Overview
A whimsical adventure unfolds as a young boy uncovers the mystery of penguins in his village.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- witty
- dreamy
- family movie night
- weekend afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an inventive, visually accomplished, and emotionally affecting anime science-fantasy adventure with strong imaginative appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Aoyama-kun observes, records, and analyzes the penguin appearances with the habits of an elementary-school researcher.
A familiar village, school routines, and a dental clinic become connected to penguins and a powerful anomalous presence.
Aoyama’s investigation reflects both his ambition to understand the world and his developing feelings toward the enigmatic young woman.
The cheerful penguin spectacle and neighborhood adventure are set against hints of a much larger, potentially world-altering phenomenon.
Films like Penguin Highway, and why
Miraï
whimsical anime fantasy, child protagonist, mysterious supernatural ecology, and an emotionally resonant coming-of-age perspective
Wolf Children
Japanese animated coming-of-age story blending family warmth, imaginative fantasy, and a child’s curiosity about extraordinary phenomena
The Boy and the Beast
playful science-fantasy adventure centered on children confronting a mysterious force with wonder and growing emotional awareness
Summer Wars
surreal family animation, youthful protagonists, and a mysterious parallel logic that transforms ordinary surroundings
Movie Details
- Director
- Hiroyasu Ishida
- Release Date
- 2018-08-17
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (269)
Cast
- Kana Kita
- Rie Kugimiya
- Yu Aoi
- Miki Fukui
- Misaki Kuno
- Megumi Han
- Mamiko Noto
- Hidetoshi Nishijima
- Naoto Takenaka
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Penguin Highway about?
- A precocious schoolboy follows a trail of inexplicable penguins into a dazzling mystery about discovery, attachment, and the limits of understanding.
- What is Penguin Highway like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Penguin Highway as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Penguin Highway violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Penguin Highway.
- What did critics think of Penguin Highway?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an inventive, visually accomplished, and emotionally affecting anime science-fantasy adventure with strong imaginative appeal.
- Which films are like Penguin Highway?
- Films with a similar feel include Miraï, Wolf Children, The Boy and the Beast, and Summer Wars.
- How long is Penguin Highway?
- Penguin Highway runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Penguin Highway?
- In United States, Penguin Highway streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
