Otaku love conquers all.
If you’re an anime fan who’s ever had to divest yourself of a portion of your otaku-related possessions, you know how hard the process can be. Still, stay in the fandom long enough, and eventually you’re likely to run into circumstances that compel you to part ways with some beloved piece of Japanese animation memorabilia.
That’s a transition the animals at Saitama Prefecture’s Tobu Zoo recently had to go through. Since April, the zoo’s inhabitants have been sharing the facility with a series of cardboard cutouts of the animal-girl characters from surprise hit anime Kemono Friends. The displays were put up to encourage human anime fans to visit, but one of Tobu Zoo’s actual Humbuldt penguins, Grape-kun, developed a crush on the cutout of Kemono Friends’ anthropomorphized penguin Hululu.
However, the Kemono Friends promotion ended on June 25, which meant the zoo’s animals would be saying good-bye to their anime friends. Japanese Twitter user @kishida46 stopped by on the final day, but when he struck up a conversation with one of the zookeeper’s about Grape-kun, he got a heartwarming piece of news.
エサやりタイムと聞いてペンギン達が続々と集まっていく中、推しの元を離れないオタクの鑑。
— きしだ (@kishida46) June 25, 2017
ところで今日で東武動物公園のけもフレコラボは終わりなのでフレンズパネルは撤去されるはずですが、フルルのパネルだけはグレープ君のために暫定的に残すそうです。優しい世界。#けものフレンズ pic.twitter.com/FTHzeJwHnS
While all of the other characters’ artwork has been taken down, the Hululu cutout will be remaining at the zoo indefinitely to keep Grape-kun happy.
Tobu Zoo has stopped short of saying that Grape-kun’s anime girl of choice will be a permanent fixture at the facility. Since the original plan was only for the artwork to be on display for two months, it’s likely not made of sturdy enough material to be left outside for years and years without cracking or fading, and the zookeeper @kishida46 spoke with said that Hululu’s cutout may be taken down without notice in the future. Still, for the time-being, it’s good to know that Grape-kun can still turn to his anime waifu to help ease the pain of being dumped by his real-life wife.
Source: Jin, Twitter/@kishida46
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he wonders where he put that box of 10-dollar Song May anime soundtrack CDs.

Japanese zoo penguin falls in love with cutout of cute anime penguin girl
Japan’s anime-loving penguin turned to comfort of a 2-D girl after being scorned by his 3-D wife
Japan’s anime-loving penguin Grape-kun passes away at Tobu Zoo
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Mister Donut wows matcha lovers in Japan with new Dora Matcha doughnuts
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine amazing off-the-beaten-path cherry blossom spots in Japan for yaezakura and shidarezakura
Studio Ghibli adds new anime tumblers to its cool streetwear brand in Japan
Godiva now makes tofu in Japan, and sakura chocolate tofu too![Taste test]
Larger than life Doraemon doll will delight fans, terrify pets and small children
This themed Starbucks in Seoul is hidden away in possibly the coolest location ever
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Home of Japan’s anime-loving penguin has new tie-up event, may create another animal otaku
Heartbroken visitors leave tributes to Japan’s anime-loving penguin Grape-kun at new memorial
Penguin that fell in love with cardboard cutout anime girl now has his own drink for sale at zoo
Baby penguin seeing sakura for the first time is all of us during hanami season 【Video】
Another otaku bird? Hayao Miyazaki-loving cockatiel in Japan sings Studio Ghibli cover【Vid】
Magazine teaches Japanese using Kemono Friends anime, Japanese netizens can’t stop laughing