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Sep 30, 2011 11:52 PM
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Mar 2011
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My only question is... what darkness do these evil rabbits bring!!!!!!!!!

This episode was absolutely fantastic. We've gotten even more reveal on what is going on (the point of our first episode heart ripping scene), and with the stories revealed about the parents and the tale of Mary, we are gaining even more into the what and why. But what is the curse, and how will these black rabbits bring chaos as they did the parents? Are they related.

This kind of reminds me of the tale the two kids are discussing in the first episode. A tale about an apple tree and .. its LOVE can't you see?! Why can't you understand what I'm talking about!!
Oct 1, 2011 12:20 AM

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err win .... cest? kinda maybe?
Oct 1, 2011 1:07 AM

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There is something strange here...
First of all, find the difference...

So, it's possible that their father (and, probably, the doctor) really have some connection to that entity, who possess Himari...

Second...

I didn't notice it before, but Destination of Fate was mentioned few times even in the beginning... What is this place? Is it real place or it's just metaphysical?..

Third...
In the Shouma's fairytale Mary looks like a man, like Takakura father... But what bothers me the most is the fact that it was an Apple Tree... If I remember it correctly, Ringo's name also means "an apple"... Does it mean, that something their father did in the past was somehow connected with Ringo's family? (Except explosions, of course)...

Never saw no miracle of science, that didn't go from a blessing to a curse
Never saw no military solution, that didn't end up as something worse
Oct 1, 2011 2:07 AM
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Jul 2011
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dontthinklive said:
7godeohs said:
IceBubbleTea said:
HOLY WATGAFALFHSFSHITTTTTTT!!!!! I've just been mindblown. This just gets better and better, lol. I cried when penguin 3 died.

And was it necessary for Himari to strip? Honestly! My little brother watches this!


Not sure how old your little brother is but here is a quick list of questionable things that have already happened before this episode:

1) Main character dying, traumatic ER scenes
2) Lusting after sister, implied kiss between siblings
3) Penguins looking up girls skirts
4) Ringo stalking to the point of living under the persons house
5) Woman with laser-sighted slingshot shooting people in the head
6) Semi-occult style frog face-humping session
7) Threat of torture for person strapped to table in basement of hospital
8) Ringo stripping and trying to RAPE Tabuki
9) [more I can't remember now, but I'm sure others can]

.....but you're concerned about him seeing some anime skin where everything is covered?


Nice rebuttals and examples on IceBubbleTea's points! Seeing skin when compared to those scenes isn't narly as bad. And to help strengthen you point, I will add examples from recent episodes to your list:

Episode 9) Himari accidentally causing a mirror to break on her mother in an implied violent scene, and as a long shot the "abstract children's boiler"
Episode 10) Penguin Number 2 sticking a butt monitor up a nurses butt, Natsume forcefully kissing Kanba, more implied "wincest" between Kanba and Himari. XD
Episode 11) Semi-occult style frog face humping session part II, poisoning of drink for rape of Tabuki pt.II

Well, hope I wasn't being obnoxious and was able to add to the discussion! (=


Yes, I have to admit episode eight was pretty... adulterish. It's just really awkward when the really close sex scenes come on. The trauma and violence scenes aren't a problem, seeing how he's been playing video games like COD and Assassin's creed since he was 5. Death and violence he understands. He finds the penguin porn hilarious, like all the other penguin acts. But the scenes in episode 8 and 11 are just... so adulterish. He's ten years old, so most things like rape and violence are ok, but he doesn't know what sex really is, and stuff like where the condoms go or the technical part of sex. The scene in episode 11 was actually really revealing, and only her nips were actually covered. They didn't really literally hump in the 'semi occult frog humping section', so that didn't get too serious. AND WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP THINKING IT WAS PENGUIN 2 STICKING UP THINGS UP THE NURSE'S SKIRT?!? PENGUIN 1 IS THE PERVERT! ... Sorry... That just peeved me off. And penguin 2 was with Shoma all that time! I don't know about the incest, I mean, he's seen Vampire Knight and all...
fafsdfsdafsagOct 1, 2011 2:15 AM
I like bubble teaaa~ Bubble tea for meee~
I'll have it for breakfast, I'll have it for tea, a little each day is a good recipee~
Oct 1, 2011 3:06 AM
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I support the Yuri=Momoka theory. It explains why Tabuki is so smitten with her when this episode outright confirmed that he could never get over Momoka, and I just noticed that Yuri and Mr. Oginome have the same eye color. The question is why she was never found by the police and how she was taken in by the Tokikagos. She might have lost her memories after the attack, which explains why she didn't return to her family.

I thought we might find some clues in the kanjis in her family name, and Toki (時) means time, while as Kago (籠) means cage or basket. I don't know if her family name was chosen randomly or it's supposed to give some sort of a clue to her character.
removed-userOct 1, 2011 3:10 AM
Oct 1, 2011 3:17 AM

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Amaya-no-Hime said:
GigaSPX said:
I said this in a different topic, but it's the same person, just two different screenshots. He was actually nodding to the two NPCs standing next to the van as he got out. He was nodding them to proceed with the plan.
I rewatched the scene and that makes a lot of sense... Guess I was just going theory-happy. Haha.


No - these are DEFFINATELY 2 different ppl !! 2 exactly the sama Mr Takakura's.

CLONINGS probably . Was it not mention this cloning thing somewhere in the anime??

P.P> My bad, mistaken the name of Tabuki with Takakura lollll
diadoraOct 1, 2011 11:29 AM
Oct 1, 2011 4:38 AM

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diadora said:
Amaya-no-Hime said:
GigaSPX said:
I said this in a different topic, but it's the same person, just two different screenshots. He was actually nodding to the two NPCs standing next to the van as he got out. He was nodding them to proceed with the plan.
I rewatched the scene and that makes a lot of sense... Guess I was just going theory-happy. Haha.


No - these are DEFFINATELY 2 different ppl !! 2 exactly the sama Tabuki dads.

CLONINGS probably . Was it not mention this cloning thing somewhere in the anime??

Who in the world are you talking about? Tabuki's parents weren't formally introduced here, and that's Kamba/Shouma/Himari's dad that popped out of the van. Two different screenshots to nod to his guards.

I feel a troll aura, but I explained it again anyway.
Oct 1, 2011 4:55 AM

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She can't die...she is the main character here..
Oct 1, 2011 6:25 AM

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I wonder how many times she will die throughout the show >w<
Oct 1, 2011 7:57 AM

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Kanba, my men... manly tears for you!





Serious, i'm done. I give up of this shit, for real.
I don't wana think anymore. I'll just sit, relax and enjoy, because, for what more i can ask? Above all astonishment, this anime just make me VERY happy.


Oct 1, 2011 8:28 AM

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Hi guys!

About the Penguindrum and Apple/Apple Tree.
Remember about the two boys talking while passes by front of Takakura Home in first episode?

"
-Like I said, the apple is the universe itself. A universe in the palm of your hand. It's what connects this world and the other world.(World of the Not Living - Himari is dead.)
- "The other world"?
- The world Campanella and other passengers are heading to!
- What does that have anything to do with an apple?
- The apple is also a reward for those who has chosen love over everything else"
- But everything's over when you're dead.
- It's not over!
- What I'm trying to say is that's actually where everything begins!
- I'm not following you, at all.
- I'm talking about love! Why don't you get it?
"
And so... Himari (and Momoka) is dead.
Mawaru Penguindrum is the fight of love against death.
A try to surpass the "destination of fate", the "destine of all living beans" also know as "Death" and bring back the people you love, people that "don't deserve to die", by your love.

The reason that the heart of Kanba was used as a Penguindrum is because the Penguindrum itself is Love. The Princess of the Crystal probably is Momoke, trying to give to Tabuki, the one she loves utmost, the symbol of their love. Their children.
PaninaManinaOct 1, 2011 4:04 PM
Oct 1, 2011 8:45 AM

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Jun 2011
2943
Shit just got serious.
Oct 1, 2011 10:45 AM

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1134
5/5 for this episode. Perhaps the best so far.

I like the pairing Kamba x Princess of Crystal so much.
Oct 1, 2011 12:20 PM

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Jan 2011
78
sexiji said:


So sad...

So passionate.... lol
Oct 1, 2011 12:54 PM

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Aug 2008
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I love the fairytale, it's so well-narrated. And I like how this series never seem to answer any questions and it only keeps getting more complicated.
Oct 1, 2011 2:31 PM

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PaninaManina said:
Hi guys!

About the Penguindrum and Apple/Apple Tree.
Remember about the two boys talking while passes by front of Takakura Home in first episode?

"
-Like I said, the apple is the universe itself. A universe in the palm of your hand. It's what connects this world and the other world.(World of the Not Living - Himari is dead.)
- "The other world"?
- The world Campanella and other passengers are heading to!
- What does that have anything to do with an apple?
- The apple is also a reward for those who has chosen love over everything else"
- But everything's over when you're dead.
- It's not over!
- What I'm trying to say is that's actually where everything begins!
- I'm not following you, at all.
- I'm talking about love! Why don't you get it?
"
And so... Himari (and Momoka) is dead.
Mawaru Penguindrum is the fight of love against death.
A try to surpass the "destination of fate", the "destine of all living beans" also know as "Death" and bring back the people you love, people that "don't deserve to die", by your love.

The reason you the heart of Kanba was used as a Penguindrum is because the Penguindrum itself is love. The Princess of the Crystal probably is Momoke, trying to give to Tabuki, the one she loves utmost, the symbol of their love. Their children.

That's really an interesting analysis you have. Good to keep this in mind for future references.
Oct 1, 2011 2:57 PM

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May 2011
426
Was glued the entire episode
Such twists
Oct 1, 2011 3:29 PM

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SoFarGone said:
That was intense. I got kinda bored when Shouma started talking about Mary and lambs though.


same here , i hated that.
Oct 1, 2011 4:01 PM

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Applecrack said:
Was glued the entire episode
Such twists

Vanisher said:
SoFarGone said:
That was intense. I got kinda bored when Shouma started talking about Mary and lambs though.


same here , i hated that.


I also not like this much, however is interesting see how the series reveal their mysteries without spoke directly to spectator.
At first seem to be some thing random. Stopping to think about, leave seeds of ideas in your head and meanings about symbols.
Oct 1, 2011 4:01 PM

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Raven_Shinobi said:
I support the Yuri=Momoka theory. It explains why Tabuki is so smitten with her when this episode outright confirmed that he could never get over Momoka, and I just noticed that Yuri and Mr. Oginome have the same eye color. The question is why she was never found by the police and how she was taken in by the Tokikagos. She might have lost her memories after the attack, which explains why she didn't return to her family.

I thought we might find some clues in the kanjis in her family name, and Toki (時) means time, while as Kago (籠) means cage or basket. I don't know if her family name was chosen randomly or it's supposed to give some sort of a clue to her character.


Hmm, to add on to your theory, if that were the case, then perhaps the apple tree is not Chiemi but Yuri/Momoka. Maybe they're all actually siblings or something? Yeah I'm probably going out on a limb, but hey this show has thrown so many curveballs at us I can seem them making this plausible.

Also, did they ever explain what happened to Shoma's parents? Are they dead, in prison, or?
Oct 1, 2011 6:17 PM

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LOL May I expect one "bitch, i'm your father" in the end?

Mind blowings everywhere, no exceptions....

VioLink said:
GigaSPX said:
Btw, I'd like to notify people about what happened here...



What happened there?


He bit himself in despair, probably.
Oct 1, 2011 6:29 PM

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I just wish Kanba isn't himari brother so that it won't be incest... but because of what I heard about Utena... I think it won't be the case... :(

Why no one like Shouma's story? I find it really cute (ok, sad) and interesting!
and the scene of the crystal princess and Kanba was just too... hot!
Oct 1, 2011 10:21 PM

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kleeny said:
I just wish Kanba isn't himari brother so that it won't be incest... but because of what I heard about Utena... I think it won't be the case... :(


***WARNING UTENA SPOILERS***

I think the incest in Utena was quite different from what we are seeing here. Nanami and Kozue both were possessive and had brother complexes but stopped short of incest. Akio/Anthy, definitely incest, but it was meant to be dark and negative, Akio was the corrupt, fallen version of the prince, and used sex as a means of control over Anthy. I personally think that the pure, true version - Dios - in all likehood had a normal relationship with his sister.

I guess Utena is an indicator this show won't be one to shy away from incest, and it wouldn't be surprising to see it occur. However in this particular episode I don't regard as what happened as incest, because it wasn't Himari, it was the Princess of the Crystal, and also I regard it as being as a pseudo/symbolic sex scene, rather than an actual scene.
That being said, there is that kiss Kamba gave to Himari in an earlier episode...
Oct 1, 2011 10:31 PM
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This show is so insane yet at the same time funny and honest and sad. It's hard to tell what I am feeling half the time or what they want you to feel. As many others have said and it's the best word for it. Interesting.
Oct 1, 2011 11:10 PM

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What do you make of the swirls on the lambs? Shouma's has the most spirals, starts from the top and faces left. Kanba's starts from the bottom and goes right and Himari's starts from the top and goes right. Why does he have more spirals than the other two? Could he be the older twin? Did he have the most "wool"? Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. XD
YayPepsiOct 1, 2011 11:14 PM
Oct 2, 2011 12:20 AM

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IceBubbleTea said:
He's ten years old, so most things like rape and violence are ok, but he doesn't know what sex really is, and stuff like where the condoms go or the technical part of sex.


LOLWUT? That statement just blew my mind.

Sex = No! Bad! Rape? Oh, that's fine. He's 10 it's okay. But sex is obviously different. I mean, that implies condoms and babies and mutual feelings. Why explain all that to a 10 year old when rape is such a simpler concept obviously. Cause sex and rape clearly aren't related or part of the same process or anything. Obviously.

I know I probably just went too far and I'm sorry, but for the love of god please don't say "rape" is ok comparatively to "sex" for a 10 year old to know again. The contradiction! ;_;

Moving on...

YayPepsi said:


What do you make of the swirls on the lambs? Shouma's has the most spirals, starts from the top and faces left. Kanba's starts from the bottom and goes right and Himari's starts from the top and goes right. Why does he have more spirals than the other two? Could he be the older twin? Did he have the most "wool"? Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. XD


Hmmm, maybe the swirl is to point out Shouma perhaps being the "odd one out" if he actually isn't related to Himari or Kanba that a lot of people are thinking. Or maybe we're both reading too much into it lol. It's hard not to when they're symbolism everywhere. xP
Oct 2, 2011 1:39 AM

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YayPepsi said:


What do you make of the swirls on the lambs? Shouma's has the most spirals, starts from the top and faces left. Kanba's starts from the bottom and goes right and Himari's starts from the top and goes right. Why does he have more spirals than the other two? Could he be the older twin? Did he have the most "wool"? Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. XD


I'd like to say Shoma will live the longest of the three.

Ah... and am I the only one thinking Himari is dead as in dead for sure?
Oct 2, 2011 6:08 AM
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Anjolique said:
IceBubbleTea said:
He's ten years old, so most things like rape and violence are ok, but he doesn't know what sex really is, and stuff like where the condoms go or the technical part of sex.

LOLWUT? That statement just blew my mind.

Sex = No! Bad! Rape? Oh, that's fine. He's 10 it's okay. But sex is obviously different. I mean, that implies condoms and babies and mutual feelings. Why explain all that to a 10 year old when rape is such a simpler concept obviously. Cause sex and rape clearly aren't related or part of the same process or anything. Obviously.

I know I probably just went too far and I'm sorry, but for the love of god please don't say "rape" is ok comparatively to "sex" for a 10 year old to know again. The contradiction! ;_;


Kids his age scream out rape whenever some one is merely hugging some one else, but he knows they're going overboard. Rape is forced sex, and that's all he knows. There aren't any actual violent rape scenes, such as the ones in Perfect Blue, and all of the attempted rape scenes in Penguindrum failed. Episode 8 was close though.

I take back when I said rape is ok and am sorry if I offended you, but I still wished they didn't put the sex scenes in. For me, it somehow feels like those scenes don't really fit in with the colourfulness and penguins of the show. I'm not going even to begin on thinking about penguin 1's (funny) fetishes. Talk about a weird combo.
fafsdfsdafsagOct 2, 2011 6:14 AM
I like bubble teaaa~ Bubble tea for meee~
I'll have it for breakfast, I'll have it for tea, a little each day is a good recipee~
Oct 2, 2011 8:09 AM
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Anjolique said:
Hmmm, maybe the swirl is to point out Shouma perhaps being the "odd one out" if he actually isn't related to Himari or Kanba that a lot of people are thinking. Or maybe we're both reading too much into it lol. It's hard not to when they're symbolism everywhere. xP


longer lifeline or more hp left perhaps :D
Oct 2, 2011 11:00 AM

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Shergal said:
PaninaManina said:


He bit himself in despair, probably.


How the hell would he bit himself in that spot?

Insert your hand, fingers straight, in your mouth.
Bit.

See?
You will bit exactly where scars are.

spigot said:

longer lifeline or more hp left perhaps :D

After hit by a car and for Ringo all many times? Immortal. Keitarou feelings...
Oct 2, 2011 11:20 AM

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sajpowell said:
sexiji said:


So sad...

So passionate.... lol

Yes, that too! Beautiful scene.
Oct 2, 2011 11:40 AM

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Orulyon said:

- Tabuki has something to do with the Penguindrum?(and the hell we always see Tabuki associated with a crow).


I've read this a lot. But Tabuki is not seen with a crow... For one thing that bird's in a cage, as we saw in this episode too as well as the opening scenes.

http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h422/Keriaku2/mawarugates.jpg

For another, the beak wouldn't be right. It looks for like a finch or canary to me.

As to why Tabuki has those arks on his hand, when I saw that and the bird cage I suddenly though he had trapped his hand somewhere trying to maybe catch a bird in a cage but having his hand caught? Alternatively, it might have been his pet long ago and that's why he loves birds?
Oct 2, 2011 1:29 PM

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spigot said:
Anjolique said:
Hmmm, maybe the swirl is to point out Shouma perhaps being the "odd one out" if he actually isn't related to Himari or Kanba that a lot of people are thinking. Or maybe we're both reading too much into it lol. It's hard not to when they're symbolism everywhere. xP


longer lifeline or more hp left perhaps :D


Hoooo! That makes a lot more sense. :D
Oct 2, 2011 8:23 PM

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Oct 2011
174
I'm on team yuri=momoka

it would make so much sense with the diary and tabuki
Oct 2, 2011 8:42 PM

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Too...much...speculation... @-@
Oct 2, 2011 8:45 PM

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Oct 2011
174
does anyone think that mario is himari fate husband
Oct 10, 2011 2:27 PM

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WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

DONT DIE HIMARIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! T_______T

DONT BREAK MY SHIP OF KANBA AND HIMARI!!!! ;__________;
Oct 10, 2011 6:42 PM

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What. The. Fuck.

joongki said:
oh man those kanba nips


NipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNipsNips

Oct 12, 2011 12:10 AM

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i love this show.
Oct 12, 2011 2:05 AM

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Dear god...I think I'm going to have to watch this series over again in one long marathon after it's over so I can pick up everything. x__x
Oct 12, 2011 9:17 PM

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wat
Oct 14, 2011 7:00 AM

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phew!!! Yumekichi11 is now my hero!!! I don't know what kind of magic he used to resurrect my post lost in the hacker's attack on MAL - was it apples or perhaps ashes of the flaming torch?? But it's really back in all its glory. The spoilers apparently don't work on MAL at the moment, so it looks a little different and way more difficult to read... but anyway, thanks again Yumekichi!!!!

And here it is:
-----------------------------------------
Oh my, I'm such a crybaby. A great director always manages to remind me about it. I've rewatched the episode billions of time already, but the scene with the No.3 disappearing still fills my eyes with tears. Masterpiece. I'm giving it a 10 now, even though only the half of the show is behind. And such a tearful finale for it. Can't believe we'll be missing the Seizon Senryaku... Mario's doesn't sound so great...

But let me better wipe my face and turn the tears into words about the episode.

About Yuri = Momoka

Thanks everyone for clarifying the thing about that symbol on both Ringo's and Yuri's houses being peach. I guess I have to eat more peaches afterall ^_^
Regardless, apart from the peach symbol on Momoka's shirt on her death photo, this episode actually brought another and, perhaps, even more powerful reason for Momoka = Yuri. Take a look at the flowers around Momoka's photo:

qttempgq6216.png

Do you see what I see? The entire flower composition is based on Liliums around the "main flower" - Momoka's pic

qttempem6216.png

And do you know how Lilium is translated into Japanese? Yes, it is indeed Yuri.

However, at least two big questions arise from such an assumption:
- What exactly happened to Momoka on 20/03/1995?
- Does Yuri not remember being Momoka or is it for some reason only her acting?
The key to the 2nd question naturally lies in the answer to the question to the 1st one. But I think it's worth mentioning because at some point there's that uneasy feeling that Yuri acts not just for herself but as if she has a deal with somebody or perhaps even forced by someone. It's also very likely that I'm just imagining things though.
But the 1st question is still there unanswered in any case. 8thSin, the translator of the anime, has also risen a good question in his blog - if there's been not a single trace of Momoka found, then what exactly are they burning and burying?
Another Yuri-related questioned left in my head is whether Yuri = the black rider with the second half of the diary. Somehow I still don't feel like accepting that idea. I don't really see the morive for Yuri to that. If she remembers nothing about being Momoka then she should neither remember and be aware of the existence of that diary, not to mention that she shouldn't even know who's Ringo and the fact that Ringo has that diary. Then why would she still try to obtain it? Somebody asked/forced her?

On a side note, I wonder how Yuri and Tabuki met? What was it? Fate is the answer that sounds most suitable for the show... but still, any other reasons for a common school teacher in biology and a popular theater actor to go out and get married? Something seems fishy. Especially the way Yuri appeared out of nowhere - I mean, it must be really difficult to miss the girlfriend, when you stalk the guy as much as Ringo stalked Tabuki, yet Yuri's appearance was a complete surprise for her.


About Tabuki-sensei

Oh, we had a lot of info about Tabuki this episode. And that information is contradicting as hell!
The scars on his fingers is one of the examples - such scars don't just disappear, you know. Yet as we see from the pics in the previous posts, nowadays Tabuki doesn't have the scars at all. Weird? Indeed.
Another thing is his badge - it says grade 2. And we were given tons of attention to that badge. Do you guys know why? Because this is damn terribly fishy too. In episode 3, we were clearly given a date 20/03/2006 - Tabuki graduates the high school. That means that he must be graduating grade 1 of elementary on 20/03/1995. However, his badge already says Grade 2! How? Grade 2 should only have started on 01/04/1995 for Tabuki and Momoka. HOW? WHY? It can't be 20/03/1996 right? Or could it be.. that he was so shocked with Momoka's death that he skipped the entire school year?

All right, apart from those puzzling things, let's discuss the rest of Tabuki's flashback. As we know, Tabuki and Momoka were in the same grade at school. They apparently were very close friends at that time - meeting at the subway station and going to school together. It also seems that both, or at least Tabuki, were in some kind of animals/zoo club, as Tabuki is concerned about being late today, when it's his duty to take care about the animals. What's more, he's totally pissed about the possible tickling hell he's to receive for being late - from Momoka obviously.
This kinda made me believe that Momoka's and Tabuki's common interest was animals. No wonder Tabuki ended up being a teacher in biology. No wonder Tabuki and Yuri enjoy their bird-watching too.
Now for the burial scene - this is where we see the scars on Tabuki's right hand. What I'd like to pinpoint now is something else - it's the words about Momoka which Tabuki overhears during the funeral: "She happened to get on the train later than usual that day. Luck wasn't with her." And we know, that Momoka was late because she was waiting for Tabuki, who got late because of the failed alarm clock. And Tabuki knows about it. And I bet that he blames himself for Momoka's death. This is, I believe, one of the reasons why Tabuki declines to accept her death. Another reason has somethign to do with the scars. The first thing that comes to mind, that there was already some sort of an accident that could potentially lead to Momoka's death. It's as if that accident had something to do with the animals and Tabuki perhaps managed to save Momoka. That could explain the scars on his hand. And of course that could explain Tabuki's feelings: "I saved her in such an accident, yet she died out of nowhere and I'm even partly responsible for this".
This is what that bird in a cage is all about. I think it symbolizes how all the fun he had together with Momoka, is now gone. It's Tabuki whose happyness was destroyed - just like bird's freedom is gone once you put it in a cage. There're tons of other bird characters around Tabuki all the time to prove that unlike the others he's the child of light and air (YANG) - in fact he's pretty much the only one in the show whose character has clearly nothing to do with water (YIN).
The most crucial part about it is the meaning of Yuri's family name: Cage of Time. Tabuki-bird being imprisoned by the cage years ago in time. No wonder is he captivated by Yuri.


Mary, Lambs, Bunnies, and the Goddess

In fact, tons have already been written about it all around the net. I'd personally recommend reading at least the Hikoboshi and Orihime blog. That said, I'll try to post my own thoughts about Mary and the lamb in short.
As I see it, the story is about reviving something lost and precious by means of breaking a taboo as well as about the price one's paying for doing so. How does it transfer to the Mawaru plotline? Let's see. I could find at least three possible readings of the story - based on three different taboos:
- Takakura Kenzan's attempt to revive the world, the universe, by means of organising the 1995 attack.
- Takakura Kenzan's attempt to revive his wife (assuming something bad happened to her) by means of somehow interfering with fate
- Takakura Kamba's attempt to revive Himari by means of incestous love

What questions me the most here is the meaning behind those two black rabbits. The black colour likely refers to the night, dark side of their origin. This works pretty well considering they seem to be assisting Sanetoshi AND considering their roles of tempters in the lamb story.
That said we do know that they appear to tempt somebody who's in great despair and is ready to break the taboo and commit the sin. The biggest question is what exactly did Princess of the Crystal's mean by saying, "The world has called forth the black bunnies once again"? Where does this AGAIN come from? How many times before have those bunnies already been called? Once, twice, many? At first I thought that maybe this means that first time was Kenzan and now, the second one - Kamba? But PofC says THE WORLD. Perhaps, metaphorycal? I wonder... Perhaps, the black bunnies represent the fallen angels, i.e. the Satan's (Sanetoshi's) assitants. The reason they were called again has something to do with fate derailing, apocalypses, attack against people or whatever else that comes to mind? As you can see, there's unfortunately too much that comes to mine...

What I want to highlight is that thing about the fate derailing. We do know that the event in 1995 is considered or somehow related to a curse, mentioned by Masako in ep.11. Now, PotC also mentions Shouma's and Ringo's fate being cursed. Therefore I'd assume that the fate has already been derailed once, back in 1995. It's been done by the Pingforce cult believers, incl. Takakura and Natsume families. And if this is really the case, then it could actually explain certain weirdness of the show:
- one boy born in Takakura's instead of twins
- disappearance of Tabuki's scars
- possible Momoka=Yuri
By the way, Marinouchi line of Tokyo's subway has a fork on one of its ends. And Takakura live on one of its branches. I'm not surprised if once the fate is derailed back to its proper state at the end of the show, we'll find out that Takakura siblings live on another branch of the Marinouchi line.


One boy in Takakura's?

To be honestly this is very confusing. I mean, there're cases with delayed twins. And delay might take up to 40-50 days in very rare cases! But, even one of the brother's been born hours later, it still doesn't make sense. The doctors clearly said to Kenzan, that both Mother and the child are safe and sound. There's no way the doctors didn't detect the twins during the labour, even assuming Takakura's mother has never been given an ultrasound. And in no way can the doctors reassure that both the baby and its mother are safe in case of delayed twins.
This leads to several possibilities:
- The doctors lied for some reason
- There really was only one boy, which means that one of the twins is adopted or something like that
- Kenzan wasn't even talking to the doctors and this "It's a boy" was nothing but a mere signal - everything's ready, start the operation!
As I just wrote in the previous section, the thing about only one boy wouldn't surprise me. But the more I think about it the more I like the idea that this covnersation had nothing to do with the actual labour. It was nothing but a hidden signal to initiate the survival strategy, start the attack. I however think that Kenzan was talking to that doctor from that hospital. By that I mean the one in the glasses we see in the beginning of the episode, the one investigating and leading Himari's case. As we now know, he was also the part of the Pingforce.


About the hospital

Seems like nobody noticed yet, but here's the screenshot of the hospital from episode 12. Notice the huge Pingroup.inc logo on its left side.

qttemphp2036.png

But what's more important is not the penguin logo, it's the staircase! Don't you remember it? We've seen it already in ep9! It's the same staircase as in the "Whole in the Sky" library!

qttempuh2036.png

Bingo! Now it makes sense why this hospital appeared in the series so regularly. Remember the Kamba's going Underworld into his memories in episode 10? Yes, we see it again - Pingroup.inc on the ground, KIGA group is underground. The moment Kamba enters basement in ep10, penguin logo changes accordingly.
This only proves that this hospital is a place of big impact for the plotline. And that doctor is no exception.


What's with the beginning of the episode? Whom did Sanetoshi resurrect there?

It doesn't look like it is Himari - the medical monitor devices are on opposite side in comparison with Himari's ward. And why on Earth a dead body would be left in a ward connected to all those meters? Perhaps.. perhaps this is some sort of an experiment with fate? And Sanetoshi with black bunnies serve for that purpose? I think that this was the first time the bunnies were called forth to this world. But who could they resurrect? Takakura's mum? Or perhaps could be it the night of 1995 and Momoka turning into Yuri? Those red "apples" on a spinning Gyroscope are highlighted to represent the act of fate changing and the connection being established between the two worlds?
In fact, such a story would make a perfect sense to me:
- Momoka "died" in that 1995 accident, organised by Takakura and Natsume, i.e. Pingforce
- Her body though has never been found
- Instead it was lying in that very hospital under "fate" experiments by that very doctor, also from Pingforce
- The fate has been derailed, and Momoka resurrected as Yuri
- years have passed
- Takakura and Natsume pay the price for their attack and experiments, i.e. for calling the black bunnies - their children die: Himari and Mario


Peach symbol and black bunnies?

I don't know how much of this is my imagination, but I found the tiled pattern on the background resembling the peach symbol a lot - take a look yourself.

qttempya2036.png

I'm clueless about the actual meaning behind it.. but I thought it was worth mentioning.


Teleportations?

One thing that bugs me a lot about the series is how do the characters sometimes manage to "teleport". Here's a couple of noticable events of that kind:
- Masako teleports from her home, to the Akasaka metro station to push Asami in the red heels down the escalator. Can be explained if Masako lives very close to the station though.
- ?Masako? teleports from the roof of the hospital to pick up the diary and then teleports to the hospital basement to pick on Kamba. Can be explained if it was Masako's ally who she regularly talks on the phone. And considering that girl had different hairstyle and clothes - this is the likeliest explanation.
- Kenzan teleporting from tha fabric he's working on to the station. I mean the accident happened early in the morning. So was he at that Pingforce stock THAT early to have time to reach the place where the accident was supposed to start? OK, sounds plausible.. but... still a little fishy
- If we for some reason assume that Yuri is the black rider who stole the 2nd part of the diary then how did she manage to get upstaris to her appartment, change into biker's suit, get out, ride a bike... nah.. as I've already posted earlier I'm not that convinced it really was Yuri... otherwise she had it really tough.. on the other hadm we're not clearly aware how much time did Ringo and Shouma spent outside arguing.

So yeah, it's all somewhat explainable. But it still gives you a variety of possibilities the story plot can continue. Or maybe that's one of the secret's behind Ikuhara the devil, leaving us with so many questions xD Give us a break already, seriously! Can't we have at least one episode to calm things down a bit? My mind is about to explode! xD


About the next episode

The next episode PV is so stunning! You can see how Masako tricks Kamba with the diary and makes him fall for her!! How did I get it? The pink book Esmeralda throws has two labels on it: "18" (assuming 18+, I believe) and "Eros". No.1 sees those labels, treats it as a porn mag and FALLS over it. The truth is, Eros as a concept means intimate, romantic love. So yeah... Seems like we gonna have two couples in ep13: Kamba x Masako and Shouma x Ringo. And I'm totally loving it! Well Done!

Another thing to keep in mind for the next episodes is the "Superfrog saves Tokyo" book that Himari took from the "Whole in the Sky" library. I wonder how this will play into the story but it must be discovered by the brothers sooner or later. Can't wait for this time to come.

Finally, there's also Ringo's cell phone lost in Tabuki x Yuri apartments. I wonder if Yuri finds it and discovers something about Tabuki and Momoka? What if, assuming Yuri = Momoka, she starts remembering about her past???? This might be a big event.
And on a side note... Back in episode 8, I started expecting something to happen with Ringo's if not phone but a phone strap for sure. The reason was obvious - the strap is penguin holding an apple, which I read as "Ringo holding a diary". And now that she lost both parts of the diary, the cellphone with a strap is gone too. Quite a coincidence.
I wonder if this is what PotC really meant by losing the penguindrum... beats me...


And so, just like every thursday's evening, I'm so looking forard to watching the new episode tonight!

YayPepsi said:
mawaru_penguindrum_12_4.png
What do you make of the swirls on the lambs? Shouma's has the most spirals, starts from the top and faces left. Kanba's starts from the bottom and goes right and Himari's starts from the top and goes right. Why does he have more spirals than the other two? Could he be the older twin? Did he have the most "wool"? Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it. XD

ah I totally forgot about it. This is indeed a very good find because the entire concept of the penguindrum lives behind it. You guys do know how lambs are often used, right? Right - their wool is turned into threads for knitting and weaving. Now there's one important thing to keep in mind about weaving when you're watching fate-related shows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaving_(mythology)
Wiki said:
Weaving begins with spinning. Until the spinning wheel was invented in the 14th century...

Wiki said:
In Greece the Moirae (the "Fates") are the three crones who control destiny, and the matter of it is the art of spinning the thread of life on the distaff. Ariadne, the wife of the god Dionysus in Minoan Crete[citation needed], possessed the spun thread that led Theseus to the center of the labyrinth and safely out again.

these two quotes alone should make a lot of sense when applied to Mawaru Penguindrum. Penguindrum is the thing the Gods use to "create" and "edit" the fate by means of spinning it and thus weaving people's lifes. I still don't know how exactly to apply this concept to the show.. but we'll find out before 2012 xD
soulelleOct 14, 2011 7:09 AM
Oct 15, 2011 5:53 PM

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Sep 2010
284
Why am I the only one who doesnt understand a thing about this show?
Oct 16, 2011 10:11 AM

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May 2010
2452
This is getting more awesome!!

So the siblings' parents are part of an organization that started the survival strategy. I wonder what they did that caused Momoka's death.

And the 2nd half = EPIC!! Of course, Himari shall live but didn't expect that Penguin 3 would also die if she dies.

So Sanetoshi is a good guy or what??
Oct 25, 2011 4:51 AM

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Jun 2011
92
Lemonysunshine said:
And geez is it really necessary that duo persona Himari to strip herself in the process of obtaining part of Kanba's life source?


lol. that's what I'm thinking too. Why does she have to do that in front of Kanba??! Can't explain what I felt when I saw that scene. That stripping was waaaay unnecessary. (Deep down I'm jealous~~~)
"Them who looks blind at ANIME, looks blind at SALVATION."
Nov 10, 2011 4:40 AM

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Aug 2007
1244
Whatthe- I was surprised at Himari in Survival Strategy mode that she and her brother were looking like that. T-that was cool, yet awkward. I was confused at there that story of Mary and her little lambs came from, but reading above comments makes more sense, so thanks for that. This show is getting more complicated than I thought.

Oh, and the hospital = centre de Pompidou in France. Lolwhat?
Dutch anime blogger with a love for Ikuhara's antics and proper storytelling.
Nov 13, 2011 12:45 PM

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Aug 2011
1534
wow this episode was sad :( a #3 going with her was sad as well. Shouma with those eyes where intese. and kanba giving some of his life for her was adorable cant wait to see what happens next
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Nov 16, 2011 12:59 AM

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Wow... I don't even know what to say...
Dec 29, 2011 4:05 PM

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1371
WELL THEN.
Dec 30, 2011 8:37 PM

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Oct 2011
830
...She's gone again.
Next episode!
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It’s time to ditch the text file.
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