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Polar Bear Café
Cover of the first Blu-ray featuring Polar Bear, Panda, and Penguin
しろくまカフェ
(Shirokuma Cafe)
GenreSlice of life, slapstick
Manga
Polar Bear Café
Written byAloha Higa
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
ImprintFlower Comic Special
MagazineFlowers
Original run2006 – 2013
Volumes5
Anime television series
Directed byMitsuyuki Masuhara
Produced byMakoto Shiraishi
Shōji Matsui
Asakazu Iizumi
Written byTōru Hosokawa
Music byKenji Kondō
StudioStudio Pierrot
Original networkTXN (TV Tokyo)
Original run April 5, 2012 – March 28, 2013
Episodes50 (List of episodes)
Manga
Polar Bear Café: Today's Special
Written byAloha Higa
Published byShueisha
MagazineCocohana
Original run2014 – present

Polar Bear Café (Japanese: しろくまカフェ, Hepburn: Shirokuma Cafe) is a Japanese manga series by Aloha Higa. The series serialized in Shogakukan's Josei magazine Monthly Flowers. It revolves around the everyday lives of a group of animals mingling with humans at a café run by a polar bear. An anime adaptation by Studio Pierrot aired in Japan between April 2012 and March 2013, and was simulcast globally on Crunchyroll.[1][2]

Characters

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Polar Bear (シロクマ, Shirokuma)
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai
A polar bear who runs Polar Bear's Café, which serves organic foods and drinks and is popular with both humans and animals. He has a habit of making bad puns with his customers and friends, just for the amusement of hearing their retorts. He was born in Hudson Bay, Canada.
Panda (パンダ, Panda)
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama
A lazy, somewhat dimwitted, and kind-hearted giant panda who works part-time at a zoo. He enjoys lazing around and eating bamboo and only orders iced coffee at the café until Polar Bear adds bamboo to the menu only for his sake. He is obsessed with all panda products and has a tendency to point out his popularity at the zoo and his own cuteness.
Penguin (ペンギン, Pengin)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya
An emperor penguin (コウテイペンギン, Kōtei Pengin; also his legal name) and a frequent customer of the café and friend of Polar Bear who generally orders a cafe mocha. He generally serves as the tsukkomi to the antics of Polar Bear and Panda. He has a crush on another penguin named Penko, and eventually upon learning that Penko has six identical sisters, he ends up dating them all. However, Penguin's inability to get their names right sets off a chain of events that lead to them dumping him.
Grizzly (グリズリー, Gurizurī)
Voiced by: Yūichi Nakamura
A grizzly bear who is a childhood friend of Polar Bear. He runs a bar in the middle of town called "Bar the Grizzly" and has a rather fierce personality, though occasionally shows a soft side. He also usually serves as the tsukkomi to the antics of Polar Bear and Panda just like Penguin, a feature that curiously brought them to the point of becoming good friends. He hibernates during the winter but is constantly being woken up from his slumber by Polar Bear.
Panda-Mama (パンダママ)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Panda and Mei Mei's mother who usually reprimands her son when he gets too lazy by threatening to suck him into her vacuum cleaner.
Sasako (笹子)
Voiced by: Aya Endo
A young human woman who works at the Polar Bear's Cafe. She used to live in the same town as Llama and her hobby is to take rides on her bicycle. Although not fond of scary stories, she's great at telling them, even making Mr. Handa faint of hearing it.
Handa (半田)
Voiced by: Wataru Hatano
The panda caretaker at the zoo Panda works at. Although he is quite popular with the animals at the zoo, he doesn't have as much luck getting the attention of women. He has a crush on Sasako. Also, he's really good at being scared, according to Penguin.
Llama (ラマ, Rama)
Voiced by: Daisuke Ono
A llama who likes grass and dreams of becoming a popular animal at the zoo just like Panda. He is often noted for his maturity.
Sloth (ナマケモノ, Namakemono)
Voiced by: Kishō Taniyama
A three-toed sloth who lives in the café's outskirts. True to his character, he has a very slow pace and speech.
Full Time Panda (常勤パンダ, Jōkin Panda)
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi
An older giant panda who, until episode 44, worked full time at the zoo alongside Panda, not including his part-time job as a tissue-pack distributor. He is married and father of five, working hard to make ends meet for his family. He has since been transferred to a zoo in Singapore.
Penko (ペン子)
Voiced by: Sayuri Yahagi
A female penguin who works at a bakery near the Polar Bear's Cafe and Penguin's love interest. However, when Penguin finally confesses, it turns out that Penko is only one among seven identical sisters taking shifts at the bakery. Aside Penko, the other six are called Penmi (ペン美), Penna (ペン奈), Penka (ペン花), Penuelle (ペンニュエル, Pennyueru), Penno (ペン乃), and Penjolina (ペンジョリーナ, Penjorīna). Somehow Penguin started dating all seven at once, although he has a hard time dealing with them as he is unable to differentiate each one from the others, but when the girls make an ultimatum for Penguin to choose one among them, they realize that none of his traits are particularly interesting and dump him.
Tortoise (ゾウガメ, Zōgame)
Voiced by: Takayuki Kondo
A Galapagos tortoise who is a regular at the cafe. Has a very slow speech and pace.
Mei Mei (メイメイ)
Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa
Panda's little sister with a crush on Handa, whom she deems as handsome as a prince due to his short and chubby panda-like figure. She doesn't prefer Mr. Rintarou, despite his love for pandas, because she claims he is too skinny for her type.
Lesser Panda (レッサーパンダ, Ressā Panda)
Voiced by: Akiko Yajima
A red panda who usually looks up to Panda despite being far more capable and reliable than him.
Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo (アデリーペンギン、アゴヒモペンギン、ジェンツーペンギン, Aderī Pengin, Agohimo Pengin, Jentsū Pengin)
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi, Tomokazu Sugita, and Daisuke Hirakawa respectively
Three penguins each representing a member of the genus Pygoscelis who come with a plan to have people learn the differences between the different species of penguins by developing a deck of penguin-related cards. The cards do not sell very well, but the penguins find more success with South Pole Squad: Penguinger, an action play at the zoo.
Mandrill (マンドリル, Mandoriru)
Voiced by: Yosuke Ito
A mandrill who works at the zoo and visits the café.
Anteater (コアリクイ, Koarikui)
Voiced by: Yuuki Fujiwara
A tamandua who works at the zoo and occasionally visits the café.
Badger (アナグマ, Anaguma)
Voiced by: Kōki Miyata
A japanese badger that applies for the part time job at Polar Bear's Café but was rejected. In the anime he complains of his living arrangements, as he cannot burrow in his wooden floored apartment.
Tree Kangaroo (キノボリカンガルー, Kinobori Kangarū)
Voiced by: Toshio Furukawa
A tree-kangaroo, coffee specialist, and owner of Tree-Climbing Coffee (キノボリコーヒー, Kinobori Kōhī) who provides coffee beans to Polar Bear's Café.
The Red Squirrels (エゾリスたち, Ezorisu-tachi)
Voiced by: Kōki Miyata (Mama), Hiro Nakajima, Aki Nakajima
A group of red squirrels who work at Tree-Climbing Coffee by selecting the coffee beans Tree Kangaroo roasts. The leader is the mother of the others, and is referred to as Red Squirrel Mama (エゾリスママ, Ezorisu Mama; alternatively Ezorisu-Haha (エゾリス母), Ezorisu Kaa-chan (エゾリス母ちゃん), and Ezorisu-Okan (エゾリスおかん)).
Wolf (オオカミ, Ōkami), Tiger (トラ, Tora), and Lion (ライオン, Raion)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita, Kishō Taniyama, and Kazuhiko Inoue respectively
Three tenants of Grizzly's Bar who are huge fans of Polar Bear from the time he was a rapper known as "MC 469MA" ("469MA" is read as "Shirokuma").
Black Caiman (クロカイマン, Kuro Kaiman)
Voiced by: Kishō Taniyama
A black caiman who is a regular customer at Grizzly's Bar The Grizzly. When he first sees Panda, he calls him delicious before being spurned by Grizzly.
King Penguin (キングペンギン, Kingu Pengin)
Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama
A king penguin who gets really upset when it is confused with Emperor Penguins, like Penguin, and a good friend of Panda-Mama. King Penguin's gender is left ambiguous (voice actor Hiyama is a man), but it uses the feminine personal pronoun atashi (あたし) to refer to itself, a trait shared with Panda Mama and Red Squirrel Mama.
Emperor Chick (コウテイ ヒナ, Kōtei Hina)
Voiced by: Ai Nonaka
An emperor penguin chick who is Penguin's nephew. He often plays train with King Chick.
King Chick (キング ヒナ, Kingu Hina)
Voiced by: Junko Takeuchi
A king penguin chick who is King Penguin's son. The fact that king penguin chicks do not look as cute as emperor penguin chicks is a running gag.
Grizzly's Mother (グリズリーの母, Gurizurī no Haha)
Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue
Grizzly's mother. When remembering her, Grizzly says that she was very scary when she was angry.
Crested Serpent Eagle (カンムリワシ, Kanmuriwashi)
Voiced by: Akio Suyama
Sea Otter (ラッコ, Rakko)
Voiced by: Kōki Miyata
A popular animal working at the zoo who while at the cafe complains that smashing shells on rocks is hard work.
Tapir (バク, Baku)
Voiced by: Yosuke Ito
Another worker at the zoo whom everyone believes eats dreams because of the Baku myth.
Rintaro Hayashi (林 厘太郎, Hayashi Rintarō)
Voiced by: Tokuyoshi Kawashima
A flower shop owner who is nicknamed Rin-Rin (リンリン) and is incredibly fond of Panda (and pandas in general). Although he is considered attractive by many female customers, Panda seems to not be interested in him. His intense love for pandas annoyed one school girl once.
Kirino (桐野)
Voiced by: Takayuki Kondo
One of the workers at the zoo Panda works at. He works under Handa.
Masaki (マサキ)
Voiced by: Hiro Shimono
A visitor of the café who becomes so moved by the taste of its black coffee that he decides to study under a tree kangaroo to learn how to roast coffee beans.

Media

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Manga

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The original manga by Aloha Higa began serialisation in Shogakukan's Josei manga magazine Flowers from 2006 to 2013. Five tankōbon volumes have been released. The manga went on hiatus between May and July 2012,[3] citing lack of communication concerning the anime adaptation.[4]

The manga returned from hiatus in the September 2012 issue of Flowers, following Higa managing to talk with the anime production on her intellectual property.[5] The manga was retitled Shirokuma Cafe Today's Special and moved to Shueisha's Josei manga magazine Cocohana in September 2014.[6][7] The manga is licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.[8]

Anime

[edit]

An anime adaptation by Studio Pierrot aired in Japan on TV Tokyo between April 5, 2012, and March 28, 2013, and was simulcast by Crunchyroll.

The opening themes are "Boku ni Invitation (ボクにインビテーション, Boku ni Inbitēshon; Invitation to Me) by JP (episodes 1-26), "Rough & Laugh" by Clammbon (episodes 27–38), and "You & Me" by Rie fu and Saki (Episode 39 onwards).[citation needed] The ending themes in order are "Bamboo Scramble" by Jun Fukuyama (episodes 1–5), "Grizzly-san no G-Rock" (グリズリーさんのG☆ROCK; "Mr Grizzly's G-Rock") by Yuichi Nakamura, "Mizuiro" (みずいろ; Light Blue) by Aya Endō, "Zootto, ne♪" (ZOOっと、ね♪; "Always With Zoo") by Katsuyuki Konishi, "Michinoku Shiku Blues" (みちのく飼育ブルース, Michinoku Shiku Burūsu; Michinoku Raising Blues) by Wataru Hatano, "Zokkon! Penko-san" (ぞっこん！ペン子さん) by Hiroshi Kamiya, "Kimama ni Panda-Mama" (気ままにパンダママ; "The Indulgent Panda-Mama") by Toshiyuki Morikawa, "Llama-san no Llama Mambo" (ラマさんのラママンボ, Rama-san no Rama Manbo; "Mr. Llama's Llama Mambo") by Daisuke Ono, "Largo" (ラルゴ, Rarugo) by Kishō Taniyama, "Bamboo Rendezvous" (バンブー・ランデヴー♥, Banbū Randebū) by Kana Hanazawa, "Pandaholic!!" by Tokuyoshi Kawashima, and "My Dear" by Takahiro Sakurai.[citation needed]

Episode list

[edit]
# Title Original airdate
1"Welcome to the Polar Bear Café"
Transliteration: "Shirokuma Kafe e Yōkoso" (Japanese: しろくまカフェへようこそ)		April 5, 2012 (2012-04-05)
"Panda-kun's Employment"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Shūshoku" (Japanese: パンダくんの就職)
Pushed by his mother to stop lazing around the house, a Panda searches for a part-time job but has troubling finding one to accommodate his laziness. He soon stumbles upon Polar Bear Café, run by a Polar Bear who is holding interviews for a part-time position with his faithful customer Penguin. Panda applies for the job but fails the interview, with the job instead going to a human girl named Sasako. However, the others soon point Panda towards a part-time job at a nearby zoo.
2"Everyone's Café"
Transliteration: "Minna no Kafe" (Japanese: みんなのカフェ)		April 12, 2012 (2012-04-12)
"The Café's Flower-viewing Party"
Transliteration: "Kafe no Ohanami" (Japanese: カフェのお花見)
Panda, Penguin and Llama come up with ideas for if they ran their own café. Later, everyone goes to a flower viewing party where Penguin gets very drunk and goes on about a penguin he likes.
3"Polar Bear at the Zoo"
Transliteration: "Shirokuma-kun Dōbutsuen e" (Japanese: シロクマくん動物園へ)		April 19, 2012 (2012-04-19)
"Panda's Problems"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Nayami" (Japanese: パンダくんの悩み)
Polar Bear and Penguin come to the zoo Panda works at, where they have trouble catching Panda when he's awake and visiting the other attractions. Later, Panda and the other animals discuss the problems they face doing their jobs.
4"Obsessed with Smartphones"
Transliteration: "Sumafo ni Muchū" (Japanese: スマフォに夢中)		April 26, 2012 (2012-04-26)
"Super Fun Drive Lesson"
Transliteration: "Wakuwaku Doraibu Ressun" (Japanese: わくわくドライブレッスン)
After seeing everyone with smartphones, Panda convinces his mother to buy him one, only for him to soon break the panda cover it had. Polar Bear cheers Panda up by making him an origami panda cover, only for him to end breaking the actual phone. Wanting to learn some driving techniques, Penguin joins Polar Bear and Panda on a drive.
5"Panda gets Enthusiastic"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun Harikiru" (Japanese: パンダくん張り切る)		May 3, 2012 (2012-05-03)
"Everyone's Parfait"
Transliteration: "Minna no Pafe" (Japanese: みんなのパフェ)
As Panda has to fill in for the full-time panda for a week, he is forced to ride packed trains for work. He cheers up and becomes more energetic when he starts receiving flowers from a supposed fan named Rin-Rin, only to later learn it was the male flower shop owner, Rintaro Hayashi. Later, Polar Bear decides to do a parfait fair and tries to come up with some special parfaits to serve.
6"Panda's Diet"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Daietto" (Japanese: パンダくんのダイエット)		May 10, 2012 (2012-05-10)
"Strive for it! Wild Panda"
Transliteration: "Mezase! Wairudo Panda" (Japanese: 目指せ！ワイルドパンダ)
Following an incident at work, Panda feels he is overweight and decides to go on a diet. Later, Panda decides he needs to get in touch with his wild side, so Polar Bear takes him to meet his childhood friend, Grizzly, who runs a bar.
7"Mr. Handa's Makeover Plan"
Transliteration: "Handa-san Kaizō Keikaku" (Japanese: 半田さん改造計画)		May 17, 2012 (2012-05-17)
"The Great Love Love Driving Operation"
Transliteration: "Rabu Rabu Doraibu Daisakusen" (Japanese: ラブラブドライブ大作戦)
Feeling he could do with being more popular, Panda decides to give Handa a makeover, although it ends up turning into a day out with Handa paying for everything. Having received his driving license, Penguin is tested by Polar Bear to try to achieve his 'dating license'.
8"A Magazine Interview Comes By"
Transliteration: "Zasshi Shuzai ga Yattekita" (Japanese: 雑誌取材がやってきた)		May 24, 2012 (2012-05-24)
"Salmon Hunter: Mr. Grizzly"
Transliteration: "Sake Hantā: Gurizurī-san" (Japanese: サケハンター・グリズリーさん)
Polar Bear is interviewed about his café by a magazine headed up by the editor who is a Shoebill. Later, Panda joins Polar Bear and Grizzly to catch some ingredients.
9"Rin Rin Deeply Moved! Panda's House!"
Transliteration: "Rin Rin Kangeki! Panda-kun Chi!" (Japanese: リンリン感激！パンダくんち！)		May 31, 2012 (2012-05-31)
"Mr. Penguin's Confession"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Kokuhaku" (Japanese: ペンギンさんの告白)
Rintaro gets excited when he gets to make a delivery to Panda's house and meet his family. Later, the others try to support Penguin as he tries to work up the courage to confess to Penko.
10"Mr. Handa's Mixer?"
Transliteration: "Handa-san no Gōkon?" (Japanese: 半田さんの合コン？)		June 7, 2012 (2012-06-07)
"Mr. Handa's Mixer!"
Transliteration: "Handa-san no Gōkon!" (Japanese: 半田さんの合コン！)
Thanks to Panda's interference, Handa is set up by his fellow employee, Kirino, to go on a mixer to meet some girls. When one of the guys cancels, Panda and Polar Bear fill in for the guy's side. However, the girls become more interested in Panda than they are in Handa.
11"Mr. Penguin's Heartbreak"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Shitsuren" (Japanese: ペンギンさんの失恋)		June 14, 2012 (2012-06-14)
"Panda's Night Out"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Yoasobi" (Japanese: パンダくんの夜遊び)
Penguin gets heartbroken when he assumes Penko is dating Tortoise. Later, Panda joins Polar Bear and Grizzly on a night out, visiting a batting center and a public bath.
12"Panda, Tired of Boredom"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun, Hima ni Komaru" (Japanese: パンダくん、ヒマに困る)		June 21, 2012 (2012-06-21)
"Panda's Advice Room for Troubles"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Nayami Sōdanshitsu" (Japanese: パンダの悩み相談室)
Panda and the Full-time Panda attempt to distract themselves during a boring and rainy day at the zoo, much to Handa's chagrin. Later, Handa asks his love life once again but finds some peace during his first visit to Polar Bear Café.
13"Tanabata Decoration"
Transliteration: "Tanabata Kazari" (Japanese: 七夕飾り)		June 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)
"Panda's Wish"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Negai" (Japanese: パンダくんの願い)
As the café prepares for Tanabata, everyone has trouble deciding what they should wish for. Noticing Handa seems to have a crush on Sasako, Panda tries to help him work up his confidence.
14"Enthusiastic Polar Bear"
Transliteration: "Shirokuma-kun Harikiru" (Japanese: シロクマくん張り切る)		July 5, 2012 (2012-07-05)
"Let's Go to the Beach!"
Transliteration: "Umi ni Ikō!" (Japanese: 海に行こう！)
As Panda laments having nothing to do whilst Polar Bear wishes he had more free time, Polar Bear takes Panda's place at the zoo pretending to be a panda, proving to be a hit. Later, Polar Bear, Panda and Penguin take a trip to the beach.
15"Weeding in the Summer"
Transliteration: "Manatsu no Zassōtori" (Japanese: 真夏の雑草取り)		July 12, 2012 (2012-07-12)
"Mr. Penguin's Romance"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Romansu" (Japanese: ペンギンさんのロマンス)
The backyard of the Polar Bear's Café needs weeding, but Penguin seems to be the only one taking things seriously. Later, Penguin finally works up the courage to confess to Penko, asking her out every day for a week. However, it turns out he inadvertently asked out seven identical girl penguins, leading to disaster when they all show up on the day.
16"Mr. Grizzly Goes On an Adventure"
Transliteration: "Gurizurī-san Tabidatsu" (Japanese: グリズリーさん旅立つ)		July 19, 2012 (2012-07-19)
"A Strange Restaurant"
Transliteration: "Mishiranu Omise" (Japanese: 見知らぬお店)
As the café starts serving a shaved ice dessert called "Polar Bear", Grizzly gets the wrong idea and believes Polar Bear had been eaten by otters. Later, a salaryman from another town arrives at Polar Bear Café for the first time and is astounded by the various customers.
17"Let's Go Camping!"
Transliteration: "Kyanpu ni Ikō!" (Japanese: キャンプに行こう！)		July 26, 2012 (2012-07-26)
"Rin Rin and the High School Girl"
Transliteration: "Joshikōsei to Rin Rin" (Japanese: 女子高生とリンリン)
Polar Bear, Panda, Penguin, and Grizzly go on a camping trip together, where Penguin and Grizzly find they have a lot in common whilst trying to keep Polar Bear and Panda in check. Later, Rin Rin asks a high school girl to accompany him to the zoo; the girl accepts, believing it to be a date, only to find that he just wanted someone to talk to about how cute Panda is.
18"The Café's Ghost Stories"
Transliteration: "Kafe no Kaidan" (Japanese: カフェの怪談)		August 2, 2012 (2012-08-02)
"Panda Runs Away From Home"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Iede" (Japanese: パンダくんの家出)
The café decides to hold a night of telling ghost stories, much to an easily-frighted Handa's dismay. Later, Panda decides to run away from home when his mother decides to lump his birthday celebration with his siblings.
19"There Are Many Kinds of Penguin"
Transliteration: "Pengin ni mo Iroiro Aru yo" (Japanese: ペンギンにも色々あるよ)		August 9, 2012 (2012-08-09)
"What is "Baisen"!?"
Transliteration: "Baisen-tte Nanda!?" (Japanese: バイセンってナンダ！？)
Polar Bear, Panda, and Penguin go to a water park. Penguin takes along his nephew, but ends up being cowed by Mama King Penguin, while her son and Penguin's nephew become fast friends. The Penko sisters have also tailed Penguin there, while Panda is on the receiving end of King Penguin Mama's grousing about how emperor penguins (like Penguin) are considered superior — and a trio of Pygoscelis penguins out to sell penguin cards. On the other hand, Sasako rode the train too far and arrives late at the water park. After becoming amazed by the taste of Polar Bear's Café's brand of black coffee, a man named Masaki decides to become the pupil of a tree kangaroo to learn how to roast coffee beans.
20"The Ideal Single Life"
Transliteration: "Akogare no Hitorigurashi" (Japanese: 憧れの一人暮らし)		August 16, 2012 (2012-08-16)
"Summer Festival"
Transliteration: "Natsu no Omatsuri" (Japanese: 夏のお祭り)
Panda imagines a dream life living on his own. After struggling to find a place that meets his expectations, Panda, along with Penguin, check out where the other animals live. Later, Polar Bear and Grizzly run a stand together at a summer festival, joined by Panda's relative, Lesser Panda. After selling everything, the gang enjoy the sights of the festival.
21"Panda is No Longer a Panda"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun Panda Janakunaru" (Japanese: パンダくんパンダじゃなくなる)		August 23, 2012 (2012-08-23)
"MeiMei's Prince"
Transliteration: "MeiMei no Ōji-sama" (Japanese: メイメイの王子様)
Panda is reassigned to one part of the zoo after another — even serving as a zookeeper. Later, Panda's sister Mei Mei goes on about her crush on Mr. Handa. However, after seeing Handa and Ms Badger at a realty office, Panda believes that the two are getting married.
22"Sales Penguin"
Transliteration: "Eigyō Pengin" (Japanese: 営業ペンギン)		August 30, 2012 (2012-08-30)
"Mr. Penguin's Picnic"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Pikunikku" (Japanese: ペンギンさんのピクニック)
The trio of Pygoscelis penguins from the water park try to figure out how to sell their excess of penguin cards, eventually settling on creating a concentration game with them, which becomes a hit. Meanwhile, Penguin ends up having to date all the Penko sisters equally, but still has trouble telling them apart. Sasako suggests he give the sisters differently coloured ribbons to better identify them, but it backfires when they decide to trade them with each other.
23"Mr. Handa's Discussion"
Transliteration: "Handa-san no Sōdan" (Japanese: 半田さんの相談)		September 6, 2012 (2012-09-06)
"Panda Mama's Daily Life"
Transliteration: "Panda Mama no Nichijō" (Japanese: パンダママの日常)
Mr. Handa meets up with Polar Bear to ask his advice on how to ask Sasako out, but Polar Bear seems to be more interested in the food where the meeting takes place. Meanwhile, Sasako winds up serving several good-looking men who come into the café, which worries Panda and Penguin. Later, Panda Mama goes to buy walnuts and learns the trick of stuffing the bag full from Mama Red Squirrel, and then endures a lecture from King Penguin Mama on how to eat at an all-you-can-eat cake buffet. The group then decides to eat at Polar Bear Café, where they end up taxing his sanity.
24"Panda's Apprenticeship"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Deshiiri" (Japanese: パンダくんの弟子入り)		September 13, 2012 (2012-09-13)
"A Sports Day Filled With Animals"
Transliteration: "Dōbutsu Darake no Undōkai" (Japanese: 動物だらけの運動会)
Panda decides he wants to become someone's apprentice but is rather picky about who his master is. He eventually settles on becoming Sloth's apprentice, but quits due to not being able match his levels of laziness. Later, Polar Bear abruptly tasks Sasako with being the emcee of a sport competition for animals (in which Handa is the only human participant), while Panda Mama and Mama Red Squirrel quarrel over how to prepare rice balls.
25"Mr. Penguin's Hobbies"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Shumi" (Japanese: ペンギンさんの趣味)		September 20, 2012 (2012-09-20)
"Their Boyhood Days"
Transliteration: "Futari no Shōnen Jidai" (Japanese: 二人の少年時代)
Penguin puts on an art exhibition, although none of the paintings are original and go unappreciated by the customers. After Polar Bear and Panda see the exhibit, Penguin gets involved in a discussion of what hobbies they have. Later, as Polar Bear gets Grizzly to help out with a few things, he tells about how they first met.
26"The New Panda"
Transliteration: "Atarashī Panda" (Japanese: 新しいパンダ)		September 27, 2012 (2012-09-27)
"Reunion at Grizzly Bar"
Transliteration: "Gurizurī Bā no Dōsōkai" (Japanese: グリズリーバーの同窓会)
As Full Time Panda takes on a side job, he starts to worry when he learns a temp Panda will be coming to the zoo, feeling he might be replaced. As Temp Panda arrives and acts rather sternly towards the other pandas, a ballot is held as to whom should be the central panda. Full Time Panda comes in last, though Temp Panda moves onto another site regardless. Meanwhile at Grizzly Bar, a Tiger, Wolf and Lion have a little reunion. As they lament how they've lost their youth, Polar Bear, who used to be a rap artist (469MA), gives them a surprise performance as a present.
27"Animal Field Baseball"
Transliteration: "Animaru Kusa Yakyū" (Japanese: アニマル草野球)		October 4, 2012 (2012-10-04)
"What's Jacu Coffee!?"
Transliteration: "Jakū Kōhītte Nanda!?" (Japanese: ジャクーコーヒーってナンダ！？)
The zoo animals from the Polar Bear's Cafe and the wild animals from Grizzly's bar face off against each other in a baseball match. At the beginning, the zoo team starts to struggle due to some of the animals getting easily distracted. However, Polar Bear manages to win the match by having all the Red Squirrels bat, guaranteeing ball runs. During the interval, the Red Squirrels teach Masaki about how coffee changes taste depending on how much it has been roasted, and he learns from Tree Kangaroo the unpleasant secret behind his favourite coffee, the "Jacu Coffee".
28"Panda's Apology"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Owabi" (Japanese: パンダくんのおわび)		October 11, 2012 (2012-10-11)
"RinRin is Invited"
Transliteration: "RinRin, Manekareru" (Japanese: リンリン、招かれる)
Polar Bear attempts to fill in for Panda but is questioned by the police. As expiation, Panda decides to give Polar Bear a day-off by working at the café in his place, but it is not as easy as he thinks. Meanwhile, Rin Rin is invited out drinking by Full Time Panda, who is curious as to why he considers Panda to be cute but not him.
29"Panda's New Part Time Job"
Transliteration: "Panda-kun no Atarashii Baito" (Japanese: パンダくんの新しいバイト)		October 18, 2012 (2012-10-18)
"Mr. Penguin Goes Flying"
Transliteration: "Soratobu Pengin-san" (Japanese: 空飛ぶペンギンさん)
Panda goes through various part-time jobs, including a car dealership, a stock marketer and a lecturer, where he somehow manages to make the respective companies successful and even become a CEO. Later, Penguin has aspirations of flight so the others try various attempts to get him airborne.
30"Halloween"
Transliteration: "Harowīn" (Japanese: ハロウィーン)		October 25, 2012 (2012-10-25)
"Llama Day"
Transliteration: "Rama Dē" (Japanese: ラマデー)
Polar Bear, Panda, and Penguin go trick-or-treat on Halloween, getting some curious treats from the homes they visit. Tired of being passed over all the time, Llama suggests the zoo should celebrate a Llama Day. However, the animals struggle with coming up with ideas to make Llama more appealing.
31"Mr Penguin's Dilemma"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Shuraba" (Japanese: ペンギンさんの修羅場)		November 1, 2012 (2012-11-01)
"Porcupine the Idol"
Transliteration: "Aidoru Yama Arashi" (Japanese: アイドル・ヤマアラシ)
As Penguin is put under the pressure to choose one of the Penko sisters, Llama helps him to differentiate between them, but this soon backfires. When the pressure builds, Panda questions the Penko sisters on why they like Penguin, leading them to realise they don't like Penguin after all. Later, Panda Mama goes with King Penguin Mama to a concert by porcupine pop group Yama Arashi, which is based on the Japanese pop star group Arashi.
32"The Café Garden"
Transliteration: "Kafe no Niwa" (Japanese: カフェの庭)		November 8, 2012 (2012-11-08)
"Sales Penguin's Sales"
Transliteration: "Eigyō Pengin no Eigyō" (Japanese: 営業ペンギンの営業)
Polar Bear takes the others to see the café's garden where all the ingredients are grown. Meanwhile, the sales penguins attempt to pitch their penguin trading card game to Handa so they can sell it in the zoo's shop, even suggesting they host a penguin-themed hero show to attract customers.
33"Panda Corner's Contest"
Transliteration: "Panda Kōnā no Kontesuto" (Japanese: パンダコーナーのコンテスト)		November 15, 2012 (2012-11-15)
"Coffee Roaster Masaki"
Transliteration: "Baisenshi Masaki" (Japanese: 焙煎士マサキ)
"Panda Corner's Project"
Transliteration: "Panda Kōnā no Kikaku" (Japanese: パンダコーナーの企画)
Panda becomes depressed as the penguin hero show appears to take customers away from the panda corner. Rin-Rin suggests to Panda that the zoo put on a photo contest to attract more customers. Meanwhile, Masaki has a go at roasting coffee, learning the meaning behind hand picking coffee beans. Despite some initial interest in the photo contest, the panda corner is still overshadowed by the penguin show, which Penguin also participates in. Thus Polar Bear suggests the Panda family put on their own performance, which proves to be a big hit.
34"Wolf's Occupation Change"
Transliteration: "Ōkami-kun no Tenshoku" (Japanese: オオカミくんの転職)		November 22, 2012 (2012-11-22)
"Mr. Penguin's New Love"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Atarashī Koi" (Japanese: ペンギンさんの新しい恋)
Wolf ends up quitting his job at a bakery, so Tiger recruits him for his sweets shops. After Wolf hears about a position at a famous bakery from Panda-Mama, Tiger encourages Wolf to go for it, and he manages to get the job. Later, the gang hear from Llama that Penguin has been visiting the neighbouring town's Brown Bear Café. As Polar Bear decides to check it out, he learns Penguin has gained a crush on the waitress penguin there, deciding not to come to Polar Bear Café until he works up the courage to ask her out. He eventually confesses but gets rejected, thus returning to Polar Bear Café.
35"Sloth Wants to Work"
Transliteration: "Hatarakitai Namakemono-kun" (Japanese: 働きたいナマケモノくん)		November 29, 2012 (2012-11-29)
"Mr. Handa's Present"
Transliteration: "Handa-san no Purezento" (Japanese: 半田さんのプレゼント)
Sloth starts working part-time at the café, which does not prove easy with his speed. When asked why Sloth wants to work, he says he wants to buy Sasako dinner to repay her for all of her help, though Sasako says she needn't do so as he was the one who helped get her job in the first place. Later, Handa asks for Polar Bear and Lesser Panda's help in figuring out what to get Sasako for Christmas. Despite their failed plans, Handa manages to think of something and ends up giving it to Sasako when he runs into her.
36"Grizzly's Hibernation Preparation"
Transliteration: "Gurizurī-kun no Tōmin Junbi" (Japanese: グリズリーくんの冬眠準備)		December 6, 2012 (2012-12-06)
"Grizzly's Hibernation"
Transliteration: "Gurizurī-kun no Tōmin" (Japanese: グリズリーくんの冬眠)
The pandas look for ways to hibernate at the zoo, but Handa calls them out on it. Grizzly takes Polar Bear shopping for a pillow to sleep on during hibernation, but Polar Bear doesn't seem to be interested in that. When Grizzly does get to hibernate, he is rudely interrupted by Polar Bear, who takes him to the driving range. When Panda and Penguin turn up, Grizzly, cranky from lack of sleep, takes them all out to a hot pot bistro.
37"Christmas Planning"
Transliteration: "Kurisumasu Keikaku" (Japanese: クリスマス計画)		December 13, 2012 (2012-12-13)
"Christmas Trouble"
Transliteration: "Kurisumasu Sōdō" (Japanese: クリスマス騒動)
Panda wonders whether he will get a present for Christmas until Rin Rin shows up with a knitted pochette for Panda, which the latter accepts reluctantly. Eager to show off his storytelling, Penguin tries in vain to find a party to appear at before deciding on Bar the Grizzly. Panda and Mei Mei argue over whose picture should be sent to Handa as a Christmas present, which Llama and Alpaca use their wool to create scarves and other garments.
38"Big Cleaning at the Café"
Transliteration: "Kafe no Ōsōji" (Japanese: カフェの大掃除)		December 20, 2012 (2012-12-20)
"For Whom Does the Bell Toll?"
Transliteration: "Dare ga Tame ni Kane wa Naru?" (Japanese: 誰が為に鐘は鳴る？)
Polar Bear ropes in everyone to do some spring cleaning around the cafe before Panda-Mama brings a salmon for everyone to have hotpot. Later, Polar Bear, Panda, Penguin, Sasako, and Llama spend New Year's Eve together where they reminisce about the past year. They are soon joined by the other animals to see the New Year in.
39"The Animals' Hidden Talent Contest"
Transliteration: "Dōbutsu-tachi no Kakushigei Taikai" (Japanese: 動物達のかくし芸大会)		January 10, 2013 (2013-01-10)
"New Year's Guest"
Transliteration: "Shinnen no Okyaku-san" (Japanese: 新年のお客さん)
As the New Year rolls in, the Polar Bear's Cafe holds a hidden talent contest. Later, Penguin comes to visit Panda's home whilst the cafe is closed, which does not impress Panda very much.
40"The Hammock Sea"
Transliteration: "Hanmokku no Umi" (Japanese: ハンモックの海)		January 17, 2013 (2013-01-17)
"Panda-Mama's Gardening"
Transliteration: "Panda-Mama no Gādeningu" (Japanese: パンダママのガーデニング)
Polar Bear sets up a hammock in his garden and invites Panda and Penguin to laze around with him. Later, after Panda upsets Panda-Mama by eating her tulips, he tries and find something to replace them.
41"Scattering Beans With Everyone"
Transliteration: "Minna de Mamemaki" (Japanese: みんなで豆まき)		January 24, 2013 (2013-01-24)
"Café in the Afternoon"
Transliteration: "Gogo no Kafe" (Japanese: 午後のカフェ)
The café celebrates Setsubun where everyone takes turns being the ogre. Later, Sasako and Llama reminisce about their elementary school days.
42"Polar Bear's Insomnia"
Transliteration: "Shirokuma-kun no Fumishō" (Japanese: シロクマくんの不眠症)		January 31, 2013 (2013-01-31)
"Grizzly's First Love"
Transliteration: "Gurizurī-kun no Hatsukoi" (Japanese: グリズリーくんの初恋)
The gang try to help Polar Bear as he has trouble sleeping due to insomnia. Later, Polar Bear and Grizzly reminisce their high school days, where Grizzly had a crush on a girl Grizzly named Tsukiko. After learning Tsukiko's family was moving, Grizzly helped her find her missing school badge.
43"Pun Café"
Transliteration: "Dajare Kafe" (Japanese: ダジャレカフェ)		February 7, 2013 (2013-02-07)
"The Secret to Delicious Coffee"
Transliteration: "Kōhī no Oishi-sa no Himitsu" (Japanese: コーヒーのおいしさの秘密)
"Mr. Full-time Panda, Mr. Llama and Rin-Rin"
Transliteration: "Jōkin-san to Rama-san to RinRin" (Japanese: 常勤さんとラマさんとリンリン)
Fed up with Polar Bear's annoying puns, Grizzly and Penguin try to get everyone in town to beat Polar Bear at his own game. Later, Masaki is told how coffee can taste different depending on its preparation and wonders if he can win over the Red Squirrels with advice from Polar Bear. After a long day of work, Mr. Full-time Panda and Mr. Llama decide to have a few drinks. They later invite Rin Rin, who takes the drunk Panda and Llama to Grizzly's bar, where everyone there gets drunk into the morning.
44"The Everyday Zoo"
Transliteration: "Itsumademo Dōbutsuen" (Japanese: いつまでも動物園)		February 14, 2013 (2013-02-14)
"The Zoo in the Rain"
Transliteration: "Ame no Dōbutsuen" (Japanese: 雨の動物園)
After spending the previous day spending time together with him, Panda is shocked to learn that Full-Time Panda has been transferred to a zoo in Singapore, leaving behind a letter expressing his thanks for all the times they spent together. Despite being incredibly saddened by Full-Time Panda's departure, he agrees to work full-time until another panda is hired, causing some worry amongst his friends. When a Valentine's Day couple end up insulting Panda after two weeks of straight work, Penguin stands up against them. Panda soon cheers up after a new part-time panda is found and gives his thanks to Penguin.
45"Rin Rin and Mei Mei's Heartbeating Plan"
Transliteration: "Rinrin to Meimei no Doki-doki Daisakusen" (Japanese: リンリンとメイメイのドキドキ大作戦)		February 21, 2013 (2013-02-21)
"Smelt Fishing"
Transliteration: "Wakasagi Tsuri" (Japanese: ワカサギ釣り)
Rin Rin and Mei Mei find they have some common interests and work together to think of a plan to get closer to Panda and Handa. However, Rin Rin ends up catching a fever, so Mei Mei decides to instead look after him. Later, Polar Bear and the others go to the frozen lakes to do some smelt fishing, only to get distracted. After Grizzly helps to catch a whole bunch, Polar Bear sets up an igloo cafe to make use of their ingredients.
46"Doll Festival"
Transliteration: "Hinamatsuri" (Japanese: ひなまつり)		February 28, 2013 (2013-02-28)
"The Animal Doctor"
Transliteration: "Dōbutsu no Oisha-san" (Japanese: 動物のお医者さん)
The younger penguins set up a display for Hinamatsuri, which goes a little awry when the cafe-goers make their own contributions. Grizzly is called in to help them set it up, only to realise that there are no girls around to celebrate it apart from Sasako. Later, Polar Bear develops a fever and goes to the animal hospital for some medicine. Panda and Penguin decide to come over to look after him, only to end up catching fever themselves.
47"South Pole Squad Penguinger"
Transliteration: "Nankyoku Sentai Penginjā" (Japanese: 南極戦隊ペンギンジャー)		March 7, 2013 (2013-03-07)
"Even More, What is Roasting!?"
Transliteration: "Madamada Baisen-tte Nanda!?" (Japanese: まだまだ焙煎ってナンダ！？)
The Pygoscelis Penguins are approached by a TV studio to do a televised version of South Pole Squad Penginger alongside Yama Arashi, with some of the other animals making cameos. The segment follows the Penguingers as they fight to rescue Yama Arashi from the evil Emperor Penguin. The broadcast is a hit and helps make the zoo more popular. Meanwhile, Polar Bear teaches Masaki how a coffee's richness differs based on how it is prepared. He later learns Tree Kangaroo will let him start roasting his own coffee beans.
48"Sloth's Trip"
Transliteration: "Namekemono-kun no Ryokō" (Japanese: ナマケモノくんの旅行)		March 14, 2013 (2013-03-14)
"I Became a Doll"
Transliteration: "Ningyō ni Natta" (Japanese: 人形になった)
"White Day"
Transliteration: "Howaito Dē" (Japanese: ホワイトデー)
The animals go on a long walk to the hot springs where Sloth wants to get there on his own two feet. Later, the group become paper dolls as they interact in the real world. Meanwhile, Handa tries to figure out what to give Sasako for White Day.
49"Mr. Grizzly's Reunion"
Transliteration: "Gurizurī-san no Saikai" (Japanese: グリズリーさんの再会)		March 21, 2013 (2013-03-21)
"Mr Llama's Time Capsule"
Transliteration: "Rama-san no Taimu Kapsuru" (Japanese: ラマさんのタイムカプセル)
Grizzly is visited by his mother, who embarrasses him a little when she starts serving home cooking in his bar. After trying it for himself, it soon turns out to be a big hit. Later, the others visit their hometown to find a time capsule Llama buried five years ago. Upon arriving, they discover the tree he buried it under is in the middle of a private property. Luckily, they allow Badger to dig under the property and retrieve the time capsule. Inside, they find an audio cassette featuring a song sung by Llama's childhood self.
50"Mr. Penguin's Secret"
Transliteration: "Pengin-san no Himitsu" (Japanese: ペンギンさんの秘密)		March 28, 2013 (2013-03-28)
"Flower-viewing in Spring"
Transliteration: "Haru no Ohanami" (Japanese: 春のお花見)
Panda becomes curious about what Penguin does when he is not at the café. Although his investigation does not help him learn Penguin's secrets, he learns new things about some of the other animals. Later, Polar Bear becomes disappointed when Penguin expresses interest in moving house, but feels relieved once Penguin is revealed to only renew his apartment lease. Afterwards, everyone gathers during the flower-viewing festival to reminisce the time they have spent together.

Reception

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In 2019, Polygon named the anime series as one of the best anime of the 2010s.[9]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Polar Bear Café

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from Grokipedia
Polar Bear Café (Japanese: しろくまカフェ, Hepburn: Shirokuma Kafe) is a Japanese slice-of-life comedy series written and illustrated by Aloha Higa. Serialized in Shogakukan's magazine Monthly Flowers from May 2006 to April 2013 with a brief hiatus in 2012, the original series comprises five volumes released in . The story revolves around Shirokuma, a laid-back who quits his mundane job to open a café near a local , where he serves coffee and snacks to a diverse cast of animal patrons including a job-hunting panda and a sarcastic penguin, alongside occasional visitors. The narrative emphasizes whimsical, pun-laden dialogues and everyday antics that blend anthropomorphic humor with relatable social observations, appealing to a broad audience through its charming character dynamics and relaxed pacing. An anime television adaptation, also titled Polar Bear Café, was produced by and aired on from April 5, 2012, to March 28, 2013, spanning 50 episodes of approximately 25 minutes each. The anime faithfully captures the manga's comedic essence, with additional episodes expanding on side stories and character backstories, and it was simulcast internationally by during its original broadcast. In 2023, began publishing an English-language Collector's Edition in four omnibus volumes, compiling the original content with bonus color illustrations.

Overview

Premise

Polar Bear Café is a slice-of-life series centered on a cozy café located near a , operated by an anthropomorphic named Shirokuma. In this whimsical world, humans and various animals coexist casually, frequenting the establishment for coffee, meals, and lighthearted conversations. The café serves as the primary hub for everyday interactions, where patrons from the nearby and surrounding area gather to unwind amid a relaxed atmosphere that blends the ordinary with subtle absurdities. The narrative unfolds through short, humorous vignettes that capture mundane activities, such as coffee, discussing seasonal events, or navigating minor mishaps like job searches and quirks. These episodes emphasize themes of relaxation and gentle , often incorporating pun-laden and surreal twists to highlight the charm of routine life among diverse . Rather than a continuous storyline, the format prioritizes standalone sketches that showcase the café's role in fostering community and levity. The series introduces its world through the arrival of Panda, a laid-back young panda compelled by his mother to seek employment after lounging at home. Wandering in search of work, Panda stumbles upon Shirokuma Café, where he begins interacting with the owner and other visitors, including those connected to the zoo, setting the stage for ongoing comedic encounters. This initial hook draws readers into the café's dynamic while establishing Panda as a relatable entry point to the ensemble's daily adventures.

Publication history

Polar Bear Café, originally titled Shirokuma Café, was created by mangaka Aloha Higa. The series began serialization in Shogakukan's magazine Monthly Flowers in May 2006. It went on hiatus from May to July 2012 due to communication issues related to the adaptation but returned in the September 2012 issue. The original run concluded in 2013 and was compiled into five volumes. The series then moved to Shueisha's josei magazine Cocohana, resuming under the title Shirokuma Café: Today's Special starting with the September 2014 issue (released on July 28, 2014). This sequel continues the episodic adventures of the café's animal and human patrons. It went on hiatus in late 2019 and resumed in the September 2020 issue. The sequel remains ongoing as of November 2025, with four volumes released by . In 2022, announced the English licensing of the series, compiling the complete content (original and Today's Special sequel) into a four-volume Collector's Edition with bonus color illustrations and extras. The first volume of this edition was released in 2023, with subsequent volumes following periodically.

Characters

Main characters

Shirokuma, the titular , serves as the owner and manager of the café, creating a welcoming environment for a diverse clientele of humans and animals alike. Known for his cheerful and hospitable demeanor, he takes great pleasure in preparing sweets, brewing , and engaging patrons through his penchant for and puns. His polite and charismatic presence often positions him as a mediator in the quirky interactions among the café's visitors, fostering a sense of community in the series' slice-of-life scenarios. Panda, the lazy teenage panda and one of the central protagonists, embodies youthful aimlessness through his preference for lounging and indulging in food over ambition. He works odd part-time jobs, including as a exhibit and occasional waiter at the , largely driven by his insatiable appetite for , which he insists on ordering regardless of the menu. Blunt to a fault and often oblivious in his honesty, Panda frequently attempts to cultivate a "cute" or moe image, leading to clumsy mishaps that highlight his vain, not particularly bright, and self-centered traits. Penguin, a recurring regular at the café, brings dramatic flair and sarcasm to the group as the reacting to the others' eccentricities. As a friend of Shirokuma, he spends much time there, though his timid nature and past rejections complicate his unrequited crush on Penko, a worker and one of seven identical sisters, to whom he has confessed without success despite occasional encouragement. Penguin's serious and occasionally rivalrous demeanor—particularly in romantic pursuits—contrasts with the laid-back vibe of his companions, amplifying comedic tension. The core dynamics revolve around Panda's close with Shirokuma, where the café owner provides guidance and employment opportunities amid Panda's aimless pursuits, while Penguin's interactions introduce and to their daily routines. Together, the trio's contrasting personalities—Shirokuma's affable mediation, Panda's indolent whimsy, and Penguin's pointed retorts—drive the humor through shared misadventures at the café and beyond.

Supporting characters

Sasako is a student who serves as the waitress at Polar Bear's Café, providing a grounded perspective amid the anthropomorphic animal patrons. Hired somewhat accidentally after assisting a customer, she is depicted as laid-back, calm, and occasionally airheaded, often oblivious to romantic advances from others. Her patience and friendliness help facilitate interactions between the café's animal regulars and visitors, such as offering advice to Panda on personal matters. Handa functions as the and caretaker for the pandas at the local , frequently interacting with Panda in a professional capacity that underscores his serious and overworked demeanor. Popular among the animals but less so with women, he harbors a crush on Sasako, leading him to visit the café often in hopes of connecting with her, though she remains unaware. His role adds comedic tension through his exasperation with Panda's laziness and the zoo's chaotic environment. Grizzly, a and childhood friend of , owns and operates Bar the Grizzly next door to the café, offering a stark contrast to the laid-back atmosphere with his hot-tempered and gruff personality. Despite his fierce exterior and tendency to speak with a rough accent, he shows to his friends and occasionally reveals a softer side, such as in moments of vulnerability. His drinking habits and role as a (tsukkomi) to the antics of and Panda contribute to ensemble humor and plot progression by drawing the group into bar-related escapades. Llama, a llama resident at the zoo, embodies eccentricity through his inventive pursuits and desire for recognition. Calm, patient, and mature, he aspires to popularity like Panda but often goes unnoticed by zoo visitors, leading to humorous schemes involving his artistic talents in painting, sculpting, and care. A frequent at the café, his love for and grass-based quirks provide comic relief and support the café's daily operations. Penko is a bakery worker and one of seven identical septuplet sisters who is the object of Penguin's unrequited affections. Panda Mama, the strict mother of Panda and his sister Mei Mei, acts as a no-nonsense enforcer who frequently reprimands her son for his laziness, pushing him toward employment at the zoo. Voiced with authority, she employs dramatic measures like wielding a to him, highlighting her role in motivating character development within family dynamics. Her appearances reinforce themes of parental expectation while aiding Panda's integration into the group's activities.

Media

Manga

The Polar Bear Café manga, written and illustrated by Aloha Higa, employs an episodic structure consisting of short, standalone chapters that deliver self-contained comedic gags centered on the café's animal and human patrons. Each chapter typically spans 4 to 8 pages, allowing for concise, punchy narratives that emphasize everyday humor and interactions without overarching plots. This format, shaped by its serialization in Shogakukan's Monthly Flowers magazine, prioritizes quick-witted vignettes over extended storylines. The artwork features clean, simple linework with soft, rounded designs for the anthropomorphic animal characters, evoking a plush-like adorability that amplifies the series' lighthearted tone. These designs incorporate subtle chibi elements during humorous moments to heighten exaggeration and expressiveness, while maintaining a realistic touch in proportions and movements compared to more stylized tropes. Detailed backgrounds of the cozy café interior and surrounding urban environments further enhance the inviting, slice-of-life atmosphere, providing visual depth to the otherwise minimalist character-focused panels. In contrast to the adaptation, the manga's static panels excel at conveying subtle visual puns through layout and , such as misheard words illustrated for comedic effect, while relying heavily on text-based for wordplay without auditory cues from . This print medium allows for unadapted side stories and panel-specific timing that builds tension in gags, elements sometimes expanded or altered in the animated format for pacing. The English-language releases by , compiled in collector's editions, include bonus color pages that highlight expanded glimpses of the characters' daily lives and additional artwork, enriching the original black-and-white content.

Anime

The anime adaptation of Polar Bear Café was produced by and directed by Mitsuyuki Masuhara, with character designs by . It aired on from April 5, 2012, to March 28, 2013, consisting of 50 episodes broadcast in a half-hour slot, each featuring two self-contained 12-minute segments for a total runtime of approximately 20 hours. The series faithfully adapts the manga's slice-of-life humor but condenses multiple short chapters per segment while incorporating original content and expanded scenarios to suit the animated format and pacing, such as extended comedic interactions among the café patrons. It was simulcast internationally on during its original run, making it accessible to global audiences shortly after Japanese broadcast. The voice cast features prominent Japanese actors, including as the laid-back (Shirokuma), as the perpetually worried Panda, and as the mischievous Penguin, bringing distinct personalities to the anthropomorphic characters through expressive performances. Other notable roles include Yuuichi Nakamura as Grizzly and as Sasako, enhancing the ensemble dynamic central to the series' charm. The soundtrack, composed by Kenji Kondō, emphasizes jazzy, relaxed motifs that evoke the cozy café atmosphere, with opening themes like "Boku ni Invitation" by and ending themes varying by arc, such as "Grizzly-san's G★ROCK" performed by the cast. Structurally, the lacks an overarching plot, instead delivering episodic vignettes focused on the daily antics of the café's animal and human visitors, occasionally incorporating seasonal specials like viewing or holiday-themed episodes to align with real-world timing. To celebrate the 's 10th anniversary in , Studio Pierrot produced 10 original short web episodes featuring animations of Polar Bear, Panda, and Penguin, released online. As of 2025, the full series remains available for streaming on platforms including , , and Apple TV, preserving its availability for new viewers.

Themes and style

Narrative approach

Polar Bear Café employs an episodic structure, with each chapter or episode presenting self-contained stories centered on the daily routines at the café and interactions among its patrons. This format allows for standalone vignettes that explore mundane activities, such as preparing drinks or visiting the zoo, while maintaining coherence through recurring motifs like the café's operational quirks and Panda's persistent laziness. The series' humor derives primarily from absurdist comedy, highlighting contrasts between anthropomorphic animals' species-specific traits and human-like behaviors, often amplified by puns and situational gags. For instance, Penguin's clumsiness with stems from his waddling gait and limited dexterity, leading to comedic failures that underscore his dim-witted personality. This style aligns with the genre, offering gentle, stress-relieving through lighthearted, non-confrontational scenarios rather than escalating conflicts. Pacing in Polar Bear Café is deliberately slow and dialogue-driven, prioritizing extended banter and character observations over rapid action or plot twists, which fosters a relaxing atmosphere conducive to the series' healing intent. Subtle progression occurs in interpersonal relationships, such as the evolving camaraderie between and his regulars, built incrementally across volumes without disrupting the episodic flow.

Cultural elements

The anthropomorphic animals in Polar Bear Café serve as allegories for aspects of modern Japanese society, particularly the challenges faced by young adults in the workforce. The character Panda is a lazy young bear constantly prodded by his mother to find , engaging in repeated, unsuccessful attempts at part-time gigs like work or , often undermined by his own indolence. The series integrates Japanese seasonal and holiday traditions into its episodic structure, blending them with the animals' daily antics to ground the narrative in cultural rhythms. Episodes feature observances like Setsubun, where café patrons throw beans to ward off evil spirits while role-playing as ogres, and hanami cherry blossom viewing parties at the café, evoking communal spring rituals. Other installments depict summer matsuri festivals with food stalls run by the characters and Tanabata wish-making under a bamboo tree, merging animal behaviors—such as Panda's clumsiness—with these events to celebrate Japan's cyclical calendar. The human waitress Sasako takes on part-time shifts at the café, while female characters like Mama Panda exhibit assertiveness, pushing family members toward responsibility. Set against a zoo backdrop with endangered species like polar bears and pandas as protagonists, Polar Bear Café lightly incorporates environmental undertones, using anthropomorphism to evoke conservation awareness amid the characters' mundane lives. The café's proximity to the zoo and episodes involving animal habitats prompt reflections on human-animal coexistence and climate threats to species, contrasting playful routines with real-world ecological perils like ice loss for polar bears. This approach fosters subtle ecological pedagogy, pollinating global discussions on endangered fauna through Japan's anime tradition.

Reception

Critical response

Critics have praised Polar Bear Café for its relaxing humor and endearing character dynamics, highlighting the series' ability to deliver wholesome absurdity through everyday interactions among anthropomorphic animals and humans. In a retrospective, included the adaptation among the best new of the , commending its delightful slice-of-life approach that blends gentle with surreal elements, such as a serving bizarre menu items to a cast of quirky patrons. Similarly, THEM Anime Reviews awarded the series a strong 4 out of 5, noting the charm of its character-driven vignettes and consistent comedic timing that evokes a sense of cozy . While the series has been lauded for its calming iyashikei (healing) qualities, some reviewers have pointed to minor flaws, including a sense of repetitiveness in its episodic structure. For instance, user reviews aggregated on highlight how the reliance on puns and recurring gags can feel formulaic after multiple episodes, potentially limiting its appeal for viewers seeking more varied narratives. Additionally, the manga's origins in Shogakukan's Monthly Flowers, a josei publication aimed at adult women, positioned early volumes as somewhat niche, with simpler humor and character-focused stories that may not immediately resonate outside that demographic. The English localization by Seven Seas Entertainment has received positive attention for enhancing accessibility, particularly through its 2023 Collector's Edition releases, which include bonus color pages and maintain the original's pun-heavy dialogue intact for broader audiences. In academic contexts, the series has been referenced in studies on healing media, such as a University of Victoria thesis examining cross-cultural "healing style" content, where Shirokuma Café is cited as a prime example of Japanese anime that combines cute, low-stakes storytelling with subtle satirical jabs at social norms through animal archetypes. This blend of kawaii aesthetics and light satire has contributed to its recognition as an influential work in modern manga, though it has not garnered major formal awards beyond critical acclaim.

Popularity and adaptations

The manga series Polar Bear Café achieved notable commercial success in Japan, with its anime adaptation airing on TV Tokyo from April 2012 to March 2013 and receiving a simulcast on Crunchyroll, which helped expand its audience through international streaming availability. The anime garnered positive engagement on Crunchyroll, earning a 4.6 out of 5 rating from over 1,400 user reviews, reflecting its enduring appeal as a cozy slice-of-life series. The series has cultivated a dedicated fanbase, particularly among Japanese language learners, due to its straightforward dialogue and everyday scenarios that facilitate immersion without complex or rapid speech. Resources like Tofugu and GaijinPot have highlighted the as ideal for beginners, emphasizing their role in building listening and skills through relatable animal-human interactions. Online communities continue to discuss and share content related to the series into the mid-2020s, sustaining its relevance among global enthusiasts. Merchandise tied to Polar Bear Café includes official café-themed items such as mugs, coasters, plush toys, and apparel, often featuring characters like and Panda, available through Japanese retailers and online shops. While no major sequels or adaptations beyond the original anime exist, Entertainment's collector's edition releases—beginning with Volume 1 in January 2023, followed by Volume 2 in May 2023, Volume 3 in October 2023, and Volume 4 in March 2024—have included bonus color content to attract new and returning readers. These editions have driven renewed interest by compiling multiple original volumes into premium formats. Internationally, the series has reached audiences primarily through subtitled streams on platforms like and English-translated editions published by , though no official English dub has been produced due to challenges with its pun-heavy Japanese wordplay. Translations in other languages, including Chinese, have further broadened its global fanbase, while its lighthearted depiction of Japanese and daily life has led to its incorporation in educational settings for teaching conversational Japanese and cultural nuances.

References

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