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Considerations
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● This is a spoiler-free review.
● 70+ in my rating means average.
● I've got to read this work since I already knew the anime and it's one of my all time favorites. To get a look on what I should expect from the upcoming seasons, I went for the manga after watching and rewatching the anime.
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The Story
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Nandeshiko just moved to Minobu from Hamamatsu. Her first encounter is with Rin, a high school student who loves to camp in her free time, especially in the winter, since that's the quieter season for campers. Nandeshiko quickly grows fond of Rin and her love for outdoor activities, which initiate her own path into camping.The story of Yuru Camp is good; the manga serves more as an Iyashikei (healing/comfortable). The story is composed of funny gags, and the main characters explore not only camping and cooking but also Japan.When it comes to camping and outdoor activities, the pacing is excellent. But, in my opinion, I really think that the manga lacks a lot of background development, having some arcs talking about their school activities or something that will be able to free the way for some character development.
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The Art Style
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The art style of Yuru Camp is average. That's my biggest critique of the manga. In my opinion, as an Iyashikei, the main way that you're going to bring comfort to the viewer is through art style and story. Yuru Camp has a very bland art style, especially if compared to some other big guns like Yotsubato and ARIA. There is such a lack of details and some poor shadowing that it just saddens me. Especially when compared to the amazing art found in anime.
Now, talking about the good points, there's a pretty good character design; each one seems very different from the others. Clothing, hair style, and facial expressions are spot on. Some background elements like cars, bikes, and motorcycles are also pretty well done.
(That just doesn't make me feel comfy)There's also one unique thing about this work that I've not seen in other mangas so far. Some props "have expressions", like pine-cones "say hi" when picked up. It's not like the props are literally talking; it acts more as a comical thing that is very funny sometimes.
(Cone-nichiwa)
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The Characters
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There are an average number of characters in this work. Nandshiko, Rin, the girls from her school, teachers, and a few other supporting characters. They are okay; there's a good diversity in personalities and styles, so each one brings a different flavor to the series, but there's no development when it comes to any of the characters.As I always like to talk about the main character, Nandeshiko is great. She has a very comfortable aura and is such a airhead that makes it easier for the author to put all sorts of comical reliefs with her.
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Conclusion
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If you're like me, you skip everything and read only the conclusion because you don't want to get spoiled with other themes. So I will try to be brief on this point:Maybe read it. If you're getting to the manga first, you may enjoy it a lot, and when you get to the anime, you're going to be dazed. But if you're doing the opposite, you may find a bland experience. With all minor things aside, it's not an unpleasant reading experience, so if you're into Iyashikei and already read all the big guns, go for it.
