Penguin Drum~Half Way Point

Oct 01, 2011 09:54

I guessed one of the major twists for this week's episode; about the Takakura's parents (I'm so proud). Of course I didn't guess the full extent of it but still. XD

Anyways I shouldn't really brag because there is so much about this anime that I can not even begin to guess. There is so much awesome analysis on the latest episode here & here;

I am sort of in awe of the fandom. I think I am pretty good at analyzing characters and so forth but analyzing symbolism and literary references is not my strength, and there is definitely a lot of that in Penguin Drum. But luckily the fandom for this show has really come through and really there are tons of interesting things to read both on blogs & message boards.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Utena (although there were certainly things admired, even loved about the series) but I am kind of wondering if I watched it when it aired and could read discussions of the show like I am now doing with Penguindrum, if I could have appreciated the series even more. I do think watching Utena, prepared me for Penguin Drum as Ikuhara's creative stamp (both in themes and style) is very apparent. And while the stories are definitely not the same (except lol incest) I do feel a connection between the two.

But anyways episode 12 was definitely a game changer for the series. What I like most about it is it brought us right back to the first episode with the same opening lines (just a different character repeating it) and a major event repeating itself.

It also had a wonderful story within a story to frame the series plot line (one of my favorite type of narrative devices). Although at this point the symbolism behind this story is still up in the air.






Mary had three adorable little lambs.
The sight of them walking in the pasture turned everyone’s heads.
The little lambs’ wool shone like angels’ wings.
Mary couldn’t wait to spin their wool into thread.
But one day,
Mary awoke to a surprise.
The apple tree in the garden had withered.
It was the first tree in the world.
The tree that bore golden fruit each year.
It was Mary’s other dear, dear treasure.
Mary ran to the apple tree and broke into tears.
The apple tree’s light had once been the source of world’s love, future and dreams.
Now, the world is shrouded in darkness.
Mary cried on and on and the lambs’ consolation fell on deaf ears.
Suddenly, a voice rained down from the sky.
Don’t give up.
The world has not ended yet.
When Mary looked up, there were two unsual, huge, black bunnies sitting on a rock.
The black bunnies said,
“You know the Shrine of the Goddess deep in the forest?
Go and collect ashes from the flaming torch inside.
This tree will recover the instant you sprinkle the ashes over it!”
Mary declined.
Their taboo forbade human contact with the torch of the Goddess.
“You’re just going to borrow some ashes!”
“The world will be filled with light once again!”
“The Goddess will be pleased, too!”
That night, Mary stole the ashes from the shrine and sprinkled them over the apple tree.
Just as the black bunnies claimed, the apple tree was revived.
Mary was overjoyed, dancing under the tree, blind to the three little lambs.
However, the Goddess was furious.
It was, after all, a taboo.
The Goddess decided to punish Mary.
But… the punishment was ultimately up to the Goddess’s whim.
“Eeney, meeny, miny, moe!”
The Goddess chose the smallest, youngest lamb.
The lamb she chose was a gentle and kind girl.
Who likes to cook and knit, and always worries about her good-for-nothing brothers.
She was but a little girl.
Himari…
The brother lambs who were left behind cried…
“O Goddess, why did you choose Himari?”
“Because punishment…”
“Because punishment has to be the most unjust.”

It seems to be a mixture of Mary Had a Little Lamb, The Story of Adam & Eve, and Promotheus/Greek Mythology in general all wrapped up in one (and probably a bunch of other things I am missing).

However besides this story probably the thing that most stood out to me in the episode is when Shouma, Kanba, & Himari's dad talked about his wife giving birth he only mentioned 1 son. Actually he didn't mention 1 son specifically but he didn't mention twins. Apparently the line is ambiguous and is confusing the Japanese fandom as well.

I think there are 3 possibilities

1) The second child (in this case it would be Shouma, since it is already established he is the younger twin) was a surprise and was born slightly after Kanba. It is possible without an ultrasound the mother did not know she was having twins. And twins are not necessarily born one right after the other. Although I am not sure how this would be significant to the story.

2) One of the twins is adopted and not related at all.

3) I have seen some people think that one of the twins is a clone. This might be a bit far fetched but it could be interesting if done well.

Personally I think if it is 2 or 3 it would have to be Shouma. Kanba has incestuous feelings for his sister, and well I can't see Ikuhara giving Kanba an easy way out like that. But if 2 or 3 is true I am wondering how this will affect Shouma. Shouma is actually the character I am most interested in because I feel he is the character we know the least about so far. And I just feel (especially based on his narration in the novels) there is more to his character than meets the eye.

Of course I am not sure how I feel about this because I like the idea of Kanba and Shouma being twins. Although they don't really look alike they do have the same green color eyes.

But anyways amazing episode, I just hope the series continues this way in the 2nd half. It's been awhile that I have been this obsessed with an anime series so I really hope it doesn't let me down. And I do mean obsessed, lately I watch the RAW Thursday night and then I wake up early to watch the subbed version, Friday morning. I don't think I can get through the day at work otherwise. XD

penguindrum

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