"Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1- Your Train Is the Survival Tactic" and "Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2-I Love You" are one movie delivered in two parts that was produced in 2022 based on the 2011 animated series "Mawaru-Penguindrum" and later 2013 manga. I watched both movies, back to back, on HiDive last night, representing 4 1/2 hours of viewing. As such, this is a single review covering both movies. Let me start off by saying that this is a spectacular but difficult watch for adults and is not intended for the immature viewer. Additionally, I was completely lost watching the first half of the first movie up until I did some background research on the story. One done, everything fell together. You will NOT be able to follow this story without fully understanding the historical and cultural background that it is based on. In the first movie, this is only alluded to.
Historical Context: This movie takes place following the Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks by the Aum Shinrikyo terrorist group that was perpetrated March 20, 1995. This is referred to as "the event" throughout the first movie. Those not from Japan will likely not remember (if old enough) or know about this horrible event as today's education system is not the best. To watch these films, you need to know the historical background or the story will be completely meaningless to you. I strongly suggest reading the articles "Penguindrum" and "Tokyo subway sarin attack" in Wikipedia before attempting a viewing.
Story: The story follows a group of children directly affected by the event's aftermath as being children of the terrorists or who were permanently injured or died by the attack. The primary element behind this part of the story deals with the matter of these children as having to pay for the sins of their parents. Many other character represent actual terrorist who were directly involved in the event as well as two boys who were sons of the terrorists, a school girl witness who observed the terrorists doing their ghastly deeds, a girl who believes that she can control or rewrite fate, a girl who was born on the same day her sister died in the attack, a girl who is dying slowly etc. These are NOT light sub-story elements. Do not watch if you have a weak mental constitution.
Delivery: Most of the story elements are delivered indirectly including a massive number of flashbacks to major components of the story. These are all delivered in a highly psychedelic and allegorical fashion. This will be a watching deterrent to those who are not critical thinkers. If you require a story to be laid out linearly and in a simple straight forward manner in order to follow and enjoy a film then this is not for you. The whole quest for the "Penguindrum" will only confuse you.
Animation: This is absolutely top-notch hand drawn anime that is stunning in its deliver, especially those scenes containing an allegorical approach. The symbolism is stunning!
Music: Appropriate to the subject matter and better than most anime offerings.
In short: This is a massive project delivered with superb consideration of the subject matter. All elements in these movies are at the top of the anime industry. It is unfortunate that these movies have been largely overlooked by foreign audiences due to the lack of context of the story's subject matter. I hope this reviews removes part of that barrier. This is a solid 8 out of 10.
