Nov 10, 2013
Mawaru Penguindrum: a can of carbonated plot that's been continually shaken for 23 episodes and then--
Yes. It's a mess, a very tasty, sticky mess that was a hella fun to make. But enough with the figurative stuff and let me get to the point. ^^
Penguindrum is a drama, a mystery, and a psychological drive-through. Even in its first, few playful episodes, there's always that lingering, ominous feeling that truly good mysteries give their unsuspecting audience. Imagine Durarara but with fewer characters and a generally happier atmosphere. It is in this casual, almost silly plot that darker things brew while the anime subtly points them out.
...
Symbolism and motifs are prominent; if you're anybody like me--and I'm no expert--you'll be furrowing your brows and trying desperately to formulate theories as to what's going on. In retrospect, the pacing of all of this is slow at first but by the end comes, the anime will be an edge-of-the-seat experience.
To complement the plot, and to differentiate it from most other animes, is the colorful art. If you haven't seen the anime yet, just go ahead, watch it, and describe it yourself. At times, it's cheerful, over-the-top, and almost silly, at other times, it's ordinary and slow, and at other times, it can get downright depressing. To say that the story and art are separate is to analyze the piece too narrowly. The art changes with the occasion, the character, and the purpose. It's a psychological thing, and even somewhat like a literary tool, if we compare this to a book.
There's a lot of internal conflict going in my head but I think I can say that the characters are whole and fulfilling, albeit a bit sloppy. The most important characters are entirely fleshed out and side characters are surprisingly meaningful or relevant to the story. A knit-pick is that side character histories are somewhat forced onto watchers in almost random flashbacks. The anime's style supports the very abrupt, explicit presentation of them but still...
Admittedly, in all of its glory, Mawaru Penguindrum is a bit ... out there. Maybe it's just me, my values, and my major premises, but the anime--in its art, plot, and characters--is too complex and deliberate. Watch an episode of any other anime and enjoy it as it is. To appreciate Penguindrum, you have to watch the entire series, stare, jaw-open, at the ending, and try to comprehend. In its depth, it teeters precariously towards pretentiousness. While it's something of a strong point of the anime, I can also imagine many casual watchers dropping this for the same reason.
I'm quite a holistic graders so let me end by reiterating the most important aspect of the anime: the story and presentation.
Mawaru Penguindrum = can of soda = not fun if you don't shake = not tasty if you don't go through to the end and open it. A sign of warning: the anime requires patience and thought. It is, though, better than writing a rhetorical analysis, and on another plus, just as meaningful.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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