Mawaru Penguindrum
Summary: 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, comes a cost: there is a new entity within her body, whose condition for keeping her fate at bay sends the boys on a wild goose chase for the mysterious "Penguin Drum." In their search, the boys will have to follow the threads of fate leading from their own shocking past and into the lives of other wishmakers vying for the Penguin Drum, all hoping to land upon their chosen destiny.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
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, comes a cost: there is a new entity within her body, whose condition for keeping her fate at bay sends the boys on a wild goose chase for the mysterious "Penguin Drum." In their search, the boys will have to follow the threads of fate leading from their own shocking past and into the lives of other wishmakers vying for the Penguin Drum, all hoping to land upon their chosen destiny.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Mawaru Penguindrum Pictures
Mawaru Penguindrum Review
Mawaru Penguindrum — 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. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Avant Garde, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 7.92). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Mawaru Penguindrum offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Avant Garde, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Oginome, Ringo
Main
Puccio, Veronica
Italian
Oginome, Ringo
Main
Neves, Emily
English
Oginome, Ringo
Main
Miyake, Marie
Japanese
Oginome, Ringo
Main
Olbert, Melanie
German
Takakura, Shouma
Main
Shepard, Blake
English
Takakura, Shouma
Main
Kimura, Ryouhei
Japanese
Takakura, Shouma
Main
Meli, Manuel
Italian
Takakura, Shouma
Main
Lechenmayr, Laurin
German
Takakura, Kanba
Main
Guardiola, Illich
English
Takakura, Kanba
Main
Raffaeli, Daniele
Italian
Takakura, Kanba
Main
Kimura, Subaru
Japanese
Takakura, Kanba
Main
Lechenmayr, Mio
German
Takakura, Himari
Main
Rial, Monica
English
Takakura, Himari
Main
Arakawa, Miho
Japanese
Takakura, Himari
Main
Ionica, Emanuela
Italian
Takakura, Himari
Main
Gries, Jana Dunja
German
Aoi
Supporting
Uchida, Aya
Japanese
Aoi
Supporting
Yeo, Min Jeong
Korean
Aoi
Supporting
Savo, Germana
Italian
Aoi
Supporting
Leopold, Lucy
German
Staff
Ikeda, Shinichi
Producer
Maruyama, Hiroo
Producer
Ikuhara, Kunihiko
Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Series Composition, Screenplay
Nakamura, Shouko
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director, Key Animation, Setting
Yamada, Haru
Sound Director
Aizawa, Kagetsu
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, Animation Director
Fukushima, Toshinori
Episode Director
Gotou, Keiji
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, Animation Director
Ichimura, Tetsuo
Episode Director
Kaneko, Shingo
Episode Director, Script, Storyboard
Shibata, Katsunori
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation, Animation Director, Setting, Special Effects
Soutome, Kouichirou
Episode Director, Key Animation
Takeuchi, Nobuyuki
Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director, Setting, Key Animation, Production Assistant
Yamauchi, Shigeyasu
Episode Director, Storyboard
Yamazaki, Mitsue
Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director
Furukawa, Tomohiro
Script, Storyboard, Key Animation
Ikami, Takayo
Script, Series Composition
Matsumoto, Jun
Storyboard
Coaltar of the Deepers
Theme Song Performance
Hashimoto, Yukari
Theme Song Arrangement, Music