by I love watching bizarro shows, and there is no show more bizarre than the recently released Rilakkuma and Kaoru series from Netflix.
Animation
First of all, I love that it is done in stop motion. It made me remember all the warm and fuzzy feelings I had as a child watching Wallace and Grommit, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Gumby, and all those Christmas specials.
Emotion
What resonated with me the most was that at its core, the show is about how sad Kaoru feels about her life. The show says that she’s a twenty-something, and as a twenty-something she’s suffering from the “my life is going nowhere and I’m getting left behind” feeling. C’mon lady, you’re a twenty something. Talk me when you’re a mid to late thirty something and still feel the same way. You’ve got plenty of time ahead of you to change the course of your life.
Don’t get me wrong, I can relate. I remember what it was like back in those days.
Dialogue
Another thing that I love about the show is that it hardly has any dialogue and that everything is communicated through the character’s facial expressions and short mundane quips. I wish I had taken better notes.
Bottom Line
I loved the show, and I can’t wait for more episodes to be produced.
Other reviews
Other reviews that I’ve read:
https://www.polygon.com/2019/4/19/18508207/rilakkuma-and-kaoru-netflix-review
https://io9.gizmodo.com/i-really-really-needed-rilakkuma-and-kaoru-this-month-1834307394
