Common Name: Yuru Camp
Alternative Names: Laid-back Camp
Score: 9/10, 5/5
Length: 12 Episodes
Genre: Slice of Life, School Life, Comedy, Shoujo, Adventure
Summary: A new resident of the Yamanashi Prefecture of Japan, Kagamihara Nadeshiko has always wanted to see the famous Mt. Fuji from close-up. Now that she's living in the hometown of that great symbol of Japan, she's determined to take every opportunity she can to see the famous mountain. This means, however, that she'll have to visit the campgrounds that dot area surrounding the mountain to enjoy it fully. On her first excursion to the mountain's base, Nadeshiko runs into and is momentarily cared for by a regular solo-camper, Shima Rin, until her sister comes to retrieve. As luck would have it, though, this chance encounter will not be the last these two girls share since it turns out that Nadeshiko has transferred to the same high school Rin attends. Now that the two girls see each other regularly, they begin to consider the idea of camping out together. For the stoic and unapproachable Rin, this is a big change since she's grown used to the peaceful solitude of solo-camping. Even so, she can't deny that she enjoys spending time with Nadeshiko, so what's the harm in letting this perky ball of energy and a few others invade her personal life?
Review: Comfort is one of those things I always try to find when I'm looking through my seasonal anime. Particularly when I'm already set to watch a show I know I'm going to dislike on some level, finding a show that I can just relax with almost becomes a necessity for me. So, usually, I look for concepts and ideas that I've seen or experienced before, and can thus relate to, paired with a fairly generic premise that has just enough originality or nuance to keep me engaged. Most of the time, this takes the form of a slow and easy slice of life title centered around a couple quirky characters as they navigate the struggles that go hand-in-hand with the show's main catch. All the better if the show in question is a shoujo-oriented show that knows how to tickle my love of cute things. In other words, gimme some light and fluffy CGDCT comedy I've seen a couple hundred times before and I'll be a pretty happy camper season-to-season. So, with that in mind, imagine how I might have felt when I came across this strange little title I'd seen referenced once or twice over the past year or so.
To quote one of the earliest/one of my favorite memes involving this show: "We're hitting comfy levels that shouldn't even be possible."
I've commented a couple times in the past, usually in jest, that I felt like this show was made specifically with me in mind and I still kinda stick to that belief despite being fully aware how self-centered it sounds. Hear me out though. Yuru Camp, to put it as plainly as I possibly can, is a CGDCT slice of life comedy anime with a cute and quirky cast of female characters who bond over a love of camping and the outdoors. Just writing that out was like going through a checklist titled: "Requirements for a Show You are Bound to Love." But here's the thing, though, the reason I love this show isn't just because it ticked off all the boxes on that metaphorical checklist. Rather, I love this show because of how it took those flat and generic concepts and then rolled with them in such a way as to make an anime that was both fun and easy to enjoy for anyone, regardless of how knowledgeable they are about camping.
Not to brag, but I consider myself something of a camping pro. Being in Boy Scouts long enough will do that to anyone though.
Using its main cast of five female characters, Yuru Camp gives us a solid feeling of what outdoor camping is like for people of various interest levels. The introverted and stoic character of Shima Rin, for instance, speaks to and of veteran campers for whom camping is a form of relaxation and a worthwhile hobby, in spite of how expensive it can get. For Rin, camping presents itself as the ultimate getaway. It becomes a means of meeting the world on her own terms. Given the time and money to do so, Rin is able to expand her world beyond her hometown and school life. At the same time, though, she's also given the ability to engage with humanity when it suits her. For any introverted high schooler who is forced to interact with classmates, teachers, and various other authority figures on a daily basis, solo camping out in the woods, away from such tiring interactions, is nothing short of an escapist's fantasy. Yet Rin manages to make that dream a reality, time and time again, through her own determination and the loving support of her family.
To say camping is her getaway doesn't necessarily mean she hates interacting
with other people; she's just...more adverse to it than most.
By comparison, the character of Kagamihara Nadeshiko simultaneously represents people who are inexperienced but eager to try camping out as well as those for whom camping is a form of entertainment. Whether camping solo or in a group, the bubbly and expressive Nadeshiko is always having the time of her life. Everything in the world of camping is a new experience for Nadeshiko and that is enough to drive her through any hardship along the way. Even when she's gone on a few trips and leveled up as a camper, though, she still finds a way to make even the mundane parts of camping out seem like a blast. Now, sure, a large portion of the reason for that belongs to the fact that her character is presented as just that standard kind of genki-genki (super full of energy) positive thinker type. The other main reason I think she's so amped-up, however, is that she shares the same kind of physical and spiritual fascination with the world outside her door that Rin possesses. It's this kind of connection with the world and everything it has to offer that makes these two unlikely friends so compatible in the first place. So long as she has food in her stomach and a big sister to ferry her to and from camp, Nadeshiko is out to have fun and experience the world with a kind of childish reverence.
"Childish" being the key word there.
Serving as a similar perspective to Nadeshiko's and the polar opposite to Rin's, the characters of Inuyama Aoi and Oogaki Chiaki represent the kinds of campers who tackle the hobby from a more social perspective. For them, camping seems to function more as a communal experience that is best when shared with others. To be fair, though, this kind of perspective is ideal for those who are new to the camping world as well as those with a passion to learn all they can about the hobby. The concept of sitting around a campfire with some friends as you tell stories, share experiences, and eat good food has something of a romantic nature by default. What this format also does, though, is ensure the safety of those involved. Barring a TPK, this format ends up being both fun and safe for anyone involved. So much so that there really isn't much of an issue for a group of girls who want to share their passion with other people their age, i.e. their classmates, in the form of a school-sanctioned club.
Well...semi-sanctioned at least. There are some reasonable fears
that they might burn the school down some day.
Lastly, the brief appearances of Saitou Ena speak to the mindset of those who would rather not be bothered with this whole camping nonsense. It would be accurate to say Ena is "more normal" than that rest of the cast in that regard, yet that doesn't mean she won't ever going camping. Quite the opposite, in fact. It just takes a lot more planning and a solid group of friends to drag her out of her comfy bed and into the great outdoors. Once engaged with the group, though, her perspective aligns more with Aoi, Chiaki, and Nadeshiko's perspectives where camping is a form of entertainment best shared with others.
Until that friend group comes to get her, though, Ena is just fine living that domestic comfy life.
On top of all these variable perspectives, though, the show even goes the extra mile to prove that it knows what it's talking about through little, easy-to-follow instructional segments dotted throughout the series. From setting up a tent to lighting a fire to preparing a new skillet to various other issues to consider like wind and altitude, this show covers a large portion of the basics that any camper needs to know to succeed at and enjoy the camping experience. In other words, this show does a fantastic job making camping actually seem like an approachable hobby. While it doesn't gloss over the negatives, like the cost of equipment and food and the hassle of actually getting to a campsite, it makes it seem like the positive will more than likely outweigh the negative in the end for anyone willing to give camping a shot.
Heck, the show's even kind enough to give you a basic rundown of all the things you'll need for outdoor camping. I'm pretty sure there are even a few brands I recognize in these pictures.
Regardless of whether or not you think the camping life is for you, though, the way the show handles its plot and characters is more than enough to engage any audience. It's just extra meaningful to those who either already life that camp life or are on the fence about this whole camping thing. To paint in broad strokes, the main push of the plot is the slow and steady forming of this group of camping friends. As we go through the perspectives of each character group, we begin to see them all reach a happy middle where they can all meet. For example, by getting to know and connecting with Nadeshiko on a personal level, Rin is slowly convinced to give group camping a try. While she'll probably never be entirely comfortable around Aoi and Chiaki, since they embrace a perspective that is the polar opposite to Rin's, having a mutual friend in Nadeshiko gives her the push to try something new. Then, once Rin is fully on board, Ena becomes fully invested in the idea since she understands just how difficult it is to get Rin to socialize with others. Regardless of which person/group you identify with more, this is ultimately a story of opening oneself up to new friendships and new experiences using a medium that is primed to address both of those ideas.
After all, what better way to form new friendships than sharing the food, the laughs, the trials,
and the bitter cold that comes with camping with other people.
As much as this show pushes the importance of friendship and connecting over a shared passion is, I must say that one of the other reasons I love this show is that it's pretty open-minded toward those who are more reserved. At no point does the show shame Rin or Ena for not immediately wanting to jump on the bandwagon that is group camping. Rather, it seems to acknowledge that solo and group camping are two, totally different hobbies that fulfill totally different needs. While Rin eventually brings herself to the point where she can quietly admit that it is fun to share the campfire with a friend, there's no way she or Nadeshiko are going to give up on solo camping. Like I said before, for these two, camping alone is just their means of relaxing and engaging with the world on their own terms. It's unclear whether or not Aoi and Chiaki share that same kind of desire, but their form of camping isn't presented as being better or worse than Rin's. It's just a different beast entirely. A good way to think about it, I think, is that the show presents solo camping as a more personal and spiritual experience that can be enjoyed for its own sake. Then, as the group comes together, it presents group camping as a social experience that is meant to meant to be enjoyed for the sake of the friendships camaraderie it inspires. None of the styles of camping or perspectives toward it are ever presented as being right or wrong; they just are what they are and that's fine.
Just remember to be safe and drink responsibly, kiddos.
At the end of the day, I don't think there can be much argument that Yuru Camp is the quintessential camping anime out today, and it has equal parts charm and value for that fact. That doesn't mean that the show, itself, is necessarily a masterpiece by my standards but it is, without a doubt, a personal favorite of mine. Even though the animation and art are a bit shoddy at times, even though the show spends a lot of time on glamour shots of nature to hide the fact that there isn't a lot for these characters to offer, and even though some people will undoubtedly be turned off by how much this show worships the idea of camping, I will love it to pieces anyway because this was a show that spoke to me in a way very few ever have. It's kinda hard not to love a show that had me grinning ear to ear every second of every minute of every episode. Yet I'm not ashamed to admit that the show isn't a masterpiece or "perfect" because it's the show's humble-tumble simplicity that makes it all the more personal and endearing for me. This is my ideal comfort anime and I will say people should watch it regardless of whether or not they like camping. It's just some pure, wholesome fun that I think would be hard to hate, regardless of your preferences but that might just be my bias talking.