The third season premiered on AT-X on April 4, 2024, running for twelve episodes until June 20. The series was renewed for a fourth season in November 2024.[1]
Episodes
No.
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
1
26
"Where Should We Go Next?" Transliteration: "Tsugi, Doko Ikou Ka" (Japanese: 次、どこ行こうか)
Rin Shima camps at Lake Shōji, during which she reminisces about visiting her grandfather in Aichi Prefecture in her fourth grade to see Yahagi Dam and experiencing camping for the first time at Inabu. Meanwhile, Nadeshiko Kagamihara, Aoi Inuyama, and Chiaki Ōgaki build DIYalcohol stoves after school, with supervision from their advisor Minami Toba, as part of doing activities as the Outdoor Activities Club. Ena Saitō, who joined them during the activity, invites the OAC members to camp on her yard where she can trim Chiaki's hair. In a post-credits scene, Ayano Toki sends an unsuspecting Rin a text message while relaxing inside a tent.
2
27
"Mini Camping and Yard Camping" Transliteration: "Puchikyan to Niwakyan" (Japanese: プチキャンと庭キャン)
Ayano buys a pocket stove and visits Cape Irago. During her stay, she checks for cheap tents to purchase. Once she receives the tent, Ayano texts Rin and invites her to go motorcycle camping. Meanwhile, Nadeshiko, Aoi, and Chiaki arrive at Ena's house to camp in her yard. After setting up a tent for Ena's pet dog Chikuwa, Ena begins to cut Chiaki's hair. Once done, Chiaki prepares to make and cook a homemade sausage, but it ends up tasting bad after missing a crucial step. After the yard camp, Nadeshiko receives a text from Ayano inviting her to a camping trip at the Ōi River with Rin.
3
28
"We're Off! Land of Suspension Bridges" Transliteration: "Shuppatsudesu! Tsuribashi no Kuni" (Japanese: 出発!吊り橋の国)
Nadeshiko and Rin are invited to camp in a remote area of the Ōi River by Ayano, who has prepared camping equipment. Using the campsite as a meeting place, Nadeshiko travels alone by train, while Rin and Ayano meet up at Senzu Station on the way and decide to go touring on their motorcycles together. While enjoying the journey to the campsite, the two bikers go to their destination, Lake Hatanagi, and at Ayano's suggestion, they visit a series of suspension bridges in the river's basin.
4
29
"Hatanagi Attack! Death Road from Hell" Transliteration: "Hatanagi Atakku! Jigoku no Desurōdo" (Japanese: 畑薙アタック!!地獄のデスロード)
Nadeshiko arrives at Abt Ichishiro Station and witnesses the train she rode being linked with an Abt rack system-powered train to climb a steep railway ahead. After arriving first at Camp Ichishiro and securing a campsite, Nadeshiko heads to Okuōikojō Station. Meanwhile, Rin and Ayano continue navigating rough roads past Lake Sesso to reach Lake Hatanagi, dubbing it a "death road". Upon reaching Hatanagi, the two bravely cross the suspension bridge there. They later visit an onsen.
5
30
"Campfires and Beef Feasts" Transliteration: "Takibi to Ushi Matsuri" (Japanese: 焚き火と牛まつり)
While waiting for Rin and Ayano to arrive from Hatanagi, Nadeshiko prepares wood for a campfire and makes amazake-flavored cookies. Later that night, they prepare hamburg steak and beef stew. Nadeshiko combines the beef dishes into a Hatanagi Dam-styled omurice.
6
31
"See You Again Someday" Transliteration: "Sore Jā Mata, Itsuka" (Japanese: それじゃあまた、いつか)
After eating canapés for breakfast, Rin and Ayano ride their motorcycles while Nadeshiko takes a bus to head to Sumata Pass to see and cross the Yume no Tsuribashi.[a] They later eat keiryūsoba for lunch and go to an onsen. After that, the trio visit the Shiogo suspension bridge as the last bridge for their trip. Ayano does not want to go home yet, so they visit the Hōrai Bridge before going separate ways.
7
32
"True or Embellished? Retrospective Camping" Transliteration: "Hora ka Honmaka? Kaisō Kyanpu" (Japanese: ホラかホンマか回想キャンプ)
While chopping firewood on school grounds, Chiaki and Aoi reveal to Nadeshiko that they also have gone camping during the latter's time at the Ōi River. They recount their experiences with Ena to Nadeshiko while embellishing some minor details: meeting at Nirasaki Station, arriving at the Akeno area of Hokuto, passing by Lake Mizugaki to eat yakitori at Godo, taking the alternative yet steep route to enjoy a hot spring at Masutomi, and finally reaching their destination at Mount Mizugaki Natural Park.
8
33
"The Food Porn Begins!!" Transliteration: "Meshitero Hajimaru yo!!" (Japanese: めしテロはじまるよ!!)
Chiaki and Aoi continue recounting their embellished memories at Mizugaki to Nadeshiko: after Ms. Toba arrives at the campsite to bring their cooking materials, the Outdoor Activities Club prepares tomato-flavored yakisoba, okonomiyaki using pizza dough, slow-cooked tomato sauce pizza, smoked cheese, nuts, smoked potato chips, Chiaki's improved homemade sausage, and minestrone.
9
34
"Touring and Checking Out the Cherry Blossoms" Transliteration: "Tsūringu to Sakura Meguri" (Japanese: ツーリングと桜めぐり)
Rin goes on a solo camping at Oyanagawa Keiryu Park Campsite. She notices a pile of trash while touring the area, prompting her to clean it up. She is helped by two campers, who later invite her into their campervan for a coffee. For her lunch, Rin prepares spinach and tomato pasta. Meanwhile, Nadeshiko and her sister Sakura go on a car trip to view cherry blossoms. They visit the cherry blossom trees found at Naisenji Temple, Utsubuna Park, Mt. Minobu Kuonji Temple, and Daiboshi Park, and the Wanitsuka no Sakura tree. After her camping, Rin visits the onsen at Tōge no Yu.
10
35
"Chikuwa, Trains, Chiaki's Solo Camping" Transliteration: "Chikuwa to Densha to Chiaki no Sorokyan" (Japanese: ちくわと電車と千明のソロキャン)
Rin traverses the routes that surround the Kōfu Basin. Nadeshiko and Sakura eat lunch at Akasakadai Park in Kai. The three later encounter each other at Jinroku Cherry Blossoms Park. Meanwhile, Ena takes Chikuwa for a walk at Fujikawa Park, where she meets Ema drawing a sketch of them. Chiaki goes on a solo camping for the first time at Ide in Nanbu. She then prepares Sataroga Cooler, a non-alcoholic cocktail, and makes a paracord bracelet. Chiaki visits a nearby onsen, where she surprisingly encounters Aoi.
11
36
"Scenery from Way Back" Transliteration: "Omoide no Fūkei" (Japanese: 思い出の風景)
Aoi explains that she has received a road bike from her aunt, which she tests by traveling towards Chiaki's location. The tire then gets flat, resulting in Aoi joining Chiaki in her camping while waiting for her father to pick her up. Meanwhile, Rin, Nadeshiko, and Sakura visit Jiunji Temple and eat baked custard pudding. Rin brings the Kagamihara sisters to Fuefuki to witness the bonfire event oigatayaki [ja].
At night, Rin checks up on Chiaki regarding the latter's solo camping experience. The following day, Chiaki is joined by Rin, Nadeshiko, Aoi and her sister Akari, Ena, and Ms. Toba for their cherry blossom viewing camping. They prepare jingisukan with lamb, pork, and frog meats. Later that night, the girls share their cherry blossom photos and witness a cherry blossom tree with a full moon at the background. The following morning, Rin and Nadeshiko share their ideas for the next camping trip as the others begin to wake up and join them. In a post-credits scene, Ena, now a second-year student, finds Ema and her friend, both new first-year students, being invited by other clubs. Meanwhile, the Outdoor Activities Club prepares a recruitment poster.
In October 2022, the cast of Laid-Back Camp Movie revealed a third season for the Laid-Back Camp anime series during their stage greeting at the Marunouchi Piccadilly theater in Tokyo,[18][19] with the franchise's official Twitter account confirming it to be already in production.[20] In July 2023, Shin Tosaka, Masafumi Sugiura, and Hisanori Hashimoto were revealed as the director, head of series composition, and character designer, respectively, of the season produced at Eight Bit; replacing the staff who had worked on the previous seasons and the film at C-Station.[21] This was Hashimoto's debut in character designing.[21] As the new director for the series, Tosaka stated that he wanted to do "an honest and careful portrayal of the charm of the [manga]" in the season, and acknowledged the difference of the new character designs from the previous seasons due to incorporating the "taste of the original manga".[14]
Additional staff working on the season were revealed in October 2023, including Miho Hasegawa as the color designer, Taketo Gonpei as the art director, and Katsuto Ogawa as the director of photography. The Japanese background art production company Creative Freaks was also revealed to be producing the background arts for the season.[22]Tomoyo Kurosawa, who voiced Ayano Toki in the season, confirmed in November 2023 that the dubbing was finished.[23] In April 2024, Point Pictures confirmed that they produced the opening animation.[24]
Writing
According to Laid-Back Camp author Afro, the season would introduce his favorite "Death Road" story from the manga series,[25] which is the fifty-ninth chapter in the eleventh volume ("Hatanagi Attack!! Death Road from Hell" (畑薙アタック!!地獄のデスロード)).[26]
Casting
In July 2023, Yumiri Hanamori, Nao Tōyama, Sayuri Hara, Aki Toyosaki, and Rie Takahashi were set to reprise their respective roles from the previous seasons of Laid-Back Camp as Nadeshiko Kagamihara, Rin Shima, Chiaki Ōgaki, Aoi Inuyama, and Ena Saitō.[14] In September 2023, Kurosawa and Akio Otsuka were also set to return for their recurring roles as Ayano and the narrator.[15] Additional recurring cast were revealed in March 2024, namely Shizuka Itō as Minami Toba, Marina Inoue as Sakura Kagamihara, and Risae Matsuda as Akari Inuyama.[16] That month, Maria Sashide and Kokoa Amano joined the cast as Ema Mizunami and Mei Nakatsugawa, respectively.[17] The English dub cast for the season was announced in April 2024, namely Celeste Perez as Rin, Morgan Garrett as Nadeshiko, Katelyn Barr as Chiaki, Hannah Alyea as Aoi, Molly Zhang as Ena, Katie Wetch as Ayano, Larry Cassady as Hajime (Rin's grandfather) and the narrator, Leah Clark as Minami, Jalitza Delgado as Hana, and Marianne Bray as Hana's mother.[27]
Designs
Model locations
In the first episode of the season, the Iyama Observation Deck, an observation deck at Mount Iyama [ja] in Aichi Prefecture was featured.[28] The outdoor specialty store featured in the second episode, where Ayano visited to shop for equipment that would heat her drink, was based on the real-life Campal Shop Bentenjima store found in Kosai, Shizuoka.[29][30] In the same episode, the Hamanako Flight Park 2nd Takeoff of Hamanako Paraglider School in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka was also featured.[31]
Akiyuki Tateyama was revealed to be composing the season in July 2023, after previously working on the first two seasons of Laid-Back Camp.[21] In September 2023, the Japanese music unit Kiminone and Asaka were revealed as the performers of the opening and ending theme songs for the season, respectively.[33]Eri Sasaki was also revealed to be producing the ending theme song.[34] In February 2024, the title of the opening and ending theme songs were revealed as "Laid-Back Journey" (レイドバックジャーニー, Reidobakku Jānī) and "So Precious", respectively. Their singles were released in Japan on April 24, 2024.[35]
Marketing
The teaser visual for the third season of Laid-Back Camp was unveiled in July 2023;[21] its other half was revealed alongside the release of a teaser trailer in September.[33] A character visual for Nadeshiko was released in October 2023,[36] followed by Rin and Ayano in November,[37][38] Chiaki in December,[39] Aoi in January 2024,[40] and Ena with her pet dog Chikuwa in February.[41] In March 2024, the main visual and a new trailer featuring the theme songs for the season were released.[42]
In January 2024, Weiß Schwarz, a collectible card game by Bushiroad, announced a trial deck and booster pack based on the third season.[43] The trial deck was released on June 28, 2024, and the booster pack on November 8.[44] Additional promotional partners included the outdoor goods brand Aozoragear, which featured a camper that was designed with illustrations of Nadeshiko and Rin;[45] the shokugan (food toy) company Heart, which produced character-themed 3D magnets;[46] and the insecticide manufacturer Fumakilla.[47]
Release
Broadcast
The first three episodes of the third season of Laid-Back Camp premiered at Shinjuku Piccadilly theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo on February 24, 2024.[48] The season debuted on AT-X on April 4, 2024.[16] It aired twelve episodes,[49] concluding on June 20, 2024.[50]
Three volumes of Blu-ray and DVD for the season, each containing four episodes and an original video animation (OVA), were released in Japan: first volume on June 26, 2024, second volume on August 28, and third volume on October 23.[49] The title of the OVAs were The Outclub's Room (野クルのへや, Nokuru no Heya), Rainy Camping (あめキャン△, Amekyan),[49] and Rin and Nadeshiko Go Spring Camping at Lake Inaga (リンとなでしこの伊奈ヶ湖春キャンプ, Rin to Nadeshiko no Inagako Harukyan).[53]
Reception
In his review of the first three episodes, Steve Jones of Anime News Network noted the noticeable change, particularly the compositing, between the third season and the previous seasons after Eight Bit took over the production from C-Station. Jones criticized how the characters "poorly... mesh" with their backgrounds and the use of lightly edited photographs layered into the background. However, he became "more acclimated to the new style" with each new episode released. Despite the new staff and studio, he lauded the season for how it still depicted the spirit of camping and laid-back style, and highlighted areas of Japan that were never heard about such as the Ōi River. He also praised the "heightened presence" of Ayano in the episodes.[54]
Original video animations
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
1
"The Outclub's Room" Transliteration: "Nokuru no Heya" (Japanese: 野クルのへや)
^ ab第1話『次、どこ行こうか』 [Episode 1 "Where Should We Go Next?"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
^ ab第2話『プチキャンと庭キャン』 [Episode 2 "Mini Camping and Yard Camping"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
^ ab第3話『出発!吊り橋の国』 [Episode 3 "We're Off! Land of Suspension Bridges"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^ ab第4話『畑薙アタック!!地獄のデスロード』 [Episode 4 "Hatanagi Attack! Death Road from Hell"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
^ ab第5話『焚き火と牛まつり』 [Episode 5 "Campfires and Beef Feasts"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
^ ab第6話『それじゃあまた、いつか』 [Episode 6 "See You Again Someday"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
^ ab第7話『ホラかホンマか回想キャンプ』 [Episode 7 "True or Embellished? Retrospective Camping"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
^ ab第8話『めしテロはじまるよ!!』 [Episode 8 "The Food Porn Begins]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
^ ab第9話『ツーリングと桜めぐり』 [Episode 9 "Touring and Checking Out the Cherry Blossoms"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
^ ab第10話『ちくわと電車と千明のソロキャン』 [Episode 10 "Chikuwa, Trains, Chiaki's Solo Camping"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Retrieved June 6, 2024.
^ ab第11話『思い出の風景』 [Episode 11 "Scenery from Way Back"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
^ ab第12話『4月2日、花見キャンプ』 [Episode 12 "April 2nd: Cherry Blossom Camp Trip"]. yurucamp.jp/third (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
^「ゆるキャン△」TVアニメ3期が制作決定!あfろのお祝いイラスト到着 [Laid-Back Camp TV Anime 3rd Season Production Decided! Congratulatory illustration by Afro has arrived]. Natalie (in Japanese). October 22, 2022. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
^『ゆるキャン△』アニメ3期制作が決定! あfろさんお気に入りのデスロードの話もあり [Production of the third season of Laid-Back Camp anime is decided! There is also Afro's favorite Death Road story]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). October 23, 2022. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
^アニメ「ゆるキャン△」3期はいつから放送?内容はどこからどこまで? [When will the third season of the anime Laid-Back Camp start airing? What is the content of the anime?]. Abema Times (in Japanese). February 19, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
^『ゆるキャン△ SEASON3』第1話のモデル地「井山展望台」について [Regarding Iyama Observation Deck, the model location for the first episode of Laid-Back Camp: Season 3]. yurucamp.jp (in Japanese). April 5, 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^弁天島店 [Bentenjima Store]. Campal Shop (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^『ゆるキャン△ SEASON3』第2話のモデル地「浜名湖フライトパーク第2テイクオフ(浜名湖パラグライダースクール)」について [Regarding Hamanako Flight Park No. 2 Takeoff (Hamanako Paraglider School), the model location for the second episode of Laid-Back Camp: Season 3]. yurucamp.jp (in Japanese). April 15, 2024. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024.
^『ゆるキャン△ SEASON3』主題歌担当アーティストが公開!OPはキミのね、EDは亜咲花が担当! [The artists in charge of the theme songs for Laid-Back Camp: Season 3 are revealed! The OP is by Kiminone and the ED is by Asaka!]. yurucamp.jp (in Japanese). September 28, 2023. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
^アニメ『ゆるキャン△』3期は4月4日放送開始。花守ゆみり「今後キーとなってくる手作りソーセージのエピソードに注目してほしい」 [The third season of the anime Laid-Back Camp will begin airing on April 4. Yumiri Hanamori: "Please pay attention to the homemade sausages episode, which will be key in the future"]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). February 24, 2024. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
^『ゆるキャン△ SEASON3』大垣千明を描いたイメージビジュアル第四弾と原紗友里さんのコメント到着!静岡県とコラボしたスタンプラリー開催決定 [The fourth character visual for Laid-Back Camp: Season 3 depicting Chiaki Ōgaki and Sayuri Hara's comment have arrived! Stamp rally to be held in collaboration with Shizuoka Prefecture]. Animate Times (in Japanese). December 21, 2023. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
^フマキラーとのコラボが今年も開催!“アウトドアにはフマキラー”キャンペーンSEASON3が4月1日よりスタート [Collaboration with Fumakilla will be held again this year! "Fumakilla for Outdoors" Campaign Season 3 starts on April 1]. yurucamp.jp (in Japanese). March 29, 2024. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
^『ゆるキャン△ SEASON3』斉藤恵那を描いたイメージビジュアル第六弾と高橋李依さんのコメント到着!先行上映会が開催決定 [The sixth image visual for Laid-Back Camp: Season 3 depicting Ena Saito and comments from Rie Takahashi were released! Advance screenings to be held]. Animate Times (in Japanese). February 1, 2024. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.