Trailer: Rilakkuma and Kaoru head to Netflix this April
David Farnor | On 20, Mar 2019
Netflix is about to get 100% cuter this April, with the arrival of Rilakkuma and Kaoru.
The first animated show based on one of Japan’s most beloved characters, the stop-motion series follows Rilakkuma, a soft toy bear who showed up one day to live with a young woman, his human roommate named Kaoru. Besides Rilakkuma, Kaoru also lives with Korilakkuma (a small white bear cub) and Kiiroitori (Kaoru’s pet bird), and they have adorable, surreal, and amazing adventures.
Expect pancakes, rice omelettes, custard pudding and “dango” rice dumplings. All 13 episodes land on Netflix on Friday 19th April. Here’s the first trailer – or, for what’s coming soon to Netflix UK in April 2019, click here.
Rilakkuma and Kaoru is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.
Netflix unveils first look at Rilakkuma and Kaoru
22nd May 2018
Netflix is about to get a lot cuter, thanks to the arrival of Rilakkuma and Kaoru this spring.
The first animated show based on one of Japan’s most beloved characters, the stop-motion series follows Rilakkuma, a soft toy bear who showed up one day to live with a young woman named Kaoru. Besides Rilakkuma, Kaoru also lives Korilakkuma (a small white bear cub) and Kiiroitori (Kaoru’s pet bird), and they have adorable, surreal, and amazing adventures.
Rilakkuma loves pancakes, rice omelettes, custard pudding and “dango” rice dumplings. To mark his 15th anniversary, he’s heading to Netflix for 13 adorable episodes, with visuals provided by Japan’s leading stop motion animation studio dwarf (Domo, Komaneko), supported by Rilakkuma creator Aki Kondo for story development.
Now, we have our first look at one of the sweetest things to stream on Netflix. Here’s the video:
Netflix nabs global rights to Rilakkuma and Kaoru
19th October 2017
Netflix has nabbed the global rights to Rilakkuma and Kaoru.
The stop-motion series marks the first animated show based on one of Japan’s most beloved characters. Rilakkuma is a soft toy bear who showed up one day to live with a young woman named Kaoru. It spends its days lounging around the apartment. Although there is a zipper on its back, what is inside is a mystery.
Rilakkuma loves pancakes, rice omelets, custard pudding and “dango” rice dumplings. Its friends are Kaoru’s pet bird Kiiroitori and a small white bear cub named Korilakkuma, who also showed up out of the blue.
Ever since its merchandise first went on sale by San-X in 2003, the character has enjoyed immense popularity. After being featured in many merchandising and industry campaigns, it is now widely recognized both in Japan and abroad.
To mark its 15th anniversary, 13 episodes of this new series have been commissioned, with the visuals provided by Japan’s leading stop motion animation studio dwarf (Domo, Komaneko), supported by Rilakkuma creator Aki Kondo for story development. With internationally acclaimed filmmaker Naoko Ogigami (Kamome Shokudo, Close-Knit) joining as screenwriter, the series promises to appeal to audiences across all ages. The programme is directed by Masahito Kobayashi, with San-X overseeing the project.
Production has now begun on the series, which will premiere globally as a Netflix original in Spring 2019.