Mawaru Penguindrum

[Buffalobiian]

Genres: comedy, drama
Themes: Fate

Plot Summary: The story centers around three siblings, twins Kanba and Shouma, and the ill sister, Himari Takakura. Himari passes away after going out on a trip with her brothers. She was however, miraculously saved by a spirit thriving in a penguin-shaped hat. In return for her extended life, the twins must search for an item known as the Penguin Drum with the aid of three penguins which are visible only to the siblings.

-Source: ANN

gg - Episode 01, 02, 03, 04

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The lolwut show of the season.

[shinta|hikari]

Really strange but cool transformation. That waki... yum~

The show itself is very interesting. Just what is the penguin drum?

[Buffalobiian]

Really strange but cool transformation. That waki... yum~

The show itself is very interesting. Just what is the penguin drum?

No idea, with nothing to really speculate with, lol.

I find it funny how she keeps badmouthing them every time she transforms, as well as gradually strip her skirt..

But that's cool. The mysterious eyes and superiority that's revealed when alter-Himari talks reminds me of CC.

[miyama_ryu]

My theory is that the diary is already pre-written and that all Ringo does is to fulfil it and put a stamp on it. That and Mr teacher's girlfriend has exactly the same diary as Stalker girl. I mean is it really a coincidence that not only do they like the same guy, but they both made curry on the exact same day, they were both bitten. I think it was the girlfriend who pushed the girl down the escalator and not Ringo as the show currently wants us to believe.

[Buffalobiian]

I think it was the girlfriend who pushed the girl down the escalator and not Ringo as the show currently wants us to believe.

That's an interesting thought. It didn't occur to me that that could happen. I thought it would have either been Ringo, or the chick that was giving directions on the phone - who I assumed wasn't Yuri.

edit: The penguin really didn't need a mirror for this shot.

[MFauli]

Very strange series and I wonder where it goes. But entertaining, so far.

edit: The penguin really didn't need a mirror for this shot.

He did it for US! Be thankful!

[Ryllharu]

....yeah.

This show is really, really, really fscking weird. But I like it. The whole thing is just completely absurd. The "princess" not really knowing what the penguin drum is, but using it as the agreement for saving Himari. The womanizing older brother being in love with his sister (?), but all his ex's banding together to get revenge on him. The stalker girl...being a total psycho, and the actress menacingly declaring that the stalker has no chance.

The 70s shoujo manga scenes in episode 4 were priceless.

I rather enjoy that most of the main cast are relative newcomers, with the more experienced VAs providing the side characters.

edit: Also, they make the "princess" such a mysterious, powerful, and cryptic existence...and then in episode 3, the only way she can think of proving herself to not be Himari playing tricks on them is by drinking a lot of milk...

Watching this show is like being on drugs.

[Kraco]

The penguins are easily one of the best things about this show. They are always doing something funny in the background, oft acting like animals and eating people's food or exploring private places out of curiosity. Furthermore how especially the older brother exploits them like it's completely natural makes it all the better.

[Buffalobiian]

gg - Episode 05

[Kraco]

Ringo seems like an insider now as well, having witnessed the princess and how Himari is a hostage. I guess that gives more credibility to the numerous fanarts depicting Ringo and Shouma as a couple... Although she has her own agenda (destiny) she's fervently following so who knows. Though we haven't yet seen what manner of plans the book next lists to her. For all we know they could deviate more from the sensei path.

[Ryllharu]

She has her own agenda of "destiny," but she's pretty obviously wrong about who it is with. All the things she marked as fulfilled on that trip to the park were not with the teacher, but with Shouma.

I did like Ringo clawing her way out of the hole in illusion land. She's crazy.

I am most curious about the leader of the revenge-on-Kanba group. She gathers all these ex-girlfriends, but then pushes them down the escalator (it was definitely her sleeve), and wipes their memories with her paintball/bullets. Is she hoping that Kanba will want to visit one in the hospital? Also, Horie Yui ftw.

[Buffalobiian]

I am most curious about the leader of the revenge-on-Kanba group. She gathers all these ex-girlfriends, but then pushes them down the escalator (it was definitely her sleeve), and wipes their memories with her paintball/bullets. Is she hoping that Kanba will want to visit one in the hospital? Also, Horie Yui ftw.

What was weird was that she wiped the latest girl's memory when, according to gg's subs, the victim stated that she saw HIM push her down the escalators. It's not even out of self defence. Perhaps she just doesn't want anybody caught up in this so erases the memory of whoever thinks they remember the person who pushed them...

@Ryll's theory regarding Destiny: Ringo didn't buy any cake for Shouma today. Only the actress bought some for her boyfriend. I'm more inclined to believe that the diary is about the actress and not Ringo, following what Miyama ryu's posted.

[Buffalobiian]

gg - Episode 06

[Kraco]

The Fate diary was originally Ringo's sister's and Ringo just obtained it after the sister died? I wonder if it was Momoka's fate to die or if it was a result of the weird battle still going on. In any case Ringo using it seems a bit twisted by Fate's standards, so losing to the actress all the time isn't that odd (losing to her or misinterpreting the fate; the same thing pretty much).

If Shouma and Ringo did end up together, Shouma would already have the mom's approval, at the very least. I hope that happens before the show ends.

[Ryllharu]

It's weird though. A lot of the things in the diary are true, they're just usually not Tabuki and Ringo. They're either Ringo and Shouma, or Tabuki and the actress. They are disturbingly accurate, only the parties involved in each event are wrong (from Ringo's interpretation). Momoka wrote all the stuff down before she died. If she died 5 years before Ringo's father left, that means they were somewhere in middle school, possibly earlier. All this stuff about "first nights" and highly detailed descriptions of various dates (for clarity: the going out kind of dates) isn't something I would expect from a middle schooler's love-fantasy diary. Even if Momoka was an equally obsessed stalker like Ringo has turned into.

It almost sounds like Momoka was some kind of oracle.

This might explain why the Princess believes the diary is the infamous Penguin Drum. Tabuki's whole speech about how Momoka opened his eyes to totally different perspectives also leads me to the conclusion that he wasn't talking about love for her, but something else entirely.

As for the stuff going on with Kanba, his ex-girlfriends, and Masako (now revealed to also have a penguin), that was just plain creepy. I don't even know what to make of that plotline.

[Buffalobiian]

As for the stuff going on with Kanba, his ex-girlfriends, and Masako (now revealed to also have a penguin), that was just plain creepy. I don't even know what to make of that plotline.

Who is ALSO collaborating with (if not taking orders from) yet another unknown (or known) individual.

I wonder if the slingshot is really the Penguin Drum, and Masako was actually telling the truth. It actually has something to do with penguins.. even if it's just an insignia.

[Kraco]

I wonder if the slingshot is really the Penguin Drum.

I'd be somewhat disappointed if it was a slingshot. I'm not sure how metaphysical an object I'm awaiting after all these weird eps, but surely something more than a memory erasing techno edition of an archaic weapon.

[Buffalobiian]

gg - Episode 07

[Kraco]

The penguins are bloody brilliant.

This is no doubt among the elite series this season.

[Ryllharu]

This series is so insanely weird, and hilarious at the same time. The frog part really got to me. I had to watch it twice because I was laughing too hard the first time.

At least we found out what Ringo's "Project M" is, now only if we can find out what Masako's "Project M" is...