Peculiar Penguins: A surprisingly tense walk on the ice

Is it worth watching?

Honestly, you should watch Peculiar Penguins if you just want to see something short, sweet, and a little bit weird. It’s perfect for people who like vintage animation styles. If you’re looking for a deep, gritty drama or anything with actual words, you’re gonna have a bad time. Just don't expect it to change your life.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream from a different era. The way the penguins waddle around is oddly hypnotic. You find yourself staring at the background textures more than the actual plot. 🐧

There’s this moment when Polly gets chased by the shark, and it’s surprisingly intense for a cartoon about flightless birds. The music swells in that classic way that makes you feel like the world is ending. It reminded me a bit of the tension you find in The Sixth Sense, but, you know, with more blubber.

The Good, The Bad, and The Waddle

• The shark’s teeth look suspiciously like jagged kitchen knives.
• The underwater scenes have this weird, floaty quality that shouldn't work but totally does.
• Peter’s heroic rescue attempt is basically just him throwing caution to the wind.
• The silence between the music cues is actually kind of loud.

I noticed that the community of penguins acts like a Greek chorus half the time. They just stand there, watching the drama unfold with these blank, unbothered expressions. It’s kind of funny if you imagine them judging the whole shark situation.

The pacing is fast. Like, really fast. One minute they’re flirting, the next minute they’re in mortal danger. It doesn't give you much time to breathe, which is probably for the best. Sometimes animation just needs to be a little bit unhinged to stick with you.

I caught myself wondering how the artists even drew the water ripples back then. It’s so much detail for such a silly little premise. It makes me think of the effort put into Thanks for the Buggy Ride, where the craft just shines through the simplicity.

The whole thing is over before you know it. You’ll probably walk away thinking, "Wait, that was it?" but you’ll be smiling. It’s not a masterpiece, but it doesn't need to be. Sometimes a penguin saving his girlfriend from a shark is enough for a Tuesday afternoon.