Anime Fantasy

Rilakkuma and Kaoru Stop-Motion Anime Unveils Cast, Trailer, April 19 Debut

Netflix announced during its Anime Lineup Presentation event on Tuesday that Rilakkuma and Kaoru (Rilakkuma to Kaoru-san), the anime series of San-X's "Rilakkuma" character, will debut globally on April 19. Netflix also revealed that Mikako Tabe will voice Kaoru, and posted a new trailer and visual for the series.

The anime was previously slated for 2018 via Netflix in 190 countries.

Masahito Kobayashi is directing the anime at Dwarf Studio (Domo), while Naoko Ogigami (Kamome Shokudō, Megane, Close-Knit) is writing the scripts. The show will be animated through stop-motion.

The character's story begins when the titular Rilakkuma suddenly appears in the apartment of office worker Kaoru and begins living there, spending every day idling around. He has a zipper on his back, but the contents remain unknown. He likes food like pancakes, omelette rice, pudding, and dango. He lives together with the little white cub Korilakkuma and Kaoru's pet Kiiroitori ("yellow bird").

San-X launched the character in 2003. Aki Kondo created the character and is serving as creative advisor for the anime.

Source: Press release