Fans of isekai anime have a variety of shows to choose from, with the genre full of inventive and unique takes on the trope of a regular person from modern society being whisked into a fantastical (and often video-game influenced) world of high-fantasy action. Some of these shows are serious dramas or massive epics like Sword Art Online and Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-, while others are more silly and comedic takes on the idea like KonoSuba – God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World– and BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense. For fans of the latter category, a newly announced and adorably silly VR MMO anime named Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is sure to be just what you’re looking for.
The adaptation of writer 029’s light novel series of the same name was recently revealed, with an official website sharing a debut trailer and poster image for the upcoming anime. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is being produced by EMT Squared, the studio previously responsible for anime like Kuma Miko, Renai Boukun, and Fudanshi Koukou Seikatsu. Yuu Nobuta, who previously directed High School Fleet and A Good Librarian Like a Good Shepherd, is set to direct the paw-some new show (sorry). Takashi Aoshima, the writer behind Himouto! Umaruchan and Yuruyuri – Happy Go Lily, will be in charge of series scripts alongside character designer Yuki Nakano of A Destructive God Sits next to Me fame.
Seven Seas Entertainment currently published the Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear light novels in English, and describes the story as follows:
Fifteen-year-old Yuna prefers staying home and obsessively playing her favorite VRMMO game to doing anything else, including going to school. When a strange new update gives her a one-of-a-kind bear outfit that comes with overpowered abilities, Yuna is torn: the outfit is unbearably cute, but too embarrassing to wear in-game. But then she suddenly finds herself transported into the world of the game, facing down monsters and magic for real, and the bear suit becomes the best weapon she has!