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Fate... Belonging... Love... these are all things Mawaru Penguindrum addresses, and it does so expertly, albeit in not the most easily digestible manner. Penguindrum is an incredibly deep and complex series. It makes heavy use of symbolism and metaphors that are not easily noticeable nor understood. If one makes an effort to try and understand it, Mawaru Penguindrum is an exceptionally impactful series. This effort to try and understand Mawaru Penguindrum will likely require more than one watch of the series-- and this is where Re:cycle of the Penguindrum comes into play. Before I begin the review proper, I wish to express that I DO ... NOT recommend this for first time viewers of the Mawaru Penguindrum series.

Re:cycle of the Penguindrum is an abridged version of the main series that features many of the same events with a few new scenes added. There are also a few new insert songs added that are totally worth listening to! This being said, many scenes are also absent that are necessary to fully enjoy what this series has to offer. With this in mind, I recommend Re:cycle of the Penguindrum to people who fall into one the following categories:

- Watched the original Mawaru Penguindrum but did not understand it, and want to try again without dedicating time to a full 24 episode series
- Have already watched Mawaru Penguindrum a long time ago and want a (comparatively) quick refresher of the series
- Loved the original series and want to see new scenes (mostly featuring a character by the name of Momoka) and/or listen to the new insert songs

Re:cycle of Penguindrum features the same marvelous yet perplexing story as the original that is very much worth experiencing; with the characters tying it all together. The art and sound direction are on par as well. Re:cycle of the Penguindrum is a useful tool for those who wish to understand this series better or need a refresher; and combined with online explanations, it will make it possible. But PLEASE, DO NOT use this as an introduction to Mawaru Penguindrum-- watch the original series instead.

This is the end of the review proper, but if you want to know why I feel this way about Re:cycle of the Penguindrum, please continue reading to see my personal experience.

I watched the original Mawaru Penguindrum in the Spring of 2021 and I thought it was boring, and did not understand what the series was trying to convey. I scored the original series a 6. It left a lasting impression on me, however, and remained on my mind. A couple years later, Re:cycle of the Penguindrum was announced, and during Fall of 2023 I had the chance to watch it. Re:cycle of the Penguindrum refreshed my mind on the series and completely reinvigorated my interest. After completing it, I promptly did extensive research into the symbolism and the inner workings of the series. A month after watching Re:cycle of the Penguindrum, I decided to re-watch the original Mawaru Penguindrum with my newfound knowledge and appreciation for the series. This re-watch was one of the most satisfying watches of my anime-watching career, and it earned Mawaru Penguindrum a hefty score promotion-- up to a 10. If you find yourself in the same boat, please give this series another chance. It will be worth it.

"I love the word "fate." I believe that I'm never alone."
Now... let's begin this rail of fate and all watch Penguindrum, shall we?

If specters, demons, ghosts, yokai, and any other manner of supernatural beings exist and are able to interact with humans; how would they interact with and affect human society? I think this is the question that Kyokou Suiri is getting at. The series does not attempt to answer this question in a grandiose kind of way with supernatural creatures attempting world domination. Instead it looks at it from a much less intense but nonetheless dramatic angle— covering such themes as supernatural romance, revenge, and murder.

Story:

While the first season focused a lot of time on the Steel Lady Nanase arc which many people did not ... enjoy, the second season follows several short individual stories, each taking up only a few episodes. This keeps the story feeling fresh with a new mystery to look forward to after each arc. In her typical fashion, Kotoko Iwanaga leads the viewer and indeed the other characters to believe one thing is happening while subtly dropping hints for when she makes the grand reveal of the truth at the end of the arc. This leads each arc to a close with a satisfying conclusion. Kyokou Suiri’s primary means of conveying the story is through conversation and flash backs of "what-if" scenarios. If you easily get bored of listening to characters talking in one room for an entire episode (albeit with a few of the aforementioned "what-if" scenarios thrown in) then this anime is not for you. That being said, if you enjoyed season one, then you will like season two.

Art & Sound:

I have no complaints nor anything to applaud regarding the art and sound. The opening is nice to listen to and fits the series well. The voice actors did a good job which is important in a series with so much talking. The art style and animation have no obvious flaws. It’s overall decent with nothing special or concerning to note.

Characters:

Our protagonist, Kotoko Iwanaga, is someone who takes her status as the goddess of wisdom seriously and will help the supernatural beings with their problems. However, she feels little obligation towards human society and mostly does what she wants regarding their affairs. She is smart with good reasoning skills. In addition, she can be very funny, especially when teasing her boyfriend, Kurou Sakuragawa.

Kurou mostly just follows Kotoko and goes along with her schemes. His unique abilities are an important part in many of Kotoko’s plans and they help her get to the truth of the mystery. His cousin, Rikka Sakuragawa, is also important to the story but spends most of her time running away from Kotoko and doing things behind the scenes.

Neither of these two really experience any character development through this season, but it doesn’t really take away from the series since it has a story driven by events, not the feelings of our protagonists.

Enjoyment:

I found Kyokou Suiri Season 2 to be a pleasant watch and better than the first season. Viewers that like mystery and supernatural elements will certainly find this series to be something worth their time but should be aware of the lack of a large, complex overarching storyline and the reliance on dialogue as a means of storytelling. One thing that makes this series enjoyable is the story does not get so complicated or contrived that it becomes hard to follow.

Overall:

Kyokou Suiri is an anime that only some people will be able to enjoy. If you do not fall into this grouping, then it is unlikely that you will enjoy this series. That being said, the second season does improve upon the series conventions established by season one and this makes it more enjoyable overall.