Puniru Is a Cute Slime

Puniru Is a Cute Slime (Japanese: ぷにるはかわいいスライム, Hepburn: Puniru wa Kawaii Suraimu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Maeda-kun. Preceded by a one-shot published in Shogakukan's children's manga magazine Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic in February 2019, the manga started its serialization in Weekly CoroCoro Comic online service in March 2022. Shogakukan has collected its chapters in six tankōbon volumes as of September 2024. The series focuses on the titular character Puniru, a slime girl created by a boy named Kotaro Kawaii during his childhood and wants him to notice her for her cuteness despite him being in love with his junior high school senior. An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio aired from October to December 2024. A second season has been annouced.

Puniru Is a Cute Slime
First tankōbon volume cover
ぷにるはかわいいスライム (Puniru wa Kawaii Suraimu)
Genre	Romantic comedy[1]
Manga
Cute Puniru Slime
Written by	Maeda-kun
Published by	Shogakukan
Magazine	Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic
Demographic	Children
Published	February 28, 2019
Manga
Written by	Maeda-kun
Published by	Shogakukan
Magazine	Weekly CoroCoro Comic
Demographic	Children
Original run	March 15, 2022 – present
Volumes	6
Anime television series
Puniru is a Kawaii Slime
Directed by	Yūshi Ibe
Produced by	Mirei Tsumura Yuzuru Saitou Reiko Sasaki Yuukou Itou
Written by	Michiko Yokote
Music by	Izumi Mori
Studio	Toho Animation Studio
Licensed by	Crunchyroll (streaming) SA/SEA: Medialink
Original network	TXN (TV Tokyo)
Original run	October 6, 2024 – present
Episodes	12

Plot

A young boy named Kotaro Kawaii made a slime as part of a science experiment which came to life. The slime named Puniru resembled a penguin, and her creator thought that was cute despite him not wanting to admit it. Seven years later, Kotaro is now in his second year of junior high and is having a hard time admitting his feelings for his senior, Mami Kirara. In that time, Puniru gained a new ability to morph herself into a human girl to have her creator notice her cuteness again.

Characters

Puniru (ぷにる)

Voiced by: Yū Sasahara^[2]

Kotaro Kawaii (河合井 コタロー, Kawaii Kotarō)

Voiced by: Shūichirō Umeda^[2]

Mami Kirara (雲母 麻美, Kirara Mami)

Voiced by: Risa Shimizu^[3]

Yūsuke Nanpa (南波 遊助, Nanpa Yūsuke)

Voiced by: Junya Enoki^[3]

Alice Okanega (御金賀 アリス, Okanega Arisu)

Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori^[3]

Hiroshi Mado (真戸 博士, Mado Hiroshi)

Voiced by: Kazuya Nakai^[4]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Maeda-kun, a first one-shot, titled "Cute Puniru Slime" (かわいいぷにるはスライム, Kawaī Puniru wa Suraimu), was published in Shogakukan's children's manga Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic on February 28, 2019.^[5] Puniru Is a Cute Slime started its serialization in Weekly CoroCoro Comic online service on March 15, 2022.^[6][7] Shogakukan has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on July 28, 2022.^[8] As of September 2024, six volumes have been released.^[9]

Volumes

No.	Japanese release date	Japanese ISBN
1	July 28, 2022[10]	978-4-09-143537-8 978-4-09-943115-0 (SE)
2	November 28, 2022[11]	978-4-09-143553-8 978-4-09-943121-1 (SE)
3	February 28, 2023[12]	978-4-09-143578-1 978-4-09-943126-6 (SE)
4	August 9, 2023[13]	978-4-09-143610-8 978-4-09-943131-0 (SE)
5	January 26, 2024[14]	978-4-09-143670-2 978-4-09-943145-7 (SE)
6	September 27, 2024[9]	978-4-09-149785-7 978-4-09-943168-6 (SE)

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on December 13, 2023.^[15][16] It is produced by Toho Animation Studio and directed by Yūshi Ibe, with scripts written by Michiko Yokote, Aya Tanaka providing the character designs and Izumi Mori composing the music.^[17][18] The series aired on TV Tokyo from October 6 to December 23, 2024.^[2][3] Yū Sasahara performed both the series' opening and ending themes: "Gyumu!" (ぎゅむ！) and "Show" (唱, Shō, lit. "chant"), the latter being a cover of Ado's song of the same name.^[19]

Following the final episode of the series, a second season was announced.^[20]

Crunchyroll streams the series under the title Puniru is a Kawaii Slime.^[21] Medialink licensed the series in Asia-Pacific (except Australia and New Zealand) for streaming on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.^[22]

Episodes

No.	Title [23][24]	Directed by [23]	Written by [23]	Chief animation directed by [23]	Original air date [25]
1	"I HATE YOU and I LOVE YOU"	Yūshi Ibe	Michiko Yokote	Aya Tanaka & Kenji Matsuoka	October 6, 2024 (2024-10-06)
2	"Neither Friend nor Slime" Transliteration: "Tomodachi de mo Naku Suraimu de mo Naku" (Japanese: 友達でもなくスライムでもなく)	Tetsuya Miyanishi	Miharu Hirami	Kenji Matsuoka	October 13, 2024 (2024-10-13)
3	"Kawaii Puniru is a Slime" Transliteration: "Kawaī Puniru wa Suraimu" (Japanese: かわいいぷにるはスライム)	Directed by : Minami Honma Storyboarded by : Shinichi Watanabe	Michiko Yokote	Aya Tanaka	October 20, 2024 (2024-10-20)
4	"Alice in Kyuthi Land" Transliteration: "Kawaī Kyuti Rando no Arisu" (Japanese: かわいい国（キュティランド）のアリス)	Mayo Nozaki	Michiko Yokote	Kenji Matsuoka	October 27, 2024 (2024-10-27)
5	"GO! GO! Let's Cheer with Style!" Transliteration: "GO! GO! Karei ni Oendesu!" (Japanese: GO!GO!華麗に応援です！)	Directed by : Ryōta Karasawa Storyboarded by : Yūshi Ibe	Miharu Hirami	Kenji Matsuoka	November 3, 2024 (2024-11-03)
6	"The Runrune-tastic Grand Prix, Now with Puniru!" Transliteration: "Darake no Guranpuri Puniru Moaru yo!" (Japanese: ルンルーンだらけのGP（グランプリ）グランプリぷにるもあるよ！)	Directed by : Mitsuyo Yokono Storyboarded by : Shinichi Watanabe	Michiko Yokote	Aya Tanaka	November 10, 2024 (2024-11-10)
7	"Sweet Bitter Summer"	Directed by : China Storyboarded by : China & Itsuki Tsuchigami	Rintarou Ikeda	Aya Tanaka	November 17, 2024 (2024-11-17)
8	"Gather 'Round for the School Festival!" Transliteration: "Bunkamatsuri Desu! Zen'in Shūgō" (Japanese: 文化祭です！全員集合)	Tetsuya Miyanishi	Miharu Hirami	Kenji Matsuoka	November 24, 2024 (2024-11-24)
9	"Let's Start a Band, Punks!" Transliteration: "Bando yarō ZE!" (Japanese: バンド野郎ZE!)	Yūshi Ibe	Rintarou Ikeda	Aya Tanaka	December 1, 2024 (2024-12-01)
10	"Merry Punirumas!" Transliteration: "Merī punirumasu!" (Japanese: メリーぷにるます！)	Minami Honma	Michiko Yokote	Kenji Matsuoka	December 8, 2024 (2024-12-08)
11	"Scoop Up a Spoonful of Christmas" Transliteration: "Supūn Ichihai no Kurisumasu o Sukutte" (Japanese: スプーン一杯のクリスマスをすくって)	Mayo Nozaki	Michiko Yokote	Aya Tanaka	December 16, 2024 (2024-12-16)[a]
12	"A Wonderful Journey" Transliteration: "Ī tabi puni kibun" (Japanese: いい旅ぷに気分)	Directed by : Ryōta Karasawa Storyboarded by : Yusuke Kubo	Michiko Yokote	Kenji Matsuoka	December 23, 2024 (2024-12-23)[b]

Reception

The manga placed fourth in Next Manga Awards's Web category in 2022.^[28] It has been nominated for the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024.^[29]

The manga was viewed more than 600,000 times on its online website by March 2022;^[30] it rose to more than 3.5 million views by May of that same year,^[31] and 7 million by July of that same year.^[8] The first tankōbon volume had a first-print run of 100,000 copies.^[8]

Notes

1. This episode aired at 12:15 a.m. JST, 30 minutes after the original air time.^[26]
2. This episode aired at 12:25 a.m. JST, 40 minutes after the original air time.^[27]

References

1. 「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」カラーマンガがコロコロに、ぷにるのシールも付属. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 15, 2022. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
2. Chapman, Paul (July 11, 2024). "Puniru wa Kawaii Slime TV Anime Premieres in October 2024". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
3. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 31, 2024). "Puniru wa Kawaii Slime Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals More Cast, October 6 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
4. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 10, 2024). "Puniru is a Kawaii Slime Anime Casts Kazuya Nakai". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
5. 別冊コロコロコミック 2019年04月号. Book Shop Shogakukan (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
6. Mateo, Alex (March 14, 2022). "Shogakukan Reveals 'Weekly Coro Coro Comics' Title, Lineup for New Website". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
7. 週刊コロコロコミック創刊！子供も大人も楽しめる新作＆名作を続々配信. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
8. 「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」1巻発売、特装版はカバーがキラキラでアクスタ付き. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 28, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
9. 【9月27日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 27, 2024. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
10. 【7月28日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 28, 2022. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
11. 「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」2巻特装版に描き下ろしポスター3枚、カバーは箔押し. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 29, 2022. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
12. 「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」3巻にアクスタ第2弾、メタバースで遊べるミニゲームも. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 28, 2023. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
13. 【8月9日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
14. 【1月26日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 26, 2024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
15. 「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」TVアニメ化！かわいいぼくが動いちゃいま～す. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 13, 2023. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
16. Cayanan, Joanna (December 13, 2023). "Maedakun's Puniru wa Kawaii Slime Web Manga Gets TV Anime Adaptation". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
17. ぷにるはかわいいスライム："スライムの日"にビジュアル公開 柔らかくキラキラ テレビアニメはTOHO animation STUDIO制作. Mantan Web (in Japanese). March 16, 2024. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
18. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 16, 2024). "Puniru wa Kawaii Slime TV Anime Reveals Visual, Main Staff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
19. ぷにるはかわいいスライム：テレビアニメEDはAdo「唱」カバー ぷにるが歌う！. Mantan Web (in Japanese). October 7, 2024. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
20. Loo, Egan (December 22, 2024). "Puniru is a Kawaii Slime Anime Gets 2nd Season". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
21. Mateo, Alex (October 2, 2024). "Crunchyroll to Stream Blue Miburo, Kinokoinu Mushroom Pup, A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School!, More Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
22. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 3, 2024). "Ani-One Asia Licenses BLUE LOCK vs. U-20 JAPAN, A Terrified Teacher at Ghoul School!, Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions, More Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
23. "Terebi Anime「Puniru wa Kawaī Suraimu」Koshiki Saito" TVアニメ「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」公式サイト [TV Anime "Puniru Is a Cute Slime" Official Site]. puniru-anime.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 6, 2024.
24. "Watch Puniru is a Kawaii Slime - Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
25. "On'ea |「Puniru wa Kawaī Suraimu」Kōshiki Saito" ONAIR |「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」公式サイト [On Air |「Puniru Is a Cute Slime」Official Website]. puniru-anime.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
26. "ぷにるはかわいいスライム(テレ東、2024/12/15 24:15 OA)の番組情報ページ". TV Tokyo (in Japanese). Retrieved December 15, 2024.
27. "ぷにるはかわいいスライム(テレ東、2024/12/22 24:25 OA)の番組情報ページ". TV Tokyo (in Japanese). Retrieved December 18, 2024.
28. 「スーパーの裏でヤニ吸うふたり」が次にくるマンガ大賞のWebマンガ部門1位を獲得. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
29. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 5, 2024). "12 Works Including The Apothecary Diaries, Kagurabachi Nominated for 70th Shogakukan Manga Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
30. Iida, Ichishi (May 10, 2022). 「秒で60万人が読んだ」コロコロ初のラブコメ『ぷにる』爆誕の背景. Gendai Media (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
31. 「ぷにるはかわいいスライム」第1巻、7月発売！「週刊コロコロコミック」で350万PV達成の話題作. Anime! Anime! (in Japanese). May 20, 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.

External links

• Official manga website at CoroCoro Online (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (in Japanese)
• Puniru Is a Cute Slime (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia