Luca

This really had no damn reason to be as good as it is.




I have not heard anything about this movie at all, and I simply have to ask what in the cinnamon toast fuck is wrong with people? We have ourselves another modern Pixar classic, no doubt in production during the middle of a global pandemic, with a simple yet endearing story and not one single person I know of talked about it??? How do you fuck that up?! Granted yes, even I, when I first heard the premise and saw promotional material I thought it would be okay. Just this neat little story of a young sea monster child named Luca who akin to another sea faring youngster from Disney gains a fascination with the surface world, but no voices or souls need to be sold off here cause when sea monsters touch dry land they become human, and quickly Luca makes friends, learns about the surface more, and enters a race to win a Vespa to travel the world. The first thing I gotta say is, you show off-y bastards Pixar, like when it gets to the point I'm honestly pissed right the hell off how good a movie looks and you continue to barrage me with stunning environments, lavish color, and just unbelievable visuals do you really expect me to just not gush about it?? I adore just the revelry in the culture, language, and architecture of Italy, I'm all for that kind of thing! Even with movies like Encanto, wasn't too wild about the movie but goddamn did I love seeing the culture of a south american/hispanic family. But the big reason I feel the movie works as good as it does is the characters. The writers really and I mean really got the mannerisms and intellect of kids down in this! Luca is good kid at heart, he has daydreams, he has to build up the nerve to do certain things, and he has doubts but an openness to voice his feelings. Alberto is another sea monster who entices Luca to the surface, who has baggage of his own and thinks he knows everything in that teen sort of way, much more extroverted and yet reserved for reasons the movie explains, but undeniable friends to the end. Guilia, little red haired girl who's got some attitude and just a dash of overdramatic, I'm sold! She's class, obviously because she is our human window to our protagonist we spend a lot of time with her, getting to know her family and situation, her goals of winning the race herself, they do mighty good giving these characters emotions and identity. It's very easy to get involved and while I'll say the ending isn't a complete bummer, it does dip into that bittersweetness which if you've been here long enough you know that kind of shit is my jam. The music, good God the music had me before the movie even began, it's easily one of the best soundtracks to a Pixar film and in my estimation the music from them only gets better with each film. And the movie doesn't really go down any trope paths, it flirts with it but skirts clear thank Christ. I really can't complain about anything in this movie except the villain, mainly cause he's just an enormous sack of shit who is so hateable to the point where there was a moment where I was like, if this movie has him get gutted by a harpoon in a back alley I'm giving this movie a 20/10, but it's intentional from the filmmakers so I can't mark against it. Like I am reallllyyy flip flopping between a 9 and a 10 here guys! I'll give it a 9/10, it's not Soul kind of flawless but it's so close it's not even funny. Full 4 stars, could not recommend it greater, for God's sake spread the word about this movie. It's just the movie I needed and it capped off the week quite nicely. See you next week everybody!

From Up On Poppy Hill

I can't think of a genre for this movie besides slice of life.




This is such a wonderful slice of life movie, I was severely questioning Studio Ghibli throughout this cause I was just wondering, "What is the magic ingredient and reason why Studio Ghibli films are as good as they are?". I mean really think about this, you have an animation studio who's only rival is Disney who themselves have distributed Studio Ghibli movies here in the States, their palette of stories is so broad it could be either pure fantasy or down to earth real life, and it effortlessly works it's way into your heart each and every single time to where you adore the movie when it barely has even begun. I was 12 minutes into this and I thought, what a sweet wonderful little film. Nothing has such power in this world except Studio Ghibli. When I explain the plot it sounds so dirt simple, almost like there's nothing to it but there truly is I swear. Alright, so the backdrop of this story is the 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo as we meet young schoolgirl Umi who meets and helps a fellow student named Shun keep his classmates center of operations for individual clubhouses from being demolished. That's pretty much the plot. There's no great drama, or adventure, there's not even a romance to it, it's just a simple yet strangely engaging story. Hence my previously stated remarks above. It's just a nice story with nice characters, there's no frills, bells, or whistles to keep you engaged. But it succeeds full heartedly in my opinion. There's still emotion and conflict, and something else that popped into my head is I don't actually consider Studio Ghibli movies for kids. It's silly to say, and not at all that children cannot understand the films but more on the basis that children couldn't appreciate the films like adults do. When I saw Spirited Away a very, very long time ago on Cartoon Network I didn't completely get it but I still very much liked the movie and there are moments when I could tell something was being presented that I didn't fully grasp emotionally or mentally. Watching it now I can see more and thus appreciate it more. From Up On Poppy Hill deals with the loss of a parent, a dedication to the past, how individuals deal with tragedy and try to move on. It's not super heavy or depressing even, but it is there. I wouldn't have grasped all of this at a young age, but I do now and I love the movie for that. It's difficult to explain but all too easy to feel. To see that time and place in the world is a great treat, even though you don't see major Tokyo landmarks in the mid 60s it's still cool. The animation is that same high quality, with pure art being showcased on the screen at times literally and figuratively, atmosphere has a great deal to play in these movies and I attribute that to Japan having a great deal of respect and admiration for nature. So to see a glimmering sea, sunsets amidst trees, even urban structures and cities, it just has this depth to it and we're not talking about perspective of the frame here. Something so simple but can speak great volumes, that's how I'd describe this movie. It's funny because I was picking what movies to review, upon reading the synopsis for this movie I was hesitant to add it because it just didn't sound like all that much, but there is a clear and distinct line from reading about a movie to experiencing a movie. 4 stars, I'm giving this an 8.5/10. A great movie no question, and tomorrow I've been waiting a very long time to finally see this movie so join me tomorrow as we take to the skies!

Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure

I flipped when I saw there was a second show.



Rilakkuma And Kaoru was one of the most pleasant, wonderful, and enjoyable shows I've ever seen so I stepped into this show with love and happiness and I don't think it was in vain. Spread over a short but sweet duration of 8 episodes, each about 15 minutes long, we follow the misadventures of Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, Kiiroitori, Kaoru, and young Tokio as they venture to a soon to be closing down amusement park and plans go awry. It's short, sweet, and cute. I really do not need much more than that. In terms of production, animation, and style I feel this didn't have as much of a budget as the first series but the vast majority of it is done very well. The colors pop, the animation is fluid, they throw in some traditional 2D animation for flashbacks, and the character designs are still great. It maybe didn't make me laugh as much as the first series, but whenever I did it was hard hyena-esque laughter, when something hit it just tickled my funny bone to the extreme. And you're not really gonna buy what I'm about to say here but it's true I swear. These episode cliffhangers got me more emotionally fuelled and loud than any television show I've seen in the past 5 years. Every single one. Like I was practically shaking my fist and wanting the next episode to start immediately. Probably just me but I don't care. Rilakkuma, still me hardcore. And I just have something to say here real quick man. I have never felt so personally and viciously attacked in my life, this show called me out, and the attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed. Seeing Rilakkuma be too tall or just too big for rides, no desire or initiative to do stuff unless food is involved and always in the mood for food, literally used as a bouncy castle to sit on, that's getting a bit personal to be perfectly honest. He's fragile, very fragile. Our returning cast are still brilliant, I fully took up just calling Korilakkuma "Baby" because...she is Baby and I would guard her forever. Poor Kaoru couldn't catch a break at all, in fact a lot goes wrong for everyone throughout this show. Not in a mean spirited or even depressing way of course, just things don't go as planned. Our characters get sidetracked, lost, spend the whole day trying to find each other, they try to help this nice young lady which flat out leads to a car chase where it sounds like Misirlou is kicking in, there's a conflict for each episode. Which is incredibly intentional because the new characters we meet who work at this amusement park have tribulations of their own but are reminded a few times that you can still have fun even if things don't happen the way you planned it. That's something I am really and truly taking away from this in my heart, I mean that's a fairly good life lesson. Quick sidebar, I was a bit surprised how much kinda spooky scary stuff was in this, I mean yes there was an episode devoted to scary stories in the last show, but even I was a little weirded out with some of the stuff presented. Of course it's more from a childlike perspective of something scary, rather than actual horrifying terror so that was interesting to say the least. I know it's not for everybody, it's pure innocent fluff, but God dang it I was a very happy, entertained, charmed bear, I mean boy watching this. What a splendid way to enjoy a chilly autumn day, get you some good food, comfy clothes, a place to lounge, and tune in. I give it 3.5 stars, 7.5/10!

Joe Pera Talks With You: Season 3

Like man I am not emotionally okay right now that there is no more new Joe Pera to watch.

So...is the final season the best? Well all endings are sad in a way and despite that, I would say yeah. It's one of the few shows I've seen in my life where the quality stays at an excellent standard throughout, and the enjoyment factor not just from the comedy but overall is exemplary and top of the peak. There's some pretty huge stuff that happens in this season, I mean lots happens great and small and thankfully no severe heartache is included. Gene retires and starts a semi-overarching story about chairs and the act of sitting, Sarah opens up and gets some gal pals which is great, Joe has to sell his Nana's house and reflects on legacy before taking a giant step with Sarah, and Gene creates Skynet and has plans to rule the world. That last part is not a joke. So help me, if I could, I would vote for that man under every alias I have, there's no one I trust more for the highest office. Fun conversational topics this season include going chair shopping, camping, the act of flying, and building furniture. Favorite episode....that's a tough one, I adore the flying episode for the amazing drone footage and fascinating train of thought you would have if you thought about taking to the air. Sarah getting new friends and coming out of her shell is so damn sweet and I cannot compliment that woman enough as is so that's possible contender material. And I gotta say the last episode is really damn good and the reason I love it is more for the fact of what you don't see, what happens after end credits, where does the lives of these people go and what direction is the world headed to? I call it the Watchmen effect. But I honestly like the season opener best, Joe and Gene going chair shopping and it's just such a cozy environment and honest to God, hand over my heart....I think that's the closest I have experienced serenity, true peace from a television show. I've experienced it multiple times in my life, often in the presence of silence and trees, but never have I felt that from a show. In fact, I've never felt anything like how I do watching other shows when I'm comfy in my chair and turning on Joe Pera Talks With You. It's the epitome of one of a kind for me, there just is nothing like it in media, which makes it all the more special. It can make me at ease, comfy, the warm fuzzies sieging my heart, thoughtful, appreciative of life, emotional about life, on the verge of tears even when nothing particularly heavy is going on it's just a feeling, and just unadulterated concentrated happiness surging through my soul. I've seen damn good television in my life, shows that might not be perfect but I still love them greatly regardless, shows that encapsulate phases of my life, I think I found the best and most perfect TV show right here. I give ratings primarily on enjoyment factor but always taking into consideration the aspects of production, acting, and direction while looking at the broad picture of cinema. Studio 666 is not objectively a 10/10, Cruella is not objectively a 10/10, Star Wars is not objectively a 10/10, but you know what? I have the time of my life watching those movies and revel in every second of it because it gives me everything I want and love. This series surpasses 10/10s, a 10 is shortselling it for me, I do not ironically give super high scores for anything least of all this. I mean it. This....this is it. I don't see it being toppled. Best dang television I've ever seen in my life.

Val

You don't need me to tell you anything. 10/10.

It was lovely. It was beautiful. It was eye opening in certain respects. In terms of documentaries, and documentaries of actors more specifically, it's one of the best. A literal scrapbook of videos detailing the life and acting career of Val Kilmer, and I got not one bad thing to say. The execution, directing, and editing is some of the best I've seen in a hot minute that movies wish they could have that kind of good editing. It's a terribly difficult thing to do to turn the camera on yourself, and spill your guts about your life and so much that happens in it, there's a lot of bad things to bring up but at the same time terrificly good things to remember, and it's handled with care and respect to the people involved least of all Val. As time goes by I learn more about him and the love has only grown since Batman Forever. Speaking of which the segment surrounding that film has if anything only improved, not devalued his performance in that movie with his sincerity about the shoot and everything production wise. It's barely over an hour and forty-five minutes so it's brief in terms of all his films but says volumes at the same time about the man himself which is the important thing. It presents his style, his thoughts, and personality every second and I couldn't have asked for anything better wrapping up this week. I really couldn't have. I'm not saying you have to see this, but at the same time I feel it's such a good film and very much worth talking about in some capacity that you should give it a go. This was a bit spur of the moment to have a Val Kilmer week but after that, I can safely say it was well worth it. 4 stars, 10/10, it was super nice and super sweet. Next week is when the real work starts, and October may just kill me but if I at least die at the last minute of the 31st I know at least I've had a pretty good life.

Aggretsuko: Season 3

Oh thank God. No romance.

Boy isn't this a toss up. Seasons 1 and 3 are intertwined for best season, I'm serious I cannot pick. And this is a drastically different season, with the second it was more of the same. Work sucks, trying to find love, unleash your anger, aren't these characters fun and quirky. But here, it kinda gets serious. I can't stand that in animation usually, but it doesn't get deathly serious. Okay that's partially a lie. I'll go through it. So Retsuko is still recovering from another break up and one night accidentally gets in an auto accident with a very, for lack of a better word hitman type, but all is a ruse and Retsuko starts working as a idol band manager to settle her debt while still working her office job. That's the main thing that happens, she starts off as an accountant then goes to manager, then actually performs in the band delivering a performance that would put Cannibal Corpse to immense shame leading the group to a big hit. Now I praised the realism and grounded situations in the first season so you think I would not go for this pop star storyline but the dilemma that Retsuko faces is still a very real thing. Having to juggle two jobs with no down time and considering what career is best, there's countless people who have faced such a thing. I like that! I will note also that through the course of the series the side characters have been cut back significantly, I mean this really is Retsuko's season even with Haida having his own little love story it is integral with Retsuko. All the world is a stage and she has taken center stage. However that is not entirely a good thing, she actually gets a stalker and there is a brutal, I mean so mean and so ugly and so abrasive, verbal blitzkrieg that Retsuko has to endure and it is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to watch. But the ending doesn't end on a depressing note like I thought it would and life goes back to normal, thank the gods. But jeez I mean this is such a totally different beast compared to the others. It's done damn well, taking more drama than comedy but I don't honestly mind, the new characters are welcome additions sans one, we all know the one, technicals are still spot on, I genuinely am curious what in the hell we can go to after this, and I despise saying it but I can't choose a superior season. It depends entirely on what you like more. Do you like more fluffy, comedic, and simple or are you more a fan of drama, bit more serious, and emotionally involved storytelling? I can appreciate and love both so it's tough. I guess I would pick the first season because it grabbed me so instantly, because it was so relatable and yet fun, because I really liked seeing these odd but really good side characters. But objectively, third season wins it. 4 stars, 9/10! One more show to go and I think I saved the best for last.

Aggretsuko: Season 2

Hopefully the relationship plot isn't a common theme.

Not to say I hated season 2, far from it, I think it's another hit and has some fun but the two biggest aspects I take issue with are the entirety of the series. I'll try to explain. So after the failed romance with the personification of tofu, Retsuko continues on with life, seeks a proper driving license, and meets another guy. The relationship is lightyears better than last season, but to be perfectly frank I just don't feel Retsuko needs to be in a relationship. Now maybe that's the bitter old man in me, but I respect her life goal of settling down with someone, hell there is nothing wrong with that, but I just don't feel the love and commitment portrayed. It just seems like a crush that goes beyond the initial fawning phase. But trust in me when I say, I would take the relationship every day of my life over the other major plot point of this series. So our dear red panda is tasked with training a new recruit named Anai, who isn't great at the phone call business. I certainly can relate to that. However I cannot relate to the sheer level of psychotic bullshit this f***er has. It's been a while since I hated a character with this much passion and overwhelming force. Like I expected this asshole to be either a stalker, a kidnapper/torturer, or the unassuming guy who takes a loaded gun to the workplace with no intention of clocking out. It flat out bothered me seeing him on screen and it wouldn't f***ing surprise me a bit if other people felt the same. And the kick or should I say repeated kicks in the balls is we deal with him not one or two episodes, but 4 episodes. Out of 10 for this season. Oh...God! I can't decide what's worse, Sofia Falcone and her goddamn go nowhere side plot in Gotham or this. No...no, Sofia is worse. It didn't take up 2/3 of the season and while assaulting my very core of a person, he didn't stick around for long. I'm sorry I just really, really needed to voice my frustrations and if almost 6 years of reviewing stuff has taught me anything, shout, let it all out, these are the thing I can do without. But again, not a bad season! All the quality presented in terms of technicals from season 1 are just as prevalent here, there's wall hanging worthy backgrounds, the cast gets to expand and deepen the characters, it's still really funny, I never ever felt that an episode was fluff or a waste of my time. A feat not every show can boast. We get more dynamic with Haida and Fenneko, more the former than the latter but good stuff regardless. Retsuko's mom is everything I expected and she's great. We get more time out of the office which thus lends to more great animation. It's far from average and while my own personal problems remain, I could totally see others enjoying this just as much as the first season, and the third is no doubt going to keep up the good work. Hell it might even take the favorite spot. 3.5 stars, 8/10, and I promise to do season 4 when the time comes.

Aggretsuko: Season 1

A surprise to be sure but such a nice surprise.

Yeah...never thought I'd watch this. A friend of mine introduced this series to me and I will completely level with you, it hooked me not even 5 minutes into the first episode. Which is odd because the show is very down to earth despite the anthropomorphic animals, it just centers on this young lady Retsuko who hates her job, spends time with her friends, and has a penchant for death metal. And I'll be damned it's some of the most engrossing television I've seen. The characters are immediately identifiable, the setting is contemporary but doesn't lose that obvious japanese style, it's really damn funny like made me laugh to beat the band, the animation is very simple but too endearing to resist, it's a beast all of it's own but it's wonderful. But I could have sworn this show was older, say around 2014 but the first season hit Netflix in 2018 and the most recent season hit last year, so who knows how much more of this show will pop up. Like I care, I'm right there for when season 4 hits. I might get flak for this but my favorite character isn't Retsuko despite her awesomeness, but Fenneko man. Fenneko. My God! If there was a fricking spin off just for her you bet your ass I would fund it. She came right out of left field, slid into the DMs, and stole me away. I adore this character, maybe too much but I don't even care. You know I get passionate about odd things so just fair warning when we cover the other seasons. I just really did not know what to expect from this show but it gave me so much, it does have great moments, real life moments, I've seen so much live action tripe that does precisely dick, but an anime with simple but cute animations and nice characters can speak volumes about aspects of living. This is why I am an advocating champion for animation despite how it looks. And considering each episode barely hits 15 minutes, it's not that big of a slog to get through. All in all great show, friggin' 4 stars, 8.5/10! I can respect if you don't immediately go for it, but give it a shot one day.

Lucky Star

It has just now occured to me that while I have reviewed tons of anime movies, the television series avenue is sparse at best. So I shall attempt to remedy that with three whole anime series reviews this week.

10/10, go watch it.

What's that? The review is too short? Alright fine. Lucky Star was a beloved and popular manga that originally began in 2007 and still is going strong, and in that same year an animated series was made based on it. The story is incredibly loose, following four high school girls as they discuss random topics, poke fun at each other, and generally just live their day to day lives. In short, it's perfect. I have a lot of favorite shows, shows I have watched time and again whether it be animated or live action and even then I have the slightest of issues with them. Not this show. There is nothing but pure and concentrated joy and happiness when I watch this show. In fact, if I'm being brutally honest....I've seen this show more than any other anime. Combined. Literally I have rewatched the show all the way through more than 10 times, Cowboy Bebop hasn't done that for me, Ghost In The Shell hasn't done that for me, Dragonball Z hasn't done that for me, but this show has. It is utterly fascinating trying to decode why I love the show that much, the animation is simplistic yet detailed with bright rich colors and almost watercolor backgrounds, the voice cast is nothing short of spectacular upping the cuteness factor to unbearable degrees, even the english dub doesn't westernize anything very much keeping every ounce of Japanese culture in it while just translating the dialogue so big brownie points there, and the story or what very very loosely counts as a story is incredibly endearing and no doubt hits home with countless people. We've all had discussions like these with your best friends regardless of age. Literally the first 1/3 of the the very first episode is the girls talking about how you eat certain foods and it is some of the most entertaining dialogue I've ever witnessed. And what I really love is the characters, they are so simply designed but the personality, character, and quirks shoots off the screen (because leap doesn't cut it) to the point where you can identify them beyond their extremely colorful hair. We have Konata, the living embodiment of an otaku and all around lazy butt. Sisters Kagami and Tsukasa, who are total polar opposites with Tsukasa being the soft spoken, sweet, and precious one while Kagami is more rough around the edges, has a lot of attitude, and gets easily flustered, but not like in a bad way at all, sure she gets grumpy but she's still a nice girl. And last but certainly not least Miyuki, quite possibly the most adorable character in the history of fiction, I cannot get over how frick fraking precious and sweet she is, her intelligence is over 9000, she's incredibly polite, heck even the main characters kinda crush on her, she's just a total cutie pie yumness. This show is so gosh dang, gee willickers cute I can barely stand it. How I didn't explode into a cascading shower of rainbows, glitter, and confetti is beyond my mortal comprehension. I'm not even sure if this show took years off of my life because I was laughing so much I couldn't breathe in almost every episode, or it prolonged it by several decades by inducing such laughter and unbridled exuberance and joy. It's a show literally anyone can watch, whether you are familiar with anime or not, it's a sublime piece of television. It's easily the most entertaining show I've ever seen which is odd because it is kind of the Seinfeld of anime, but I personally believe it is a loving rendition of life in all it's silliness and charm. Even I do not understand why it is so perfect, it just is and I can't get over it. 4 stars, 11/10, 105% on Rotten Tomatoes, I would be here for the next decade telling you how wonderful it is and while I don't expect everyone to love it as much as me I still strongly urge people to watch it.

Next time, a anachronistic time warp to the Edo period of Japan.

Tokyo Story

Of course it's from Japan. Do you really expect anything else from me?

This is a very different japanese film, much more in the vein of Ikiru than my usual love of kaiju and samurai films, but it's certainly worth tracking down and viewing. This is a slice of life film with two elderly parents visiting their children in Tokyo and spending time with them. It's not a very complicated plot but it's such a rich film in character interactions and performances. You may notice very quickly the film has a unique set up of framing, each shot is not levelled as if you were standing but as if you were sitting, it's about a waist high shot which makes sense because much of the film takes place in the home of these characters and they are generally sitting on the floor as they converse with their family. Also something I noticed is there are lots of shots from a certain point of view, we see characters talk directly into the camera which puts us in the viewpoint of another person, it's not a usual over the shoulder set up. So it's definitely unique in style but the reason why it's so good is because well, it's very relatable. It's very common, family members from out of town are coming to stay for a few days, everyone can immediately recognize that so it really doesn't take that much for you to identify with and enjoy the story. The characters feel like a real family, and I identified a lot with them and very much enjoyed their company as if I was invited into their home. I can't name too many movies that accomplish such a feeling. It's just such a nice film with some fine dialogue concerning life, the future, children, and most important family. And it brought to mind many memories of my own family, which simultaneously deepened my enjoyment of the film and yet made it somewhat difficult to watch. There was a strong bond between an in-law Tomy and our main couple Shukichi and Noriko that brought back floods of memories with my grandparents, just the level of happiness and love that she had for them and always wanted to spend time with them struck very deeply with me. And the final conversation between Tomy and Shukichi is very meaningful and an open expression of emotion, it's definitely the highlight of the film. It's good to see a movie like this, it's nothing big, it's nothing complex, it's just about life and life is pretty interesting. Which is ironic because one could say life is very big and complex and they would be correct, but just to see a down to earth, simple but lovely little slice of life from one family amongst billions is never a bad thing to experience. A wonderful movie that deserves a full 4 stars, 8/10, I definitely recommend it. But what film from Japan haven't I loved and recommended? Yes, I'm heavily biased and have a soft spot for that island but it's always been there in some form or fashion since the beginning.

Next week will just be 2 reviews, but I'll try to go out on a high note.

Rilakkuma and Kaoru

Best show. BEST SHOW!

No show has the right to be this good! Rilakkuma And Kaoru takes three great loves of my life and makes something amazing with it, you got stop motion animation, japanese culture, and a unique take on the slice of life genre. It's such a pleasant, nice, even comforting series that you can watch on Netflix and the only bad thing I could ever say about is that it is too short. Literally every episode save the finale is barely over 10 minutes long and there's only 13 episodes, meaning you can watch the whole show in the span of a 2 hour movie. And you know what? I don't think there is a better enjoyment of 2 hours of your life. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this series. The animation is excellent, with at least one incredible atmospheric shot in each episode that's....oh! It's sublime! The characters are all memorable and very lovable, Kaoru is a middle aged woman who works at a company in Tokyo and inexplicably lives with a bear in a big blue apartment, actually two bears and a bird, and they just live their life. The whole season takes place over the course of a full year from the cherry blossom festival in springtime all the way to the winter season and then back again. Kaoru is just your average person, she works at an office most of the day and life kinda gets her down but she finds solace and love in her home with her roomates. Rilakkuma is a big ol' bear with a penchant for sleeping and eating, and I'm going to be real with you, if you ever wanted to know what I am like in my day to day life almost to the letter, it's Rilakkuma in this show. Like 95% of what he does and what he is like is me. In fact it's kinda scary how accurate it is to be really honest. Are you watching me japanese creators? Cause I love what you're doing. Then we have a slightly smaller bear named Korilakkuma who is kinda like the baby of the group and is absurdly adorable. And last but not least we have Kaoru's bird Kiiroitori who has been with Kaoru the longest and is an energetic bird who loves to clean and wander about. All these characters are immediately lovable and held very dear, and none of them act rude or be little brats, they all get along well and live their lives as friends. I also like how it's kind of it's own thing and there are little odd things and peculiar traits but you roll with it anyway. Like how no one bats an eye that a woman is living with two bears, or how she can understand the bears and her bird even though we never really get a translation of what they're saying, or why there's a zipper on the back of Rilakkuma I mean he's a real bear he just has changeable fur suits. Just little things like that do so much for the charm of the show. And that's what the show is, charming. I am so charmed by this show, I love how it balances sort of fantasy and reality because some things happen that happen in real life, like friends moving away, having to find a new home, how work can drain you, how sometimes you need to find work in order to live, but it's not you know crushing reality setting in and the more fantastical elements go away. It's just life, there's good, there's bad, there's outstanding victories and crushing defeats, but if you have more good memories and good days more than the bad then you come out on top when all is said and done. I could think of much much worse things to do with two hours of your life than watch this show. It is sweet, loving, charming, and a very good reminder that life isn't always that bad. It made me cry in the last episode but I assure you that it was tears of bittersweet joy. I am begging that somebody, anybody, everybody not only watches this show but wants more just as much as I do. I will no doubt be watching this show many, many, many times in the future. I give this show a sterling 12/10.