Rilakkuma and Kaoru (2019) User Reviews

charming, sweet, relaxing

[dirtydiph · 8/10 · 10 May 2019]

Actually so endearing. charming stop-motion animation. i was aware that rilakkuma was a character before this show, and was initially put off by the fact that he's the face of very "cutesy" merchandise, but this show doesn't give that impression at all. kid friendly, but some of the themes and humour may be a little *whoosh* for young children.

the only thing i wasn't too fond of were the "romance" bits, kaoru's lovey-dovey fawning over guys. it's just a bit too stock for me, and not really explored with the subtle charm that's done for other themes or life experiences.

watched the first episode in english, switched to japanese original with english subtitles from the 2nd one on and it's a lot better for me.

A Comforting Show

[flavorlesspancake · 9/10 · 23 April 2019]

Accompanied by two cute bears and an adorable bird, audiences can not only look into various social issues represented by a short story in each episode but explores individuals' identity and position in the fast-paced, overwhelming and complicated modern world through the eyes of the show's female protagonist. No matter how mundane and tiring life is, is it pleasant and comforting to know that there are always two lovely bears and an adorable bird for you to come home to.

Has really helped me relax more.

[nicole-benney · 9/10 · 29 April 2019]

The stop motion is really beautiful. Textures and color choices are also really nice. I found myself looking forward to watching this before bed. Some of the episodes had lessons but it's mainly a spice of life show and sometimes that's all you need. Hoping for more seasons.

Delightful

[gufran-29404 · 10/10 · 20 April 2019]

Feels like a breath of fresh air. Loved it and wish it was longer.

ABSOLUTELY LOVELY SHOW!

[lauriejbloemke · 10/10 · 2 May 2019]

If you want to just relax and feel stress free watch this show. It is endearing and the themes are great life lessons. The characters are adorable and heartfelt. I don't believe there is anything like it and you certainly won't find a show like this on cable or digital tv. 10 out of 10, hoping for a season 2!

A must watch

[tejas3110 · 10/10 · 21 April 2019]

This is such a great short animated series that is surely to be added to your watch list.its heart warming to watch these characters make you understand simple things we experience in our lives. Go put it on and watch yourself melt away at this. Lana condors voice suits kaoru and has done a great job. The bears are just too cute. Hope a next season shows up,

Little treasures of life

[ananyashrm · 10/10 · 28 April 2019]

This show made me feel so happy and fuzzy... and believe me i have a really stressful life. The way every episode focuses on a really important aspect yo live a happy life At the end of each episode you find little lines which makes you contemplate life

So whimsical and kawaii!

[pliu-99957 · 10/10 · 27 April 2019]

I was missing Japan so much and was so glad I found this show. The show showcases Japanese culture and their beautiful esthetic...with some added kawaii in the form of bears!! Kaoru, the girl that the bears live with, is going through some very millennial type issues. The message at the end of every episode is always a positive one. Can't wait until next season!

Adorable!

[cloudy-15283 · 10/10 · 22 April 2019]

This has got to be my favorite Netlifx Original. The characters are extremely cute but each theme in every episode is surprisingly adult-targeted (depression, loneliness, finances). Watch this if you want to relax or just have something with a really nice and playful atmosphere.

The bird is the best character

[alexklatt-28518 · 7/10 · 28 April 2019]

This is a good show. It's not super deep, but the writing is good, and occasionally funny. The animation is really great. The environments are lush and vividly colourful, and the characters are expressive. Even without dialogue, the animal characters are cute, charming and full of personality. The wisdom or moral at the end of each episode can be naïve or platitudinous at times, but the show is quite uplifting. Good for a kid to watch, but Kaoru's feelings of inadequacy may be relatable for disillusioned young adults. Hopefully they make a season 2.

A heart warming tv show about life

[abrei-85001 · 10/10 · 26 April 2019]

We started watching this for a bit of a laugh and to wind down before bed. Like many others we assumed it would be juvenile but were pleasantly surprised to discover many of the themes resonated with us as newly 30-somethings struggling with issues such as maintaining friendships, finances and careers. I found myself genuinely caring for the protagonist and her little family of bears. A very refreshing look at adulthood and the beauty of the mundane.

cute, nice, depressing

[soypinguinita · 6/10 · 14 July 2019]

Loved the animation and characters, but i kinda hated Kaoru, she's a little mindless about her animal friends, she offered a ghost girl to kick her lovely bear friend!!! her obsession on finding true love kinda annoyed me, like.. girl that's not the point of living or growing up! i think this show couldn't give any advice to lonely people, kaoru didn't really appreciated the company of rilakkuma and she was stuborn on getting marry till the end of the show... did she really learn anything?

A woman and her stuffed animals

[bucketlistsandbyways · 4/10 · 18 May 2019]

I accidentally stumbled on this show on Netflix while looking for something new that might interest my son. We thought it was for little kids, but boy were we wrong! This show follows more of a "slice-of-life" genre for.... well, I wouldn't recommend it for any age, but I will say now this has never been a favorite genre of mine as I find them to be boring and stale.

This show is about an emotionally immature, depressed middle-aged woman who struggles to stay happy in life with her two stuffed animals bears and stuffed bird. Throughout each episode, there is something new that depresses her: her friends are too busy to see her, her family doesn't want her to visit, she doesn't have a boyfriend, she is indecisive.... I could go on about the things she complains about.

As I watched the series, I think the bears are supposed to represent different aspects of her personality in order to help her cope with her problems, which is an interesting concept. They seem to represent her inner childhood and happiness that she ignores. And in many episodes, Kaoru is rude to them, often taking out her frustrations on them - even when SHE caused all the problems to begin with.

I kept watching in hopes that in the end, Koaru's life would improve, that the kid under her apartment would just keep the bears, or that she would quit her job. Towards the end of the series, there isn't much change in Koaru. She's still depressed.

In the end, we were grateful that the episodes were short. If there is a second season, I can only hope it is better. There is much to improve upon. I'm not sure why anyone thought a show like this is "cute".... it's kind of creepy. If it was just about the animals, it would be much cuter.

Perfect way to unwind

[rhn218 · 10/10 · 8 May 2019]

I started watching this show on a whim since each episode is only 11 minutes, thinking it was made for children. While it's definitely appropriate for kids, it actually centers around a woman in her late twenties who feels like everyone around her is moving on. Each episode has a little theme, usually along the lines of being kind to yourself and learning to deal with change. The stop motion is gorgeous and every scene is beautifully detailed; I especially loved all the Japanese snacks from Dango to fluffy pancakes. It also goes without saying that the bears (and the bird) are adorable, and have wonderfully distinct personalities. Overall, this show is a perfect bite-sized package of joy after a long day. Looking forward to many seasons to come!

Awsome show

[hananokog · 10/10 · 23 April 2019]

I wish they'd make another season for it Really enjoyable :)

PERFECT

[jesse029 · 10/10 · 29 May 2019]

Possibly one of the best creations ever. Tackles some serious scenarios in a cute and playful manner. Heartwarming, easy to watch masterpiece that I know I will be re-watching many times in the near future!

Absolutely Heartwarming

[lukeanw · 10/10 · 17 May 2019]

It is remarkable when you can watch a show and automatically know it will be something you keep with you forever. I stumbled across this title on Netflix one night and decided to dive in (as I'm a big fan of anything Japanese and cute) and I was NOT expecting HALF of the quality this show has. First of all, the stop-motion art style blends beautifully with these characters and story. It is executed in a way that makes you constantly recognize how fantastic it is. On top of that, the writing and storylines are surprisingly real and mature. This isn't a gag-for-laugh show. This probably isn't even a comedy. This is a heartwarming book with chapters focusing in on dead-end jobs, the changing of the seasons, and the uncertainty we have about where our lives are going. What makes this show an undeniable 10 (I wish I could rate it even higher) is that it is all about simplistic joy; the happiness that hides in the littlest of things. You'll watch the show, grow jealous of her romanticized cartoon life, then realize all of the things she has are things you do too. This show reminds you how beautiful life really is.

Do yourself a favor and watch it. Even just an episode (they're only like 12 minutes!). You'll be beginning for a season 2.

Simply Amazing!

[arcturuz78 · 10/10 · 28 April 2019]

One of the best animated series I have ever watched.

You will definitely be enchanted with the charming characters and fantastic animation.

Hope for a season 2.

Season 2 (and 3,4,5,...) Please

[wuwa007 · 10/10 · 4 October 2019]

This is so cute! I love Rilakkuma and I have 200 plushes at my home

Now I probably have 300. (Updated March 2020)

Cute or evil?

[rh-buskens · 7/10 · 23 April 2019]

This stop-motion anime is certainly sweet and endearing. That is until I watched the episode with the female ghost. This ghost can't stand bears. Every time she sees a bear she wants to kick 'm. Kaoru, the main female character, is touched by the ghost's life story and understands her reason to want to kick a bear. And so she walks up to Rilakkuma, the cute, innocent and kindhearted bear who she always finds comfort in, and then suddenly grabs him and tells the ghost to kick him. Because, "sometimes you have to just let it out", right? In that moment Kaoru turns into this evil betrayer. This scene is such a letdown.

Instead, she should have asked the ghost not to hurt her bears. She had to teach the ghost not to generalize. But no, let's kick him. And yeah let everyone help holding the bear still so the ghost can have her way. What a load of crap. Choosing a stranger over your loved ones and in such a manner!

A 7/10 because it still is a nice series.

IN LOVE!

[penelope_gallegos · 10/10 · 27 April 2019]

This is beyond lovely! This is way better than a cheese chick flick. Zip your favourite tea, cuddle in bed and let your heart enjoy

Feel good

[klauzbilana · 7/10 · 19 April 2020]

This is feel good anime..very cute and sad. Rilakkuma is amazing

Not appropriate for kids

[burke1024 · 1/10 · 19 May 2019]

I cannot believe the reviews people are leaving. My daughter was crying with fear from episode 5!! I am enraged that they put this on for kids! My son was scared to fall asleep. I do not recommend this for children 12 and under at all!!!

Relaxing, cute, refreshing.

[Achyut_Prashast_Singh · 10/10 · 20 December 2020]

Rilakkuma and Kaoru is a very sweet stop-motion anime that will melt your heart, make you smile and root for the characters at the same time. It's so relaxing to watch that it's worth recommending even to adults, and not just kids alone. With episodes so short and yet well animated+edited, this show is a slice-of-life masterpiece. The four lead characters have left a special mark in my heart, and I hope I get to see more of them in another season. I was so into it that I couldn't stop myself from finishing it in just one sitting. All 13 episodes are beautifully written, transitioning brilliantly from comedy to drama, and at times raising "adult" questions about life and self-acceptance. It has an endearing charm to it, and the aftertaste it leaves once you finish all 13 episodes is great enough to be memorable. Also well-voiced, this show has the power to make you forget your worries and sorrows while you're watching it. Go ahead, give it a watch and rekindle your inner child.

A very clam show of relatable characters

[gabrielmorenocorredor · 9/10 · 7 May 2019]

These characters true it is made for kids but the story they do in this is quite enjoyable and quite slow which makes sense due to a main character/mascot in real life japan Rilakkuma who likes to rest. The show is really well done in stop motion and a story that can be further developed so I have hope I will get more better the follow season P.s I enjoy the stow and the story