Netflix began streaming a "Golden Week" promotional video for Rilakkuma and Kaoru (Rilakkuma to Kaoru-san), the anime series of San-X's "Rilakkuma" character, on Tuesday. The video highlights activities for Japan's Golden Week holidays, which take place from late April to early May.
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").
Mikako Tabe voices Kaoru.
Masahito Kobayashi is directing the anime at Dwarf Studio (Domo), while Naoko Ogigami (Kamome Shokudō, Megane, Close-Knit) is writing the scripts. The show is animated through stop-motion.
The anime will premiere globally on April 19. The anime was previously slated for 2018 via Netflix.
San-X launched the character in 2003. Aki Kondo created the character and is serving as creative advisor for the anime.