One of the better examples of iyashikei to come out over the last few years is the camping series, Yuru Camp (Laid Back Camp). The healing series did a fantastic job of telling a wonderful story with likable characters which created an audience who wanted much more by the time it was over. Thus, the waiting game began. Finally, after two years, fans’ patience has paid off as a second season has been announced, which will air in January 2021. No further details were revealed, but we did get two awesome key visuals.
Originally a manga created by Afro, which began serializing in seinen manga magazine Manga Time Kirara Forward in July 2015, the series is a gentle slice of life about girls finding joy in a simple hobby. The manga is being released in English by Yen Press.
Eventually, the series was adapted into a twelve-episode anime series in January 2018, with animation produced by C-Station and Yoshiaki Kyōgoku as director. The series was simulcast by Crunchyroll who described the Laid Back Camp series as:
Nadeshiko, a high school student who had moved from Shizuoka to Yamanashi, decides to see the famous, 1000 yen-bill-featured Mount Fuji. Even though she manages to bike all the way to Motosu, she’s forced to turn back because of worsening weather. Unable to set her eyes on her goal, she faints partway to her destination. When she wakes up, it’s night, in a place she’s never been before, with no way of knowing how to get home. Nadeshiko is saved when she encounters Rin, a girl who is out camping by herself. This outdoorsy girls story begins with this first encounter between Nadeshiko and Rin.
This is obviously fantastic news for those who enjoy gentle, quiet slice of life shows. If you’re looking for a series that will entertain you and calm you at a time when we could all use those vibes, I can’t think of a better choice than this one.
Source: Esuteru
