Himari Takakura
main character
TV
7.9
My TrackerPLANNING
Episode: 0 / 24
My Score:
Anime DetailsFINISHED
Estimated watch time
9h 36m
⚡ 5 days at 5 eps/day
Tags & Tropes
Philosophy97%Family Life92%Coming of Age90%Ensemble Cast87%Meta82%Male Protagonist79%Politics79%Denpa79%Female Protagonist79%Trains73%
TVFINISHED2011 SUMMER7.9 / 10 AniList score
Penguindrum
輪るピングドラム• Mawaru Penguindrum
Synopsis & Story
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! (Source: Sentai Filmworks)
Trailer
Search YouTubeWhere to Watch Officially
A streaming link is not listed for this title yet.
Featured Cast & Voice Actors
Franchise Universe & Related Entries
Aniphoria guide
Penguindrum: should you watch it?
At a glance
Penguindrum has been very well received, with an average AniList score of 79/100 — 69% of 24,903 ratings are 8/10 or higher.
It ranks #13 highest-rated anime of 2011, and #24 most popular anime of 2011, and #3 highest-rated anime of Summer 2011 on AniList.
Of the 42.7K AniList users who started it, 6.4% dropped it, so it is dropped at a typical rate; 32.6K have finished it.
At about 9 h 36 min in total, plan on one to two weeks at a couple of episodes a day.
Best for viewers who enjoy Drama, Mystery, Psychological — especially philosophy, family life, coming of age, ensemble cast.
Where it fits in the series
Episodes
24 episodes are listed.
Main cast & creators
- Director
- Shouko Nakamura
- Director
- Kunihiko Ikuhara
- Series composition
- Takayo Ikami
- Series composition
- Kunihiko Ikuhara
- Character design
- Terumi Nishii
- Music
- Yukari Hashimoto
Opening & ending themes
Openings
- OP1“Nornir” by Etsuko Yakushimaru · eps 1-14
- OP2“Shounen yo Ware ni Kaere” by Etsuko Yakushimaru · eps 15-23
Endings
- ED1“DEAR FUTURE” · eps 1-9, 11-12
- ED2“DEAR FUTURE feat. Yui Horie” by Yui Horie · eps 10
- ED3“Haiiro no Suiyoubi” by Yui Watanabe · eps 13, 15, 18
- ED4“Bad News Kuroi Yokan” by Yui Watanabe · eps 14, 17
- ED5“Ikarechimattaze!!” by Yui Watanabe · eps 16
- ED6“HIDE and SEEK” by Yui Watanabe · eps 19
- ED7“Private Girl” by Yui Watanabe · eps 20
- ED8“Tamashii Kogashite” by Yui Watanabe · eps 21
- ED9“Asa no Kageri no Naka de” by Yui Watanabe · eps 22
- ED10“HEROES ~Eiyuutachi” by Yui Watanabe · eps 23
Theme data from AnimeThemes.moe.
Penguindrum FAQ
- How many episodes does Penguindrum have?
- Penguindrum has 24 episodes of about 24 minutes each, roughly 9 h 36 min in total.
- How long does it take to watch Penguindrum?
- About 9 h 36 min back to back. At two episodes a day it takes 12 days; at one hour a day, about 10 days.
- Is Penguindrum finished?
- Yes. Penguindrum has finished airing — the final episode aired December 23, 2011.
- Is there a season 2 of Penguindrum?
- No sequel is listed for Penguindrum as of October 2026.
- Is Penguindrum based on a manga?
- No. Penguindrum is an original anime story, not adapted from a manga or novel.
- Who animated Penguindrum?
- Penguindrum was animated by Brain's Base and directed by Shouko Nakamura and Kunihiko Ikuhara.
- Who sings the opening of Penguindrum?
- The opening, "Nornir", is performed by Etsuko Yakushimaru.