The latest title added to Netflix’s growing collection of original anime series is Rilakkuma and Kaoru. The first trailer is ... absolutely and amazingly adorable. Seriously, try not the squeal.
Based on the Rilakkuma character — one of the many cutesy character designs to come from Japanese stationery company San-X — Rilakkuma and Kaoru follows the adventures of office worker Kaoru (voiced by Lana Condor) and her stuffed bear companion Rilakkuma. Joining them are smaller stuffed bear Korilakkuma and Kaoru’s pet bird Kiiroitori.
Kaoru faces the stress of office life and the struggles of being a single-twenty-something — not unlike Netflix’s other cute animal anime adaptation Aggretsuko. But while Aggretsuko takes out her rage with heavy metal, Kaoru instead must learn to relax with the totally chill Rilakkuma. The trailer shows off the show’s unique stop-motion animation. You can see the all the little fuzz on Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma. Ah!
How exactly does a regular office worker end up with two living plush bears? In the stationary line it’s simple: the two bears just randomly showed up at Kaoru’s house one day. It’s uncertain whether the show will keep this origin story or tell a whole now one. Whatever the case, it’s going to be huggable.
Rilakkuma and Kaoru premieres on Netflix April 19.