My Yuru Camp Season 3 Review

First of all I’d like to start with the new art style. It took me just two episodes to get used to it and I really like it. The characters and background are looking good, but sometimes the characters don't quite match the background. There's occasionally too much contrast but overall the anime looks great.

As for the content I found this season particularly humorous. There were many funny moments, especially the flashback to Ena, Aki, and Aoi's trip. The episodes were narratively creative, and they added innovative elements for many enjoyable moments. However my favorite camping trip this time was the bridge camping with Nadeshiko, Rin, and Ayano. Not only did we learn more about Ayano but her chemistry with Rin was fantastic. It was lovely to see them visit different places together on their two-wheeled vehicles and how they interacted so comfortably. Rin in particular appeared very open and cheerful around Ayano, revealing a new side of her. Meanwhile Nadeshiko went on solo adventures highlighting her character development. Now she acts independently and enjoys her time alone to the fullest. Even when they were together as a trio the atmosphere was pleasant especially due to Rin’s open behavior. I hope to see more of this trio in the future.
I also liked seeing a more concerned side from Nadeshiko in the flashback at her farewell to Ayano before she moved away. She was unsure if she would make friends, but Ayano was confident. The payoff at the end of the season when Ayano saw the picture of Nadeshiko with all her friends was incredibly touching, especially seeing the joy on Ayano's face for Nadeshiko.

Another for me important aspect of the season are the girls accumulated experiences. By now they’re true camping experts. In the first two seasons they made a lot of issuses at their camping trips but now they’re always well-prepared. The logical step in storytelling would be for them to pass on their knowledge and this was teased this season with two new characters.

Mei and Ema only had a brief appearance but they will undoubtedly be involved with the Camping Club in the future as new first-year students. Ema who enjoys drawing and has a calm personality like Rin, seems to be looking for her hobby the perfect club, while Mei is searching for a passion like Ema has for drawing. For me Mei quite relatable in that aspect. I’ll have to wait and see how I feel about them, but my first impression is definitely positive.

Furthermore I really really enjoyed the last third of the season. This time everyone goes on a solo trip. Whether it’s camping or a walk, watching how they each spend time alone differently while in the first seasons they only spent time together is a nice contrast. This is something I particularly appreciate about Yuru Camp. How it values not just time spent together but also the positive aspects of solitude. As someone who values such solitude, I’m very happy with this portrayal. Speaking of..

Now I have to talk about Rin. My favorite character of all time. The season starts with a flashback with her childhood and her grandfather where they go on a trip together. We not only learn how Rin became interested in camping but also how much she actually learned from her grandfather. She tries to recreate a special way of making a fire, as her grandfather did back then. Through this, she reflects on the past and shows how grateful she really is. During her solo cherry blossom camping trip she thinks back on what she learned from her grandfather and enjoys being alone as much as possible.

In contrast Rin invites Nadeshiko and Sakura to see the big fire display she once saw with her parents. This shows how important Nadeshiko and her sister have become to her as she wants to share a significant place from her past with them. Overall Rin seems to have finally come to appreciate the presence of others. She was full of energy with Ayano, drank coffee with random campers in episode 9, and in the final episode she’s the one who takes the group selfie in the evening. She found a healthy balance between being with others and being alone, and it’s great to see her so happy.

It may not seem like it but before Season 3 I liked Yuru Camp but it didn’t hold a special place for me. That spot was mainly reserved for Rin and Nadeshiko. But now it’s different. I appreciate the other characters much more and enjoyed every single episode no matter how much Rin was in it. I’m now reading the manga and already planning to rewatch Season 1 and 2. Thanks to this third season, I would now rank Laid-Back Camp alongside Haikyu and Your Lie in April as one of my favorite anime. It’s such an important franchise to me and I hope we will see season 4 in the future.