Laid-Back Camp season 1
| Company type | Anime television series season |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation |
| Founded | January 4, 2018 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Anime television series |
| Parent | C-Station |
The inaugural season of the Japanese anime series Laid-Back Camp, which is based on Afro's manga, centers on Rin Shima's solitary camping excursion at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture and her encounter with Nadeshiko Kagamihara. The animation was produced by C-Station, with Jin Tanaka overseeing series composition and Yoshiaki Kyogoku serving as director.
This installment features voice performances by Yumiri Hanamori, Nao Tōyama, Sayuri Hara, Aki Toyosaki, Rie Takahashi, and Marina Inoue, while Akio Otsuka provides narration. Initial talks for adapting the manga began in July 2015, with official confirmation arriving in January 2017 and principal staff joining the project by June.
The twelve-episode season debuted on AT-X on January 4, 2018, concluding on March 22. It received widespread praise and contributed to a surge in camping interest. Following its success, a second season was commissioned and premiered on January 7, 2021.
Episodes
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Development
Shortly after Afro's manga Laid-Back Camp began serialization in Manga Time Kirara Forward in July 2015, producer Shōichi Hotta suggested adapting it into an anime. The project was officially announced in January 2017. By June 2017, C-Station revealed the main staff members, including director Yoshiaki Kyogoku, series composition lead Jin Tanaka, and character designer Mutsumi Sasaki. Studio president and animation producer Ryoji Maru introduced Kyogoku to the team due to his excellent fit for the series, marking Kyogoku’s first role as a director.
Writing
The anime covers the initial four volumes of the manga. Hotta defined three central objectives for the season: emphasizing the joy of camping, pioneering a fresh approach to slice-of-life anime, and highlighting scenic locations across Japan. The team also established two creative rules—to avoid characters complimenting each other with phrases like "You're cute" and to limit overly intimate interactions—in order to present genuine human connections. To ensure accurate representation of camping activities, the staff conducted location scouting at ten real sites featured in the story and personally experienced camping during winter conditions.
Casting
In June 2017, Yumiri Hanamori and Nao Tōyama were cast as Nadeshiko Kagamihara and Rin Shima, respectively. Director Kyogoku felt that Hanamori’s "fresh" vocal tone perfectly matched Nadeshiko’s "innocent" and "lively" personality. Later in August 2017, Sayuri Hara, Aki Toyosaki, and Rie Takahashi joined the cast as Chiaki Ōgaki, Aoi Inuyama, and Ena Saitō. By December 2017, Marina Inoue and Akio Otsuka were added to voice Sakura Kagamihara and the narrator. The owner of the Suimeiso campsite featured in episodes six and seven was inspired by the actual proprietor Kitajima Shinsuke. The English dub cast revealed in August 2022 includes Morgan Garrett (Nadeshiko), Celeste Perez (Rin), Hannah Alyea (Aoi), Katelyn Barr (Chiaki), Molly Zhang (Ena), and Robin Clayton (Sakura).
Design
The moped used by Rin Shima throughout the season is based on the Yamaha Vino scooter model. Additionally, the camping gear depicted in the series reflects equipment personally used by Afro.
Music
Akiyuki Tateyama composed the soundtrack for Laid-Back Camp. In November 2017, it was announced that Asaka would perform the opening song "Shiny Days," while Eri Sasaki would sing the ending theme. Both singles were released simultaneously on January 24, 2018.
Marketing
The initial trailer for Laid-Back Camp was unveiled in November 2017, followed by a second promotional video in December. On December 10, 2017, Toho Cinemas in Shinjuku hosted an advanced screening accompanied by a cast discussion event. A comprehensive 200-page book compiling settings and background artwork from the season, titled , was planned for release across Japan in early July 2023.
Broadcast
The first season aired on AT-X, beginning January 4, 2018. It consisted of twelve episodes and concluded its run on March 22, 2018.
Home media
Crunchyroll streamed the first season internationally outside Asia during its broadcast period. On December 24, 2020, Ani-One started streaming it via their official YouTube channel. The series became available on Amazon Prime Video in Japan starting November 2022.
Japan saw the release of the initial Blu-ray and DVD volume on March 28, 2018; this edition included an original video animation (OVA) titled Room Camp Episode 0. The second volume was released on May 23, 2018, featuring the OVA Tall Tale Camp, followed by a third volume on July 28, 2018, which contained Survival Camp, the third OVA installment. Each volume also offered a six-episode camping variety show starring Yumiri called .
Critical response
Stig Høgset from THEM Anime Reviews awarded the initial season of Laid-Back Camp a perfect score of 5 stars, commending its "unhurried tempo, engaging characters, playful dialogue," and "beautiful landscapes," even referring to it as "Encouragement of Climb season 2.5." Nick Creamer of Anime News Network gave it a "B+" grade, emphasizing its "excellent blend of humor and tranquil slice-of-life elements" that effectively convey the "delight of camping," while also mentioning some episodes with less striking visuals. Rafael Motamayor from /Film praised the season’s stunning backgrounds and well-executed pacing that inspire interest in camping, comparing its depiction of Japan's natural settings to how The Lord of the Rings highlights New Zealand. Additionally, IGN included the season among the top anime productions of the decade.
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Crunchyroll Anime Awards | Best Girl | Nadeshiko Kagamihara | Template:Nom |
| Best Voice Actor Performance (Japanese) | Nao Tōyama | Template:Nom | ||
| Tokyo Anime Awards Festival | Individual Award for Directors | Yoshiaki Kyogoku | Template:Won |
Impact
In February 2018, YBS Wide News reported that Laid-Back Camp motivated enthusiasts to try winter camping, resulting in sold-out copies of the manga’s first five volumes (excluding volume four) at a bookstore in Kōfu. Yamaha Vino dealers also noted that scooters painted in Rin’s signature colors sold out rapidly. Yamanashi Prefecture saw a significant increase in tourists visiting locations featured in the series, notably the Kōan and Suimeiso campgrounds.
Atsushi Tanaka, professor of tourism at the University of Yamanashi, along with the Jogaoka Revitalization Promotion Council based in Minobu, conducted research on the anime’s economic effects on Yamanashi. Between April 2018 and January 2019, five events generated ¥86 million through sales of local products and souvenirs, with visitor spending rising by 40% compared to previous tourism averages. This uplift was attributed to a "psychological effect" encouraging fans to financially support sites showcased in the show.
Original video animations
The first OVA episode tied to Laid-Back Camp’s debut season was available on YouTube for a limited period from December 12, 2019, through January 6, 2020. All three OVAs were broadcast on AT-X during May 2020 and later aired collectively as "Episode 13" on Tokyo MX and BS11 on March 31, 2022. Subsequent broadcasts took place on TV Aichi, TVQ Kyushu, MBS, and SBS in early April.