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
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Pump yourself up with Yokohama’s new extravagant Cool Fuel ice cream
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
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
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】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
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