could think for this is that they’re born on the same date, hence why. Check out part II, where I discuss the significance of the penguins! They’re birds that don’t look like birds at all. Although that system is there to help those kids, it in fact throws them away as soon as it can, with no help for their futures. Both on the verge of death as children, Kanba Takakura was the one chosen to live while Shouma was chosen to die. There are so many things to discuss for this show that it’s hard to refrain myself from writing too much. I was also expecting a dark and complex surface plot as payoff for how toxicly animu much of the first half was. That article rescued me, altough English isn’t my primary language (I’m Turkish) I understood your article. Keiju Tabuki appeared to be just an ordinary senior high teacher, with the only thing distinct about him was that he was dating a famous actress. There’s a fantastic image online that is an essential flow chart to understanding how the Penguindrum itself works. Something that made my brain itch was that the use of penguins might be a pun on apple. The passion for life and the intrinsic motivation to heal others directly linked to the sharing of life, just like how the apple of destiny was shared among different characters in the anime. 1 book. Tagged onto this is the brothers' ridiculous ability to absorb life-threatening, bone-crunching, tendon-ripping damage. The story that Himari was looking for was actually a short story written by Murakami, after the Great Hanshin earthquake that killed more than 6000 people. They felt hopeless about the future since they struggled with the meaning of existence when all they could do was to mimic others. Back in 1990s Japan, the situation was not that different. The title translates to “spinning Penguindrum” and refers to the apple that is constantly being shared amongst the Takakura “siblings.” I don’t believe it’s ever explicitly stated why it’s called the “Penguindrum,” but I interpret it as representing the beating heart, like a drum (more on this topic in future articles). What makes an anime/manga popular? First, thank you for your writing. How does it get into the mainstream? Posted by Saranaufogus. She even divorced her first husband after reckoning he lacked talent, and married a promising composer, giving birth to Tabuki’s younger brother. 1949). What did Saber wear? It’s a masterpiece. Without that knowledge, the episode in question seemed to be silliness masking the twist that came at the end of the episode. In society, the old-fashioned hierarchy also prohibited refreshing ideas from blossoming, because instead of wanting new ideas, they just wanted obedient followers. The purpose of this article, hence, is to introduce elements relating to Japanese history, culture and literature that are essential to understanding the greatness of this overlooked piece of gem. In a literal sense, it's the apple that Kanba was given and shared to his "siblings". Like never been so engrossed in writing assignments haha and I am no master of writing. FYI: http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1wkxkw/exploring_mawaru_penguindrum_2011_from_a/. I would like to know where in the series it states or even insinuates that Shouma and Kanba were born on the same day. It fits so well! It isn’t uncommon for writers to write about one’s sense of alienation and loss of identity in a capitalist world (cue Haruki Murakami – which I will discuss later). My friends who have watched both just like them both. Given that episode 9 was about Himari’s past with Triple H, was this her fantasy of what her life would be like if she decided to stay in Triple H? It is all about mysteries and clues to unravelling them. In order to protect Himari, Shouma orders her to move out of the house in episode 21. What? Common sense entails that the place was ‘home’, or ‘family’, but where could you go when your family was the very the reason why you were trapped in the past? Her grandfather despised ‘weak beings’, and aimed at training Mario, Masako’s younger brother with a weak body, to be a useful, strong-willed man to succeed his corporation. In his eyes, Masako was never a feasible choice. Before we get into the historical context, it is important to keep the symbolism of penguin in mind, as this relates to our further discussion. It’s not really fair to compare the two since the genres and directorial styles are completely different. The former seemed to be suggesting Shouma’s preference for cleanliness, much like his personality in the show. Shouma saves Himari from the Child Broiler by splitting his half into two quarters. Throughout this journey, they encountered different passengers, who each had a story to tell. I’ll be watching it again anyway as soon as time permits and will be looking out for that particular plot point. Mawaru Penguindrum is a really strange anime: I followed the introduction and thought it was some generalistic anime which uses hard concepts for the sake of a bland story. They were spotted on various company or investigation team logos, as if saying that everything was under the same chain. I was totally wrong. For me, the quick character developments weakened the characters, as not being able to pinpoint where the change took place made characters less convincing. Next, we have Yuri Tokikago and Masako Natsume, both victims of patriarchal society. or is there some other meaning over these characters and the fate diary. However, if you ask any Japanese about this particular date, they would likely tell you that it was the date the whole nation could never forget, the incident that became known as the ‘Subway Sarin Incident‘. I can not stress enough how important it is to look for a significant meaning in trivial things. The penguins were omnipresent in the anime. Found this article really interesting. Its like Utena for godsakes, we’re examining a character in such a flambouyant yet creative manner. Mawaru = Round and Round. This prompted a wide discussion of what factors led to seemingly ‘better people’ in society to commit such acts. They had nowhere to go, and even survival, the universal animalistic instinct, sounded like a dreadful idea. Where is it stated in the show that Shouma, Kanba and Masako were born on the same day as Ringo and the Train attacks? The Princess of the Crystal orders Kanba and Shouma to find the “Penguindrum.” The boys begin stalking Ringo who is stalking Keiju. The mention of ‘penguin’ at the beginning serves as a backdrop to the historical/cultural context. The idea here is that, well, what did Rider work to get? There is a scene where Shouma and Kanba are watching the incident on the news as it happened. Congrats on getting it posted on the top banner thing. I’ve been wanting to watch Penguindrum again since I finished it during the summer because there were so many intriguing things I want to pay attention to on the second time around. Like Giovanni, Shouma was a rather passive character who cared a lot for other people, and eventually he became a strong character who could stand for himself. Japan had long been a patriarchal society, granting men the power and rights while diminishing women’s status for centuries. After Tabuki deliberately injured his hands in hopes of earning his mother’s sympathy for once, she simply turned her back on him, since Tabuki could never play the piano again. Then I was on tumblr and found something about Underground that involved Mawaru. But, although the whole anime talked to its viewers on a deep emotional and philosophical level, the ‘Fruit of Destiny’ in particular made me rethink some parts of my life. Mawaru Penguindrum has become one of my most favorite shows ever since rewatching it a few times.