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Season 1 – Rilakkuma and Kaoru

Play trailer 1:42 Poster for Season 1 – Rilakkuma and Kaoru Apr 2019 Drama Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Kaoru's unexpected new roommate is Rilakkuma, a bear with a zipper on its back that spends each day just lazing around -- but is impossible to hate.
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Rilakkuma and Kaoru — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Toussaint Egan Thrillist 05/15/2019
A charming slice-of-life comedy with coming-of-age elements, both the series' writing and animation are excellent. Go to Full Review Boon Chan The Straits Times (Singapore) 05/15/2019
3.5/5
There are life lessons here, but nothing too preachy and the pleasure is in the details of the beautiful animation, from Kaoru cracking an egg and making omu rice to Rilakkuma's brown bear suit hanging on the clothesline after a wash. Go to Full Review James Whitbrook io9.com 05/10/2019
But while the small-scaled intimacy of Rilakkuma and Kaoru is what drew me to it in the first place, it was ultimately Kaoru's journey across the series that I took to heart more than the almost cloying sweetness of her plush pals. Go to Full Review Petrana Radulovic Polygon 05/10/2019
What makes the show stand out isn't just the whimsical creatures, though they are certainly a delight. It's the juxtaposition of the whimsy with the mundane. Go to Full Review Emily Ashby Common Sense Media 05/07/2019
5/5
Human, animal characters shine in quirky slice-of-life show. Go to Full Review Monique Jones Just Add Color 04/30/2019
Rilakkuma and Kaoru excels at giving homey slice-of-life storylines within more fantastical and often humorous moments, making the series even more endearing than it already is. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ericalandia T @RT97431122 03/03/2025 A delightful stop animation year-in-the-life of a little chosen-family, a hybrid of a human mom/friend/caretaker and two bears and a bird. Rilakkuma is a very popular character in Japan whose name means Relax Bear. He and his non-verbal friends love snacks and pancakes.The pace is slow and cozy, showing the seasons change and a simple life. I actually prescribe watching this show to friends who are stressed. See more 08/22/2020 Best show ever, its adorable, and it warms my heart every time I watch it, will love to see a season 2 any time soon. See more 11/16/2019 During a time when I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety, this was what i would binge watch to easy my mind of the constant panic attacks I was sufferIng. The show is wholesome, relaxing, beautiful animated and for all ages. If Nextflix renews this series for a season 2, I will be binging the whole series. I will buy a copy of the dvd if and when it comes out. Kiiroitori is best birb! See more 11/09/2019 Heart-warming slice of life about the trials of adulthood. Hits some depressive/nihilistic notes like Bojack Horseman, but in a more life-affirming way. See more 08/05/2019 One of the most refreshing shows I have seen in a long time, heart felt and the stop motion is beautiful! Bring on a second season! See more 06/04/2019 It started out cute but it got weird quick When I found out Rilakkuma is a bear suit and not an actual bear, I was shook, and considering he hangs out with an actual bear and an actual bird only means one thing... Also, how do you sacrifice Rilakkuma to be kicked by a ghost girl as Kaoru did. Well, besides the point I love Rilakkuma and friends and would definitely watch a second season See more Read all reviews
Rilakkuma and Kaoru — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Mikako Tabe

Kaoru

Soki Matsumoto

Tokio

Takayuki Yamada

Hayate

Mai Kanazawa

Voice

Shigeru Sugimoto

Voice

Issei Takubo

Voice

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Cherry Blossom Kaoru is dejected when her friends' busy lives prevent them from attending their annual Hanami; Rilakkuma can't make pancakes without burning them. Details Episode 2 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Kidnapped A sense of panic takes over Kaoru when she receives a ransom note demanding a stack of pancakes in exchange for the safe return of Rilakkuma. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Rainy Season Heavy rains bring an unlikely growth of mushrooms inside the home, and Kaoru's spirits are dampened when she's the subject of office gossip. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Fireworks While Rilakkuma is able to wholeheartedly enjoy the food and games at the summer festival, Kaoru grows frustrated by her own perpetual indecisiveness. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Ghost Girl During a sudden power outage, Kaoru and her friends are stopped dead in their tracks when a spirit from beyond the grave makes a surprise visit. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Fortune-Telling After a streak of bad luck in the last days of summer, Kaoru sees a psychic, who implies that her three roommates are the cause of her problems. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Slim Down To help her lose weight -- and to catch a glimpse of the cute deliveryman -- Kaoru keeps ordering more and more costly exercise equipment online. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Getting a Job Seeing Kaoru struggle with her finances, Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma and Kiiroitori take it upon themselves to find part-time jobs -- with mixed results. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Snowman With a blanket of December snow covering the entire neighborhood, Rilakkuma offers his knit cap to a poor snowman who looks so cold. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Hawaii The roommates bring the sounds of aloha into their home to brighten Kaoru's day when a colleague's engagement in Hawaii brings her down. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Sleepless Night Thinking a streak of light in the night sky was a UFO, Korilakkuma tries to call it back by building a pyramid-shaped beacon out of junk. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 19, 2019 The First Day In this flashback episode, Kaoru reminisces about the time she wanted a pet cat but met the delightful bears that would become her roommates. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 19, 2019 Moving Out As their apartment's demolition date draws near, Kaoru searches for a new place, and they all do their best to toss out the things they don't need. Details

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Rilakkuma and Kaoru — Season 1

Rilakkuma and Kaoru: Season 1 Trailer Rilakkuma and Kaoru: Season 1 Trailer 1:42 View more videos
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Rilakkuma and Kaoru — Season 1

Rilakkuma and Kaoru View more photos

Season Info

Screenwriter
Naoko Ogigami
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Drama, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date
Apr 19, 2019