Chiyoda City
Lecture & Culture
2026.07.10–09.06
Not just cute!? Pingu Exhibition
Come and discover a side of Pingu you’ve never seen!
At YURAKUCHO MUSEUM, the exhibition “Not just cute!? Pingu” will be held. This exhibition lets you enjoy the charm of the clay animation “Pingu,” loved around the world, through rare materials and interactive displays.
Created in 1980 as a clay animation by Swiss filmmaker Otmar Gutmann, “Pingu” has shared warm, humorous stories about the penguin boy Pingu and his friends that have been cherished worldwide.
With “amusement park” as its theme, the exhibition showcases valuable clay models used in actual production, early studio records, storyboards, and other production materials. By seeing, touching, and experiencing, you can enjoy Pingu’s rich expressions, the unique movements and forms of clay, and the mysteriously communicative “Pingu language,” discovering charms you never knew.
The exhibition runs from July 10 (Fri), 2026 to September 6 (Sun). The venue is YURAKUCHO MUSEUM in Yurakucho, Tokyo. Open daily during the period; regular hours 10:00–18:00, last entry 17:30. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, as well as on July 10 (Fri) and August 10 (Mon)–14 (Fri), it is open until 20:00, with last entry at 19:30.
Exhibition highlights
Exhibits of rare clay models and production materials
On display are clay models used in actual animation production, along with valuable materials such as early studio records and storyboards. You can appreciate the craftsmanship unique to stop-motion animation and get a sense of the process by which Pingu’s world is created.
“Not just cute!?” Experience Pingu’s many charms
The exhibition also features plenty of playful, hands-on exhibits. Through these experiences, you can savor Pingu’s deeper charms: expressive faces that convey a full range of emotions, the distinctive movements unique to clay animation, and the mysteriously expressive “Pingu language.”
Collaboration with miniature photographer and mitate artist Tatsuya Tanaka
The exhibition will also include a collaboration with miniature photographer and mitate artist Tatsuya Tanaka. In addition to debuting three Pingu works previously shared on social media, new pieces created for this exhibition are scheduled to be displayed at the venue. Playful miniature expressions let you enjoy a new world of Pingu.
A fun exhibition space with an “Amusement Park” theme
The exhibition theme is “Amusement Park”. In an atmosphere enjoyable for everyone from children to adults, you can explore Pingu’s history, the characters, and the origins of the work. Recommended both for those who feel nostalgia and for those encountering Pingu for the first time.
What is Pingu?
“Pingu” is a stop-motion animation born in Switzerland. Since a prototype test film was produced in 1980, it celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2025. Since 1990, the TV series has been broadcast in more than 155 countries and regions, and its warm, humorous stories are loved around the world.
Recommended for
Recommended for fans of Pingu, those looking for an exhibition parents and children can enjoy together, and those interested in clay animation or character displays. Enjoy not only the cuteness but also the expressions, movements, and behind-the-scenes of the production.
※Open every day during the exhibition period.
※Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
※On weekends and holidays, and on July 10 (Fri) and August 10 (Mon)–14 (Fri), open until 20:00.
※Please check the official website for ticket prices and sales information.
※Exhibition contents and opening hours are subject to change. For the latest information, please check the official website.
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