Comfy but Considerate, Why There’s More to Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
When the first season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear aired, I think that it was a classic example of an anime where everyone established their stance on it immediately after the first episode or two and never returned to watch/reconsider the show. I have been outspoken about how pretentious I found a lot of the criticisms towards the show to be, with particular attention towards the asinine claim that the anime did not “challenge the viewer enough.” There were plenty of toxins thrown by the other two tired groups, the ones who whine about every isekai anime and those who hate slice of life anime as if the genre itself pulled an Askeladd off and had their father mowed down in front of them. What most probably didn’t realize, however, was that viewers (or should I say “viewers”) were telling on themselves with these generalizations made with broad strokes. I was so tilted by the reputation this anime garnered that I made that one infamous video.
Now, my silliness and full tilt into the callout of critics aside, I did sew some of my genuine opinions into that video. Namely, I think that beneath the coziness of the show there was a well thought out journey for a sense of belonging for its main character, Yuna. I never tried to argue that there were tropes aplenty in her journey, however, I think the anime does a wonderful job at subtly progressing this journey for belonging throughout the first season. There is also a point that is hard to argue that, love or hate the genre, the anime is terrific at making you feel cozy- the animation is a great choice of soft pastels, the soundtrack is a unique blend of bouncy and warm, and the vibes are almost always positive. For every person who argues the anime “doesn’t challenge them” enough, I’d counter with “either lighten up or just shut up and go back to your edgy light novel adaptations written for the fifteen year old's who are trying to convince their parents ‘it’s not just a phase, you guys will never understand me.’”
Despite my love for the first season (lets just say “Kuma” became more of a way of life for me than just a fun phrase), I won’t pretend that the second season, titled “Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear PUNCH,” did not catch me by surprise. The sudden appearance of the sequel season was not the only surprise in this bear’s bag of tricks, however. By around the sixth or seventh episode, I was convinced that this was a brilliant sequel to an anime’s freshman appearance. Indeed, even if one might hate the slice of life genre, this was even greater amounts of coziness and smart writing baked beneath the creamy sweetness of the rest of the show. This season explores Yuna’s breakthrough from a once extremely isolated way of living. One facet of this theme is her relationship with her new support system. It is interesting to hear her learn the importance of showing up to a party she was invited to because she begins to understand that other people actually do want to see her and appreciate her. Another interesting exploration is Yuna’s relationship with her companion, Fina. Spin it however you want, but Yuna’s closest person in her life is Fina. Yuna begins to understand what distance away while adventuring does for someone who loves to be with her. These are all important to Yuna’s newfound appreciation for being wanted and a life full of love and adventure that was once secluded.
I’d be remiss if I did not mention that the opening and ending animations to this season were masterful in their own regard. The songs themselves are cozy and pleasant enough, however, they almost distract what is mighty impressive visual storytelling. The opening shares a collection of the various friends Yuna has made and, more importantly, the joy she has brought to their lives. This is capped off with a really heartwarming smile from Yuna symbolizing the happiness seeing the impact she has had on these people brings her. The ending dials this up to 11/10, however, and explores the social dynamic of her change of life. We see a young version of her, full of imagination and joy as she draws something, praised by one of the adults in her life. It doesn’t pull any punches as it plunges into a cold contrast to her life isolated in her room as a NEET. This is immediately followed by a shot of Fina lifting her up by the hand bringing her towards her new family and friends. Yuna slowly begins to smile in a way that is like a tidal wave of wholesomeness, especially with context in mind. Sure, there aren’t terribly dark storytelling beats, but there is nuance to the anime that is cute and comfortable. It isn’t for everyone, but if you need something on to recharge your positivity while you are doing some housework or needing to decompress, this is a top shelf choice.
