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Penguindrum

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description Penguindrum Overview

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 mir...

help Penguindrum FAQ

Why does Himari come back to life after visiting the aquarium?

Himari collapses during a trip with Kanba and Shouma, then is revived by the strange penguin hat bought at the aquarium. The hat introduces the command to find the Penguindrum, which drives the central mystery of the 2011 anime.

What is the connection between Penguindrum and the Tokyo subway attack imagery?

Penguindrum uses fictionalized subway terrorism, family guilt, and inherited trauma as major story elements. Director Kunihiko Ikuhara frames the Takakura siblings' story around the consequences of their parents' involvement with a cult-like group.

Is Penguindrum related to Revolutionary Girl Utena?

It is not a direct sequel to Revolutionary Girl Utena, but both were directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara and use heavy symbolism, repeated visual motifs, and theatrical staging. Penguindrum aired in 2011, years after Utena's 1997 TV run.

How many episodes does Penguindrum have?

The TV anime has 24 episodes. It was later reworked into the two-part Re:cycle of the Penguindrum film project, which retells and reframes parts of the original story.

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