The yuri genre is no stranger to unconventional and unusual premises. In fact, creators in the genre regularly delight in subverting expectations, coming up with loads of wacky characters and fantastical settings to make their shows stand out. However, even in this expansive field, Yuri Kuma Arashi stands out for being one of the most bizarre yuri anime to ever release.
Yuri Kuma Arashi, also known as Yuri Bear Storm, is a co-production created by SILVER LINK and Lapin Track. The former is well-known for its work on The Maid I Hired Recently Is Mysterious, and Lapin Track is most known for the recently released Re:cycle of the Penguindrum. The series was directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara, the genius mind behind subversive classics like Revolutionary Girl Utena. Yuri Kuma Arashi released in 2015 and ran for 12 episodes. It was later turned into a manga and a series of light novels.
The Strange World of Yuri Kuma Arashi
Yuri Kuma Arashi is set in a world where, previously, humans coexisted with humanoid bears. However, the planet Kumaria explodes, sending shards of itself rocketing through space. As these shards hit the Earth, something odd happens to the bears. They suddenly become aggressive and develop a taste for human flesh. Of course, humanity fight back, killing the bears on sight, setting off a constant cycle of violence. Thus, the Wall of Severance was built to separate the two societies, ending the violence at the cost of destroying all previous relations between the two sides.
The story begins with two bears, Ginko Yurishiro and Lulu Yurigasaki, disguising themselves as humans. They sneak past the wall and enroll at Arashigaoka Academy, a school for humans. While at school, Ginko becomes smitten with Kureha Tsubaki, a second-year student. However, Kureha has a crush on a fellow student, Sumika Izumino, leading to Ginko becoming jealous. This comes to a head when Sumika goes missing, and Ginko and Lulu are forced to participate in a “yuri trial” by the Life Judgement Guys, who rule over a place called the Severance Court.
From there, things become more chaotic as secrets are revealed, and a complex web of relationships starts to implode in on itself, with Kureha finding herself at the center of the whole thing. Plus, a group called Invisible Storm seems desperate to dispose of anyone who deviates from social norms. What’s worse, Kureha is hiding a secret that could have massive ramifications for the entire school and everyone she comes into contact with.
The Main Themes of Yuri Kuma Arashi
One of the most fascinating things about Yuri Kuma Arashi are the themes it tackles. The core theme of the show is discrimination, specifically homophobia. The series explores how society and the systems it creates will try to punish deviance from the norm by every means it has at its disposal. It also shows how people existing within these systems can often internalize these norms. And how they will end up enforcing them even when it’s not in their best interests.
Plus, the show features excellent commentary on the nature of discrimination and violence. It shows how both can become self-sustaining, causing future generations, even those unaffected by the inciting incident, to cling to their forefather’s discrimination if serious work isn’t done to mend these relationships. And the show never shies away from pointing out that intolerance can’t be undone in one magical moment and that changing society is a challenging, demanding, and constant struggle. So while every person can drag the world forward, they can’t totally upend the system in a day.
By far the most fascinating theme Yuri Kuma Arashi touches on is how gay females in media are often portrayed as either perfectly pure and innocent or total perverts, with little middle ground to be found. The humans and bears represent this dichotomy at the start of the series, and the Bears’ desire to “eat” is an obvious stand-in for sexual aggression. However, both sides slowly blur together in later episodes, showing a more nuanced form of personhood. Perfectly displaying how these binary ideas of femininity damage women’s mental health and encourage homophobia.
Yuri Kuma Arashi is a fantastic show that is a must-watch for both yuri and anime fans. While the pitch sounds wacky at first glance, the show is a deep examination of prejudice and homophobia and their effects on society. The characters are all so well-written that it’s easy to forget how odd the pitch is, becoming immersed in the ups and downs these characters have to endure, leading to several moments that will have you reaching for the tissues. Kunihiko Ikuhara has always had a knack for creating deep shows that sound silly on the surface.Yuri Kuma Arashi is more proof of this, showing why he is one of the most respected and beloved creators in the anime world.
Yuri Kuma Arashi is now streaming on Funimation.
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