Laid-Back Camp Movie

Laid-Back Camp Movie 映画 ゆるキャン△ is a sequel and finale to Laid-Back Camp, bringing the girls back together after university to work on building a campsite together.

It’s good.  It was always going to be hard to cap off the series.  I was surprised that the girls basically hadn’t changed at all, other than Chiaki Ōgaki 大垣 千明 rather unfortunately becoming an alcoholic (or more generously, an occasional binge drinker).

The most disappointing thing in the show is that every authority figure and expert voice is a man, without exception.  This was already present in the voice-over in the original show, but it is hyper-present in the movie.

It’s also kind of sad that Rin Shima’s 志摩 リン job kind of sucks and she works much, much too hard at it.  Everyone else has jobs that suit them fairly well.

Overall it wraps up the series reasonably well, with a few good iyashikei moments.  It’s doing a really hard thing, being respectful of the fans while telling a new story.  It does a good job of having fan touchpoints.

In terms of the movie’s themes, it is really as much about the idea of getting together as a group as the actual experience.  The two seasons of the show are much more engaging in terms of group interaction.

The two seasons of the show are good enough to rewatch.  The movie, I wouldn’t say you need to see it again.  You can just be comfortable knowing they remain friends.