It has been announced that the TV anime "Rilakkuma," featuring the popular character Rilakkuma, will be broadcast on TBS from 9:25 AM on April 4th. It has also been announced that Rira Ikuta, who sings the theme song "stay with me," will be the narrator for the anime. A collaborative visual of Rilakkuma and Ikuta has been released.
The first key visual featuring Rilakkuma and friends has been released, revealing that the season title will be "Rilakkuma: A Relaxing Dream Journey." The first trailer has also been released, showing scenes of Rilakkuma and friends traveling and Rilakkuma in a space suit.
Rilakkuma is a popular character from San-X, and the first batch of merchandise was released in 2003. Anime such as "Rilakkuma and Kaoru" and "Rilakkuma and the Amusement Park" have also been produced.
The TV anime will be produced as a short anime, with Masami Itatsu directing the first part and Yumi Kamakura directing the second part, and will be produced by Production IG, the studio behind the "Ghost in the Shell" series and "Haikyu!!".
The staff's comments are as follows:
◇Comment from Director Masami Itatsu
"Rilakkuma" is being adapted into a TV anime for the first time. The theme this time is "A Relaxed Dream Journey." Rilakkuma and friends travel freely in a soft, colorful dream world. The soft touch that only hand-drawn animation can create is packed with a variety of Rilakkuma images that can only be seen here. Please take a break from your busy daily life and enjoy this relaxing and leisurely time with your children.
◇Comment from Director Yumi Kamakura
Starting this spring, the adorable Rilakkuma and his friends will be making an appearance in your mornings. They'll bring you new encounters and the usual relaxed atmosphere. If you're wondering what to do today, why not take off and do whatever you want with Rilakkuma? Relax and enjoy the animations that will add a little flavor and color to your everyday life.
◇Comment from character designer Chiho Morita
As a child, Rilakkuma was a great help to me as a child, providing me with stationery and other items. I never imagined that as an adult I would be involved in an anime series. I researched the "bear-ness" of the original work so that viewers could feel a new side of the bears and become more familiar with them. I used a variety of drawing styles to convey a sense of warmth. I hope that you can feel the bears' carefree behavior through their movements. I hope you will sit back and watch over Rilakkuma and friends on their journey.
◇Comment from music director Kota Yokoseki
While cherishing the world of Rilakkuma and friends, where time flows gently, the song was composed to accompany the excitement of heart-pounding adventures as well as the moments when you suddenly get flustered and rushed. I was conscious of creating a fun melody that will brighten your mood just by listening to it and make you want to sing along. Please listen and enjoy the music that colors the world of Rilakkuma and friends as time flows gently.
◇Comment from music director Yoshiya Ikeda
During the songwriting process, I imagined the movements of Rilakkuma and friends, and imagined what kind of music would be good, creating the music as if I was spending time with them. It was a really fun time. The three of us worked on the music, dividing up the responsibilities for each episode. I think we were able to each put in our own detailed attention to detail in the relaxed atmosphere. I'm happy to have been able to weave music behind the scenes of Rilakkuma and friends moving leisurely in the world of the anime.
◇Comment from Mizuki Kanno, music director
I was also soothed by the adorable worldview of the work while creating the song. The charm of each character was already overflowing from the scenario, so when creating the music, I was careful to capture the atmosphere and story of the setting and country that the characters encounter in the anime. I think it's a wonderful work with unexpected developments that are unique to anime, a relaxed and soothing atmosphere that is typical of Rilakkuma, and the opportunity to meet new Rilakkumas in each episode. Please check it out!
