“Penguin Highway” official synopsis from Yen Press: “One day, penguins start appearing in the suburban town that fourth-grader Aoyama calls home. Nobody knows where they came from or where they’re going, but one thing’s for sure—the lady at the dentist and her strange powers have something to do with it. With his research notebook in hand, Aoyama sets out to get to the bottom of this mystery… The acclaimed novel by Tomihiko Morimi—which inspired a beautiful animated film—is now available in manga form! Watch the adorable penguins come to life in this oversized omnibus edition!”
Extensive omnibus collections acting as companion pieces to an animated feature are nothing new, with the format carving a nice little niche within the genre for collectors. Of course, the major draw here is having a single release, and in the case of “Penguin Highway,” the omnibus consists of three previously released volumes. Does the work’s appeal go beyond a reminder of the anime? Not necessarily, and “Penguin Highway” defines serviceable anime to manga adaptation, but for many, that will be just what they want.
Check out our Review of the Anime
For those unfamiliar with “Penguin Highway,” or those who always favor manga over anime, the story is a mix of fantasy and coming-of-age, overly familiar fodder to fans of both mediums. Yet, both works exist as finely tailored dramas meant to pull at the heartstrings and touch on childlike flights of fancy turned real.
The story is centered around a group of youths, primarily focusing on fourth-grader Aoyama. Aoyama acts as a sounding board for the fantasy elements as much as navigating growing up and a budding deeper understanding of the workings of the world around him, including the sudden admiration of boobs (a subject that comes up often). Throw in some cute penguins and otherworldly events that act as a metaphor for more significant global issues, and the story can be generally defined as wholesome and idealistic, with enough conflict to make it an engaging piece of fiction.
With a solid story that delivers, the artistic direction becomes the defining factor of success. Thankfully, Keito Yano‘s attention to detail and push to duplicate critical scenes from the anime are well executed. The characters are wonderfully expressive, the penguins adorable, and the light horror elements that come with the monsters known as the ‘Jabberwocks’ are wonderfully executed and perfectly menacing. There is nothing negative to glean from the adaptation’s approach beyond the fact that it offers the same as the anime and may not be as defined on its own.

To Yen Press’s credit, the manga release received much attention in its presentation. Notably, using color pages throughout was an appreciated yet unnecessary inclusion for those already set on grabbing the collection because of its source. The slightly larger format allows readers to appreciate the art of Keito Yano more, and the book is solidly bound and feels durable (a common concern with bulky releases). Approaching the manga as a complementary piece to the anime, the release was made with obvious consideration for the fans.
On its own, “Penguin Highway” is still a serviceable series packed into a single volume, but the appeal will rest with existing fans more than bringing new ones into the fold. The work feels slightly formulaic, but this is not to its detriment; instead, it shows how honed Keito Yano was to touch the same aesthetic and emotions of the anime. There are better works in the coming-of-age fantasy manga genre, but those who want another reason to celebrate “Penguin Highway” will be content with the omnibus manga release.