April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) – August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
Rilakkuma and Kaoru (リラックマとカオルさん, Rirakkuma to Kaoru-san) is a 2019 stop-motion animation series created by Dwarf Studio in cooperation with San-X, based on the Rilakkuma character franchise.
The series premiered on Netflix on April 19, 2019. In October 2020, it was renewed for a second season, titled Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure (リラックマと遊園地, Rirakkuma to Yūenchi), featuring the same production staff.[1]Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure was released worldwide exclusively on Netflix on August 25, 2022.[2]
A soft, toy-like brown bear whose interests are mostly limited to sleeping and eating. He appeared in front of Kaoru's apartment one day and started living with her afterwards.
Korilakkuma (コリラックマ, Korirakkuma)
A small, toy-like white bear and Rilakkuma's close friend. She also appeared at Kaoru's front door one day and began living with her too.
Kiiroitori (キイロイトリ)
Kaoru's pet yellow chick. Rather than sleeping and eating like Rilakkuma, Kiiroitori has a hard-working nature and loves cleaning.
A lonely boy who lives in Kaoru's apartment complex.
Sayu (サユ)
Voiced by: Mai Kanazawa[3] (Japanese); Melissa Fahn (English)
One of Kaoru's colleagues.
Production
An initial pitch was made by Tokyo representatives at Netflix in 2016.[4] The series was announced publicly in 2017 and was originally slated for a 2018 release.[5]
Director Masahito Kobayashi drew inspiration from Wes Anderson's films, such as Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs.[4] Kaoru, who had appeared as a silhouette in the original Rilakkuma comic series, was given a physical presence and her experiences were drawn from the female staff members.[4] The fictional city that the show takes place in, Ogigaya, is a mash-up of the Ogikubo and Asagaya neighborhoods in Tokyo.[4] The series was made at Dwarf Studio, who previously made stop motion Domo-kun animation.[6] 10 separate stages were set up, with the staff filming about 10 seconds of footage per day simultaneously.[4]
In 2018, Netflix announced the show would be released on April 19, 2019, and star Mikako Tabe as Kaoru.[7] Original characters created for the series, Tokio, Hayate, and Sayu, were introduced in March 2019.[3] Aside from playing Hayate, Takayuki Yamada also played an assortment of minor roles in the series, including the shaved ice stand man in episode 4, the man in the Yuriko horror movie, Kaoru's landlord, Kaoru's boss, the fisherman in episode 8, the photographer in episode 10, and the alien in episode 11.[8]
In April, Kaoru prepares for a hanami with her circle of friends from college, only to find out that none of them can attend. Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori take her out for a viewing at night.
In May, Kaoru is harassed by anonymous messages and Rilakkuma is kidnapped. Kaoru discovers the culprit is Tokio, a lonely boy living in her apartment complex. Kaoru forgives him and invites him to help set up the koinobori.
In June, Kaoru overhears her co-workers mentioning she is too serious for a group date. Heavy rain causes mushrooms to grow in her house, and she considers eating them to change her personality.
In September, Kaoru becomes concerned about her fortune and begins buying items she believes will improve her luck, which causes tension between herself and her animal friends. After discovering the fortune teller is a scammer, Kaoru apologizes and realizes she is lucky after all.
In October, Kaoru and Rilakkuma gain weight, causing Kaoru to buy exercise equipment. After discovering that Hayate delivers her packages, she begins buying more equipment to see him, causing her bills to skyrocket. In the end, Kaoru and Rilakkuma lose weight from eating frugally.
8
8
"Getting a Job" Transliteration: "Arubaito" (Japanese: アルバイト)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19)
In November, Kaoru becomes concerned about money as her winter bonus is cut by 10% and she is notified that the apartment complex will be demolished next year. Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori get jobs to help, but Rilakkuma is fired from all of them. Kaoru apologizes for making them worry and doesn't accept their money, saying that the landlord will compensate them.
In January, Rilakkuma and friends recreate a luau for Kaoru, but Kaoru tells them she'd rather go to Hawaii with her future partner. Their performance goes viral on the Internet and they are invited to perform in Hawaii, but they decide to take Tokio with them instead of Kaoru.
In April, Kaoru, Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori clean up and move out of their apartment, reflecting on the past year they spent together.
Season 2 (2022)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
14
1
"An Uneasy Feeling" Transliteration: "Toraburu na Yokan" (Japanese: トラブルな予感)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
15
2
"Game Battle with Emiri" Transliteration: "Emiri to no Gēmu Batoru" (Japanese: エミリとゲームバトル)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
16
3
"Eiji and the jungle tour" Transliteration: "Eiji to Janguru Tsuā" (Japanese: 永治とジャングルツアー)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
17
4
"Clown in Love" Transliteration: "Piero no Koisuru Jaguringu" (Japanese: ピエロの恋するジャグリング)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
18
5
"Suzune's an Idol" Transliteration: "Suzune wa Aidoru!" (Japanese: スズネはアイドル！)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
19
6
"The Secret of the Theme Park" Transliteration: "Yūenchi no Himitsu" (Japanese: 遊園地の秘密)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
20
7
"Strategy Meeting in the Dark" Transliteration: "Kurayami no Sakusen Kaigi" (Japanese: くらやみの作戦会議)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
21
8
"The Last Parade" Transliteration: "Saigo no Parēdo" (Japanese: 最後のパレード)
Masahito Kobayashi
Naoko Ogigami
August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25)
Reception
Petrana Radulovic from Polygon called the show endearing and complimented the juxtaposition of the "whimsy" with Kaoru's struggles with her adult life.[9] James Whitbrook from io9 described the show as "a love letter to the need to escape", noting its message that sometimes even small acts of escape from everyday life are necessary.[10]Anime News Network praised the animation and concept, but mentioned that there was little exploration and resolution towards Kaoru's troubles.[11]
^"「リラックマ」初のこま撮りアニメ、脚本は『かもめ食堂』の荻上直子氏が担当" [Rilakkuma's first stop-motion animation, written by Naoko Ogiue of Kamome Shokudo]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
^"山田孝之、『リラックマとカオルさん』で一人何役?" [Takayuki Yamada, what role do you play in "Rilakkuma and Kaoru-san"?]. Oricon (in Japanese). 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
