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Feb 20, 2012 1:02 PM

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Sep 2011
832
Wow I really really loves this episode, it's easily the best as of yet.
Mar 12, 2012 11:30 AM

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Dec 2011
864
I have no words to describe how shocked I was when Sanetoshi spoke with that manly voice. By seeing him in the op, I could bet the sake of my family that he was a woman.
Apr 4, 2012 1:42 AM

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Sep 2010
251
Now we know more about Himari's past, and I can't wait to find out more.
𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓖𝓾𝓼𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓮

Apr 12, 2012 10:28 PM

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Sep 2008
7062
The flashback was great, seeing those girls band together.
THe cliffhanger from last episode running to the end of this episode killed me though.
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Apr 22, 2012 12:33 AM

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Sep 2011
10430
The flashback on their mother was kind of sad. :(
Apr 24, 2012 5:30 PM

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Dec 2007
1800
Moquette said:
Hungshu said:
So Himari in survival strategy was Himari her self


was it? when she woke up from her "dream" she said she didnt remember a thing. A double personality? idk. guess i'll keep watching to find out


what I got from that episode was that all that library thing actually happened when she died at the hospital in ep #1, and then when the floor opens up underneath her feet and she falls, that's her coming back to life. I can't tell if my theory is right though, have to keep watching.

But it really was a beautiful ep! My fav so far! 5/5
Apr 26, 2012 4:16 AM

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Mar 2012
1121
Sanetoshi... looks like a girl lol.
Oct 26, 2012 6:31 AM
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Jan 2012
1067
Sanetoshi is gorgeous :c Don't think he looks like a girl at all.

Er.. anyway, the episode was fantastic.
Though I don't like the religious tone that much, mostly because I hate christianity :P But the non-christian references were cool.

Nice to see some more of Himari. And you know what is weird?
Himari's friends have the same hairs colors as her brothers. I doubt this is only a coincidence.

All that bride stuff reminded me of Utena and finally, I hope the "fated guy" is in fact, Kanba.
That must be a reason for the kiss in the first episode.
Oct 30, 2012 12:20 PM

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Jul 2012
1299
So lovely anime.
Nov 6, 2012 7:23 AM

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Jul 2012
745
Damn Himari was a brat when she was younger.
Nov 29, 2012 9:40 AM

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Jun 2009
15302
insan3soldiern said:
Probably my favorite episode thus far as it cleared up a lot of questions for me. And, lol at people saying this reminds them of Shaft when it's actually the other way around.


Watching this again I have come to a conclusion that this is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the finest episodes I've seen in anime. Everything just worked so incredibly well here. The scene with Himari watching her friends on TV was incredibly powerful. I love how this tied into the first episode as well.
Ston3_FreeN7Nov 29, 2012 9:43 AM
"Yes, I have been deprived of emotion. But not completely. Whoever did it, botched the job."

- Geralt of Rivia
Nov 29, 2012 11:46 AM

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Sep 2012
117
Was this episode a flashback related to the first episode, or something that happened right before Shouma was hit by that car? :S
Nov 29, 2012 11:53 AM

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Jun 2009
15302
_Kaire said:
Was this episode a flashback related to the first episode, or something that happened right before Shouma was hit by that car? :S


The events from when Himari chases the penguin to when she wakes up in the morgue is going concurrently with the events of the first episode. I basically look at it as her being between life and death examining her life. One of the posts in here from Dr House, I believe, actually brings up the fact that the episode almost exactly coincide when you play them side beside. I've done this and it's pretty much true.
Ston3_FreeN7Nov 29, 2012 1:00 PM
"Yes, I have been deprived of emotion. But not completely. Whoever did it, botched the job."

- Geralt of Rivia
Dec 31, 2012 5:43 PM

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Apr 2012
325
I watched this episode to see what happened to Shou, what I got instead was some trippy dream episode that just leaves me with more questions.
I like Hentai, you like real life.
Instead of complaining about my tastes, be grateful you now don't have to compete against me.
Jan 1, 2013 8:02 AM

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Aug 2009
557
Friendship nigga stole my bike tears.

And welcome back, Sebastian.
Jan 6, 2013 5:47 PM
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Sep 2011
111
In the second time watching this anime it never seizes to amaze me. Brilliant story, masterfully craften and... beautiful music and visuals.

9/10.
Mar 8, 2013 9:24 PM

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Aug 2012
551
Dat reveal.

But for the first 15 minutes or so I was wondering if I was watching the right thing.
Mar 29, 2013 6:42 PM

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Jan 2010
609
we get to see what happened to Himari in the first episode, nice
The two girls from the ED were Himari's friends in grade school (looks like they werent just random characters)
it looks like they went on to become idols without her, thats pretty sad
i wonder if Himari became famous with them, her family would be rich or something
so im guessing the ED song is her future if she were in the group with them
HA THAT ALMOST KISS
He was like "gimme a kiss bby" she was like "nah bruh"
wow Himari room is my dream room
sHE DOESNT REMEMBER IM GONNA
ArigatofulMar 29, 2013 6:53 PM
Mar 31, 2013 6:49 PM

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May 2012
25829
In one word this episode was AMAZING! It's hardly these days an anime can amaze me this hard when it's already steady in the almost middle of the series! Some amazing concept of telling backstory on the main character! This sure was an epic episode... lets see what's next!
Apr 2, 2013 2:40 AM

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Jan 2013
11047
4.15/5
A good episode, not that amazing
Apr 18, 2013 8:43 PM

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Feb 2013
932
Awesome flashback ep, let's keep it going!
Apr 30, 2013 3:13 PM
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Mar 2009
2460
What is going...what.

That guy's hair is pink-fab, jesus.

Triple-H=Ecchi. Lol.

That was an interesting way to show us Himari's past. So the two that are always on the damn subway's video panels are her friends from the past? So many more questions brought up this episode...

Though I guess this explains why Himari looks like an idol when she goes all, "Survival Strategy!" mode.

I can't tell what's happening anymore. This show.
Jun 3, 2013 5:55 PM

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Nov 2012
2403
himari.. yes now is all about himari especially the past.. YES good bye ringo see you next week HAHA!

seeing himari past is just too sad at the end, even the beginning was so amazing but the end.. her friends betrayed her? :/ what a friend huh! --"

this pink guy is trying my himari? da hel he's thinking huh! nice himari you stop this pinky.. lol XD


ohh love the scene when himari and penguin 3. in the living room btw...
Aug 9, 2013 12:18 PM

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Feb 2011
1701
What a trippy episode.

Geeze, how unlucky is this family? 0_0

And that poor koi... I don't think the mom would appreciate a dead koi.

Oh WOW, so those two girls went on to become the idols from the train station ads?
眠れないのは君のせい
Sep 16, 2013 11:39 AM
The Shrike

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Nov 2009
11495
A great episode, loved the Utena feel and look. But tis' clear by reading the things I have been reading in this thread that I didn't understand half of it. All this talk about different penguin groups and the like...Im gona have to watch it again.
"Perhaps there is a universal, absolute truth. Perhaps it justifies every question. But that's beyond the reach of these small hands." Mamoru Oshii

There is a cult of ignorance (...) nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” Isaac Asimov

Nov 17, 2013 11:42 PM

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Aug 2012
193
Such an awesome and weird episode. The library scenery was really well done.
Dec 21, 2013 3:27 PM
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Apr 2013
1476
I came to this series from Utena, which is my absolute favourite Anime series. I have to say that at first I thought Mawaru was going a bit slowly, but in this episode we really start to get some of that incredible feeling that only Ikuhara weirdness can bring (^.^)

The whole plotline is becoming much deeper and more fascinating. I can't wait to see what becomes of all this ^_^

[a lot of the themes seem to be quite tragic, which is interesting]
Dec 23, 2013 7:17 PM

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Sep 2010
351
Finally an episode that doesn't involve Ringo.
Jan 11, 2014 8:37 PM

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Apr 2007
1993
This makes me want to reread Murakami's Super Frog Saves Tokyo really badly. Since this is Penguindrum I don't think it was just a random reference - this anime is so loaded with symbolism, the mention of the Murakami story is probably significant to the plot somehow - I'll have to reread superfrog when I finish Penguindrum to find out just why it was referenced.
Jan 13, 2014 6:31 PM

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Oct 2013
210
That is truly an outstanding episode. What a fantastic way to present Himari's past to us. I'm really flabbergasted because this anime is surprisingly great.
V0ltgJan 13, 2014 8:06 PM
Jan 29, 2014 12:46 AM

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Feb 2013
2362
Am I on drugs??

Because that episode made me feel like I was on drugs.....
Mar 11, 2014 6:37 AM

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Jan 2014
10464
Forgetfulness said:
Huh. Was the setting of this episode between the time that they bought the hat and when Himari revives after dying?
I could not figure it out for so long because the penguin Himari finds has a "#3" on the back, which is something that Kanba added later on. Guess it was just an animation mistake...

Pretty good backstory. Seems like the Takakura family has a problem with getting hit with glass or something ._.

Also, I like how there was an actual story to those advertisements on the subway

edit: read some of these comments. Seems like there's an insane amount of symbolism in this video :c
Fuck this. Hate having to read explanations even if it does make viewing better


I wondered about #3-chan being already numbered too, but I seriously doubt it was an animation mistake. Since the penguins were supposed to be numbered only a while after Himari died and resurrected, we could interpret her meeting #3-chan with a "#3" already marked on its back as an encounter with fate (in the sense that everything was already bound to happen).

It's actually pretty fun to rewatch episodes once you have a bit more info about some of the underlying themes and references that you missed at first watch; the story starts to get hella deeper and mind-screwing all of a sudden. :D
And once you get used to it you start catching stuff on your own and reading other's explanations and theories we'll just help you complete your own.

Around the 04:00 min mark, you get to see the current date (Saturday October 15th) and the return date of the books (Monday March 20th). In the last twenty years, the only year when 15th October was a Saturday is 2011 (date of the series current timeline), and the only one when 20th October was a Monday is 2006. 2006 was also the year of the flashback sequence with young Ringo and Tabuki still in highschool.
I don't think there's a direct link between this flashback and the "return date" but I have a feeling year 2006 is a very important one and some other major events took place during this year. If we form the hypothesis that Himari's backstory with the Double H girls also took place five years ago, this date could even symbolizes Himari's wish to return to those days (just some wild speculation).

The Library/Hell/Underworld interpretation is definitely spot on, and the name of the Library further proves it (Hole in the Sky, which probably refers to the hole Lucifer's fall created when he was kicked out of Heaven).

Now about the number 61, I didn't take into account the fact that the elevator was going down and searched for 61 instead of -61. I believe 61 might refer to 61 Cygni, which is a binary star located in the Cygnus constellation. A binary system basically consists in two stars orbiting around the same center of mass. It's commonly called the Flying Star.
More info about binary systems here. I believe it fits because of the heavy featuring of stars of in the show and the lyrics in the opening ("I'm crying from the other side of the binary -0 to 1- world line") as well as the connection to the birds (cygnus, penguins...). You also get one sequence in the ending with Himari in an outer-space landscape.
Also anyone noticed the Portal 2 reference in the subway advice sequence ? The Double H girls hit home run with the Space Core, and probably send him flying... into space!!

Aside from that, I really felt (and loved) an Alice in Wonderland vibe with Himari following #3-chan (white rabbit) and going down (the hole). No wonder the book appeared in the first episode.

EDIT: About Kanba being Himari's soulmate. If we suppose that the Child's Broiler is a sort of limbo where the souls wait for bodies to occupy, then it's completely possible that Kanba declared his love to Himari and came to hate fate because he has the misfortune to be born as his brother (instead of a random stranger that could have been her lover). Thus the kiss scene would make sense.
SapewlothMar 11, 2014 6:52 AM
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Kellhus said:
GuusWayne said:
there is a limit to the suspension of disbelief

And it's the fan that did it. Not the smoking porn reading rubik cube genius rape ape with a magic boat.
Mar 11, 2014 12:04 PM

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Jan 2014
10464
Forgetfulness said:
@Sapelworth I see. Nice connections there. Now that I think back on it, I think the Underground library place is probably a reference to Super Frog Saves Tokyo
So much symbolism, it can get confusing ~_~
But that's what makes it so good at the same time... :o

If you're wondering about the dates, someone compiled a timeline for all the events in Mawaru Penguindrum. I wouldn't recommend opening it until you have actually finished the series, but for when you need it, it's here


Aaah, much thanks !
I'll definitely check this out when I finished the series!

EDIT: just realized that the 20th March 1995 was also the date of the sarin gas attack. I guess this explains that.
SapewlothAug 3, 2014 1:44 PM
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Kellhus said:
GuusWayne said:
there is a limit to the suspension of disbelief

And it's the fan that did it. Not the smoking porn reading rubik cube genius rape ape with a magic boat.
Aug 6, 2014 6:38 PM
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Aug 2011
1165
Wait why did she leave the school, why were everyone looking at her leaving?
Aug 30, 2014 11:57 PM

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Aug 2013
4759
I'm not going to think about the symbolism and just try to enjoy whatever I can understand. If I try to figure out what every scene means, my head will probably jus burst :p
"May those who accept their fate be granted happiness."

"May those who defy their fate be granted glory."
Oct 27, 2014 11:38 PM

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Sep 2014
1042
This episode is confusing as hell and I'm sick and tired of watching RIngo's antics. I'm pissed that the blue haired guy saved her.
Jan 7, 2015 4:06 PM

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Feb 2013
5532
Best episode so far, now is really getting interesting.

Jan 15, 2015 3:07 PM

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Jan 2014
32
I've really been enjoying Ringo's insane antics, but I'd be pleased if we moved on from that Funny how switching character focus and using sharper cutting and less deformity lent the ep such a different vibe. Almost felt like a whole other show.

Really keen on seeing where this will go.
Feb 18, 2015 4:06 PM
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Mar 2013
302
I feel so sorry for Himari that it's not Triple H but Double H. I love to know details like that Double H are those girls that you see everywhere in the station. I always wondered why they were shown so much. This episode was exorbitant good. Woah
May 27, 2015 5:03 PM

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Feb 2015
204
Hey, does anyone know where to find that song that plays at the moment when Himari falls down from the library, it started somewhere at 19.15? Or does anyone know the name of that song. I'd really like to find it since it sounds so amazing.

And great episode overall!
Homeless_SwallowMay 28, 2015 3:28 AM
"Oh, I wasn't trying to be funny.. I would've put a 'Haha' at the end of it."


Jul 8, 2015 6:24 PM

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Sep 2014
14
It's refreshing to see a Himari-centric episode after all the Ringo shenanigans, easily the best episode for me so far.

Hope I get to see this kind of episode again, LOL.
Jul 11, 2015 4:40 PM

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Feb 2015
87
At first, i was skeptical about this show. I wasn't sure whether i wanted to continue or not but this episode won me over.
Oct 26, 2015 4:13 PM

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Feb 2012
3881
Pink hair...that guy has got to be the most bishounen character I've seen except for maybe Tieria Erde.

Did anyone catch the Barefoot Gen reference?

Novels I have read/am reading pending approval: since November 10 2022
Dec 2, 2015 11:42 PM

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May 2014
3290
Woah, that episode though :o
Can't wrap my head around wtf just happened 😂😂
Dec 16, 2015 6:20 AM

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Apr 2014
327
I thought I had a grasp on this.... but after this episode...
Apr 2, 2016 5:15 AM

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Aug 2014
1867
Backstory about Himari, a touching episode.
Great Episode.
Jun 15, 2016 6:51 PM

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Feb 2016
317
Wow so much background information about Himari and the anime at all. I would have never expected that. I really hope there will be more amazing episodes like this later on.
Jul 2, 2016 3:04 AM

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Oct 2014
345
Wow, best episode so far!
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