It's a new anime directed by Kunuhiko Ikuhara's whose well-known known for previously directing masterpieces such as Revolutionary Girl Utena and Penguin Drum. This is expected to air every Monday from the date this thread was made, for the duration of the Winter Anime Season and is expected to go on for 12-episodes.
What is this show about, apparently it features lesbians is this true?
Or read the synopsis courtesy of ANN "Far off in space, the asteroid Kumaria blew up, sending bits and pieces to rain down on Earth. For reasons unknown, this causes all the bears ("kuma" in Japanese) to simultaneously rise up and begin attacking humans. Finally, a giant "Wall of Severance" was built to divide them from each other and end their ceaseless war and hatred. In the human world, at Wuthering Heights Academy, Kureha and Sumika are friends who've fallen in love. When they find a lily blooming in their favorite flower bed, their eyes meet...and all at once the Bear Alarm starts ringing, signalling that the human world is under attack."
This show looks really perverted and stupid based on that OP why the hell should I watch it again?
Basically if you like any of those things you should watch the show. Or if you just like well-produced and well-directed works in general with a strong touch of surrealism reminiscent of Kafka and Haruki Murakami.
Don't just take my word for it. Listen to these individuals below about the series.
Yurikuma Arashi 1:
Ikuhara returns in his glory to save anime immediately and permanently.
I believe that "It looks like no one has noticed that we're actually bears." is the best line of dialogue since "You didn't think you were the only one who could turn into a car, did you?" And it doesn't let up from there. This is a batshit insane premise mixed together with a lot of yuri, and many of Ikuhara's favorite reccuring motifs. Oh, and that's all before we get to the greatest trial scene in any work of fiction ever.
The art for the show is very nice. While this isn't the best looking show ever made, the designs are incredibly strong, and those go a very long way. Every part of this production feels like an Ikuhara show in the best ways possible.
I have no clue where things will go from here, but it should be a very special show.
There's obviously plenty of "what's going on?" to think about but it's frustrating here because it appears to be contradictory.
The bears genuinely do eat people - so why, when the Extinction Court grants permission to the bears to eat Kureha, is it a metaphorical "eating" of her "lily" instead? Are they actually feasting on her love for Sumika, and if so why do they then actually eat Sumika at the end?
. I am expecting too much to know what's happening, but I guess it's not immediately obvious what sort of structure this show is going to take, particularly as this would seem to set Kureha up as the "protagonist" versus the Bears except that's clearly not what's going to happen.
It's technically sound - very good background art work- although I'd have enjoyed more pizzazz for the
Extinction Court, despite the fabulousness of the Life magistrates
.
It's also much less gratuitous than I thought it would be. Yes, it leans heavily on lesbian sexual imagery, but no panty shots! Somehow there's a difference in my mind.
Not as immediately grabbing as PenguinDrum was for me, but not a bad start either, although part of me does wonder whether I'd be giving this the time of day if it were by anyone other than Ikuni.
"Yuri Kuma Arashi could be a turning point for the genre--much like Gundam spearheaded the "real robot" genre."
Ikuhara, Lord and Savior of mankind, has come back to redeem humans/bears, purify our souls, and instill us with eternal knowledge that will enlighten our minds and bodies to a higher plane of existence. Yuri Kuma Arashi does just that.
It's everything I wanted. It's everything we need.
Stellar first episode! Did an excellent job on building the story while keeping it incredibly entertaining.Who would've thought that a conflict between humans and bears would be this awesome? The characters and their voices, the backgrounds, colors, and most of all the music were so on point. This show is everything that I've always wanted. It's like I'm being slapped in the face with a bouquet of lilies. I LOVE IT!
I don't
feel bad for Sumika getting eaten (or going missing), as she wasn't as interesting as the 3 other main leads. Gimme that Ginko x Kureha x Lulu goodness baby!
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
That
lily coming out of Kureha's chest gave me some serious Star Jewel vibes
. And for those who know are familiar with that OVA and saw my review on it, this is a good thing.
I confidently nominate this as my #1 vote for AOTY 2015. Nothing else will even dare come close.
There's certainly a lot of lesbian sexual imagery and plays on wording as well. The most obvious being when the bears are talking about eating humans and it turns out they spiritually eat Kureha in a very sexually suggestive way while on the other hand they actually eat Sumika. I assume their complaints about being hungry could or will always have a double meaning from now on.
It certainly is a visual spectacle but I've come to expect that out of Silver Link considering the very colorful other anime they've done in the past.
I'm very curious about what this Extinction Court. What exactly is the function? Beauty Bear seemed to be defending their 'right' to eat humans and came off as their lawyer whereas the Cool Bear was like the prosecutor with Sexy Bear acting as judge.
How the hell do I watch it, is it been streamed legally anywhere?
Yes - Funanimation has bought the rights and will be simulcasting it however the simulcast air date is TBA at this point. This section will be updated later when it is uploaded on their site.
Update as of now:
The first episodes of Absolute Duo and Yurikuma Arashi will be available for FUNimation Streaming Subscribers just a couple days after their Japanese premiere. But fear not, all future episodes will be available just 3 hours after they air in Japan. Look for Episode 01 of Absolute Duo and Yurikuma Arashi at the dates and times listed below, and new episodes every Monday at 12:00 Noon and 12:30 PM CST, respectively.
Absolute Duo – Episode 01: Tuesday, January 06 at 12:00PM Noon/CST
Yurikuma Arashi – Episode 01: Wednesday, January 07 at 12:30PM/CST
I have the feeling that with the very original/wacky sounding plot and Ikuhara at the helm, even if this fails to be actually *good* (a real possibility), it should be at least entertaining.
Eh. Just as nonsensical as Penguindrum then. I want Kunihiko Ikuhara to direct another series similar to Revolutionary Girl Utena, or at least a story that isn't bizarre. It was hard keeping up with Penguindrum, but it had its moments of interest. I don't think I can sit through another one of these sort of shows.
Eh. Just as nonsensical as Penguindrum then. I want Kunihiko Ikuhara to direct another series similar to Revolutionary Girl Utena, or at least a story that isn't bizarre. It was hard keeping up with Penguindrum, but it had its moments of interest. I don't think I can sit through another one of these sort of shows.
Eh. Just as nonsensical as Penguindrum then. I want Kunihiko Ikuhara to direct another series similar to Revolutionary Girl Utena, or at least a story that isn't bizarre. It was hard keeping up with Penguindrum, but it had its moments of interest. I don't think I can sit through another one of these sort of shows.
Penguin Drum started cool and then fucking dwindled into sea of deterioration and confusion with the plot just not going anywhere. Add to that, atrocious empty mumble-jumble of metaphysical nonsense and just incoherent plot lines all driven by one of the worst female protagonist ever.
Sorry, Ikuhara, but I am not falling for this again!
