New Rilakkuma Short Anime Reveals April 4 Debut 1st Promo Video

Rilakkuma's New Anime Adaptation: Lilas Ikuta's Voice and Music
San-X's beloved character Rilakkuma is set to star in a new short anime adaptation. Aniplex unveiled the first promotional video for the series, offering a glimpse into the upcoming show.
Premiere Date and Broadcast Details
The anime is scheduled to debut on April 4. It will be broadcast on TBS every Saturday at 9:25 a.m., providing a weekly dose of Rilakkuma's charm.
YOASOBI's Lilas Ikuta's Dual Role
Lilas Ikuta, the vocalist of the popular music duo YOASOBI, is taking on a dual role in this project. She will not only narrate the anime but also perform the theme song titled "stay with me". Her involvement adds a special touch to the production.
Production Team and Animation Studio
Yoshimi Itazu, known for directing "The Concierge" anime film and the Rilakkuma anime announcement video, is co-directing the anime alongside Yumi Kamakura, who has worked on "The Grimm Variations" and "Mashin Sōzōden Wataru". Production I.G, a renowned animation studio, is responsible for bringing the characters to life.
Character Design and Music Composition
Chiyo Morita, who also contributed to "The Concierge" and the Rilakkuma anime announcement video, is designing the characters. The music is being composed by Kōta Yokoseki, Yoshiya Ikeda, and Mizuki Kanno. Legendoor is handling the music production.
Animation Producer and Key Staff
Keiko Matsushita, whose credits include "The Concierge" and the "Haikyu!!" series, is serving as the animation producer. The staff also includes other veterans from "The Concierge", such as concept color designer Izumi Hirose, in-between animator Maiko Nogami, editor Junichi Uematsu, and cinematographer Hiroshi Tanaka.
The Origin of Rilakkuma
Aki Kondo created the Rilakkuma character, which San-X launched in 2003. Since then, Rilakkuma has gained immense popularity and has become a cultural icon.
Previous Rilakkuma Anime Series
Netflix has previously streamed two Rilakkuma anime series. The first, "Rilakkuma and Kaoru", premiered in 2019. The second, "Rilakkuma's Theme Park Adventure", a stop-motion anime series, was released in 2022. These series have further expanded Rilakkuma's fanbase.