Penguin's Memory: Shiawase Monogatari

[SPOILER FREE/SHORT REVIEW]

This is a hidden gem. The fact that only 340 people have got this on their list is quite disappointing. I am currently taking part in the recommendation clubs August/September challenge. I have to watch a show from each year from 1985-2004 in the next two months. I found this browsing the archived seasonal charts and thought, "Hmm, this might just be stupid enough to be enjoyable!".

Let me say, I was wrong. This is not stupid at all! This was such an eyeopener for me! This film looks silly. Bearing in mind my thoughts going into it, the first shot was a ... bunch of penguins lined up in bush firing M16's at other penguins and I laughed so hard I had to pause to take a breather. However, once this action tones down a bit, we are introduces to our main characters. Three best friend penguins, one of which was just wounded. They have a good talk and at this point it all sinks in. This film is serious.

This film focuses less on the combat and much more on character development and what war does to an individual. An individual who has lost things very close to them. An individual who wants to live a quiet life as a librarian, where he can be surrounded by the poetry that motivates him to keep pushing forward through tough times.

This was released in 1985, and I would say that the artwork is average even for its time, though with the exception of the first and third scene, there isn't a lot of heavy animation anyway. It is a very dialogue and character driven story. The music and sound was also pretty average, though I couldn't point to anything I disliked.

A 7/10 is a good score, something I give to anime that I don't want to forget about. It isn't given to a "meh" piece of throwaway entertainment. Its something that I enjoyed immensely.

It is almost sickly sweet but in a good way. It is a very good presentation in tone and mood. Perfectly conveys the emotional states of the characters. Music is high quality and memorable and very melancholy. I cried like a baby through most of the movie. The external conflicts weren't that great or were resolved easily. The internal conflicts were the main draw dealing with war,death, ptsd, survivors guilt, finding peace, and whether to choose love over your dreams. A very good movie to watch when you're in a sad place mentally as it can provide catharsis and optimism. Especially with the people being ... cute penguins, there is a juxtaposition between an almost idealized small town America and the heavy themes. While the movie doesn't delve too much into the hard topics, it leaves the viewer to interpret the main character's struggles with them. Not bad considering it's apparently an ad for Suntori Beer.

Originally from Anilist:

Shiawase Monogatari is a strange little film that has nearly been lost in the annals of history. You aren't likely to find it and are even less likely to find someone who has watched it. As an example of this, I only made the decision to watch and review this film because hardly anyone else has, and I cannot even recall how I heard of this movie.

The plot follows as such: Mike is a (presumably) Little Penguin who is an American Vietnam War (referred in the anime as the Delta War) veteran who (like the rest of world) speaks Japanese. The story revolves ... around Mike dealing with his PTSD and finding out if he can lead a normal life after the horrors he's been subject to...

...yes, it is an utterly odd as it sounds. A movie filled with Club Penguin-esque penguin deals with a shell-shocked veteran and it's played 100% for drama. Odder still is that Mike was the mascot for a brand of beer, something that you would not realize watching the movie. The strangeness of the movie is the only reason it's still remembered. The fact that cartoon penguins can have thousand yard stares or shoot automatic weapons isn't the most bizarre part of this movie.

The most bizarre part is that it works.

Or, at the very least, it did for me. Bear in mind that y profile is also of a screaming Kamille Bidan coupled with a cryptic image of Lain, thinking that it's cool or mysterious. I'm not the best gauge of seriousness.

But if you can look past the admittedly jarring character appearances, you;ll find a solid drama.

While it's mostly known for being "Club Penguin in Vietnam," Mike is out of the Vietcong-invested battleground within twenty minutes, meaning that most of the movie involves our main character trying to adjust back into life as a civilian. This doesn't go well at first, with everyone egging him to talk about the war he wants desperately to forget. Not being able to take it anymore, our avian ally flies the coop and leaves his hometown.

I believe the movie handles PTSD really well, and I felt some of the best parts where when Mike initially tries and fails to live his life.

In a new town, Mike finds love and the drama amps up. While the middle of the story is pretty "meh," the story gains its footing again towards the end, and I was surprised that I found myself legitimately invested in the characters. The characters all act logically, and no one is annoying that isn't supposed to be. The ending may or may not surprise you, but this reviewer,at the very least, was pleasantly surprised.

--Spoiler--

One of my biggest gripes was how Jill was encouraged to give up her dream just so she could be with Mike. I guess I can chalk it up to a different time and/or society, but it still doesn't sit right with me.

--Spoiler Over--

Overall, I thought Penguin's Memory was a solid drama. It wasn't phenomenal or anything and if you're a diehard drama fan, you've probably seen this story before, though probably not with cute penguins. Despite this, I had a surprisingly good time, though I'll admit my expectations weren't too high, and me being a sucker for romance gave it a few points. I could do without some of the songs, as I felt they didn't add anything to the movie, but I adored the ending song.

7.69(8)/10

Give it a watch if you have some free time.

Spoiler Free!

Penguin's Memory really surprised me with how well made it was! I wasn't expecting much from an old, niche anime movie, but everything about it is extremely solid, and deals with some rarely discussed topics in a subtle way. It becomes a narrative discussing the aftermath of traumatic experiences in a very realistic manner through the main character's daily life. It's very relaxing, and there's no over-the-top acting. The simple art style becomes very charming, with the core story dealing with some more serious, thought-provoking topics, so it is enjoyable for all audiences. It is a nice refresher and doesn't become draining as one ... might expect. The pacing is a little slow compared to a lot of shows made recently, but it never drags on. Honestly a very good movie, and I'm surprised it doesn't have more members. Feels like a classic, and not at all like you have to push yourself through it or talk yourself into liking it.

This is about a penguin experiencing trauma from this universe's version of the vietnamese war. It's a sweet story that's worth checking out, especially because it looks almost exactly like club penguin.

It has a few issues like the water during daytime looking quite bad and some songs just start and then end a few seconds later. It's also going for a bit of a slower more beautiful kind of tone with a climax which I would love if it was a bit stronger.

Most other aspects hold up pretty well today, the music is city pop which more and more people seem to get into ... nowadays. The animation looks very nice (besides the daytime water scenes) and I think this movie aged pretty well over all.

an absolute emotional rollercoaster. Mike was incredibly well written and I haven't seen anything flow quite like it. this is a must watch. if you've ever questioned the long term effects of PTSD and wanted to see an accurate anime portrayal, this is the movie for you. I have never experienced such highs and lows from an Anime. compared to other generic cheap counterfeit versions like My Hero Academia, this has REAL substance and class. you feel a true engagement with the main character, unlike these poorly written regurgitated shit show quote quote "master pieces" that critics on this site claim. the fact that ... so many shit for brains viewers can rate trash shows like FMA (full metal Alchemist) over Penguin's Memory: Shiawase Monogatari IS INSANE.