I heard this Youtube story today. The heartwarming story of Grape-kun and his waifu (anime wife).
I don’t know if direct Youtube links still now allowed, but search or Whang! and Grape-kun: The Penguin With the Anime Waifu - Tales From the Internet
Here’s an article about Grape-kun: The Sweet And Tragic Tale Of Grape-Kun The Penguin
I’m sure Whang embellished some of the the story, but from what I’ve been able to gather is true is that Grape-kun, a Humbolt penguin in a Tobu zoo in Japan was heartbroken when he was hospitalized and his mate, Midori, despite penguins usually mate for life, took another mate during his absence.
Grape-kun was heartbroken (yes, animals definitely do become heartbroken!) until as a promotion, the zoo put up cutouts of characters from the anime Kemono Friends. The series characters are former animals turned turned human and in the Grape-kun’s habitat they they put up Hululu/Fururu, a former Humbold penguin.
The zookeepers notice that Grape-kun because fascinated and infatuated with Hululu https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/grape-kun, spending hours staring at her and supposedly as stated by Whang, exhibiting a mating posture to her.
When the promotion was over, they decided to leave Hululu with Grape-kun.
In 2017, they planned a special exhibit of Grape-kun and Hululu, bu Grape-Kun began to lose weight and at 21, a grand old age for a penguin he was put to rest, with Hululu by his side.
After this, one the illustrators of the manga and anime created an image of Grape-kun and Hululu which now stands as a cutout in at the zoo.
This story is especially touching for me because one of my favorite Kpop idols is Kim So Hye, who believes humans evolved from penguins. Her fans are called Pengies and the company her parents created for her is called S&P (Shark & Penguin) because in her intro for the Korean reality show Produce 101*, she dressed in shark pajamas.
*Produce 101 featured 101 female trainees striving to form the eleven member group, I.O.I. (Ideal Of Idols). Despite not being able to dance or sing at the beginning of the show, So Hye captured the audiences heart and ranked #5. Leading to every reality elimination show seeking the next So Hye!