Rilakkuma and Kaoru

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.

Rilakkuma and Kaoru (2019) is a Japanese stop motion slice of life comedy produced by dwarf studios and distributed by Netflix. Office worker Kaoru (voiced by Mikako Tabe) finds her quiet domestic routine upended when Rilakkuma, a bear with a zipper on its back who spends his days lazing around, becomes her unexpected roommate. Supporting voices include Takayuki Yamada as Hayate, Soki Matsumoto as Tokio, Mai Kanazawa as Sayu, and Issei Takubo as the landlord. Rather than driving toward a grand goal, the thirteen short episodes of roughly twelve minutes each are built from small everyday moments: meals, chores, errands, and the modest frustrations of working life in a Tokyo apartment. The engine is the gentle friction between Kaoru's tightly scheduled days and Rilakkuma's effortless idleness, which slowly becomes a source of comfort. The look is handmade and toy-like, with plush characters moving through miniature rooms. The tone is soft, wistful and warmly comic, with a deadpan humor that never turns harsh. Fans of Pingu, Wallace and Gromit and Yotsuba&! will find the same unhurried, cozy charm that rewards a relaxed evening viewing.

Audiences find the gentle stop motion comedy charming and comforting, with its lazy bear protagonist praised for warmth and low-stakes appeal.

• Bojack Horsemangentle domestic slice of life, cozy comedy, lazy deadpan animal protagonist
• Pingustop motion slice of life, whimsical gentle tone, small domestic comedy
• Yotsuba&!gentle slice of life, cozy comedy, office life and daily routine
• Wallace and Gromitstop motion animation, cute comedic tone, everyday domestic life

Release Date

2019-04-19

Episode runtime

12 min

Rating

8.2 / 10 (63)

What is Rilakkuma and Kaoru about?

A young office worker's life becomes gently unsettled when a lazy, zipper-backed bear named Rilakkuma moves in as her roommate.

What is Rilakkuma and Kaoru like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rilakkuma and Kaoru as slow, its intensity as subtle and its storytelling as simple.

Is Rilakkuma and Kaoru violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Rilakkuma and Kaoru.

What did critics think of Rilakkuma and Kaoru?

Audiences find the gentle stop motion comedy charming and comforting, with its lazy bear protagonist praised for warmth and low-stakes appeal.

Which shows are like Rilakkuma and Kaoru?

Shows with a similar feel include Bojack Horseman, Pingu, Yotsuba&!, and Wallace and Gromit.

How long is Rilakkuma and Kaoru?

Rilakkuma and Kaoru: 1 season, 13 episodes.

Is Rilakkuma and Kaoru still running?

No, Rilakkuma and Kaoru has ended.

Where can I watch Rilakkuma and Kaoru?

In United States, Rilakkuma and Kaoru streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.