| Rilakkuma and Kaoru | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Kanji | リラックマとカオルさん |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Aki Kondo |
| Written by | Naoko Ogigami |
| Directed by | Masahito Kobayashi |
| Starring | Mikako Tabe |
| Ending theme | "Sampo" byQuruli |
| Composer | Shigeru Kishida |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 21 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Running time | 12 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 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 Japanesestop-motion animated television series created by Dwarf Studio in cooperation withSan-X, based on theRilakkuma character franchise.
The series premiered onNetflix on April 19, 2019. In October 2020, it was renewed for a second season, titledRilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure (リラックマと遊園地,Rirakkuma to Yūenchi), featuring the same production staff.[2]Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure was released worldwide exclusively on Netflix on August 25, 2022.[3]
An initial pitch was made by Tokyo representatives atNetflix in 2016.[5] The series was announced publicly in 2017 and was originally slated for a 2018 release.[6]
Director Masahito Kobayashi drew inspiration fromWes Anderson's films, such asFantastic Mr. Fox andIsle of Dogs.[5] 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.[5] The fictional city that the show takes place in, Ogigaya, is a mash-up of theOgikubo andAsagaya neighborhoods inTokyo.[5] The series was made at Dwarf Studio, who previously made stop motionDomo-kun animation.[7] 10 separate stages were set up, with the staff filming about 10 seconds of footage per day simultaneously.[5]
In 2018,Netflix announced the show would be released on April 19, 2019, and starMikako Tabe as Kaoru.[8] Original characters created for the series, Tokio, Hayate, and Sayu, were introduced in March 2019.[4] 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 theYuriko horror movie, Kaoru's landlord, Kaoru's boss, the fisherman in episode 8, the photographer in episode 10, and the alien in episode 11.[9]
| Season | Title | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rilakkuma and Kaoru | 13 | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | ||
| 2 | Theme Park Adventure | 8 | August 25, 2022 (2022-08-25) | ||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Cherry Blossom" Transliteration: "Hanami" (Japanese:花見) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In April, Kaoru prepares for ahanami 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. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Kidnapped" Transliteration: "Koinobori" (Japanese:こいのぼり) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
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 thekoinobori. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Rainy Season" Transliteration: "Tsuyu" (Japanese:梅雨) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In June, Kaoru overhears her co-workers mentioning she is too serious for agroup date.Heavy rain causes mushrooms to grow in her house, and she considers eating them to change her personality. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Fireworks" Transliteration: "Natsu Matsuri" (Japanese:夏祭り) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In July, Kaoru attends the summer festival, and Rilakkuma helps her become less indecisive. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Ghost Girl" Transliteration: "Obon" (Japanese:お盆) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In August, the typhoon season approaches and a ghost girl visits Kaoru's apartment. Kaoru offers her advice to move on. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Fortune-Telling" Transliteration: "Uranai" (Japanese:占い) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
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. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Slim Down" Transliteration: "Daietto" (Japanese:ダイエット) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
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. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Snowman" Transliteration: "Yukidaruma" (Japanese:雪だるま) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In December, Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori make snowmen. Rilakkuma gets sick and has a dream where he plays with them at night. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Hawaii" Transliteration: "Hawai" (Japanese:ハワイ) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
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. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Sleepless Night" Transliteration: "Hoshizora" (Japanese:星空) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In February, Korilakkuma attempts to contact aliens and meets one in a dream-like sequence. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "The First Day" Transliteration: "Deai" (Japanese:出会い) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In March, Kaoru reflects on the first time Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma first appeared in her apartment a year ago. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Moving Out" Transliteration: "Hikkoshi" (Japanese:引っ越し) | Masahito Kobayashi | Naoko Ogigami | April 19, 2019 (2019-04-19) | |
In April, Kaoru, Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori clean up and move out of their apartment, reflecting on the past year they spent together. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release 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) |
Petrana Radulovic fromPolygon called the show endearing and complimented the juxtaposition of the "whimsy" with Kaoru's struggles with her adult life.[10] James Whitbrook fromio9 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.[11]Anime News Network praised the animation and concept, but mentioned that there was little exploration and resolution towards Kaoru's troubles.[12]
