Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳参

2011 summer | Episodes: 13 | Score: 8.6 (122215)

Updated every Tuesdays at 01:30 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Producers:Aniplex | Sakura Create

Streaming: Crunchyroll

Synopsis

Natsume Yuujinchou San follows Takashi Natsume, a boy who is able to see youkai. Natsume and his bodyguard Madara, nicknamed Nyanko-sensei, continue on their quest to release youkai from their contracts in the "Book of Friends." Natsume comes to terms with his ability to see youkai and stops thinking of it as a curse. As he spends more time with his human and youkai friends, he realizes how much he values them both and decides he doesn't have to choose between the spirit and human worlds to be happy. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Voice Actors

Inoue, Kazuhiko

Kamiya, Hiroshi

Fujimura, Ayumi

News

Reviews

lefrek
04/14/2024, 11:23 PM
this will probably forever be one of my favorite animes. the pacing is fast enough to where you dont get bored, but also dont get confused while learning to story/trope. it does feel very slice of life, with the main goal being pushed across every episode in the same fashion, just with new situations being thrown at them. i find all the main characters to be extremely like-able, even if they come off harsher when first introduced. if youre looking for an anime with romance, this definitely isnt the right pick. it's nice to have a breather from all the slice of life's with constant romancebeing involved. the episodes individually arent very predictable, which really helps keep you engaged the whole ep. overall, its very easy to rewatch while not getting tired of it. very unique and fun!!
lamaraptor
02/04/2022, 12:42 PM
This is the third season already, so if you're coming here from watching the first two you probably know what to expect. The status quo has pretty much been established by this point and it doesn't change much from this point on. That's not to say it isn't still good. Each episode still has a lot to love and a lot of heart, but don't expect much plot development for the overarching story. That's not to say there is no development at all. I think we get to see Natsume grow closer to the friends he has already met, and establish a few new friendships goingforward. I want to single out just a few episodes for this review because while I could talk about each and every episodic adventure I'd be here all day if I did. The first episode I really liked was when Natsume meets someone from one of his old schools where he was bullied for being a "liar." His childhood was so messed up because of his ability to see youkai that he tries not to dwell on the past much. This episode drags the past back up to the surface when he runs into one of his old bullies and the guy sort of forces Natsume to reconnect with him. But when it turns out that this guy has been seeing a girl who turns out to be a youkai he realizes that Natsume may have been telling the truth all along. I think it's a great insight into how much Natsume has grown and it's really cool to see the once bully come around and actually start to be one of Natsume's friends. The next one I really liked was when the fox-spirit from the first season comes back. This was one of my favorite youkai because who doesn't love fox lolis. Well it's gender is actually unclear, the English subtitles defaulted male pronouns while in Japanese pronouns are usually implied and gender-neutral, and spirits aren't usually assigned any gender but it looks like a little girl. Could be a trap, but I'm sticking with my first guess. Anyway it's the most adorable thing ever and I wish it was in more episodes because every time it's on screen it's fantastic. Finally I liked the episode where Natsume has to search for the broken glass shards and actually starts to rely on his friends a little more. It shows how much he's come to trust others despite his completely untrusting nature due to his childhood. Tanuma in particular has really come to be someone Natsume can go to and confide in about things related to spirits and the supernatural and it's great to see he finally has friends. Heartwarming series with a lot of great characters 9/10
yukihaneda
03/19/2021, 12:38 PM
I don't usually write reviews, this is my first one. I just wanna say that i found this anime by looking up wholesome anime on google, yep thats where i found it. and let me tell you, it is so good, i can't, i don't want it to end so i have to limit watching only 1-2 episodes a day, thats how good it is! i am on season 3, yep theres a lot more seasons remaining but its not fair i want more episodes, this anime should go on like crayon shin chan and doraemon and naruto. they have hundreds even thousands of episodes, Natsume Yuujinchoudeserves it too. So, the production house Brains Base and the actual author of Natsume Yuujinchou, if youre reading this please know that this series has been a saviour for me, it is lighthearted, heartwarming and insanely amazing and adorable. I want you to keep going with the anime production and give us many more seasons in the future, this anime is really beloved, and i hope i'll get to watch more episodes and many more seasons. This anime works as a therapist for someone like me and i think for many more people, i believe so. Thanks!
LinoTheOne
12/18/2020, 04:06 PM
"Right now, humans and youkai are equally irreplaceable to me." This season was delightful. We finally start seeing a more unified plot, even when the episodic structure doesn't change yet. Past episodes are referenced in such a way we cannot forget it anymore. This new structure allows us to understand more the life of Natsume, and who he really is, and what he thinks. We come closer to Natsume, and the anime is now more about his life that youkai's. For those who are quiet and shy - as I am -, Natsume is someone we can identify with. Also, Natsume is not anymore alone inthe world; we can see his friends, both human and youkai, his family, and how he deals with them. The dilemmas of a growing-up character are very relatable (questions about friendship, family and secrets, specially) but are not the main theme. Unfortunately, I don't think the story explored his human friends as good explored him. For example, Taki is a character full of potential, and she appears lately and is not frequent, even though she studied at the same school as the rest of Natsume's group. Another wronged character is Reiko, without whom Natsume is nothing, and is completely forgotten at the second half of this season. Besides that, we can understand now much more about the exorcists world. This means that the plot is expanding, and I hope that in the future the anime will be much more diverse when talking about the general plot; if until then we had just isolated and forgotten episodes, now we see a mosaic of episodes that work well isolated, but also are part of a bigger story. This characteristic is not completely developed, and I hope the following seasons will be even more unified, as I see the anime is still maturing. Even the animation is getting more delicate, specially when it shows intimate scenes, the innermost thoughts of Natsume. At the same time, we have the classic, sweet and caricature soundtrack that doesn't change from the past seasons, but because of that we can see what is coming; we are able to connect the songs to the plot, because we are used to it. But, getting back to the animation, it is more stable, and the youkai's design is becoming darker, which is an interesting path they took. It makes a great contrast with the general art, which is very light and colorful. Youkai are also very remarkable, with unique designs that evoke the traditional Japanese art that portraits it. For a second, I noticed how they made Hinoe's clothing, following the pattern style we see in 'Chowder', but obviously with Japanese patterns. I hope they keep this for the following seasons, because it's beautiful. Overall, I got very amazed with this season. The family-safe content, the bits of comedy and darkness with action, the protagonist's psychological development (which deserves a better analysis that I am not able to make), the structure changing and the designs are very pleasant to me, and allow me to say this season was wholesome.
MetalTsundere
05/14/2020, 10:29 PM
this 3rd season of Natsume Yuujinchou i is where I think the series truly begins to Shine, the first two seasons are all about Natsume's enounters with various youkai's as he gives back their name, and learn something new in life. However what makes this 3rd season shine is because this is not just all about Youkai's anymore, but how Natsume deals with his friends and family. things like "will they believe me if I tell them that I can see youkai?" Aside from it I like the fact that this series is not so Natsume-centric anymore, I mean his two best friends Tanuma andTaki had more screen time than before in the the past 2 seasons and you can say that they actually developed, Taki is becoming more fun to watch while we are learning more about Tanuma and I like that they support Natsume even though they don't know him fully because they don't know much about Youkai. Episode 10-11 makes me want to Ship Natsume and Taki because I think Taki is the one who will understand Natsume no matter what. In regards to the book of friends, they didn't much pay more attention to it rather, they focused more on the stories of each Youkai they met and it turned out pretty well, you can feel the emotion of the Youkai and the lessons of each episode is easy to understand, the most emotional for me is the Youkai that Natsume encountered during his childhood. I just wish that Natsume's encounter with the Youkai's were much longer. and I hope anytime soon Tanuma and Taki would get involved more because I think they can do better than just being there for Natsume, and I like how Natsume is finally getting over from his traumatic childhood is finally learning to smile and is not the gloomy guy that we see during the first 2 seasons. overall this i think is a great season it makes me want more because I do believe that Natsume Yuujinchou is a series that can achieve greats heights for a slice of life anime.
Omnimaniac
04/16/2019, 07:59 PM
If you were to summarize Natsume Yuujinchou San in one word it would be boring. After the first couple of episodes you have basically watched them all as Natsume Yuujinchou San is repetitiveness in its purest form. The story and characters themselves lack any kind of depth. When watching the show I wondered what this show actually had going for it. Action scenes with the youkai? No, even the worst action type anime can match it. Pathos heavy storytelling? No, none of the stories were emotional enough to actually make any impact. I can't think of a single redeeming factor for this show, it justscreams mediocrity. But I could ignore every single flaw with this series if it hadn't been for the protagonist being such a blockhead. If you are unsure whether you'll like this snoozefest you can watch a 2-4 episodes and you've basically watched them all. If you're uninterested you saved yourself time to watch other shows.
BabyGirl06301
02/27/2019, 09:07 PM
This season finally gave me what I was looking for from this anime, and I'm so happy it did because it was amazing. So, my absolute favorite thing about this season was, finally, Natsume's character development. It was wonderfully done as it took elements from the stories we were seeing from the youkai and also elements we'd already heard but not had elaboration on. Essentially, Natsume was able to tell the story of his past through his present, and that made it really entertaining to watch. Another thing I loved about this season is that the youkai got a lot more grit. The anime still kept itsgentle charm, but the youkai still were scarier and more intense than in previous seasons. It's down to personal taste, ultimately, but I really liked that aspect of this season. I haven't really talked about the art before, but this season really solidified the reasons I love the style, regardless of how simple it is. The movements of the characters are so smooth and nice to see, especially when it's something small like them turning their heads or their facial expressions. It's a bit weird to talk about, but it makes the characters come to life in a way other anime characters don't. Overall, this anime just keeps getting better and better. It's got one of the best anime soundtracks I've ever heard, the main character is starting to be fleshed out with conflicts and struggles, and the story feels more like it's heading toward a slightly bigger and more permanent picture rather than the week-to-week youkai stuff. I'm loving it, and I can't wait to keep going. This season was the best yet!
khunter
10/02/2015, 02:16 PM
Natsume yuujinchou san, the third installment of the beloved series, brings the same lightheartedness and melancholy known throughout the series. Like it's previous seasons, it is largely episodic minus a few two part episodes. The plot of this season also differs in area. Whereas the first season focused on Natsume coming to terms with youkai, the second season with him becoming rather fond of youkai, to now, the third installment, with him having to choose between youkai and humans: Who does he care about more? The season offers more insight into his grandmother, and continues the exploration of youkai, each one a marvelous story, every oneonly giving Nastume more development and growth as a person, and therefore to us, a character. The Art and sound are still the same, as to say wonderful. The art is well drawn, and though not particularity amazing, it is, as always, memorable, especially when you consider the character designs, specifically the youkai. Natsume himself, though a memorable drawn character, looks fairly similar to many other anime characters, like the twins from Kimi to Boku. The youkai however, are for the most part memorable, though season 3 suffers from an entire memorable cast that made season 1 especially brilliant. The animation is the same: Fluid and never dull, and though the season lacks a real sort of action, you can appreciate the animation when it does. Certainly nothing to be fanatic about, but not something to laugh at either. The sound, as stated above, is continually amazing and heart warming. Many pieces throughout instill an emotion in your heart, and each one pieces together nicely with the particular event happening in the episode. Imagine a horror movie with suspenseful music. That's how you know it's suspenseful. Again, characters here in the 3rd series are largely likable, and Natsume nor Madara never suffers. They even add some new ones, such as a particular villain who, like true nastume yuujinchou tradition, is never really violent violent. The show, after all, is more peaceful than anything. However unlike previous seasons, youkai introduced are either boring, unimportant or memorable, and I would say in my opinion, out of the 13 episodes, I can only bring up 5. The show also focuses less on Natsume's frieds, who you actually like because of their banter, comic relief, heart warming attitudes towards natsume & the friendship they provide to an otherwise lonely teen. Lonliness is less of a focus now, especially as the season develops. He becomes more caring towards his foster family and sees them now as cherished people, who he can accept as father and mother. Overall, if you enjoyed the first two seasons, you will enjoy this one, but do understand that in no way shape or form will this be like the first season. Imagine a team that at the start won a championship, but the next 3 years they went from losing in the finals, to losing in the 3rd round, to losing in the second round, but every time, they made it to the finals. Natsume yuujinchou san is still a good team, they just aren't great anymore.
ItsPHI
07/04/2013, 01:08 AM
Although many believe a happy ending is most often times not a "good ending" I would beg to differ. In this season, Natsume not only presses towards the future, but shows flashbacks of the past. I was thrilled to see more of Natsume's past because it enabled me to fill some of the mysteries behind his past. I can't help but praise this anime on it's ability to take repetitive situations, and make them unique. Natsume almost always gets into trouble, but not in a logical way. The scenario is often the same, a youkai wants to hurt him or request his assistance. Yet eachend result is different, whilst simultaneously being slightly similar. Albeit slightly similar, the satisfaction the viewer feels is still high. There's a notable sense of growth and development within each interaction This anime is so relaxing and does such a great job at catching the viewers attention. The characters are perfection, the support characters continue to grow. They're so realistic and heartfelt. Sadly there's only one more season after this. I expect it to be spectacular.
NonOtaku
04/12/2013, 11:38 PM
Natsume Yuujinchou’s presentation style is distinctly episodic, meaning that the external conflicts in themselves don’t add up to much. However, there remains a strong undercurrent of Natsume’s character development throughout as he grows from being a lonely boy to a self-assured young man. As such, what makes the viewing experience so worthwhile is the subtle touch of delicate dilemmas and enchanting atmospheres. Since he was a child, Natsume Takashi has always been able to see supernatural beings that others could not. As a result, many people around him have either thought he was crazy or treated him as a sign of bad luck, which has ledto him being somewhat of a loner. All of this would change once he got his hands on a strange book that belonged to his grandmother, Reiko, and contains the names of all the spirits that his grandmother had contracted into helping her. Natsume, accompanied by Madara, a spirit who disguises himself as the large cat, making new friends in the process and learning how to live in harmony with humans and spirits. Natsume Yuujinchou San's animation was decently fluid, especially when it came to the movement of the youkai. The colour palate for the show wasn't too bright or overpowering, yet the subtle colours remain versatile and can do a nice job of setting up a mood or tone for a certain scene. As always, the Youkai that appear each have their own unique character designs that could range from simple to complex and silly to graceful, giving their supernatural world a diverse feel. The details put into the show make things beautiful. And the animation during the "magic" scenes flow so well and just seem so serene it really changes the atmosphere from an action to a spiritual feel. The ED of the show is rather slow and peaceful like the series itself; the singing and lyrics are full of emotion. The OP is good too, however the ED is more memorable because of its melodies. Overall, the soundtrack was excellent. The background music is really nice and also does a great job of giving a tone or mood to a scene which is a job well done for the soundtrack. The voice characters are well acted and always suitable, but the best performances belong to the spirits. Be they comic relief or frightening foes, their intonations are so spot-on that they remain emotionally engaging throughout. Where this story especially excels is in the introduction of one-off characters. Natsume was generally quiet and reserved, he's one of those guys with one of those skills that not many others possess and make him look crazy. So in reaction to that he keeps it a secret and is very much to himself. However he's different than most other protagonist in these situations. He doesn't completely shut himself off from the world on purpose. The spirits themselves are fleshed out rather well because each one has a distinct personality and detailed background which gives them a human quality that makes it easier for the audience to empathize with them. You'll sit back at the end of each episode and reflect on the fleeting poignant moments experienced minutes ago. This is a series that’s full of heart; it’s compassionate, emotional, but still ultimately upbeat. Natsume Yuujinchou San has this subdued and enchanting setting, the series shines brightest in the way it draws out the viewer’s emotions as it tells its stories while developing its cast to the fullest. As such, people looking for a relaxing, wonderful series that goes into the realms of magical realism should definitely give this title a shot.
mrsLEE
12/09/2012, 08:13 AM
After waiting two seemingly very long years, a sequel is finally here. Oh! I genuinely miss this series. Though, at the beginning they will explain it a little bit but still you wouldn’t understand it much less appreciates how great this series is if you haven’t seen the previous seasons. The different stories are polish even more. I could say that it lived up to the greatness of the stories from the previous seasons. It is more dramatic, heart-warming, and touching especially when Natsume’s past is revealed. Things get a lot more exciting and interesting when Natsume has to deal with bothersome and extremely irritating exorcists.Very few can really balance a serious drama, heart-warming, and touching yet so funny series which I strongly believe why this series is so famous even with a not so spectacular plot it has like those famous shounen series of today. Is it me? Or Nyanko-seinsei seems a little bigger and fatter now? And for some reason, he’s a lot cuter and fluffier. His a lot more hilarious as well. This time, not only the supernatural creatures but some recurring characters are explored more so we get to see more of their stories. I love that this time not only the supernatural creatures are the focus of the story but some of the characters as well. It really balances Natsume’s relationship with both worlds. I just love his families and friends who really accept him despite knowing that he still keeps everything to himself. It is very dramatic yet so touching. Some of Natsume’s past is revealed and we can see how sad and unfortunate his past is. It is really great that now he has some really important friends and family who accepts him, both human and supernatural creatures. Finally, Natsume is gradually letting others know about the youkais and ayakashis. He no longer shoulders everything to himself because he already has people who accept and love him for who he is. You can really see how his character gets better. His more open to others, talkative, optimistic, and more importantly happier. And because of that, his a lot closer both to humans and the supernatural creatures. But of course, after quite sometime after the last season, the animation is even better now. I love that they maintain the style of the ending animation like the previous seasons. And as always, this series has one of the best sounds amongst today’s animes. I strongly believe that this time, this series is way even better. Every element of it is polish even more; from the genres it has, the stories, characters, styles, and even the sounds. It genuinely surpasses the greatness of the previous ones. I could definitely say that it is so worth the wait. Though I am so grateful that they are making so many seasons for this series, I would have really love it more if they make more episodes for every season. I am going to wait for the sequel even if it will take so many years!
soul7444
04/06/2012, 12:59 PM
-Kon’nichiwa Mina-san!! Have you already watched Natsume Yuujicnhou by Yuki Midorikawa-sama? This anime will give you a refreshing feeling that is rare to find, some says that you can compare it to Mushishi. Well talking about that is another story.Talking about our main review Natsume Yuujinchou is about the boy named natsume Takashi an adopted child of the childless but kind couple Touku and Shirugen Furijawa and also about the sadness and the longing for someone to understand him despite of his ability to see and communicate with the Ayakashi or Yokai as they said. And as the days go by he started to learnthe what-about of the Ayakashi with the help of Madara also known as Nyanko-sensei. It also has a prequel in titled “Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou”. In this season his journey to give back the names of every Ayakashi within the Yuujinchou also known as the “The Book of Friends” that he inherited to his grandmother Reiko Natsume, a strong and naughty girl in her days continues as he, little by little understand the differences and the sameness of the Ayakashi and the human. At the last episode of ZNY Natsume Stated that; “It doesn’t matter whether they’re human or Ayakahi.” “What’s Important is they’re precious to you.” “You should accept them as they are and the feelings and joy that come with it, without hesitation.” It shows that natsume had used to live and understand to live both with human and Ayakashi. He discovered that both have sames somehow in someways. Will there be a third Season?? Oh I’m really happy to say YES!! It will begin airing on July 4, 2011!!! In Titled Natsume Yuujinchou-San. Want a Shoujo in its genre? You’re wish has granted!! this review can be seen in my wordpress http://irock7444.wordpress.com/
Lindle
02/03/2012, 03:17 AM
NOTE: Since the content in all three seasons is similar enough that they don't warrant separate reviews, they will all be covered here. The fourth will be edited in when it finishes, unless it differs heavily from the first three by the end of its run. Natsume Yuujinchou covers a familiar kind of story. We are presented with a teenage boy, who is unusually airy and doesn't socialize much, and frequently seems to be looking intently at things that aren't there. As you may have guessed, Natsume sees dead people. Well, not exactly... he can see Youkai, a kind of spirit told of in Japanese folklore. Manyof the Youkai themselves seem to possess an unusual interest in Natsume. One day, as a pair of Youkai are chasing him, he accidentally breaks a seal containing a powerful Youkai... one that knows why Natsume is being chased. You see, his grandmother Reiko had the same gift as him, and used to go around beating up Youkai and making them give away their names to her (which allowed her to command them), which she collected in a book, the titular Yuujinchou (Book of Friends). And now that Reiko is dead, Natsume has to attempt to return the names, but without losing the book in the process. And his new Youkai friend Madara has agreed to help protect him, as long as he is entitled to the book upon Natsume's natural passing. What is really impressive about Natsume Yuujinchou is that, from that plot summary there, you will mostly likely think of many other series from various different mediums that follow a similar blueprint. And yet Natsume is significantly better than them. Natsume, as a series, takes on this theme with a brilliant level of poignancy. Rather than being a generic shonen action series as it so easily could have been (many of the bare bones of the series show parallels to Bleach, for example), Natsume is more concerned with telling the stories of each of these Youkai. While there is the occasional flash of action, this is never really the point. It's extremely refreshing to see a premise so frequently used for nothing more than cheap kicks done so beautifully. It even strikes something of a contrast with excellent series such as Mushishi and Mononoke, in that while these are focused on the abnormality of the creatures the series is based around, Yuujinchou is far more down to earth and human-feeling. Plotwise, this series is episodic, with the episodes focusing on individual youkai, with the stories not generally intertwining or crossing more than one episode (though there are exceptions). Almost all of the episodes are excellent, though there's two or three I didn't really care for. The second season in particular ups the quality of these, with the last four standing out as being firmly the best out of both seasons. There's not really anything in the way of an overarching plot or any clear goal, but it's all tied together through the furthering of Natsume's character and the additional insights into Reiko which we see through the Youkai's memories, both of which are excellent features of the series. The characterisation in this series is truly unique. Every character is very down-to-earth and believable, and yet not quite your everyday average Joe either. They all have distinctive personalities, and yet feel totally natural. The character designs are much the same way: simple-looking, but effective and distinctive. The only characters who are consistently in every episode are Natsume himself, and his Youkai bodyguard Madara A.K.A Nyanko-sensei. Madara is mostly comic relief, but effectively so. In his true form he's much easier to take seriously, which is often used to good effect. Natsume, on the other hand, is definitely the pinnacle of the aforementioned style. He doesn't really have a clear, character-defining moment or trait, which initially makes him seem like an uninteresting character. However, the more you get to know him, the better a character he seems. He is slowly but surely characterised through musings and realizations gathered through his experiences with all the Youkai he meets, painting a subtle yet excellent portrait of his character. In the third season, this reaches it's peak, as he slowly comes to not only accept, but value his unique circumstances and all the friends he's made because of it. In terms of production, the animation is superb. Oddly, though, it's quite restrained about it. Aside from some really beautiful, picturesque background art, it doesn't attempt to beat you over the head with its visuals, letting them stay in the background but subtly lending a lot to the series. In the second season especially, though, it dishes out quite a few animation bumps in some of the series more excellent moments, when it really needs to be rendered better. With this, combined with an excellent character art style, Natsume Yuujinchou just plain looks beautiful all-round. Musically, the OST does much the same as the art: it is distinct, amazing, perfectly fitting, but not overbearing. The music is invariably perfectly matched to the tone of the scene rather than being used to create the tone. The voice acting is all-round excellent, but my only problem with it is, strangely enough, Natsume himself. Hiroshi Kamiya was, in my opinion, a poor choice of casting. He does, however, put in an excellent performance which is hardly surprising given how good of an actor he is, but his voice seems terribly unfit to the role, and far more suited to more average and highly strung protagonists like those he usually plays, as opposed to the awkward, airy Natsume. Still, it's hardly distracting. If I have any real complaint about Natsume Yuujinchou, it's that almost every episode's plot is built from a random contrivance. Generally, Natsume encounters something vital to the plot of the episode by sheer coincidence that is not directly tied to the plot at all. It's not terribly distracting, but it's done repeatedly and always seems far too convenient. Nonetheless, Natsume Yuujinchou is an excellent series. It's a calming, relaxing show that simply does its job well. The second and third seasons are better than the first, with the second having better standalone episodes, along with better art and directing than the other two, and the third contributing more to the overall story and Natsume's development. Which season is the best is really a question of style vs. substance. Final Words: Something I would solidly recommend to anyone looking for a calming, soothing anime. Story/Plot: 8/10 Characters: 8/10 Animation/Art: 10/10 Music: 10/10 Acting: 8/10 Season One Overall: 8/10 Season Two Overall: 9/10 Season Three Overall: 9/10 For Fans Of: Mushi-shi, XxXHoLic
Akuma-Shitsuji
09/26/2011, 04:21 PM
Natsume Yuujinchou San shows the continuation of Natsume and nyanko sensei's adventures. Story : 9 As well as progressing with the anime's storyline,the third season gives us a deeper look into Natsume's past and how he came to meet and decided to live with his current foster parents.Also,as the episodes go on,Natsume is seen dealing with even more powerful youkai,which makes the show really interesting as to how Natsume will deal with them every time.FInally,this season shows Natsume developing more friendships and making his bonds with his human friends even more powerful,gradually realizing that both youkai and humans matter to him a lot. Art : 9 While the show'sart style is a frequently-used one nowadays,it feels really peculiar in a good way,probably because of the beautiful scenery of the show. Sound : 9 The music of the show fits perfectly the mood of it,although it kinda feels nostalgic,something that I hope will change in season 4. Character : 10 All characters in the anime,including the minor ones,are explored in full detail throughout the season (as well as the previous seasons) which makes them feel very real and fresh.A notable characteristic is the diversity of backgrounds that the characters have,which works as an advantage for the show,in that everyone can relate to at least one of the characters. Enjoyment : 10 I OFTEN pause my player when watching an anime.In the case of Natsume Yuujinchou however,I don't even notice how 22 minutes go by every time.That is a great plus,since the show is neither boring nor tiresome. Overall : 10 I am really looking forward to season 4 and hope that you will enjoy the 3rd season as much as I did!
Jen9204
08/08/2011, 01:34 AM
Natsume Yuujinchou San builds on its solid foundation, continuing to weave a heartwarming tale for all viewers. The over-arching theme has evolved from one of loneliness, to acceptance, and finally to warmth over these three seasons, and this one seems to be the most gentle, most stirring, and most impactful yet. Story: The storytelling remains largely episodic, and while each episode may be rather unconnected to the previous, they all reveal much about the protagonist. This season has seen a clear shift, from the more Youkai-centred storytelling of the first two seasons to one focused on the exploration of Natsume's character and his past, giving viewersa more complete picture of Natsume. Art: The art remains soft and unobtrusive, and the animation is fluid. While this is not breathtaking material, it complements the simplicity of the anime, and undoubtedly leaves viewers satisfied. Sound: Like the art, the sound works closely with the overall theme of the anime, and is gentle, atmospheric and flowing. Voice acting is top notch, and emotional levels are kept at just the right level, for viewers to be able to relate to the characters, yet never allowing the anime to degenerate into angst and melodrama. Character: Rarely do we have a hero who is selfless yet discerning, strong yet frail; rarely, do we have a protagonist so real. Natsume is not one who defies all logic and overcomes insuperable odds, but is one faced with hesitations and uncertainties like the rest of us. The supporting characters also hold their own, especially the greedy and increasing obese Nyanko-sensei. Despite their rather short screen time and lack of recurrence,the Youkais are also well developed and believable, each with their own story to tell. Overall, the characters are all colourful, well thought-out and add their own distinctive touches to the story. Enjoyment: Natsume Yuujinchou San follows its predecessors in presenting viewers with something relaxing, poignant and thought provoking. Overall: Despite the high bar set by the first two seasons, Natsume Yuujinchou San lives up to, and even surpasses all expectations. With a more pronounced touch of optimism than the last two seasons, the show really gave all viewers what they wanted deep in their hearts: to see Natsume get his 'happily ever after'.

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳参

2011 summer | Episodes: 13 | Score: 8.6 (122215)

Updated every Tuesdays at 01:30 | Status: Finished Airing

Type: TV

Producers:Aniplex | Sakura Create

Streaming: Crunchyroll

Synopsis

Voice Actors

Inoue, Kazuhiko

Kamiya, Hiroshi

Fujimura, Ayumi

News

Reviews

lefrek
04/14/2024, 11:23 PM
this will probably forever be one of my favorite animes. the pacing is fast enough to where you dont get bored, but also dont get confused while learning to story/trope. it does feel very slice of life, with the main goal being pushed across every episode in the same fashion, just with new situations being thrown at them. i find all the main characters to be extremely like-able, even if they come off harsher when first introduced. if youre looking for an anime with romance, this definitely isnt the right pick. it's nice to have a breather from all the slice of life's with constant romancebeing involved. the episodes individually arent very predictable, which really helps keep you engaged the whole ep. overall, its very easy to rewatch while not getting tired of it. very unique and fun!!
lamaraptor
02/04/2022, 12:42 PM
This is the third season already, so if you're coming here from watching the first two you probably know what to expect. The status quo has pretty much been established by this point and it doesn't change much from this point on. That's not to say it isn't still good. Each episode still has a lot to love and a lot of heart, but don't expect much plot development for the overarching story. That's not to say there is no development at all. I think we get to see Natsume grow closer to the friends he has already met, and establish a few new friendships goingforward. I want to single out just a few episodes for this review because while I could talk about each and every episodic adventure I'd be here all day if I did. The first episode I really liked was when Natsume meets someone from one of his old schools where he was bullied for being a "liar." His childhood was so messed up because of his ability to see youkai that he tries not to dwell on the past much. This episode drags the past back up to the surface when he runs into one of his old bullies and the guy sort of forces Natsume to reconnect with him. But when it turns out that this guy has been seeing a girl who turns out to be a youkai he realizes that Natsume may have been telling the truth all along. I think it's a great insight into how much Natsume has grown and it's really cool to see the once bully come around and actually start to be one of Natsume's friends. The next one I really liked was when the fox-spirit from the first season comes back. This was one of my favorite youkai because who doesn't love fox lolis. Well it's gender is actually unclear, the English subtitles defaulted male pronouns while in Japanese pronouns are usually implied and gender-neutral, and spirits aren't usually assigned any gender but it looks like a little girl. Could be a trap, but I'm sticking with my first guess. Anyway it's the most adorable thing ever and I wish it was in more episodes because every time it's on screen it's fantastic. Finally I liked the episode where Natsume has to search for the broken glass shards and actually starts to rely on his friends a little more. It shows how much he's come to trust others despite his completely untrusting nature due to his childhood. Tanuma in particular has really come to be someone Natsume can go to and confide in about things related to spirits and the supernatural and it's great to see he finally has friends. Heartwarming series with a lot of great characters 9/10
yukihaneda
03/19/2021, 12:38 PM
I don't usually write reviews, this is my first one. I just wanna say that i found this anime by looking up wholesome anime on google, yep thats where i found it. and let me tell you, it is so good, i can't, i don't want it to end so i have to limit watching only 1-2 episodes a day, thats how good it is! i am on season 3, yep theres a lot more seasons remaining but its not fair i want more episodes, this anime should go on like crayon shin chan and doraemon and naruto. they have hundreds even thousands of episodes, Natsume Yuujinchoudeserves it too. So, the production house Brains Base and the actual author of Natsume Yuujinchou, if youre reading this please know that this series has been a saviour for me, it is lighthearted, heartwarming and insanely amazing and adorable. I want you to keep going with the anime production and give us many more seasons in the future, this anime is really beloved, and i hope i'll get to watch more episodes and many more seasons. This anime works as a therapist for someone like me and i think for many more people, i believe so. Thanks!
LinoTheOne
12/18/2020, 04:06 PM
"Right now, humans and youkai are equally irreplaceable to me." This season was delightful. We finally start seeing a more unified plot, even when the episodic structure doesn't change yet. Past episodes are referenced in such a way we cannot forget it anymore. This new structure allows us to understand more the life of Natsume, and who he really is, and what he thinks. We come closer to Natsume, and the anime is now more about his life that youkai's. For those who are quiet and shy - as I am -, Natsume is someone we can identify with. Also, Natsume is not anymore alone inthe world; we can see his friends, both human and youkai, his family, and how he deals with them. The dilemmas of a growing-up character are very relatable (questions about friendship, family and secrets, specially) but are not the main theme. Unfortunately, I don't think the story explored his human friends as good explored him. For example, Taki is a character full of potential, and she appears lately and is not frequent, even though she studied at the same school as the rest of Natsume's group. Another wronged character is Reiko, without whom Natsume is nothing, and is completely forgotten at the second half of this season. Besides that, we can understand now much more about the exorcists world. This means that the plot is expanding, and I hope that in the future the anime will be much more diverse when talking about the general plot; if until then we had just isolated and forgotten episodes, now we see a mosaic of episodes that work well isolated, but also are part of a bigger story. This characteristic is not completely developed, and I hope the following seasons will be even more unified, as I see the anime is still maturing. Even the animation is getting more delicate, specially when it shows intimate scenes, the innermost thoughts of Natsume. At the same time, we have the classic, sweet and caricature soundtrack that doesn't change from the past seasons, but because of that we can see what is coming; we are able to connect the songs to the plot, because we are used to it. But, getting back to the animation, it is more stable, and the youkai's design is becoming darker, which is an interesting path they took. It makes a great contrast with the general art, which is very light and colorful. Youkai are also very remarkable, with unique designs that evoke the traditional Japanese art that portraits it. For a second, I noticed how they made Hinoe's clothing, following the pattern style we see in 'Chowder', but obviously with Japanese patterns. I hope they keep this for the following seasons, because it's beautiful. Overall, I got very amazed with this season. The family-safe content, the bits of comedy and darkness with action, the protagonist's psychological development (which deserves a better analysis that I am not able to make), the structure changing and the designs are very pleasant to me, and allow me to say this season was wholesome.
MetalTsundere
05/14/2020, 10:29 PM
this 3rd season of Natsume Yuujinchou i is where I think the series truly begins to Shine, the first two seasons are all about Natsume's enounters with various youkai's as he gives back their name, and learn something new in life. However what makes this 3rd season shine is because this is not just all about Youkai's anymore, but how Natsume deals with his friends and family. things like "will they believe me if I tell them that I can see youkai?" Aside from it I like the fact that this series is not so Natsume-centric anymore, I mean his two best friends Tanuma andTaki had more screen time than before in the the past 2 seasons and you can say that they actually developed, Taki is becoming more fun to watch while we are learning more about Tanuma and I like that they support Natsume even though they don't know him fully because they don't know much about Youkai. Episode 10-11 makes me want to Ship Natsume and Taki because I think Taki is the one who will understand Natsume no matter what. In regards to the book of friends, they didn't much pay more attention to it rather, they focused more on the stories of each Youkai they met and it turned out pretty well, you can feel the emotion of the Youkai and the lessons of each episode is easy to understand, the most emotional for me is the Youkai that Natsume encountered during his childhood. I just wish that Natsume's encounter with the Youkai's were much longer. and I hope anytime soon Tanuma and Taki would get involved more because I think they can do better than just being there for Natsume, and I like how Natsume is finally getting over from his traumatic childhood is finally learning to smile and is not the gloomy guy that we see during the first 2 seasons. overall this i think is a great season it makes me want more because I do believe that Natsume Yuujinchou is a series that can achieve greats heights for a slice of life anime.
Omnimaniac
04/16/2019, 07:59 PM
If you were to summarize Natsume Yuujinchou San in one word it would be boring. After the first couple of episodes you have basically watched them all as Natsume Yuujinchou San is repetitiveness in its purest form. The story and characters themselves lack any kind of depth. When watching the show I wondered what this show actually had going for it. Action scenes with the youkai? No, even the worst action type anime can match it. Pathos heavy storytelling? No, none of the stories were emotional enough to actually make any impact. I can't think of a single redeeming factor for this show, it justscreams mediocrity. But I could ignore every single flaw with this series if it hadn't been for the protagonist being such a blockhead. If you are unsure whether you'll like this snoozefest you can watch a 2-4 episodes and you've basically watched them all. If you're uninterested you saved yourself time to watch other shows.
BabyGirl06301
02/27/2019, 09:07 PM
This season finally gave me what I was looking for from this anime, and I'm so happy it did because it was amazing. So, my absolute favorite thing about this season was, finally, Natsume's character development. It was wonderfully done as it took elements from the stories we were seeing from the youkai and also elements we'd already heard but not had elaboration on. Essentially, Natsume was able to tell the story of his past through his present, and that made it really entertaining to watch. Another thing I loved about this season is that the youkai got a lot more grit. The anime still kept itsgentle charm, but the youkai still were scarier and more intense than in previous seasons. It's down to personal taste, ultimately, but I really liked that aspect of this season. I haven't really talked about the art before, but this season really solidified the reasons I love the style, regardless of how simple it is. The movements of the characters are so smooth and nice to see, especially when it's something small like them turning their heads or their facial expressions. It's a bit weird to talk about, but it makes the characters come to life in a way other anime characters don't. Overall, this anime just keeps getting better and better. It's got one of the best anime soundtracks I've ever heard, the main character is starting to be fleshed out with conflicts and struggles, and the story feels more like it's heading toward a slightly bigger and more permanent picture rather than the week-to-week youkai stuff. I'm loving it, and I can't wait to keep going. This season was the best yet!
khunter
10/02/2015, 02:16 PM
Natsume yuujinchou san, the third installment of the beloved series, brings the same lightheartedness and melancholy known throughout the series. Like it's previous seasons, it is largely episodic minus a few two part episodes. The plot of this season also differs in area. Whereas the first season focused on Natsume coming to terms with youkai, the second season with him becoming rather fond of youkai, to now, the third installment, with him having to choose between youkai and humans: Who does he care about more? The season offers more insight into his grandmother, and continues the exploration of youkai, each one a marvelous story, every oneonly giving Nastume more development and growth as a person, and therefore to us, a character. The Art and sound are still the same, as to say wonderful. The art is well drawn, and though not particularity amazing, it is, as always, memorable, especially when you consider the character designs, specifically the youkai. Natsume himself, though a memorable drawn character, looks fairly similar to many other anime characters, like the twins from Kimi to Boku. The youkai however, are for the most part memorable, though season 3 suffers from an entire memorable cast that made season 1 especially brilliant. The animation is the same: Fluid and never dull, and though the season lacks a real sort of action, you can appreciate the animation when it does. Certainly nothing to be fanatic about, but not something to laugh at either. The sound, as stated above, is continually amazing and heart warming. Many pieces throughout instill an emotion in your heart, and each one pieces together nicely with the particular event happening in the episode. Imagine a horror movie with suspenseful music. That's how you know it's suspenseful. Again, characters here in the 3rd series are largely likable, and Natsume nor Madara never suffers. They even add some new ones, such as a particular villain who, like true nastume yuujinchou tradition, is never really violent violent. The show, after all, is more peaceful than anything. However unlike previous seasons, youkai introduced are either boring, unimportant or memorable, and I would say in my opinion, out of the 13 episodes, I can only bring up 5. The show also focuses less on Natsume's frieds, who you actually like because of their banter, comic relief, heart warming attitudes towards natsume & the friendship they provide to an otherwise lonely teen. Lonliness is less of a focus now, especially as the season develops. He becomes more caring towards his foster family and sees them now as cherished people, who he can accept as father and mother. Overall, if you enjoyed the first two seasons, you will enjoy this one, but do understand that in no way shape or form will this be like the first season. Imagine a team that at the start won a championship, but the next 3 years they went from losing in the finals, to losing in the 3rd round, to losing in the second round, but every time, they made it to the finals. Natsume yuujinchou san is still a good team, they just aren't great anymore.
ItsPHI
07/04/2013, 01:08 AM
Although many believe a happy ending is most often times not a "good ending" I would beg to differ. In this season, Natsume not only presses towards the future, but shows flashbacks of the past. I was thrilled to see more of Natsume's past because it enabled me to fill some of the mysteries behind his past. I can't help but praise this anime on it's ability to take repetitive situations, and make them unique. Natsume almost always gets into trouble, but not in a logical way. The scenario is often the same, a youkai wants to hurt him or request his assistance. Yet eachend result is different, whilst simultaneously being slightly similar. Albeit slightly similar, the satisfaction the viewer feels is still high. There's a notable sense of growth and development within each interaction This anime is so relaxing and does such a great job at catching the viewers attention. The characters are perfection, the support characters continue to grow. They're so realistic and heartfelt. Sadly there's only one more season after this. I expect it to be spectacular.
NonOtaku
04/12/2013, 11:38 PM
Natsume Yuujinchou’s presentation style is distinctly episodic, meaning that the external conflicts in themselves don’t add up to much. However, there remains a strong undercurrent of Natsume’s character development throughout as he grows from being a lonely boy to a self-assured young man. As such, what makes the viewing experience so worthwhile is the subtle touch of delicate dilemmas and enchanting atmospheres. Since he was a child, Natsume Takashi has always been able to see supernatural beings that others could not. As a result, many people around him have either thought he was crazy or treated him as a sign of bad luck, which has ledto him being somewhat of a loner. All of this would change once he got his hands on a strange book that belonged to his grandmother, Reiko, and contains the names of all the spirits that his grandmother had contracted into helping her. Natsume, accompanied by Madara, a spirit who disguises himself as the large cat, making new friends in the process and learning how to live in harmony with humans and spirits. Natsume Yuujinchou San's animation was decently fluid, especially when it came to the movement of the youkai. The colour palate for the show wasn't too bright or overpowering, yet the subtle colours remain versatile and can do a nice job of setting up a mood or tone for a certain scene. As always, the Youkai that appear each have their own unique character designs that could range from simple to complex and silly to graceful, giving their supernatural world a diverse feel. The details put into the show make things beautiful. And the animation during the "magic" scenes flow so well and just seem so serene it really changes the atmosphere from an action to a spiritual feel. The ED of the show is rather slow and peaceful like the series itself; the singing and lyrics are full of emotion. The OP is good too, however the ED is more memorable because of its melodies. Overall, the soundtrack was excellent. The background music is really nice and also does a great job of giving a tone or mood to a scene which is a job well done for the soundtrack. The voice characters are well acted and always suitable, but the best performances belong to the spirits. Be they comic relief or frightening foes, their intonations are so spot-on that they remain emotionally engaging throughout. Where this story especially excels is in the introduction of one-off characters. Natsume was generally quiet and reserved, he's one of those guys with one of those skills that not many others possess and make him look crazy. So in reaction to that he keeps it a secret and is very much to himself. However he's different than most other protagonist in these situations. He doesn't completely shut himself off from the world on purpose. The spirits themselves are fleshed out rather well because each one has a distinct personality and detailed background which gives them a human quality that makes it easier for the audience to empathize with them. You'll sit back at the end of each episode and reflect on the fleeting poignant moments experienced minutes ago. This is a series that’s full of heart; it’s compassionate, emotional, but still ultimately upbeat. Natsume Yuujinchou San has this subdued and enchanting setting, the series shines brightest in the way it draws out the viewer’s emotions as it tells its stories while developing its cast to the fullest. As such, people looking for a relaxing, wonderful series that goes into the realms of magical realism should definitely give this title a shot.
mrsLEE
12/09/2012, 08:13 AM
After waiting two seemingly very long years, a sequel is finally here. Oh! I genuinely miss this series. Though, at the beginning they will explain it a little bit but still you wouldn’t understand it much less appreciates how great this series is if you haven’t seen the previous seasons. The different stories are polish even more. I could say that it lived up to the greatness of the stories from the previous seasons. It is more dramatic, heart-warming, and touching especially when Natsume’s past is revealed. Things get a lot more exciting and interesting when Natsume has to deal with bothersome and extremely irritating exorcists.Very few can really balance a serious drama, heart-warming, and touching yet so funny series which I strongly believe why this series is so famous even with a not so spectacular plot it has like those famous shounen series of today. Is it me? Or Nyanko-seinsei seems a little bigger and fatter now? And for some reason, he’s a lot cuter and fluffier. His a lot more hilarious as well. This time, not only the supernatural creatures but some recurring characters are explored more so we get to see more of their stories. I love that this time not only the supernatural creatures are the focus of the story but some of the characters as well. It really balances Natsume’s relationship with both worlds. I just love his families and friends who really accept him despite knowing that he still keeps everything to himself. It is very dramatic yet so touching. Some of Natsume’s past is revealed and we can see how sad and unfortunate his past is. It is really great that now he has some really important friends and family who accepts him, both human and supernatural creatures. Finally, Natsume is gradually letting others know about the youkais and ayakashis. He no longer shoulders everything to himself because he already has people who accept and love him for who he is. You can really see how his character gets better. His more open to others, talkative, optimistic, and more importantly happier. And because of that, his a lot closer both to humans and the supernatural creatures. But of course, after quite sometime after the last season, the animation is even better now. I love that they maintain the style of the ending animation like the previous seasons. And as always, this series has one of the best sounds amongst today’s animes. I strongly believe that this time, this series is way even better. Every element of it is polish even more; from the genres it has, the stories, characters, styles, and even the sounds. It genuinely surpasses the greatness of the previous ones. I could definitely say that it is so worth the wait. Though I am so grateful that they are making so many seasons for this series, I would have really love it more if they make more episodes for every season. I am going to wait for the sequel even if it will take so many years!
soul7444
04/06/2012, 12:59 PM
-Kon’nichiwa Mina-san!! Have you already watched Natsume Yuujicnhou by Yuki Midorikawa-sama? This anime will give you a refreshing feeling that is rare to find, some says that you can compare it to Mushishi. Well talking about that is another story.Talking about our main review Natsume Yuujinchou is about the boy named natsume Takashi an adopted child of the childless but kind couple Touku and Shirugen Furijawa and also about the sadness and the longing for someone to understand him despite of his ability to see and communicate with the Ayakashi or Yokai as they said. And as the days go by he started to learnthe what-about of the Ayakashi with the help of Madara also known as Nyanko-sensei. It also has a prequel in titled “Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou”. In this season his journey to give back the names of every Ayakashi within the Yuujinchou also known as the “The Book of Friends” that he inherited to his grandmother Reiko Natsume, a strong and naughty girl in her days continues as he, little by little understand the differences and the sameness of the Ayakashi and the human. At the last episode of ZNY Natsume Stated that; “It doesn’t matter whether they’re human or Ayakahi.” “What’s Important is they’re precious to you.” “You should accept them as they are and the feelings and joy that come with it, without hesitation.” It shows that natsume had used to live and understand to live both with human and Ayakashi. He discovered that both have sames somehow in someways. Will there be a third Season?? Oh I’m really happy to say YES!! It will begin airing on July 4, 2011!!! In Titled Natsume Yuujinchou-San. Want a Shoujo in its genre? You’re wish has granted!! this review can be seen in my wordpress http://irock7444.wordpress.com/
Lindle
02/03/2012, 03:17 AM
NOTE: Since the content in all three seasons is similar enough that they don't warrant separate reviews, they will all be covered here. The fourth will be edited in when it finishes, unless it differs heavily from the first three by the end of its run. Natsume Yuujinchou covers a familiar kind of story. We are presented with a teenage boy, who is unusually airy and doesn't socialize much, and frequently seems to be looking intently at things that aren't there. As you may have guessed, Natsume sees dead people. Well, not exactly... he can see Youkai, a kind of spirit told of in Japanese folklore. Manyof the Youkai themselves seem to possess an unusual interest in Natsume. One day, as a pair of Youkai are chasing him, he accidentally breaks a seal containing a powerful Youkai... one that knows why Natsume is being chased. You see, his grandmother Reiko had the same gift as him, and used to go around beating up Youkai and making them give away their names to her (which allowed her to command them), which she collected in a book, the titular Yuujinchou (Book of Friends). And now that Reiko is dead, Natsume has to attempt to return the names, but without losing the book in the process. And his new Youkai friend Madara has agreed to help protect him, as long as he is entitled to the book upon Natsume's natural passing. What is really impressive about Natsume Yuujinchou is that, from that plot summary there, you will mostly likely think of many other series from various different mediums that follow a similar blueprint. And yet Natsume is significantly better than them. Natsume, as a series, takes on this theme with a brilliant level of poignancy. Rather than being a generic shonen action series as it so easily could have been (many of the bare bones of the series show parallels to Bleach, for example), Natsume is more concerned with telling the stories of each of these Youkai. While there is the occasional flash of action, this is never really the point. It's extremely refreshing to see a premise so frequently used for nothing more than cheap kicks done so beautifully. It even strikes something of a contrast with excellent series such as Mushishi and Mononoke, in that while these are focused on the abnormality of the creatures the series is based around, Yuujinchou is far more down to earth and human-feeling. Plotwise, this series is episodic, with the episodes focusing on individual youkai, with the stories not generally intertwining or crossing more than one episode (though there are exceptions). Almost all of the episodes are excellent, though there's two or three I didn't really care for. The second season in particular ups the quality of these, with the last four standing out as being firmly the best out of both seasons. There's not really anything in the way of an overarching plot or any clear goal, but it's all tied together through the furthering of Natsume's character and the additional insights into Reiko which we see through the Youkai's memories, both of which are excellent features of the series. The characterisation in this series is truly unique. Every character is very down-to-earth and believable, and yet not quite your everyday average Joe either. They all have distinctive personalities, and yet feel totally natural. The character designs are much the same way: simple-looking, but effective and distinctive. The only characters who are consistently in every episode are Natsume himself, and his Youkai bodyguard Madara A.K.A Nyanko-sensei. Madara is mostly comic relief, but effectively so. In his true form he's much easier to take seriously, which is often used to good effect. Natsume, on the other hand, is definitely the pinnacle of the aforementioned style. He doesn't really have a clear, character-defining moment or trait, which initially makes him seem like an uninteresting character. However, the more you get to know him, the better a character he seems. He is slowly but surely characterised through musings and realizations gathered through his experiences with all the Youkai he meets, painting a subtle yet excellent portrait of his character. In the third season, this reaches it's peak, as he slowly comes to not only accept, but value his unique circumstances and all the friends he's made because of it. In terms of production, the animation is superb. Oddly, though, it's quite restrained about it. Aside from some really beautiful, picturesque background art, it doesn't attempt to beat you over the head with its visuals, letting them stay in the background but subtly lending a lot to the series. In the second season especially, though, it dishes out quite a few animation bumps in some of the series more excellent moments, when it really needs to be rendered better. With this, combined with an excellent character art style, Natsume Yuujinchou just plain looks beautiful all-round. Musically, the OST does much the same as the art: it is distinct, amazing, perfectly fitting, but not overbearing. The music is invariably perfectly matched to the tone of the scene rather than being used to create the tone. The voice acting is all-round excellent, but my only problem with it is, strangely enough, Natsume himself. Hiroshi Kamiya was, in my opinion, a poor choice of casting. He does, however, put in an excellent performance which is hardly surprising given how good of an actor he is, but his voice seems terribly unfit to the role, and far more suited to more average and highly strung protagonists like those he usually plays, as opposed to the awkward, airy Natsume. Still, it's hardly distracting. If I have any real complaint about Natsume Yuujinchou, it's that almost every episode's plot is built from a random contrivance. Generally, Natsume encounters something vital to the plot of the episode by sheer coincidence that is not directly tied to the plot at all. It's not terribly distracting, but it's done repeatedly and always seems far too convenient. Nonetheless, Natsume Yuujinchou is an excellent series. It's a calming, relaxing show that simply does its job well. The second and third seasons are better than the first, with the second having better standalone episodes, along with better art and directing than the other two, and the third contributing more to the overall story and Natsume's development. Which season is the best is really a question of style vs. substance. Final Words: Something I would solidly recommend to anyone looking for a calming, soothing anime. Story/Plot: 8/10 Characters: 8/10 Animation/Art: 10/10 Music: 10/10 Acting: 8/10 Season One Overall: 8/10 Season Two Overall: 9/10 Season Three Overall: 9/10 For Fans Of: Mushi-shi, XxXHoLic
Akuma-Shitsuji
09/26/2011, 04:21 PM
Natsume Yuujinchou San shows the continuation of Natsume and nyanko sensei's adventures. Story : 9 As well as progressing with the anime's storyline,the third season gives us a deeper look into Natsume's past and how he came to meet and decided to live with his current foster parents.Also,as the episodes go on,Natsume is seen dealing with even more powerful youkai,which makes the show really interesting as to how Natsume will deal with them every time.FInally,this season shows Natsume developing more friendships and making his bonds with his human friends even more powerful,gradually realizing that both youkai and humans matter to him a lot. Art : 9 While the show'sart style is a frequently-used one nowadays,it feels really peculiar in a good way,probably because of the beautiful scenery of the show. Sound : 9 The music of the show fits perfectly the mood of it,although it kinda feels nostalgic,something that I hope will change in season 4. Character : 10 All characters in the anime,including the minor ones,are explored in full detail throughout the season (as well as the previous seasons) which makes them feel very real and fresh.A notable characteristic is the diversity of backgrounds that the characters have,which works as an advantage for the show,in that everyone can relate to at least one of the characters. Enjoyment : 10 I OFTEN pause my player when watching an anime.In the case of Natsume Yuujinchou however,I don't even notice how 22 minutes go by every time.That is a great plus,since the show is neither boring nor tiresome. Overall : 10 I am really looking forward to season 4 and hope that you will enjoy the 3rd season as much as I did!
Jen9204
08/08/2011, 01:34 AM
Natsume Yuujinchou San builds on its solid foundation, continuing to weave a heartwarming tale for all viewers. The over-arching theme has evolved from one of loneliness, to acceptance, and finally to warmth over these three seasons, and this one seems to be the most gentle, most stirring, and most impactful yet. Story: The storytelling remains largely episodic, and while each episode may be rather unconnected to the previous, they all reveal much about the protagonist. This season has seen a clear shift, from the more Youkai-centred storytelling of the first two seasons to one focused on the exploration of Natsume's character and his past, giving viewersa more complete picture of Natsume. Art: The art remains soft and unobtrusive, and the animation is fluid. While this is not breathtaking material, it complements the simplicity of the anime, and undoubtedly leaves viewers satisfied. Sound: Like the art, the sound works closely with the overall theme of the anime, and is gentle, atmospheric and flowing. Voice acting is top notch, and emotional levels are kept at just the right level, for viewers to be able to relate to the characters, yet never allowing the anime to degenerate into angst and melodrama. Character: Rarely do we have a hero who is selfless yet discerning, strong yet frail; rarely, do we have a protagonist so real. Natsume is not one who defies all logic and overcomes insuperable odds, but is one faced with hesitations and uncertainties like the rest of us. The supporting characters also hold their own, especially the greedy and increasing obese Nyanko-sensei. Despite their rather short screen time and lack of recurrence,the Youkais are also well developed and believable, each with their own story to tell. Overall, the characters are all colourful, well thought-out and add their own distinctive touches to the story. Enjoyment: Natsume Yuujinchou San follows its predecessors in presenting viewers with something relaxing, poignant and thought provoking. Overall: Despite the high bar set by the first two seasons, Natsume Yuujinchou San lives up to, and even surpasses all expectations. With a more pronounced touch of optimism than the last two seasons, the show really gave all viewers what they wanted deep in their hearts: to see Natsume get his 'happily ever after'.

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳参

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

NIS America Licenses Natsume Yuujinchou

Crunchyroll Announces Summer 2011 Simulcasts

Hitoyoshi City's PR Project with Natsume Yuujinchou

Third Season of Natsume Yuujincho Announced

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳参

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

NIS America Licenses Natsume Yuujinchou

Crunchyroll Announces Summer 2011 Simulcasts

Hitoyoshi City's PR Project with Natsume Yuujinchou

Third Season of Natsume Yuujincho Announced

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳 参

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

NIS America Licenses Natsume Yuujinchou

Crunchyroll Announces Summer 2011 Simulcasts

Hitoyoshi City's PR Project with Natsume Yuujinchou

Third Season of Natsume Yuujincho Announced

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳 参

North American Anime & Manga Releases for December

North American Anime & Manga Releases for August

NIS America Licenses Natsume Yuujinchou

Crunchyroll Announces Summer 2011 Simulcasts

Hitoyoshi City's PR Project with Natsume Yuujinchou

Third Season of Natsume Yuujincho Announced

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳参

Natsume Yuujinchou San 夏目友人帳参