7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Once you make a decision, does the universe conspire to make it happen? Is destiny a matter of chance, a matter of choice or the complex outcome of thousands of warring strands of fate? All twins Kanba and Shoma know is that when their terminally ill sister Himari collapses at the aquarium, her death is somehow temporarily reversed by the penguin hat that she had asked for. It's a provisional resurrection, however, and it comes at a price: to keep Himari alive they need to find the mysterious Penguin Drum. In order to do that, they must first find the links to a complex interlocking chain of riddles that has wrapped around their entire existence, and unravel the knots that tie them to mystifying diary and a baffling string of strangers and semi-acquaintances who all have their own secrets, agendas and "survival strategies." And in order for Himari to live, someone else's chosen destiny will have to change. It's a story of love, fate, life, death... and Penguins!
Starring: Miho Arakawa, Subaru Kimura, Ryohei Kimura, Marie Miyake, Yui WatanabeForeign | 100% |
Anime | 100% |
Drama | 2% |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The legendary Stephen Sondheim gave the equally legendary Elaine Stritch one of her finest musical theater moments in the original 1970 Broadway mounting of Company, when Stritch’s character Joanne, a hard drinking cynic with nary a kind word for anyone, lets loose late in the second act with one of Sondheim’s best loved songs, “The Ladies Who Lunch”. As Joanne tears into the elite women who surround her (a class to which she obviously belongs), she pauses for a moment to ask, “Does anyone still wear a hat?” in a reference to a bygone age of elegant apparel styles for polite society. That’s a question that may have some appropriateness for the oddly endearing anime Penguindrum, but it’s a quandary that should be far down the list on most viewers’ minds, as this is one of the more resolutely philosophical anime in recent memory, one which gets into all sorts of thorny debates about existence, fate, free will and other issues that have provided grist for the mill for countless sermons and indeed for whole theological movements. In an idiom that often seems to be comprised of cut and paste “artists” who cobble together shows out of previously offered ideas, characters and even out and out plotlines, Penguindrum is, if nothing else, absolutely unique and wonderfully distinctive. That may not translate into easy accessibility or, frankly, even absolute entertainment value, but for those who are looking for something more than a bit unusual and who are willing to confront some of the deepest questions that have challenged the greatest minds (and hearts) of Mankind from time immemorial, Penguindrum is one of the most bracing anime experiences of the past several years, and maybe since the dawn of animation itself.
Penguindrum Collection 1 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Sentai Filmworks with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This is a brilliantly colorful series, one that almost looks like a carnival explosion of bright hues, and that element pops magnificently in this high definition presentation. Line detail is exceptionally sharp and well defined and the distinctive character designs also look great. The frame is often quite "busy" and typically will include explanatory text that pops up for just a moment (including some kind of unusual "meta"-commentary on what's going on), so those who don't read extremely quickly may want to have their remotes handy so that they can press the pause button. As the series moves into the later episodes in this first arc, things get both more surreal as more tinged with a sort of proto science fiction aspect, and some very cool quasi 3D elements help make the visual appeal all the more alluring.
Penguindrum Collection 1 features lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mixes in both the original Japanese and in an English dub. Both mixes are relatively identical, though the Japanese is perhaps just slightly less boisterous in terms of the effects mix. The series probably wouldn't have been drastically improved with a surround mix, as a lot of the proceedings are relatively quiet and dialogue driven. Fidelity is excellent and prioritization is also top notch. The English voice cast is very good, handling the tonal modulations very well. Dynamic range isn't huge, but there are a few outbursts here and there that both tracks handle effortlessly.
I won't pretend to have understood everything that happened in this first set of Penguindrum episodes, but in the long run, that's just another reason that this anime is so fascinating and compelling. Completely distinctive in terms of content, character and its non-linear storytelling style, Penguindrum is one of those rare anime that pretty much demands that the viewer actually pay attention. Add to that its visual flair and its resolute refusal to shirk from some of the thorniest questions to ever confront the human race and you have one of the most consistently intriguing anime in recent memory. Himari proves that, yes, someone does still wear a hat—but that there are consequences to actually putting it on. Highly recommended.
2011
言の葉の庭 / Koto no Ha no Niwa
2013
2008
Standard Edition
2011
偽物語 | Limited Edition
2012
プラネテス / Puranetesu / πλάνητες
2003-2004
2011
2004-2005
化物語 | Limited Edition
2009-2010
コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュR2
2008
2007
Anime Classics
1998
2011
Essentials
2014
さくら荘のペットな彼女 / Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
2012-2013
Essentials / Higashi no Eden
2009
Combo Pack
2010
2007
たまこまーけっと / Tamako Maketto
2013
Classics / Desu Paredo / デス・パレード
2015