“Orphaned brothers search for the Penguin Drum to save their sister, guided by fate and a penguin hat.”
Penguindrum
輪るピングドラム
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AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Orphaned brothers search for the Penguin Drum to save their sister, guided by fate and a penguin hat.
For the Takakura family, destiny is an ever-spinning wheel, pointing passionately in their direction with equal tides of joy and sorrow before ticking on to the next wishmaker. With their parents gone, twin brothers Kanba and Shouma live alone with their beloved little sister Himari, whose poor health cannot decline any further. On the day Himari is given permission to temporarily leave the hospital, her brothers take her out to the aquarium to celebrate, where the family's supposed fate is brought forth with her sudden collapse. However, when Himari is inexplicably revived by a penguin hat from the aquarium's souvenir shop, the hand of fate continues to tick faithfully forward. With her miraculous recovery, though, comes a cost: there is a new entity within her body, whose condition for keeping her fate at bay sends the boys on a wild goose chase for the mysterious "Penguin Drum." In their search, the boys will have to follow the threads of fate leading from their own shocking past and into the lives of other wishmakers vying for the Penguin Drum, all hoping to land upon their chosen destiny.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 142 sampled reviews
What 142 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 1.97 · split reception
5.8 pts
Recommenders 8.9 · others 3.1
↑ 1.06
Running avg · Jul 2011 → Feb 2026
- 9 “This anime is brutally emotional, and that's what makes it beautiful. It starts out a bit cheesy and cheerful, but really takes a dark turn in the later episodes. You get drawn in by the charm and...”
- 10 “this is one of the best show of all time. do you believe in fate? if you do, this will be a nice anime. but can u change fate? this depends on you. it's a heart-touching and deep show. it talks...”
- 10 “This shit will fuck you up. I've never seen anything that has rivaled the feeling i got when i watched Evangelion until i saw this show. Everything in this show is beautiful. The imagery in this...”
Watch Order & Related
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See all credits →Production slate
A Tv Production · Summer 2011
Brain's Base.Starchild Records · Mainichi Broadcasting System
- Format 24 × 24′ eps × min
- Total runtime 9h 36m all episodes
- Aired Jul 2011 – Dec 2011 Summer 2011
- Source Tv media type
- Rated R 17+ (violence & profanity)
- Ref. BS-6324 catalog
Produced by
- Starchild Records Producer
- Mainichi Broadcasting System Producer
Licensed by
- Sentai Filmworks Licensor