Caressing My Hibernating Bear

Nowa, a bear living in the forest, decides to take an abandoned puppy under his wing. He names it Airi and takes care of it with great care. Time passes and Nowa soon has to leave him temporarily alone in order to hibernate. Waking up several months later, he discovers that Airi has grown well into an attractive young man.

Directed by —, Caressing My Hibernating Bear leans on a strong ensemble — Kohei Amasaki, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Kengo Kawanishi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about animation titles of 2022.