Laid-Back Camp
a review by isdarcoqwe
a review by isdarcoqwe
..my love letter to yuru camp..
Dear Yuru Camp,
From the very moment I saw you, you pulled me in with this quiet, peacefulness I didn’t even realize I was missing. You existed like a soft breeze. Hardly noticeable, but if it was, the calmness that came with it stood out more than anything else I’d been watching before.
No stress, no rush, no chaos (maybe a bit of goofy energy) - you move at a slow, relaxing pace. It allows us to be mindful of our surroundings. You’ve helped me slow down and appreciate the tiny details in life. You’ve given me that space - a thing that high school students need nowadays. The stunning scenery added a comfy feeling under the warm blanket I hide under. Everything just naturally happens. Sure, some may be cliche, but I personally think that adds to your charm. You’re worth the watch, and it’s even better once the day is over. You give me a safe, and oddly healing feeling - quietly making everything better.
You’ve reminded me that being alone doesn’t have to feel lonely. In fact, it can actually be a great thing! The quiet that comes with introversion, the unique enjoyment in that solitude, losing yourself to your own thoughts, and appreciating the things you sense. In a way, you embrace introversion, and that’s makes you relatable. Your presence in sunshines, rainbows and a safe haven. Your music elevates that atmosphere - your character interactions are all joy.
A pocket of peace and comfy in my life. One that, at the time as I debuted my anime grind, did not know I was missing. Now I don’t want to be without you. You’re more than a show - you’re a feeling. One I didn’t know I was missing, but now one that I don’t ever wanna lose. You’ve expanded beyond being a show - arguably a therapeutic modality. There’s no need for drama when there’s heartwarming moments. No need for flashy displays when there is serenity. Oddly life-changing. Never saw that coming.
Nevertheless, thank you for the calm, for the comfort, for the chillest vibes you have given me. I’ll always return to your quiet, warm embrace whenever I need it.
Sincerely,
A happy soul
tl;dr : cozy, comfy, peaceful, healing show that helps you be mindfulYuru Camp is a comedy, slice-of-life anime that is centered around camping. It stands apart from those high-energy action or drama anime as it offers a slower, more grounded approach that focuses on everyday experience along with camping. By that alone, I’ve expected the show to be a boring sleepfest of simply highlighting everyday experiences. However, watching it myself, I suddenly got a feeling I’ve never experienced from watching anime (despite only watching anime for like 4 months.) For someone who was previously hooked and grew dull into generic isekais, Yuru Camp was a welcome change. It reminds you of how much beauty there is in calm, without needing to rely on stuff like plot twists or something crazy, and I found myself appreciating how it just makes you enjoy the simple, peaceful moments of life. In this day and age, it may be hard for some people to do that now.
With all that being said, if you do prefer dramatic or action-driven plots, this show might not be for you. Since this is a review, I will try to be as objective and unbiased as I can. I’ll elaborate on what makes this series stand out, and what it means to me. I may miss some talking points, but my feelings should explain for those. And no where better to start than the people who give light to this show.
The premise of Yuru Camp is essentially high school girls camping. This is not the first time an anime has followed this same premise. It centers more around the unlikely relationship of Shima Rin (a quiet, introvert solo camper) and Nadeshiko Kagamihara (a loud extrovert who is new to camping). Despite the show starting off with the five girls camping together, we are introduced to Rin, who enjoys the peace and solitude of camping alone and has been solo camping
Shoutout to the OutClub and Ena Saitou too.
While the focus is primarily on the duo mentioned above, the other characters also play a role in developing the story and promoting character growth. Chiaki Oogaki - friendly, playful, high energy and mischievous member, and Aoi Inuyama - kind, sweet, calm and silly little liar, with their personalities also complement each other. My reasoning just flew from my mind, but imagine it like K-On!'s Ritsu and Mio. Aki and Aoi are close friends who bounce off each other, one being super energetic, the other being more laid-back. Seeing such a dynamic relationship is healing. (I know I left out Nadeshiko, a member of the club, as I'm deciding to focus mainly on these dynamic relationships. Of course, Nadeshiko's silly shenanigans with the OutClub are also pretty heartwarming and hilarious)
And there's Ena Saitou. She's (and I can't believe that I'll be making another K-On! reference) essentially the Nodoka-chan of the show. Not exactly receiving that much attention or screen time as the others, yet is important to Rin's character development. Saitou has been a friend of Rin at a time before the show's episodes, and essentially was Rin's only friend. Yet she is very approachable, supporting the OutClub when the tent poles broke when Rin did not want to step in. She's the kind of character that doesn't need that much screen time to leave a warm impression. This can be observed with Rin and Saitou's phone messages, which are often playful or teasing. More importantly, she bridges the gap between Rin and Chiaki. Rin initially disliked Chiaki, and immediately shot down Aki's invitation to a group camp. Saitou was able to switch her mind and make Rin consider, that "there is a different kind of fun to be had when camping in a group." Hey, she also has the adorable Chikuwa, adding more fluffyness (literally and figuratively) to the show.
And then there’s Ms. Toba, the drunk teacher whose the club advisor for the OutClub. She often tipsy and irresponsible at times, which I think is hilarious and pretty much caters to drinkers in a comedic way. She's supportive of the club despite her initial denial of being their advisor. Her drunk personality is funny, but her sober personality is actually pretty heartwarming. Her smiles with her lighthearted tone just lifts you up. That being said, her drinking personality may push off to viewers, even though if its for comedic intentions. Outside of the group, it also shows that no matter what age, you can enjoy camping. A theme particularly overlooked yet pretty powerful.
Through characters, Yuru Camp shines through their simple yet heartwarming portrayal of friendship, contrasting personalities and the resulting personal growth. The dynamics between Rin and Nadeshiko are so fun and hilarious to watch, yet so cute too. Though I prefered more Rin screentime, it's satisfying to see Rin opening up and camping with friends, seeing through Saitou's message. Chiaki, Aoi and Saitou bring their own charm too, with them being able to bounce off each other in comedic ways. It makes the group lovable - subjectively there's nothing for me to hate about them. Sure, they're built on simple tropes that many other animes use, but in Yuru Camp's case, it's not like they're tryna make complex relationships. The mix of just chilling, cute interactions with their cute expressions, and the growth makes it a comforting watch. I guess they're simple, but to me, it's simply perfect.
# Music - subtle, warm, soothingWhat really hooked me into the show was the music. In and outside anime, music is an essential part of storytelling. The right soundtrack can completely transform a scene, establishing the mood and atmosphere of a particular moment. If you played some lo-fi music in an intense fight scene or vice versa, it would completely destroy the atmosphere it is trying to set, and may even throw viewers off. (You can make toothbrushing intense by adding some crazy fight music - who knew toothbrushing could be so intense.) The point I'm trying to make is that it is crucial for setting the right mood, tone and atmosphere of a scene, influencing our emotional response which affects how we see and experience that scene. In Yuru Camp, the soft, calming acoustic melody that follows Rin's solo camping adventures perfectly matches the show's vibe. It is just so unbelievably calming. I prefer to listen to the Yuru Camp OSTs over any other lo-fi beats. There's also the upbeat themes that matches the upbeat personalities of our beloved characters, typically highlighted by the OutClub. There's a bit of intense, dramatic music, but that's completely on Rin for being unlucky lol. The music leaves such a lasting impression, so lasting that it can be applied in real life. Try walking outside in nature, and listen to the Yuru Camp OSTs. Asaka's upbeat OP, Akiyuki Tateyama's slow, calm and relaxing soundtracks, and those others that I may forget to mention, create the perfect outdoor experience. Now purely, this is subjective, and you can go listen to whatever music you want outside. This music, to me, is such a soul-lifting motivator with chill vibes that I can not ever get tired to.
Slow, panoramic shots of Mount Fuji. The slow sunrise. The silence. Letting the five senses enjoy the surroundings.
The pacing for Yuru Camp is slow - a characteristic I previously mentioned some that people who prefer more action or drama don't really like. It's not necessarily a down side for every show (to me at least) but in Yuru Camp, it is incredibly perfect. Topped with the chill soundtracks, it beautifully captures the landscapes. The slow pacing allows viewers to just take in the environment - the calm and still lakes, the windy forests, and the quietness of the empty businesses. I honestly think the pace is just right, as I can enjoy what I'm seeing and just immerse myself into the character's experience.
The scenery is just visually stunning, even if it wasn't that complex. Subjectively, Yuru Camp holds some of the best landscape art in the slice-of-life genre. The natural landscape is all detailed, lit with realistic lighting (like the sunrise or campfire scenes) and I just think it adds so much to the scene. Watching the sun rise over a cold morning day, or seeing the city lights atop a view. I've personally experienced that before, and it just made me happy. The environment is so pretty to look at, reinforcing calm. That final scene of Mount Fuji in the first episode ultimately hooked me into the show. Admiring such beautiful landscape in anime? It resets my mind and I just end up immersed. It's not just part of the show - at this point it is the show.
Objectively, the animation is not that special. There's no flashy animation or impact frames or the sorts. Instead of that action, it focuses more on the little things - wind rustling, the gentle breeze blowing the leaves and hair, cooking food (I haven't mentioned it yet but damn they make food look tasty as hell), the campfire. It enhances the feeling of being a part of the surroundings. It makes the show more immersive, and further makes the experience more cozy. Nothing intense. Facial expressions and body language are expressive enough to express character emotions. I found it comforting, because it's nothing impressive, but it's something that settles you down as you sit back and watch the show.
The scenery is what pulled me in the deepest. My eyes opened when I saw the background - just so amazed. There’s something powerful about watching the sun rise over a cold morning campsite or seeing a lone tent pitched beneath a wide, starry sky during night at a lake campsite. It made me want to slow down, and maybe even look up more often in real life. The visuals don’t just support the show - they are the show. If you’ve ever felt the pull of the outdoors, Yuru Camp’s scenery delivers that in a way that makes it stand out from other shows. It inspires you to embrace the outdoors, and just makes you feel more loose and less tense (to an extent). Maybe we could take away that taking things slow and just admiring and being mindful of the world around you is important and healing. Very amazing scenery that I even have Lake Motosu and the gang as my desktop wallpaper.
The thing with Yuru Camp too is that it tends to show real life locations of places. Not just Mount Fuji, but actual establishments, like Rin's first camping site. Real products on the market and in stores are also shown. In return, stores near the Mount Fuji area has been selling Yuru Camp merch. This undeniably does look like an advertisement, but the thing is you don't even notice it is an ad because you focus more on the characters and how they interact with the products and places. I think it's a good thing. If Yuru Camp is an ad for these places, you barely notice it, and it also helps out those establishments, which I think is a plus.
Of course I am still attempting to be objective as possible, but my personal experience with the show changes the way I see and rate it. For one thing, it changed the way I perceive introversion. I initially thought of it as being shy to interacting with other people. People may say that is a bad thing, but the show embraces that. Rin is undeniably an introvert when she is introduced, and in later episodes, is shown to prefer to do things isolated. As an introvert myself (slowly coming out of my shell) it showed me how being alone can be more fulfilling and especially peaceful, which I can totally relate to. I'd rather listen to music and lose to my own thoughts while I lie down in bed and stare at the ceiling. Of course, I still get embarrassed pretty easy and it's already pretty brave of me to write a review on a show released more than half a decade ago, but I'm doing this to show my appreciation I guess (and of course staying objective). The aesthetic of the show is so fun and chill which I never thought I'd ever experience. Being able to unwind watching this show is surely a treat. Ultimately, I found myself connecting to Rin one way or another, which also hooked me to the show, but once I got to experience more and see more of the show, I just couldn't say no. It has made me happier. In the middle of my anime burnout where I could have completely fallen off watching animes, this show has singlehandedly brought me back, and with the added benefit of just being an awesome iyashikei to my soul.
The show does hold a bit of educational value. This is particularly evident when the OutClub girls are trying to discover new ways and methods before their planned camping trips. Chiaki learning not to use wooden bowls, or the group creating alcohol burners, or learning how to set up tents. At the end of each episode, there is also a camping reminder about the importance of preparing for winter camping, and other aspects like maintaining campsite cleanliness. The show is aware that people will partake in camping due to the show, and it tries to inform those who do. Pretty neat.I'm not gonna discuss character designs because 1. I literally can't and 2. I think they are perfect the way they are. Their school uniforms and camping attire are pretty iconic but seem normal to me.
For season 1, I have seen both the English dub and sub for Yuru Camp. As an English dub watcher, I prefer to watch the dub version because I find it more relaxing to watch the show being narrated instead of reading subtitles. Of course, this is all a preference - I'm not suggesting you go watch the dub because I'm saying the dub is better. Whatever makes you relax more when you watch this show - go for it lol. Though the dub voice acting is a lot more expressive (subjectively) compared to the other shows I've seen so that's a plus.
I may have forgotten any other elements. Plot-wise, it's a slow approach and we do see changes within the characters. I don't think I'll further elaborate on this though.
Yuru Camp is nothing high-stakes or anything of the sorts - all you gotta do is sit back, slow down, relax and enjoy the show. The underrated soundtracks, breathtaking scenery and the awesome characters we have work together to create a genuinely calm experience. It won't be for everyone - a friend of mine who prefers more action-packed animes like AoT or EiS dropped it after the first episode, and I can completely understand that. For those who connect to this show, it ends up being something special. It's something that I wish to experience one day. Damn, it's a camping show made half a decade ago and here I am attempting an objective review. It really is just good vibes all around. It's a life-changing experience for me, and is something I never expected at all for a show like this. It's pretty hard to explain that in words but it really did change me. A show I would rewatch anytime. It means a lot to me, and way more than I ever would have expected.
When it comes to Yuru Camp, I have to say I am biased. Now despite attempting an objective review, I still ended up adding in my subjective experiences, and that may drop the quality of the first review I ever make, but... to me, it's, and I subjectively AND objectively think deserves a...
100/100
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