Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Season 2 Review

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is an anime which combines the fantasy comedy, isekai, and iyashikei genres. It is based on an ongoing 19-volume Japanese light novel series written by Kumanano and illustrated by 029. This series is produced by Japanese animation studio EMT Squared. Hisashi Ishii and Yuu Nobuta are series directors. This review will have spoilers.

The show’s first season introduces Yuna (voiced by Maki Kawase), a bored teenager reincarnated in a fantasy world. The higher power (voiced by Shizuka Itou) gifts her an all-powerful, but comical, bear suit. She tries to adapt to her new life and finds it more fulfilling than anything she had on Earth. In the process, she becomes close to Fina (voiced by Azumi Waki), a 10-year-old girl and Crimonia town resident. Fina soon becomes her work partner and her sister. She is drawn to another ten-year-old named Noire “Noa” Foschurose (voiced by Rina Hidaka), who founds a fan club for the bears that Yuna uses to defeat monsters (Kumakyū and Kumayuru). The younger sister of Fina, Shuri (voiced by Miyu Tomita), and granddaughter of Gran Farrengram, Misana “Misa” Farrengram (voiced by Satomi Amano), also become her friends. Along the way, Yuna meets nobles, maids, fellow adventurers, and princesses.

Although the series is an isekai, it is more like I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, than any other series out there. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is arguably an iyashikei, a Japanese slice-of-life work which portrays characters in calm environments. Such works have less focus on the plot or characters, but more on an immersive setting and world-building. It is unlike other anime in the same genre, as few are fantasy comedies, and none, that I’m aware of, are isekai.

This makes Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear unique. There’s no focus on romance, music, camping, or mystery, as other iyashikei have done. Instead, Yuna is only trying to enjoy her life, with the help of her friends, and her bears Kumakyū and Kumayuru. Thanks to her bear powers she can even create structures, like houses to live in. The series has strong yuri subtext primarily manifested in the close relationship between Yuna and Fina. Also, female characters far outnumber male ones.

The laid-back tone of the series offsets other more drama-filled anime, such as The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady, Ippon Again!, Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible, and The Dangers in My Heart. The same can be said of Western animation such as Villainous, RWBY, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and Velma.

The second season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, also known as Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch, is much more than that. It continues the plotlines from the first season. In the first episode of this season, there are flashbacks to remind the audience what happened. Yuna has become a bit of a celebrity and is called “Bear sis.” While she isn’t used to this, she doesn’t shirk away from helping others. She even drives away orcs from a honey tree, so that she can have honey on her pancakes at a local cafe.

Yuna is often pulled into the world of nobles. Her fan club includes princesses Flora (voiced by Hina Kino), Noa, and Misa. Even the local feudal lord of Crimonia, Cliff Foschurose (voiced by Kōji Yusa), owes her favors. As such, she agrees to make picture books for those in the castle, but not anyone outside of it. This contrasts with the goal of Myne, in Ascendance of a Bookworm, who wants to provide books to the masses. At one point, Yuna caves to pressure and reluctantly agrees to a task given to her by noble Eleanora Foschurose (voiced by Yuiko Tatsumi): guarding students of the royal academy for firsthand training.

The latter duty, predictably, annoys Yuna, as she is comfortable with her simple life in Crimonia. The arc with the students, compromising the second and third episodes, lampoons incorrect judgment of others. Two students, Cattleya and Marix, voiced by Misuzu Yamada and Misato Matsuoka respectfully, think that Yuna is a spoiled and rich lady, and not even an adventurer. In contrast, Yuna finds it exhausting to be around people her age.

As often happens, Yuna easily defeats the beast, known as a black tiger, and takes the pelt for herself, thanks to her bear equipment. The lesson is that no one should judge someone else based on their looks. Such an empowering statement rings true when watched today or any time in the future.

While some children in Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear work, these children are enthusiastic about their work. In the fourth episode, Sherry (voiced by Kozue Yūki) makes a cushion for Yuna and aprons for those at the Bear-themed diner. She later becomes an apprentice at a tailor’s shop. Since Sherry is enjoying her work as an apprentice, for which she is probably paid, I’m entirely convinced it is child labor.

Child labor is often defined as any work which deprives children of their childhood, interferes with school attendance. It can also be any work which is harmful mentally, physically, morally, or socially. I’m not sure if Sherry’s work is affecting her personal development or health. Her duties are akin to assisting a family business. Arguably, her work is contributing to her development as a child and providing experience and skills. It may even be preparing her to become a productive person later in her life, as an adult. Furthermore, she is not enslaved nor engaged in illicit activities.

Sometimes, the isekai nature of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is stronger than at other times. In the fifth episode of this season, Yuna learns that Fina can’t cut through the skin of a black tiger with her current knife, and is determined to get a mithril knife. However, to do that, she has to fight golems in a cave, which are blocking access to the resource. While she collaborates with other adventurers, she ends up clearing the cave and getting what she is after by herself. She even receives a finds a substance named Bearmonite. She later believes that the God of the world set up the whole situation so she could get a reward. At another point, she even admits that the mithril knives remind of her previous life as a shut-in gamer.

As for Fina, her fear of nobles may be symbolic of her desire to be at Yuna’s side no matter what. For example, she is terrified of people trying to make her wear expensive clothes. She is afraid if the clothes are ripped, she will be chastised. Adding to this, she worries about accidentally offending the King. As it turns out, the nobles don’t mind her. They ease her nervousness. Even the King thinks that Yuna is annoyed with him! He believes that Fina is more well-mannered than Yuna. When she ends up spilling orange juice on her clothes, her worry fades away. It turns out that those at the castle are just as messy as her.

Otherwise, food and eating are another key part of the Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear story. This is exemplified by Yuna winning over the mother of Fina. The latter is annoyed that Yuna wants to give Fina an expensive mithril knife. Yuna makes her strawberry shortcake, which she calls “devil’s dessert.” In another episode, Yuna works with Nerin (voiced by Saki Ichimura) and others to bake the same dessert. She gives the same dessert to those within the castle. In the same episode, a maid named Lala helps her and Fina brew tea together, and the royal chef, Zeref (voiced by Taichi Takeda), thanks Yuna for previous recipes.

This plotline reminded me of the slice-of-life comedy drama, Antique Bakery, the only cooking anime I’ve watched, and the centrality of food in the Laid-Back Camp, an adventure iyashikei, and in series such as Is the Order a Rabbit?, Tokyo Mew Mew (and the sequel), and Sweetness & Lightning. I also immediately thought of the third ending sequence of Cardcaptor Sakura, set to the song Fruits Candy by Megumi Kojima. The sequence depicts protagonists Sakura Kinomoto, Tomoyo Daidouji, and Kero as baking (and decorating) a cake together. In fact, it is my favorite ending sequence of that magical girl anime.

Another important theme is the message that overwork is not a positive. In the ninth episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, characters discourage Sherry from tiring herself out. This is like I‘ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, mentioned earlier in this article, which is strongly against overwork. In this series, Yuna likes her easy life, and doesn’t do more work than she has to. She likely encourages others to do the same.

The last few episodes, comprising the final series arc, are more dramatic. Fina, Yuna, Cliff, and Noa all go to the castle where Misa and the rest of the Farrengram family are living. There is conflict with nobles, including the Salbard family, who control half of Sheelin. The Farrengram family control the other half. The Salbard family want to take over the entire city for themselves. Thanks to her friendship with the nobles in Crimonia, Yuna easily navigates through this class conflict. She even brings in the royal chef of Zelef to ensure that the birthday celebration of Misa goes as planned.

In this arc, one of the worst characters, Gajurud (voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya), is introduced. He is arrogant, brash, and likes to get his way. He falls right into a trap, since Zelef promises to report the insults that Gajurud hurled at him, and the food, back to the King. Gajurud’s lackeys even abandon him and claim their taste was off because of colds. His awful son, Juliane (voiced by Yōko Fujita), declares he will strike back. It appears, at first, that this attack will occur when Yuna is wearing a dress, for the first time. She is only wearing some of her bear gear, making her a bit more vulnerable.

The final episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear dashes the latter possibility. Yuna, wearing her bear suit, races to save Misa. The latter was kidnapped by the arrogant son of Gajurud, Juliane, with the help of the bodyguard, Brad. This all makes for an enjoyable action sequence. Yuna busts into the Salbard family mansion, beats up two nobles (Juliane and Gajurud), and clocks the bodyguard, after he underestimates her. As often happens in this series, characters underestimate how powerful Yuna is. They believe they can commit heinous acts because they see her as a kid in a bear suit.

This perception is incorrect. Yuna fights to protect her friends and those she cares about. She has a license to do this, to an extent, thanks to support from friendly nobles. In fact, Eleanora helps in this case, by arresting Gajurud and Juliane, with the help of royal guards. The mansion is then searched to retroactively uncover evidence to justify their arrest. This is an intense use of royal power, but is justified by the fact that they kidnapped Misa, and three other children from around the city.

Yuna cares about other people. In the final episode, she hugs and comforts Misa. Understandably, Misa is terrified after she was brazenly kidnapped. Yuna also reunites Misa with Fina and Noa, following her rescue. These actions make Cliff, and the Farrengram family, eternally grateful. Misa, Noa, and Fina even start to believe that Yuna is a goddess. She accepts this, to an extent, even when she is called the goddess of bears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev4LOVxXNkE

The final episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear ends nicely and ties up loose ends. However, retributive justice is shown uncritically. Gajurud and his son, Juliane, are imprisoned. They are given the death penalty after a “mountain of evidence” results in their convictions. Brad is imprisoned, exiled, and stripped of his title. Furthermore, the Salbard family property is confiscated, and the economy recovers. Adding to this, Misa’s father becomes sole leader of Sheelin. All of this makes sense, considering the crimes of Gajurud, Juliane, and Brad.

In a large part, this reinforces retributive justice paradigms. The punishment of the nobles is imposed, without possibility of remorse. The state unilaterally declares what is, and isn’t, a crime. In some ways, Yuna is in league with the criminal system of this medieval world. There is the presumed widespread belief that those accused of crimes cannot be rehabilitated.

The series doesn’t turn these paradigms on their head like Villainous. The ending could have depicted restorative justice as being applied to the villains. Unfortunately, the writers didn’t want to go that route. This isn’t a shock, considering there are few examples of this in fiction, other than depictions in documentaries, podcasts, or films such as Red Dust. Furthermore, there is still continued debate over this approach to crime.

On the other hand, Yuna’s violence is primarily defensive and meant to protect her friends. She doesn’t go on rampages against any villains, but chooses when and where she acts violently. She lashes out at Gajurud, Juliane, Brad, and their guards. Understandably, she is furious they kidnapped one of her friends and hurt her friends in the process. No one can fault her for that.

Apart from what I’ve mentioned previously about this series, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear also shines through its voiced acting. Maki Kawase, Azumi Waki, and Rina Hidaka, who voice three of the protagonists, are known for their voice work in Tamayomi, Kandagawa Jet Girls, A Centaur’s Life, Michiko & Hatchin, YuruYuri, and Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood.

More prominently, Kawase voiced Shima Iwashita in Bocchi the Rock!. Waki previously voiced Flatorte in I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, Tsukimi Teruya in The Aquatope on White Sand, and Takumi in Do It Yourself!! Hidaka lent her voice as Kobachi Osaragi in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War?, Ren Yamai in Komi Can’t Communicate, and Himi Akane in Princess Connect! Re:Dive, to name a few.

Voice actors, such as Miyu Tomita, Satomi Amano, Hina Kino, Kōji Yusa, Yuiko Tatsumi, Misuzu Yamada, Misato Matsuoka, Kozue Yūki, Saki Ichimura, Taichi Takeda, Shizuka Itou, Yasuhiro Mamiya, and Yōko Fujita, make the series stronger. Some appeared in series like Otherside Picnic, Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department, or Too Cute Crisis, or lent their voices to characters in Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure, Princess Principal, Management of a Novice Alchemist, and Bodacious Space Pirates.

The studio EMT Squared, which produced the series, is known for four series directed by Hisashi Ishii, and another he did with Yuu Nobota: I’m Quitting Heroing. The show’s composer, Shigeo Komori, is known as a writer, lyricist, video game director, and producer. Series writer Takashi Aoshima has worked on series such as Love Lab, Love Tyrant, Karin, and Petite Princess Yucie.

The present series ends with a scene in which Fina and Yuna declare “we’re home” and smile. The pages of a book close, showing that this book/series has ended, that this chapter is over. If a third season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear were produced, it would continue the story of Fina, Yuna, and their friends, reopening the book for all.

The first and second season of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear are currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Hulu.