# Penguin Musume (ペンギン娘)
**Penguin Musume** (ペンギン娘) is a Japanese comedy manga by [Tetsuya Takahashi](https://www.edgepedia.org/tetsuya-takahashi) (高橋てつや) about Sakura Nankyoku (南極さくら), a wealthy, anime-obsessed schoolgirl nicknamed "Penguin" who cosplays constantly and gains character abilities when she fully becomes a role. It was adapted as the web anime *Penguin Musume Heart* (ペンギン娘♥はぁと), the first original series distributed on Niconico's anime channel in 2008.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) • [2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original manga | *Penguin Musume*, serialized in Akita Shoten's *Weekly Shōnen Champion* (run ended); sequel *Penguin Musume MAX* serialized in *Champion RED*[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) |
| Manga run | 72 chapters collected in 3 volumes, 2006 to 2007[3](https://donotaku.com/manga/penguin-musume) |
| Origin | Began as the cover character of the doujinshi convention Sunshine Creation, then adopted for Toranoana merchandise before magazine serialization[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) |
| Anime | *Penguin Musume Heart*, 22 episodes of roughly 7 to 10 minutes, distributed free on the Niconico Anime Channel from April 19 to November 25, 2008[4](https://www.adkem.jp/works-en/penguin-girl-heart/) • [2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html) |
| Production | Animated by PictureMagic, directed by Matsui Hitoyuki; funded by the "Antarctic Trust" committee of Dwango, Japan Ad Systems, Good Smile Company, and Bunka Hoso[4](https://www.adkem.jp/works-en/penguin-girl-heart/) • [2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html) |
| Music | Opening theme composed by Satoru Kōsaki (MONAKA); ending theme lyrics by ARM (IOSYS)[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) |
| Main cast | Azusa Kataoka (Sakura), Mariya Ise (Kujira Etorofu), Yoshino Nanjō (Nene Kurio), Sakura Nogawa (Sha-Chi), Mai Kadowaki (Marie Chupacabra W. Whitebear), Rina Hidaka (Kaede)[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) |
## Spoilers
### Story and characters
The protagonist is Sakura Nankyoku, a 14-year-old heiress of the gigantic Antarctic Trust (南極財閥) conglomerate and student council president of the private Hokkyoku Academy. She is an extreme, naturally airheaded Akiba-type girl who cosplays daily, and when she fully becomes a character she activates that character's abilities. The story follows the uproar her daily school life causes.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/)
Around her are Kujira Etorofu (択捉鯨), Nene Kurio (栗尾ねね), Sha-Chi (シャー・チー), Marie Chupacabra W. Whitebear (マリー・チュバカブラ・W・ホワイトベア), and Sakura's younger sister Kaede (南極かえで).[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) Reviews of the anime describe Kujira as a martial artist raised as a boy by her dojo-owning father, initially hostile to Sakura's attentions before becoming her friend, and note that Sakura's butler Sebastian appears at her side.[5](https://www.animeclick.it/anime/1395/penguin-musume-heart/recensioni) • [3](https://donotaku.com/manga/penguin-musume)
## Origin as a doujinshi mascot
The character predates her magazine debut. *Penguin Musume* and *Penguin Musume MAX* began as the cover character of Sunshine Creation, a doujinshi convention, and were then adopted for goods sold at Toranoana before Takahashi began serializing the story in Akita Shoten's magazines.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) The main manga ran in *Weekly Shōnen Champion*, where its serialization ended, and the sequel *Penguin Musume MAX* ran in *Champion RED*.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) The collected manga totals 72 chapters in 3 volumes, published from 2006 to 2007.[3](https://donotaku.com/manga/penguin-musume)
Takahashi said at the anime's production announcement that he drew the series from the wish that such an energetic, cute girl existed, and described himself as an otaku drawing an otaku girl who leaves readers feeling cheerful.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) • [2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html)
## The anime adaptation
**A first for Niconico.** On March 17, 2008, Dwango and Niwango announced the Niconico Anime Channel, an anime-focused section of Niconico Douga opening on April 2, and held a production announcement for *Penguin Musume Heart* as the first title in the "Niconico Anime" lineup of original web animation. Episodes were distributed free to registered users, one per week at noon on Saturdays starting April 19, 2008, planned as 22 episodes of about 7 minutes each.[2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html) The series ran until November 25, 2008, with a listed per-episode length of 10 minutes including credits.[4](https://www.adkem.jp/works-en/penguin-girl-heart/) The final episode, "Crying Out Love at the Center of the World, Escape" (第22話「世界の中心で愛を叫んで、脱出」), was streamed a day early, on November 14 at 21:00.[6](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/23788.html) A rerun of all 22 episodes began on Niconico live streaming on December 19, 2008.[7](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20081216-a033/)
**Production and funding.** The anime was produced by PictureMagic and directed by Matsui Hitoyuki, who joined the announcement by video call from the studio editing the first episode, saying he aimed for a carefree, enjoyable anime.[4](https://www.adkem.jp/works-en/penguin-girl-heart/) • [1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) Funding came from a production committee named the Antarctic Trust, after the heroine's family conglomerate, whose members were Dwango, Japan Ad Systems (the animation production company of Asatsu-DK), Good Smile Company, and Bunka Hoso.[2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html) Dwango's Yukinari Nakazawa acknowledged that the revenue model was still being explored and that the first series depended on the committee, with DVD sales under consideration.[2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html)
**Music and cast.** The opening theme was composed by Satoru Kōsaki of MONAKA, known for the *Lucky Star* opening "Motteke! Sailor Fuku", and the ending theme's lyrics were by ARM of IOSYS.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/) The theme songs were sung by the main cast voice actresses themselves.[8](https://animeportifolio.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/penguin-musume-heart/) The cast featured Azusa Kataoka as Sakura, Mariya Ise as Kujira, Yoshino Nanjō as Nene, Sakura Nogawa as Sha-Chi, Mai Kadowaki as Marie, and Rina Hidaka as Kaede.[1](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/)
**Derivative works welcomed.** Dwango explicitly welcomed MAD videos and derivative creations using the anime's footage, saying outstanding works would be featured through Niconico's point system, while content violating public order or infringing copyright would follow the site's removal procedures.[2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html)
## Reception
The series is cataloged as a comedy, ecchi (mildly erotic, risqué anime/manga content), and slice-of-life work with a female protagonist and transformation elements.[9](https://donotaku.com/en/anime/penguin-musume-heart) Viewer reviews diverge sharply: some Italian-language reviewers on AnimeClick dropped the series early or rated it low, calling it idea-poor and reliant on ecchi content, while a reviewer who finished all 22 episodes rated it 8, praising its irreverent humor, careful artwork, and the psychology given to each character, and noting that the opening theme changed with each of the first eight episodes.[5](https://www.animeclick.it/anime/1395/penguin-musume-heart/recensioni) A retrospective review called it a nonsense comedy full of otaku-universe references whose strength lies in its comedy scenes and exotic characters rather than its plot.[8](https://animeportifolio.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/penguin-musume-heart/) A Japanese review site describes the series as ahead of its time.[10](https://reviewne.jp/contents/11305)
## Significance as web distribution
*Penguin Musume Heart* was the first work in Niconico's original anime lineup, followed by *[Candy Boy](https://www.edgepedia.org/candy-boy)* on May 2, 2008, and a third untitled title planned for that summer.[2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html) The channel's stated premise was a new way of watching anime: enjoying it while posting comments, with viewing available on Niconico Douga, its mobile version, and an external player.[2](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html)
## References
1. [ニコニコ動画と強力コラボアニメ『ぺんぎん娘 はぁと』製作発表会, Mynavi News (2008)](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080319-pengin/)
2. [ニコニコ動画がアニメコーナー開設。第1弾アニメは「ペンギン娘 はぁと」, Broadband Watch (2008)](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/21287.html)
3. [Penguin Girl (Manga), DonOtaku](https://donotaku.com/manga/penguin-musume)
4. [Penguin Girl Heart, WORKS Detail, ADK Emotions Inc.](https://www.adkem.jp/works-en/penguin-girl-heart/)
5. [Penguin Musume Heart, recensioni, AnimeClick](https://www.animeclick.it/anime/1395/penguin-musume-heart/recensioni)
6. [ニコニコ動画、アニメ「ペンギン娘 はぁと」最終回を先行配信, Broadband Watch (2008)](https://bb.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/23788.html)
7. [アニメ『ペンギン娘 はぁと』がニコニコ生放送で12/19より再放送決定!, Mynavi News (2008)](https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20081216-a033/)
8. [Penguin Musume Heart, Anime Portfolio (2010)](https://animeportifolio.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/penguin-musume-heart/)
9. [Penguin Musume♥Heart, DonOtaku](https://donotaku.com/en/anime/penguin-musume-heart)
10. [ペンギン娘はぁとのあらすじ/作品解説, Reviewne](https://reviewne.jp/contents/11305)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Anime and manga › Anime series, episodes, and franchises › OVAs, ONAs, and streaming-original anime*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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