Rilakkuma Explained

Rilakkuma
Series:San-X
First:2003
Creator:Aki Kondo
Nickname:Kuma
Lbl2:Associated characters

is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company San-X and created by Aki Kondo. San-X portrays Rilakkuma as an anthropomorphized teddy bear close to his bear friends Korilakkuma and Chairoikoguma, along with a bird Kiiroitori. After the character's debut in 2003, Rilakkuma has been featured on stationery and merchandise created by San-X, as well as multiple collaboration cafès. Along with picture books and comics, a stop-motion animation series titled Rilakkuma and Kaoru was broadcast in 2019.

Development

San-X employee Aki Kondo had previously created characters such as Amagurichan and Mikanbouya.[1] At the time, San-X ordered staff members to create one character per month.[1] [2] After watching a TV show about dogs at the height of the pet boom in Japan, Kondo not only wanted a pet dog, but also envied dogs' lives, as she was busy with work and hoped to relax more.[2] [1] This inspired her to create Rilakkuma, with his name a portmanteau of the words and [1] Rilakkuma was designed with a slightly sloppy posture because Kondo found it amusing, believing that he should look "cute", yet "out of place."[1] Kondo had also designed Rilakkuma with a zipper on his back, which became one of his quirks.[1] San-X initially found Rilakkuma too gangly and had preferred characters with small hands.[2] [1]

Character

Rilakkuma was launched in 2003 and first seen in San-X's four-panel comic series titled Rilakkuma Seikatsu.[1] In Rilakkuma Seikatsu, which describes his origin story, He appears one day in the apartment of a female office worker named Kaoru, who only appears as a silhouette.[3] [1] [4] Rilakkuma spends every day relaxing.[3] The zipper on his back reveals that his appearance is a costume, and his true form is unknown.[3] [5] It is accompanied by other creatures in the series, who also have their own character lines.[1]

Korilakkuma

is a white bear introduced in Rilakkuma Seikatsu in 2003.[1] Like Rilakkuma, it appeared in Kaoru's apartment one day and was named by Kiiroitori.[3] It has a red button on its chest and does not appear to be a real bear.[3] It has a mischievous personality and loves pranks.[3]

Kiiroitori

is Kaoru's pet yellow bird introduced in Rilakkuma Seikatsu in 2003.[1] He can leave his cage at any time and takes care of both Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma.[3]

Chairoikoguma

is a brown honey bear introduced in 2016.[6] [7] Korilakkuma finds it one day in the forest and befriends it, bringing it to meet Rilakkuma and Kiiroitori.[6] Chairoikoguma has defined fangs when its mouth is opened, as well as bear-shaped honey patches on its feet and rear.[6] Its friend is Kumanbachi, a honey bee.[6]

Marketing and distribution

Along with stationery and product lines, Rilakkuma has collaborated with multiple organizations, brands,[8] and character cafes.[9] [10]

In September 2017 San-X opened its first temporary pop-up Rilakkuma shop in Florida, US.[11] In September 2018, a second pop-up shop opened at the New York City's Times Square.[12]

A stop motion animated series called Rilakkuma and Kaoru began streaming on Netflix on April 19, 2019. The series was made at Dwarf Studio. It is directed by Masahito Kobayashi and written by Naoko Ogigami, with Mikako Tabe voicing Kaoru in Japanese and Lana Condor voicing Kaoru in English.[13] [14] In October 2020, it was announced another stop-motion series Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure will be released on Netflix.[15] San-X has announced on its Japanese website that Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure will be released worldwide exclusively on Netflix on August 25, 2022.[16]

Reception

Initial sales for the Rilakkuma product line were low but slowly picked up popularity in 2004, with Rilakkuma breaking the stereotype of cute characters needing to be energetic.[1] In May 2010, Rilakkuma ranked as the fifth most popular character in Japan in a survey of the Character Databank.[17], character merchandise has generated a total of in retail sales revenue across Asia.[18]

Media

Picture books

Sticker books

Games

TV series

Notes and References

  1. News: Patrick . St. Michel . Bear essentials: Rilakkuma's adorable stop-motion debut . . 2019-04-18 . 2019-05-17.
  2. Web site: http://books.yahoo.co.jp/interview/detail/31354549/01.html . ja:子どものインタビュー一覧 コンドウアキ . ja . . 2006-11-11 . 2008-09-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081205065355/http://books.yahoo.co.jp/interview/detail/31354549/01.html . 2008-12-05 .
  3. Web site: http://www.san-x.co.jp/rilakkuma/profile/ . ja:リラックマのこと。 . ja . . 2019-05-17 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151028153129/http://www.san-x.co.jp/rilakkuma/profile/ . 2015-10-28.
  4. News: Liz . Ohanesian . Cute Japanese character Rilakkuma hits Los Angeles with parties at Japan LA, Umami Burger . . 2010-08-17 . 2019-05-17.
  5. News: Rafael Antonio . Pineda . Rilakkuma and Kaoru Stop-Motion Anime's Special Video Reveals 'Costume' . . 2019-04-16 . 2019-05-17.
  6. Web site: San-Xネット リラックマ「コリラックマと新しいお友達」テーマ . ja . . 2019-05-17.
  7. Web site: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000018631.html . ja:リラックマがクリスマスツリーに!? リラックマ「森のクリスマスツリーソファぬいぐるみ」サンエックスネットショップ限定受注販売スタート . ja . PR Times . 2016-08-26 . 2019-05-17.
  8. News: Vlad . Savov . Bandai Rilakkuma netbook suffers from serious supercuteitis . . 2009-07-13 . 2019-05-17.
  9. Web site: リラックマ × TOWER RECORDS CAFE . ja . . 2019-05-17.
  10. News: Haruka . Ogasawara . https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/story_jp_5c7f3d57e4b06ff26ba374d3 . ja:リラックマバーガーが可愛すぎる。「ジェラート ピケ カフェ」がコラボした理由は? . ja . . 2019-03-06 . 2019-05-17 . 2019-05-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190517182438/https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/entry/story_jp_5c7f3d57e4b06ff26ba374d3 . dead .
  11. News: Ashley . Gurbal Kritzer . Japanese retailer known for its 'stress-free' bear will open first U.S. store in suburban Tampa . . 2017-09-26 . 2019-05-17.
  12. Web site: Rilakkuma Pop-up . . 2018-09-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180917034358/https://www.timessquarenyc.org/locations/rilakkuma-pop-up . 2018-09-17.
  13. Web site: Rilakkuma to Kaoru-san Stop-Motion Anime's Promo, Visual Revealed. Anime News Network. May 22, 2018.
  14. Web site: Rilakkuma and Kaoru Stop-Motion Anime Unveils Cast, Trailer, April 19 Debut. Anime News Network. November 26, 2018.
  15. Web site: Rilakkuma Returns with Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure Series on Netflix. 8 June 2023 .
  16. Web site: The Netflix series "Rilakkuma and Amusement Park" will be available on August 25th.
  17. News: Hiroko . Tabuchi . Hiroko Tabuchi . In Search of Adorable, as Hello Kitty Gets Closer to Goodbye . . 2019-05-14 . 2019-05-17.
  18. News: Blanc Cerise Inks Deal with Rilakkuma . 30 January 2021 . License Global . 23 March 2020.