Story:
Well, the starting point for this show is kinda intriguing as it shows Nadeshiko Kagamihara (WOW what a tongue-twister this name is) moving over from Shizuoka to Yamanishi to capture the view Mount Fuji right on Japan's 1000-yen bill. Problem is, after the whole journey and reaching her destination, only to fall asleep. Enter Rin Shima, the self-proclaimed girl who can camp out (and I guess her purpose is exploration) and is a skilled one that knows the way of camping (with her grandpa being the narrator if you haven't guessed so already), and with that, the journey of an after-encounter of the duo headstarts to find places of interest (of camping of course) whilst opening up to one another, and eventually with the Outdoor Camping Club duo (Aio Inuyama, Chiaki Oogaki), the (another quadruple) 4 girls attempt to learn all about camping, from finding the right places to the right equipment needed for a lasting experience, and ending off on a high note that's to expect with enjoying each other's company.
So, for comparison sake between Yorimoi and Yuru Camp:
Similarities - Group of CGDCT-esque girls doing their stuff, and enjoying to the best of their abilities, and just soaking in the atmosphere.
Differences - The course of their heading (plot pointers), the overall atmosphere (calm and composed vs. happening and progressing), and of course the source material (Yorimoi being an original work vs. Yuru Camp from the manga source of the same name)
No matter the similarities and the differences, both shows are definite must-watch-ers from the get-go from Winter 2018, and quarterback AOTSes.
Characters:
It is with NO doubt that Yuru Camp's strongest point is at its characters (see the similarity?), and how their engagement with each other piques their interest and bad-rubbing, though the latter (I believe) serves as a plot pointer in the friendships.
Rin Shima (CV: veteran Nao Touyama of Nisekoi's Chitoge) is a nice protagonist-esque character, seeing that her abilities (learnt from her grandfather) serves her well as a solo, lone camper, entrusting herself with all the hard work from start to finish. Of course, that is until Nadeshiko's enthusiasm rubs her the wrong way at first till acceptance, and in that essence, opens her cold heart towards others who have the same interest and ambitions. To that extent, IMO I can really emphatize with Rin because most of the time she's a loner, until that heart warms up to other people and being welcome of it, definitely appreciate the progression of Rin.
IMO the best girl (and waifu), Nadeshiko Kamigahara (CV: Yumiri Hanamori of Grimoire of Zero's Zero) IMMEDIATELY stands out above the rest for her enthusiasm that's so mesmerizing (and NO I'm NOT kidding) and encouraging others with her wwwiiiiddddeee brilliant smile across her face with her weird antics that make her one of the most covenanted characters in the series to no end. Everything of her feels like a joke, yet in a comical sense that delivers strong on the aspects of the show, knowing when to take a dump on jokes and whatnot that comes as a striking resemblance to how we enjoy our youth by doing stupid things that made no sense, but enjoy it for the fervor that gives us the presence of our younger times.
The Outdoor Camping Club gang of Aoi Inuyama, Chiaki Oogaki and Ena Saitou (voiced by supporting CVs Aki Toyosaki, Sayuri Hara, Rie Takahashi) also delivers on the plot points from their inclusion to the series (when Nadeshiko is introduced to the club) to the camping engagement with Rin, and it all makes up with none of the half-assed effort and goes full-on with their character personalities via the relationship towards Rin and Nadeshiko, and both of them serve their purpose as to be aspiring campers (again, like the other camping experienced duo), to make full use of their time to enjoy camping to the max.
Plus the other side-characters, another strong lineup of characters that are just willing to try and not get fazed even by (minor) challenges (such as Chiaki and Nadeshiko's shock towards the expensive equipment), so much so that it's exciting to watch these characters mingle with one another and enjoy a purposefully themed Yuru (Laid-Back) Camp.
Art/Animation:
C-Station (of Starmyu fame) did an impressive job on this manga adaptation, recapturing the sights and wonders of the simple yet artisitic manga drawings into the anime art that is chock full with the most beautiful and realistic of sites found in real life (e.g. 1000-yen billed Mt. Fuji in Episode 1).
To see sites replicated in real life into anime form, that is truly the blessing of those of us who have done camping as a hobby and it certainly brought tears of joy that the experience is undoubtedly the same as it was in real life. Thumbs up for keeping the art aesthetics consistent with animation that's not too glaring nor uneasy that spoils the visuals, and instead, basks in the natural state of the world as we see fit.
Sound:
Another OST to look out for in Winter 2018, and an awesome and comfy one at that!!!
Music composer Akiyuki Tateyama definitely has props when it comes to music (through Shimoneta and Kemono Friends), and it shows here to a T. Anybody who has listened to the OST will definitely agree on its surprising narration, starting with Asaka's energetic OP "Shiny Days" (which bears a striking similarity to Jackson 5's "I Want You Back", "ABC"), ending with Eri Sasaki's calm, relaxing acoustic ED "Fuyu Biyori" (still loving her bright, warm voice as evidently heard in Plastic Memories OP which STILL really brought tears of joy) to the BGM which fits so carefully and glides along with the present situation at hand. Overall, another strong OST in the books.
Overall:
Aside from being some people's AOTS, this hidden gem truly is a blast to watch and be immersed if just for the camping aspect alone. This series overall really blew my mind away at how simple yet enticing the show-and-tell ability that most shows try to do but fail outright, and this is the one exception of a few that did what it was supposed to do from the outset, with great fervor and confidence.
You know what? Maybe we should try to appreciate the outliers more (such as this, Yorimoi etc.) than just a show that we would skip from the beginning, and this show gave me hope that more of us can be exposed to these kinds of shows. A heartfelt recommended watch so we can all be exposed to the life and hobby of more than just the camping life.
...And now I feel tempted to travel to Japan to just experience the camping life :-(
IT'S THAT MESMERIZING AND GOOD!!!
