2008 summer | Episodes: 13 | Score: 8.3 (194162)
Updated every Tuesdays at 01:00 | Status: Finished Airing
Type: TV
Producers:TV Tokyo | Aniplex | Nihon Ad Systems | Hakusensha
Streaming: Crunchyroll | Netflix
Synopsis
Due to an unusual ability to see strange creatures called youkai, Takashi Natsume has never fit in. Passed around from one foster home to another, he was left isolated and lonely. Over time, he has accepted that no one would ever believe him and has closed himself off to his current caretakers and classmates. When Natsume accidentally breaks an intangible barrier, he frees Madara—a mighty spirit in the form of a lucky cat. Madara notices that Natsume bears a remarkable resemblance to his late grandmother Reiko Natsume, an outcast girl who became known across the youkai world for creating the Book of Friends. It is now in Natsume's possession, along with its power to call upon the written names of the youkai Reiko had defeated. With no interest in its powers, Natsume decides to keep the book for the sake of his grandmother's memories and to protect it from scheming youkai. Therefore, he makes a deal with Madara: he will hand him the book once his time is up, and in turn, Madara will act as Natsume's unofficial bodyguard, nicknamed Nyanko-sensei. With his newfound goal of freeing those Reiko had sealed, Natsume's relationship with both youkai and humans slowly begins to improve. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Voice Actors
Inoue, Kazuhiko
Kobayashi, Sanae
Kamiya, Hiroshi
Fujimura, Ayumi
News
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07/02/2022, 01:13 PM
In this thread, you'll find a comprehensive list of anime and manga licensed in the second quarter (Jul-Sep) of 2022. Summer 2022 anime which were licensed befo...
05/03/2017, 07:07 AM
To commemorate one hundred years of Japanese anime history, NHK has announced a list of 100 Best Anime on Wednesday at NHK BS Premium. The list is based on the audi...
09/30/2013, 05:05 AM
A new OVA for Natsume Yuujinchou titled "Itsuka Yuki no Hi ni" has been announced to be released on February 5, 2014. Details of the OVA's plot are still unknown, bu...
05/27/2013, 01:51 AM
It was announced in manga magazine LaLa that readers who send in 1350 yen can get a special DVD for the anime "Natsume Yuujinchou" that would include, among other th...
12/30/2011, 03:58 PM
According to their official press release, NIS America has licensed all four seasons of Natsume Yuujinchou. The format and date for the series' release has not yet b...
Reviews
RavioliMafiosi
I tried watching this anime 'cause I loved Mushishi, and a lot of people tend to compare them in terms of quality and content... But now, after I've forced myself through 5 seasons of this, I can boldly say that's the biggest stretch I've ever heard. Let me tell you why: [STORY 1/10] There isn't one, and I mean it technically. A story is composed of an initial situation, a complication, a development and a final solution, but Natsume's Book of friends never goes past the first element. Throughout the series Natsume (protagonist) found himself fighting numerous youkai, encountering exorcists of different mindsets, getting the chance toknow more about the spiritual world and her own grandmother's past, but every time that happened it would invariably be nullified at the end of the episode. By the beginning of the following one he would've already forgotten about the exorcist circles he learned to draw and use, he wouldn't use his connections to learn about his supposedly huge power and prefered going back to punching monsters instead, miserably failing every time (even though his entire personality is "I'm kind and I want to protect others"). The "power of friendship" is the only thing he ever has going for him, meaning he stays just as weak and pathetic for the whole series, waiting for Sensei and the other youkai to save him. The only reason he's not dead is the godly power of the main character. Also, after 5 seasons I still don't know why Natsume Reiko stole the names of the Youkai (S1 ep1), what's her relationship with Sensei (S1 ep1/2) and why he was sealed (S1 ep 1/2), which is funny cause it should be the foundation of the whole plot. I could go on and on with examples, but you get the point: twists and developments are forcefully removed from the plot in order to keep everything exactly as it is in the beginning. Natsume is overly kind and helps everyone, Sensei is funny and tsundere, everybody else loves the MC cause he's been kind to them, and that's it. CONCLUSION: Great if you're a child, you can't follow the complexity of the average story, or you need a laxative. [EPISODES 2/10] Since there's no general story, I've created an "EPISODES" section to be as fair as possible with my review, although I'm not sure it's for the best. Every episode is a short story in itself, and while at the beginning it was mildly captivating (5-6/10) it rapidly grew old, repeating the same structure (random initial situation / a youkai appears / he proves to be more human and kind than you'd think / he asks Natsume for a favor and he can't refuse cause he's too kind / random teasing from Sensei / everything is solved with the magical power of "I'm the MC, stfu" / happy ending), the same settings, the same story message (be kind!1!11!), the same scene direction. CONCLUSION: Even taken episode by episode this anime is as original as my dad's forgetful storytelling. [CHARACTERS 3/10] I'm not rating lower only 'cause I'm considering "5" as average and "3" as "below average", but I would easily give it a 1/10. As for the story the anime offers plain characters, completely sterothypical, easily predictable, and tragically static. Everything they do and say is stricly determined by two factors: the "How-much-do-you-love-the-MC" factor and the "one-liner-personality" factor. Now Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V that throughout 6 seasons and voilà, masterpiece complete. CONCLUSION: Pringle's ingredients are less forgettable. [SOUND 5/10] I barely ever noticed there was a soundtrack playing, so I'd give it a "not good nor bad" 5. CONCLUSION: The answer is blowing in the wind [ART 5/10] Maybe it was good back in 2008, but at this review's date it's forgettable both in the artistic depiction and in the animation. Nothing particular about dialogues either. CONCLUSION: Like watching that weird old T-shirt you used to wear. [ENJOYMENT 1/10] There's actually no point in watching this except wasting your time: there's no profound message to be learned, no story development, no artistic value... Nothing at all. CONCLUSION: Great if you want to experience the insubstantiality of Being. AVERAGE RATING: 2.7 [OVERALL OPINION:] This is an anime for people who like to watch something without having to think too much about what's going on. Is it well done? Not really. Is it good within its own limits? Sure, why not. Although it's almost as far away from my tastes as possible, the fact that I was able to rush through 5 seasons should be a good testimony of how easy and chill this anime is. So, to wrap things up: definetely not a masterpiece, but great to wither away in your bed after a day of work.
ajbutterfly
Behold! The cure for insomnia has been found! After weeks of sleepless nights a Kappa arrived in a Cat-bus and handed me a copy of Natsume Yuujinchou. The first two episodes I sort of enjoyed. But from the 3rd episode the series bored me so much that I was fighting to keep my eyes open. Finally, the beautiful ED lulled me into a brilliant sound sleep and I slept like a baby all through the night. I couldn't believe my insomnia could be cured! The only problem was that I was sleeping face down on my keyboard with my PC and headphones on, so I endedup with severe neck pain and high electricity bills. Be warned that you will have the same effect even if you are not an insomniac or were chock full of energy just seconds ago. Natsume Yuujinchou is a one-dimensional monotonous series that really has nothing to show except for "look how lonely everybody is and all they want is for someone to acknowledge them". This is literally what happens in every episode with Natsume almost never meeting any Yokai who has any other motivation or intention. We know exactly how the "mystery" will unfold, how the episode will end, what the moral of the story would be, what the thoughts and speeches of the characters would be and how Natsume would get out of any trouble that comes his way. The nature of Natsume's or his grandmother's power, or how the Yokai world operates is never explored and remains a blur, though that maybe due to the ambiguous nature of Japanese folklore itself. Even then it fails to even minimally capture the diversity and richness of Yokai folklore and reduces every character except Natsume and Madara into a crying child. Natsume himself has no real motivation or interests and just wades through life half-awake. Not once does he try exploring the possibilities that come with his powers, nor does he try figuring out what exactly is going on. Remember, he can command the Yokai-s to do whatever he wishes them to- guy can build roads and hospitals in seconds, can till acres of farmland, plant forests and make medicines, possibly even clean up radiation or replete the ozone layer- but no, he's too "kind" for all that. Madara is a sorry excuse for comic relief who just eats and cribs while supposedly waiting for Natsume to die, only to rescue him from any situation where he could actually die. The only interesting character is Misuzu who gets too little screen time. The cringe factor, however, is low and the show does maintain a coherent narrative without unnecessarily cluttering it with pretentious, over the top or plain illogical story elements, which is why I gave such a tiring series a 3 rather than a 1 or 2.
agendator
"They come without asking, and then they leave just the same. But once you meet them, even if nobody ever knows it, that encounter will change your life for the better". This quote by Natsume Takashi might be the best to describe what this show feels like. Episodic experiences between him and youkai. As the episodes passes by, we see how Takashi grows and adapts to his condition. Except that, this growth is at a snail's pace. This arises a question. How many of these experiences are meaningful to the story and to Takashi? If that sounds like my problem with the series, I got badnews. I'm assured that if this was the only issue of this show, it would be among my favorites right now. What breaks this anime's potential is the easy prediction of the plot. Usually two options can preceed or follow whatever that happens. And you can foresee the outcomes often with no effort. As you get used to the anime structure, you will notice that the plot can't go anywhere out of its zone of comfort. Why? Because the story setting doesn't let it at all. In a more realistic approach, Takashi would be either lost or dead with ease. Or, have at least another social breakdown. And, the world of youkai shows itself to be too dangerous to a powerless human. So, whenever Takashi is in danger, there are two ifs. If the action is from a helping party, someone (or his own powerful punch) pops up to save him. If the action is from an enemy, the youkai/villain either kidnapps him or give up on trying if it's a resolution point. Takashi's positive development accounts for the most beautiful moments of the series. But this spiral of positiveness also cripples the possibilities for the story. The result is the feel that there's no actual risks or stakes since everything ends alright. Takashi must end with a positive outcome, or the whole setting would fall apart otherwise. And in the end of the day, there's nothing else for the series to do to explore new grounds. Except for having our MC to meet more youkai and get more involved with them. This is what gives volume to the series. Takashi's development is minor. You'll only notice a major difference by the third season. Which, is currently the best season of Natsume Yuujinchou. This is a good series for a weekly, seasonal watch. The visuals are fair enough and the animation is often dull, but this don't detach anything from the anime. Soundtracks are relaxing and go on with the mood. But, expect to see them (along with the art) being the same along the seasons. There are some emotional moments that can or can not hit close to home. But, the selling point of the show that makes me recommend it to anyone is Nyanko-sensei. He is just... Hilarious. I've seen myself many times laughing at his round, fat face. For a series claimed by many as "emotional", it's kind of a disappointment. But it's still a heart warming experience. To those needing a show to watch once in a while to relax, this is a nice pick. Too bad that for the most of it, the series almost fails to make justice to its own fame. In the end of the day, Natsume Yuujinchou isn't a dramatic tale of the sorts. It's a collection of episodic, often funny adventures of Takashi and his cat.
ktulu007
Natsume Yuujinchou is a series that began as a shoujo manga by Midorikawa Yuki. In 2008 an anime adaptation by Brain's Base aired. You may remember them from such anime as Baccano, Durarara, Penguindrum, Ixion Saga DT & Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. So, their stuff has been pretty mixed from what I've seen. With Oregairu at the upper end and Ixion Saga & Penguindrum tied at the low end. How will this one place? Let's have a look. Story: Natsume Takashi is a lonely boy. He's been ostracised for most of his life due to his ability to see youkai. After accidentally freeinga sealed one, that happens to look like a fat cat, he discovers that his grandmother, Reiko, could also see them. Not only that, but she went around collecting their names for her “book of friends” which she could use to summon and control them. Being able to think of no ways to use such a thing, Natsume decides to go about returning the names. The narrative from there follows him as he encounters youkai and goes about thinning the book of friends. The biggest issue with the series is just that it's tedious. It shouldn't be since it has al of thirteen episodes, but it manages. The dialogue has a tendency to repeat itself a lot. The events from the episodes are painfully predictable and the series just never reaches a point where things get interesting. The result is that it feels like a slog to get through. There's also a moment where they try to bring real world fact into the series, but they get the fact wrong. Basically, it uses the urban legend that birds will abandon their babies if a human handles them. Which I'm sure was invented by some arsehole who didn't want to bother helping a distressed baby bird but didn't want to look bad in front of their kids. Or maybe it's a fabrication that stems from wanting to protect the chicks from good-hearted people who are trying to help, but aren't helping. The best part of the series are the few flashbacks we get of his grandmother when she was young. She has personality and seems to be enjoying herself. Can I watch a series about her instead? I don't think it would be brilliant, but it would probably be better than this. Characters: Herein lies the core flaw with the series. Natsume is one of the most boring characters I've seen in quite a while. See, his whole schtick is that he's a generic nice guy who's melancholy because he's special. That's pretty much the end all and be all that passes for his personality. He's about as compelling as an empty plastic crate. Well, less compelling. At least you could put something in the crate. Which is a big part of why the narrative itself is such a slog. We have this thoroughly uninteresting protagonist and it's impossible to feel any tension or investment in him. Seriously, can we watch the grandma's story instead? She has more personality by far and she's only in roughly five minutes of flashbacks. The supporting characters really aren't much better. They're flat tropes. Art: The artwork is, by far, the best element of the series. The backgrounds are nicely drawn and detailed. The youkai designs are pretty creative. The animation does flow well. The character designs are... okay. The biggest issue with the art is Natsume himself. The two expressions he generally has are just a blank look and dull surprise. Sound: Our protagonist is voiced by Kamiya Hiroshi. He also voiced a boring character in Hachimitsu to Clover. But he's also given strong performances voicing characters like Levi and Otonashi Yuzuru. The problem with his performance in this, and indeed most of the performances, is just that there's nothing to work with. You really can't take a boringly written character and make them complex through the sheer power of acting. The music isn't good, but it does suit the series. It is just as boring as the narrative and the protagonist. You can't claim that Yoshimori Makoto isn't good at composing music that matches the tone. Ho-yay: There's a little bit. Natsume has a couple of friends who bicker like a married couple. There's also a female youkai in the series who's outright stated to have had a thing for Natsume's grandmother. I'd kind of like to see the back story behind that one, actually. Seriously, why isn't this series about Reiko? Final Thoughts: Natsume Yuujinchou is by no means a bad series. It's also by no means a good one. Ultimately, it's a boring series with very little that really stands out in either a positive or negative way. My final rating on it is a 5/10. Next week is Valentine's and you know what that means, we're going to look at a romance series. This year it's Love Stage.
tommyandolli
Honestly, I don't really understand why this anime has so many amazing ratings. This isn't the worst anime i've ever seen- no, but I certainly do not think it's anywhere near the best. Now, let's talk about the story. 3/10 One of the things I hated the most about this anime was the fact that it's episodic, and it doesn't work. In my opinion, this only makes it painfully predicable and underdeveloped. Honestly, you've seen the first three episodes you've seen the whole show. A youkai comes. Cool. They want Natsume's help. Oh. They get their help. There's a revelation. Ok. The majority of the episodesfollow this structure. And for the first few or so episodes, yes. It's entertaining. Heartwarming even. But I wouldn't expect that to be the whole show. CAN SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN. CAN THE PLOT PROGRESS. CAN WE STOP THIS CYCLE. It's too simple. It got boring. And the art/animation... 4/10 The art is uninteresting. It's boring. it's simple. Which pretty much matches the story. The story and the art go together. So I guess that's a good thing. It further sets the mood of the anime. It made it more boring for me. The sooouunnnd... 4/10 I hated the soundtrack of this anime. I always skipped the opening, which I almost never do. The sound effects and all that were clear. Voices, clear. So the sound is fine. That soundtrack though. No. But it does do a good job of further setting the over all mood of the anime. Characters... 3/10 The character development in this anime really lacks. What the hell even is Natsume's personality. He barely has one. The youkai though, they have much better personalities. But just because they're better than Natsume's doesn't mean they're deep or "thought provoking" no. But they are definitely entertaining. The one character I truly did like was Madara. He's a gem, really liked him. It's like they compensated for Natsume's lack of development with Madara's. Enjoyment... 2/10 If you read what I previously wrote it's pretty obvious I did not enjoy this anime. I watched it to the end to be able to make a full conclusion about it. BUT BOY WAS THAT PAINFUL. Overalllllll... 4/10 I just think this anime wasn't for me. If you're the type of person that likes to decipher plots, enjoys suspense, twists and turns- this is really not the anime for you. Skip it. If you like more simple, heartwarming type things give this a try. This isn't the kinda anime where you're on the tip of your toes, heads spinning, mind boggling. This is the kinda anime you watch when you're in your room bored, too tired to watch something with a more developed, complex plot.
Nameyay
I watched this anime basically on a whim. I read the name somewhere and just started watching it. I have to say that I wasn’t too impressed by this series by the first episode, but that certainly changed later on. Please note that this is a review of all four seasons of Natsume Yuujinchou. However, my feelings towards this show have changed significantly over the course of watching this. So here is the rough draft of my experience: Season One: Wow, this is totally above my expectations. Pretty good. 7/10. Season Two: Well shit, I accidently marathoned this. I fear that I’m falling in love with this show.8/10. Season Three: I love this show. Please don’t let it end. 9/10. Season Four: I LOVE THIS SHOW. SHIT IT’S ENDING NO SHIT SHIT SHIT NOOO– 9/10. Honestly. This show is amazing. With brilliant bittersweet episodic plotlines, likable and well-developed characters and just an extraordinary overall feeling of atmosphere, this show excels in almost everything it tries to do. This show is one of the most heartwarming anime that I have ever seen, and as it kept going, it only got better and better. A must-watch for everybody, unless you have a brick for a heart or can’t stomach anything without explosions. STORY Natsume Yuujinchou doesn’t have an ‘overarching plot’ or anything, and mostly relies on various episodic stories to keep itself going. Most episodes follow the following structure: 1. A youkai gets introduced. 2. The youkai either has a problem or causes a problem. 3. Natsume solves this problem and learns something about himself in the process. As you can see, Natsume’s Book of Friends is a very simple show. But its beauty lies in how much it managed to do with such a simplistic concept. Every story is heartwarming and unique in its own way, and even if the episodes follow the same general formula, it never seems to get old. The episodes in season one and season two mainly focused on various one-off characters, while the third and fourth season began to focus more on Natsume himself. Regardless of what story they’re telling, they manage to make it beautiful. Every episode I left with a small smile on my face, even if I sometimes had a knot in my stomach from the emotional moments. This anime just contains so much heart: it’s very clear that the people behind the show had a certain passion for it and it shines brilliantly. It also helps that the entire atmosphere for this show is brilliant. The world, in and off itself, isn’t really anything special. But it has this feeling to it that’s very hard to pin down and describe: a feeling that is almost bittersweet, but not quite. Heartwarming, yet, at the same time, it also carries this air of melancholy. It’s a very calm show, and the perfect thing to watch when you are anxious or depressed. If I really had to nitpick I’d say that the first episode was bad. And yeah, it is. But in the grand scheme of things, I don’t feel like it really matters all that much. All in all the story, despite (or maybe because of) its simplicity managed to create a beauty that is very rare to find among any form of media. CHARACTERS The characters, just like the rest of the show, only get better and better as the seasons go on. One of this anime’s strongest points, in my opinion, is Natsume’s character development. Natsume Takashi is the main character of this show. At a young age he lost both his parents and has since been passed down his relatives, none of whom wanted to keep him because of his ability to see youkai. Those relatives ranged from distant to downright abusive. Finally, about a month before the show starts, the Fujiwaras took him in and he finally got a stable life. At the beginning of the show, we see him as a lonely and somewhat depressed teenager. He has an air of sadness and maturity to him, which isn’t surprising, considering his childhood has been very tough. And this shows. He is mature beyond his age, has some obvious trust issues and is very quiet. He is also very nice and genuinely cares about everything and everyone around him. He is not a saint however; he sometimes gets angry and frustrated. He has emotions like all of us and they can be hurt, but, at the beginning of the show, he is sure to suppress them and not let it show. As the anime progresses we see him grow from a self-conscious boy into one who is much more secure about himself and has more trust in the world around him. His development is so subtle that you don’t even notice it until you start comparing scenes from the first few episodes to scenes in the later ones. It’s brilliantly done. Apart from that he, like the show, grows on you without you even noticing it. I initially didn’t think that I cared much about him; I never noticed any sense of particular attachment. However, during an arc in season two, some youkai hurt him and I just found myself immensely furious. I wanted that thing dead, and right now. I think I might have actually started yelling at my screen. That’s when I realized that I actually cared about him to the point of having my protective urges roused, something that almost never happens to me. As the seasons progressed, I only found myself getting more and more attached to him, until I came to the point that I was probably sadder than him when he got into a bad situation. I think that this might just be the strongest I’ve ever felt about a character. Another main character that I wanted to note was Nyanko-sensei/Madara. Even though he is largely played for comic relief, he is also a really good character in himself. His interactions with Natsume are especially precious. Even though they argue most of the time and Nyanko-sensei will deny that he cares for Takashi, it is very clear that he does. The way they show this is great, with small gestures meaning a lot and moments of silence often speaking louder than words. If I had the time, I could point out the many scenes I believe illustrate this the best, but it’s best if you just go and watch yourself. Other than him, the other reoccurring important side characters are noteworthy too. Although their development is littler than that of Natsume, it’s still pretty amazing what they managed to do with relatively little screen time. The differences between the characters are so noticeable when watching the episodes from season one and four back to back, yet so unnoticeable when you’re actually watching the show chronologically, the youkai characters maybe excepted. Even so, I once again have to applaud this anime for their subtlety. Even the episodic characters are good. Even though they only get one arc to establish themselves, they are still good enough that you actually care what happens to them. Their stories are often heart wrenching and you can’t help but want the best for them, even if they aren’t particularly memorable. The characters of Natsume Yuujinchou shine in their quietest moments, and the subtlety of their development makes them all the more believable. Like the rest of the show, you will find yourself unknowingly getting attached to them and not regretting a single thing. ANIMATION/SOUND The animation and sound are the only parts where the show isn’t doing exceptionally well. The first season in particular fell short on both of these things, with bad animation and a terrible opening. The animation in the fight scenes (as short and limited as they were) was especially cringe worthy. The camera-angles were also off. I first blamed this on bad directing, but after watching the rest of the show, I know that I was wrong. I don’t know what it is, though, but the choices they make are just really weird. Hiding your main character behind an umbrella while he is talking for more than a minute is very distracting, guys. As the second season began, however, there was a very noticeable increase in animation budget, leading to a drastic change in animation quality. While it still wasn’t the best, it didn’t need to be. It managed to accentuate the tone of the show rather nicely, and the backgrounds in particular were great (they already were in the first season, for the record). I also liked the design for several of the youkai, even if I did notice a rather lack of distinction later on in the series (all ‘good’ spirits began to look a lot like humans). Like I already mentioned, I dislike the opening for the first season. I just can’t stand it. I think it somehow sounds like a bad cover of a good song, and it bothers me. The second opening, however, is great. I love the visuals for it, and the song is very catchy. It was a joy to listen to. I thought the third opening was kind of meh again, but the fourth was pretty good. The ending to season one was slightly better than its opening, but I still didn’t like it. I love all the other endings equally, though. And the art style they use in them is great. The background music is simple, using very few instruments (a lot of which are commonly used in traditional Japanese music) and manages to set the tone for this show perfectly. At first, I wasn’t too fond of it on its own, but it grew on me, like the rest of the show. In short, even though the animation and the soundtrack aren’t the greatest things ever, they still hold up pretty well and complement the show rather nicely. CONCLUSION Natsume’s Book of Friends is a show that has grown very close to my heart. Before watching this, I never understood how people could want a show to go on forever. I have always wanted my shows to end, and I was always happy when I reached those endings. But with Natsume Yuujinchou, I actually found myself stalling, restricting myself to watching only so many episodes a day so that I could enjoy this as long as I could. That is the single biggest complement that I can give a show. This anime is brilliant in almost every way; the characters are well-developed, the plotlines are heartwarming and the music and animation create the brilliant atmosphere that makes this show what it is. I honestly have no idea how anyone can dislike this anime, unless you just really dislike shows without action or are just plain heartless. Not to say that you're a bad person if you didn't like this but just... how? It’s flaws are minor, and its pros are huge. Honestly, there is no reason for anyone to skip this masterpiece, so go forth and watch it. Now.
Rize_1213
A friend introduced and urged me to watch this anime. I am always interested in stuff associated with youkai so I knew I had to give this a shot. This is probably the most light hearted anime I've watched so far, especially the ending song is just soooooo soothing. The anime have a episode by episode plot so you don't have to complete the whole series in one day. A calm and peaceful anime with a hint of humour in it. I wouldn't say it was action packed.
bessimajamal
This is one of those animes which just somehow makes its way into your heart and makes such a deep imprint that you would probably never be able to forget it. Natsume Yuujinchou (I watched all 4 seasons, and reviewing them in one go as they are more like a single entity anyway) is a beautiful rare gem in the anime world that often goes unnoticed, yet each and every person I know who have watched it have been touched so deeply by it. Story: The highlight of this anime is the storyline, and how its delivered. It has a very laidback pace, allowing the storyto gently bloom; the exact opposite of an intense high speed story. But it manages to do that with a grace that is never dull or boring, and just mesmerizes so you are pulled along gently by the story. The anime is episodic in nature, so every episode has a different story, but the 2nd season onwards do build upon previous stories and characters, so there is a sense of continuity.The main theme is about the conflict between the supernatural world of the youkais and humans, and Natsume's struggle to find his place in between these conflicting worlds. The theme of self discovery and companionship, as well as kindness and acceptance are the main focus of the anime, and well written and developed. Art: I love the gentle vignette style of the art, with soft colours and landscapes, rather than details and sharp contrasts, this seems to suit the characters and the story better anyway. It reminds me a bit of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's art style (Totoro especially). Sound: Absolutely LOVED all the openings and endings for all 4 seasons, they all fit the story so well, and the atmosphere and mood of the anime. The seiyuus were also brilliant, especially Nyanko sensei (Kazuhiko Inoue, who is also the voice behind loads of famous roles like Kakashi from Naruto) Character: I fell utterly in love with Natsume within the first season, and fell deeper with every episode since then. The character development for Natsume and Nyanko-sensei especially were done very well, and I love how the 2nd season onwards had more regular characters who stayed on for more of the series (the first season usually had characters come on just for one ep). Even with characters who didn't stay long, they still managed to give a solid impression and a fully fleshed character setting. Every character was realistic and relatable, and managed to engage my emotions well. Natsume will always have a special place in my heart
Relient
This is not an anime for people who are looking for something with action and cute characters. Natsume Yuujinchou is a thought provoking anime, one that encompasses many different genres (drama, slice of life, tragedy, fantasy). The story may look slow but each episode is well thought out and provides insights on the main characters of the anime. Each episode has a message or a lesson for Natsume, and viewers in my opinion; most of them are common knowledge, but they serve as a reminder to the people who watch the series. The anime has a lot of fun and humour in it, but alsotragedy and sadness at the same time. Each episode left me wanting to see more of the anime just to see how Natsume would treat a new situation. Initially, I found this anime under Kamiya, Hiroshi's name before it was aired and the synopsis was kind of promising. And as each episode was aired, I found out that I really could not wait for the next episode; It was a long wait for the four seasons to finish but well worth it. Now I wish there was more for me to enjoy. This anime is full of bittersweet moments that should generally leave a person feeling angry or upset but it is not the case here. Oddly enough, where Natsume should have ended up hating people, he ends up loving them more. The strength of his character is something that is awe worthy. Story and Plot - 10/10 Most people who watch this anime will not see a plot in the start of the anime, but there is one. This anime follows the day to day life of Natsume, Takashi and his youkai "guardian" Madara(who Natsume affectionately calls Nyanko-sensei). Natsume is not your ordinary teenage boy like in other anime; he has the ability to see youkai and this has earned him a hard childhood. Orphaned at a young age, he was passed around his extended family due to his strange nature. As a child no one believed him about the things that only he could see and everyone either thought that he wanted attention or was insane. Due to this, Natsume slowly closed himself off from other people and dealt with his pain silently. One day, he accidently meets a youkai named Madara who mistakes Natsume for his deceased grandmother, who also could see youkai. Madara tells Natsume about a book that his grandmother kept called The Book of Friends, which contains the names of all the youkai she "defeated". This is where the story of Natsume Yuujinchou begins, as Natsume is determined to return all the names while Madara tries to stop him since he wants the book for himself. As Natsume returns the names of the youkai, he slowly learns more about his deceased grandmother and the differences in their lives. The overall story comes together in the four seasons of the anime. Each episode, though may seem stand alone, actually bring forth the main plot of the story which is Natsume's understanding of the world around him and his place in it. Through his many adventures, he changes his views and learns to trust other people. For the first time, Natsume makes true friends who he feels he can depend on and will not shun him due to his weird nature. Art and Character Design - 10/10 Simple art to follow a simple anime; some people say that the art is nothing big or that it's not beautiful like other anime. Natsume Yuujinchou is not a flashy anime with a flashy story, the story is very simple and thus the art flows with it. I personally feel the art is amazing, simple and unique yet with a lot of detail. Soundtrack - 10/10 Again, simple and yet beautiful music to compliment the anime. The soundtrack is as amazing as the anime, from the opening to the ending. Character Development - 10/10 Best part of the anime is not the story but rather the characters. The main characters are Natsume, Takashi and Madara but Natsume, Reiko can also be seen as somewhat of a main character. There is a lot of character development for most of the characters in the series but mostly centered on Natsume, Takashi and Madara. Natsume, Reiko's character is used as an eye opener for Natsume, Takashi; where Reiko isolated herself from the rest of the world, Takashi learns to open up slowly to his friends and leave his loneliness behind. Also, each of the youkai that Natsume encounters helps Natsume understand his youkai friends, gaining more respect and understanding towards youkai in general. The youkai in the anime are shown to have the same human tendencies and are not so different from humans in reality. Natsume, Takashi: I guess some people may see him as a sissy or something along those lines, but can you really call him a sissy? It takes one to know one really. In society today, people who are compassionate and understanding are viewed as a sissy and this is why society does not progress much. I feel Natsume's personality is very rare to come across amongst people and quite refreshing. Regardless of the amount of torment he has gone through, Natsume still holds a lot of respect for people and shows no hatred towards anyone. He is kind and gentle but cautious at the same time with people due to his childhood experience. Madara or Nyanko-sensie: A powerful youkai with a lot of influence, Madara at first shows that his sole purpose of being with Natsume is to use him in order to get the Book of Friends. But slowly you see that Madara does in fact care about Natsume and a bond is formed between the two. Madara appears to understand Natsume more than most of the other characters and surprising shows a more gentler side towards Natsume in contrast to his regular boastful, selfish and kind of mean personality. Viewer Enjoyment - 10/10 This is the first anime where I could not wait for the next season to air. The re-watch value of this anime for me is very high as I have already re-watched all four seasons twice already, going on third. This anime is amongst the few that I have re-watched so many times. Don't feel ashamed if you watch this anime and find yourself in tears. Unique in its own way, Natsume Yuujinchou is a story about a journey, a journey of understanding. Overall Rating - 100/10 can I?
Kuruna
When sifting through a large amount of anime, you mostly find ones that are average and a little bit above average. They are the series that usually keep you entertained throughout, but with little more to be satisfied with. But sometimes, you occasionally stumble upon a series that is much, much more. With only 13 episodes to its name, I can say with sincerity that Natsume Yuujinchou is one of those series that i can definitely say is nothing short of a masterpiece. From what I've watched so far, I can distinguish that most 13 episode series are either average or poorly done, with somefew exceptions. Natsume Yuujinchou is an episodic series, meaning that it follows no straight plot but rather, tells one story per episode. Initially, you might think that because of this the plot will be rather loose and fragmented, but everything seems to intertwine nicely. The series follows the teenage protagonist, Natsume, in his journey towards understanding and helping the fellow Youkai and Ayakashi in his neighbourhood. What really shines is the interactions between him and the Youkai; they are so beautifully done that more often than not you'll find yourself tearing up a little as he passes through each of them. I guess part of the flaws of this anime is that the interactions are sometimes too short - the impact they give you makes you want to find out about them just a little bit more. Most of the episodes end with a bittersweet feeling that leaves you satisfied but melancholic. It's hard to describe, but it's kind of a sad but heartwarming effect. Each episode is relatively simple in terms of plot; in fact, the whole series is as simple as it can be. One could say that this is a flaw, but I say that it is a positive. It's just about an adolescent boy who, with his trusty cat companion, finds new ways to understand both humans and Youkai. One of the things I give the series credit for the most is the animation and the soundtrack. In terms of quality, Natsume Yuujinchou definitely doesn't shine in terms of crispness and it doesn't possess cutting edge graphics that can be compared to say, Guilty Crown. However, the animation of Natsume is very unique; everything is composed of pale, pastel and dreamy like qualities which accentuate the softness of the storyline and gives it that extra boost. The art blends together nicely with the interactions of the Youkai, and I found the scenery particularly pretty. That being said, I also loved the OP and the ED especially, simply because the art went so well with the rest of the series. The art also goes hand in hand with the soundtrack, which is composed of mostly slow, melodic tunes which really emphasize the raw nature of the series. I found the music really soothing in some parts, yet saddening in the scenes which ended up being bittersweet. The different components of the anime really flatter each other and, as a result, make it so much better as a series. For a 13 episodic series, Natsume Yuujinchou develops a surprising amount of depth and symbolic meanings as each episodes passes by. You get to see Natsume transition into a much better person through the interactions of Youkai; beings that he had disliked when he was younger. Throughout the series, I was expecting the whole thing to be a little disjointed or even a little fragmented in places, but I was pleasantly surprised with the result. I think that, by having a series with not much complexity in its plot means that it can be exploited into becoming a startlingly meaningful show by focusing efforts into developing the characters and everything else. Story - 9/10 Art - 9/10 Sound - 9/9 Character - 10/10 Enjoyment - 10/10
Exkalibur
Why this anime is so far up the Top Anime list, I will never know because this was one of the worst animes I've ever watched. I'm disappointed I wasted so much of my precious time on this shit. The only reason I gave it an over 3 rather than a 2 was because I did the math. But without further ado; Story: 1/10 Was there a story? 'Cause from what I saw it was just episode after episode of the same concept. A lot like Detective Conan, I suppose, but at least that is much more enjoyable and has a bit more depth to it thanNatsume Yuujinchou. If you're the type to like watching a shallow animes with no real goal to it, this is for you. Art: 7/10 The art was good - the only thing that kept me from giving the anime a 2. The sceneries were well done, and the characters were drawn beautifully. The soothing light colours emphasized the calm and relaxing environment the story took place in. Sound: 6/10 I usually like sad songs, but none from this anime really struck me as great. They were all just mediocre. But it fit according to the situation, so there's a plus. Character: 3/10 The characters weren't very deep. The main character is a big nono for me - I hate guys who are so sissy and shy and submissive and basically a girl in animes. Though the cat demon thing was cute, and funny (hence why I increased it to a 3). The other demons don't have too much personality, or if they did, it was similar to other characters in the anime. Enjoyment: 1/10 I only watched it because a friend of mine recommended it, but I was literally falling asleep every episode trying to finish it. You'll never understand how happy I was to finish the season and tell her that I hated it (she asked me to finish it completely before saying it sucks, so...). Overall: 3/10 Over all, it sucked balls, to be compeltely honest. If you're into anime with an actual plot line, this isn't for you. But see for yourselves... if you dare! ;)
Okazaki93
Natsume Yuujinchou is possibly the most powerful, thought-provoking anime I've ever seen. The amount of emotions you'll experience is nothing short of incredible, especially when you consider the anime's 13 episode length. Pity, anger, sorrow, astonishment, and absolute elation are to name a few. And some tears on the side...Manly tears, obviously. Story- 10/10 Natsume Yuujinchou is episodic, there is no defining plot line. The most common, unifying theme is Natsume's ultimate goal to return all the Youkai names that his Grandmother Reiko took and stored in the Book of Friends. The episodes range from various Youkai simply wanting their names back, to far more complex issues such aslonely spirits longing for companionship, desperate to relive the memories that are so precious to them. Each episode is wrapped up so masterfully, so beautifully, that it's nearly impossible to not spend the next few moments contemplating what you've just seen. The messages and lessons conveyed are just as pertinent as they are meaningful. At some point in everyone's life, there will be something (a problem, ability, anything) that they feel is impossible to talk about, that no one can relate. As Natsume Yuujinchou illustrates, isolation is rarely the answer, and through purposeful human (and maybe not so human) interactions, inner peace can be achieved. Art- 10/10 The art in Natsume Yuujinchou is phenomenal, depicting a gorgeous countryside town. Each aspect of the landscape is drawn with amazing attention to detail, the large plains of grass not just being lush green, but also golden, with a few shades of light red. The bodies of water are drawn to ripple realistically with the hustling and bustling of fish (and water-related Youkai). The light from the sun pours through the openings of the trees in a divine manner. The human characters are drawn with that middle of the road style of animation, where they aren't too realistic but they also aren't too cartoonish, too cartoonish being enormous eyes, no visible nose, etc. Youkai are drawn in almost every way imaginable, the sky was the limit in creating these spirits as each episode continuously provides unique designs. The artwork never falters, and remains beautiful at every attempt made, from fireworks in the night sky, to majestic, elegant Youkai. Sound- 10/10 I fell in love with the opening song upon first listen. Without thinking about it, I always found myself singing along, the tempo getting faster and faster, my excitement growing more and more. This opening is truly the perfect fit for Natsume Yuujinchou, as it is expressive of my anticipation for the upcoming episode. This was the same case with the end song, perfectly fitting, as it always sums up the current episode, allowing you to become engrossed in your own thoughts. The almost nostalgic way the music starts quietly playing right before the end of the episode, a slightly melancholic acoustic guitar chimes in, and emotions begin to overflow. A memorable end for an unforgettable anime. Characters- 10/10 Most of the Youkai encountered are, aside from the general superiority complex over humans, very different. Their personalities are what keeps the show fresh. A Youkai that first appears to be nothing but malicious may actually have a much more complicated character, though that isn't to say there are no instances of purely malevolent Youkai. Despite that superiority complex, most of the Youkai do in fact have human tendencies. Love, loneliness, and real bonds of friendship are all things that Youkai are not entirely devoid of. It becomes obvious that, despite differences in appearence, powers, and social norms, humans and Youkai aren't so different... Enjoyment- 10/10 This is an anime that is enjoyable from start to finish, and as someone who is more prone to believe in the existence of the supernatural, I was enthralled. From now on, I'll think twice about those moments where a cold chill overcomes you, or when a blast of wind hits you on a relatively calm day. Overall- 10/10 This show is a fantasy masterpiece. If you're in the mood to cry tears of happiness (manly tears, naturally) or just see a great show, then this is a must watch. "I can hear the footsteps of Winter, the cold night...But, this place is warm"
Lindle
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
iwantcandy2
This is my first anime review, so here goes. Plot Summary: Natsume is the new kid in town, and boy is he weird. He talks to the empty air more than real people, he's withdrawn, and sometimes he takes off running for no apparent reason. As it turns out, he's not crazy, just spiritual. He was born with the spiritual powers that allow him to see youkai (Japanese mythical creatures). He inherited this ability from his grandmother, who was known among the youkai as a powerful, fierce fighter. His grandmother used her abilities to defeat youkai and take their names, thus binding them in servitude. Now it'sNatsume's quest to set them free. Story: There is only one word to describe the tone of Natsume Yuujinchou: chill. Everything is very laidback, tranquil. The pace is much more deliberate than most anime, taking its time to fully stretch out a story over an episode. Yes, the pacing is slow, but it's the good kind of slow, where things take their time to develop. If you like fast-paced, nail-biting adventures, you're not going to find it here. However, if you don't mind waiting around for a story to blossom, then Natsume Yuujinchou usually delivers, with every vignette well thought-out and explored. Unfortunately, that's all there is: vignettes. Natsume Yuujinchou is episodic in nature, meaning that there is no overarching plot. While this isn't horrible, it's kind of frustrating to see interesting youkai introduced, only to stick around for one episode and then dissipate after their story is done. Art: The animation is pretty cheap. Not bad, just cheap. Don't expect any more movement then is necessary. Also, I think the original author had a mask fetish, because many of the characters have their faces partially covered, meaning facial expressions are often a non-issue. The monster designs are for the most part simple but good looking. However, the action isn't always as crisp and fluid as it could be. Sound: Once again, the show differs from a lot of contemporary anime by being very subdued for the most part. All of the acting is good, it's just very toned-down. It tends to make most of the performances forgettable. Also, the background music is fairly bland, and the themes that do stand out sound suspiciously close to stuff you'd hear in Azumangah Daioh. I will say this, though: the opening and closing themes rock. Well, not in the literal sense. They are both quieter, softer pieces, but they fit the series very well. Character: Probably the most frustrating part of the show. The characters are usually very interesting, but so many of them are one-shots that it feels like a waste. This is partially remedied in the second season, where characters start coming back, but for this season, don't expect to see too much development outside of Natsume and Nyanko-sensei. However, both of these main characters are well-developed, and they are explored fairly well, which makes up for the other characters not getting screen-time. Although I will say this about Natsume: you could get that kid to do anything for you, if you mentioned you felt lonely. He is such a sucker for the lonely card. Enjoyment: This is not a party anime. It's not big or loud enough to watch with a lot of friends, but it is a nice, relaxing, thoughtful piece to watch on your own. Overall: This anime is definitely unique. If you don't like over-the-top, flashy anime like Gurren Lagan, then you might prefer Natsume Yuujinchou's approach to story-telling. Also, as a final note, the second season is better because it builds off what is established in this season. Anyways, if you're searching for an anime to watch after a stressful day, this is a great choice.
trzr23
“So, you can see youkai huh?” Natsume Yuujinchou follows Natsume, a high school student and his encounters with youkai. Youkai are basically ghosts, but not the kind you see in kids’ cartoons or horror movies – they are just funky looking monsters that are invisible to most humans. Once a youkai gives its name to a human, then it pledges its soul to the human and they can never truly pass on unless they have their names back. Natsume’s grandmother, Reiko, had collected the names of various youkai and recorded them in a book called the “Yuujinchou” or “The Book of Friends”. After her death, thisbook falls into Natsume’s hand, who decides to free any youkai from its contract by giving the youkai its name back upon request. However, while some youkai just want their name back, some want to have the entire Yuujinchou so that they can control the other youkai. Along with his bodyguard Madara, the demon cat, Natsume begins to return the youkai’s names, one by one… Natsume Yuujinchou is a watered down cross between Mushishi, xxxHOLiC and Kino’s Journey. In each episode, Natsume encounters a youkai who has some unfinished business in this world and needs Natsume’s help to finish it, so that they can move on. However, this is easier said than done, as some of the youkai’s requests are unreasonable to say the least and could even result in Natsume’s death. The anime has its genres mixed in the right proportion, with a strong dose of “Fantasy”, a spoonful of “Action” and a dash of “Slice of Life”. Set in an episodic format, all these elements come together really well, and each episode tells a fascinating tale that is truly heartwarming. However, certain episodes felt like “filler” episodes, which is inexcusable in a 13 episode series, and contained an unduly high amount of slapstick comedy. And although the overall plot is pretty unique and is handled in a charming fashion, it is pretty predictable. Maybe it’s just me, but after watching Mushishi, Kino’s Journey and xxxHOLiC, NY seemed rather linear and somehow didn’t quite capture the mood like the anime above did. Another place where this show went wrong was by mixing in some shounen elements, which did not work out well – this anime should’ve strictly stuck to the seinen genre. The animation is perfect for this kind of series – soft, subtle and clean. Backgrounds were sharp and were beautiful to look at. The characters look pretty realistic and the eyes, thankfully, don’t occupy half of the character’s face. But, I felt that the youkai could’ve been drawn more artfully. When I picked this series up, I did not expect the youkai to look like the low grade demons in Inuyasha or the evil monsters from Gegege no Kitarou. Sadly, they did. Although it was not intolerable by any means, it was one of the reasons why I didn’t give this anime a ten or a nine. An overall solid job - Brains Base excels again! The music was excellent. The OP was superb and the lyrics actually made sense, which is something you don’t see every day. The ED was a bit weird, with shaky vocals and a pleasant rhythm. The BGM was apt and fit the scenes perfectly. There were a few quirky tracks, a few melancholy ones and a few dramatic ones. And they all do a great job in setting the mood. The characters consisted mainly of Natsume and Madara. There are a couple of other characters, but they don’t have a lot of role to play. Natsume is your standard high school protagonist – shy, quiet and kind. He talks to himself; his parents are dead and he is shunned by the society because he can see youkai, while no one else can. And his very stereotypical portrayal is what gives this anime a shonen feel. I mean, the kid is just too easy to read. The one other character that you see in every episode is Madara, the demon cat. Madara offers to be Natume’s bodyguard and for payment for his services, he gets the Yuujinchou when Natsume dies. Madara is mainly intended for comic relief, but sometimes, he can just be boring, with the jokes becoming stale fast. And this silly humor relaxes the atmosphere and makes the mood less serious, which, in my opinion, is not a good addition at all, as shows like NY are meant to be charming, yet focused at the same time. The interaction between Natsume and Madara is extraordinarily similar to that of Kino and Hermes, certain youkai’s stories are extremely similar to that of xxxHOLiC’s and the Tanamu is just a replica of Adashino from Mushishi. And seeing that this anime was released in 2009, way after the release of all the above three anime, eyebrows are bound to be raised. Also, the boy seeing ghosts reminds me strongly of the Hollywood movie “The Sixth Sense”. But, when it’s all said and done, NY is a great anime that succeeds mainly because of its focus on humans and not on the youkai. The youkai are just a medium to bring out the various kinds of bonds two humans can have. Once you get that into your head, NY will not disappoint. The first four episodes were somehow not as good as the rest of the series, but they were not terrible either. The voice acting was neatly done and the subs by BSS were awesome as always. [THE WRAP-UP ] Natsume Yuujinchou is a beautiful show. With a generous helping of genres such as comedy, slice of life and drama, this anime is proof that you don’t always need the guns, women or a prophecy, for telling an absorbing tale of a boy with superpowers. Charming animation breathes life into the series and the stellar soundtrack is perfect for this show. However, poor characters, boring comedy and inconsistency in the quality of the episodes pull down this episodic series’ score. Strong similarities to other shows of the same genre also make the viewers question the originality of the producers. But, even these glaring errors cannot prevent you from adoring this anime. Natsume Yuujinchou is definitely worth your time. If you’re unsatisfied after the first six episodes, then this series is probably not for you. However, the sequel, Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou, is far better than this season, so if you didn’t like this one, there’s a much better chance you’ll like the sequel. Natsume Yuujinchou is exactly what the MAL score of 8 means – a very good show. (As always, feedback of any form is welcome. Thank you for your time ^^ !)
manatasia
Natsume Yuujnichou is a great anime series which I absolutely adore wholeheartedly. All 13 episodes contain different stories which are linked together at some point. The way the plots are constructed is basically the same, yet it absolutely doesn't make them neither irksome nor boring. Every single episode should be highly appreciable, as the series concern important matters. It's not one of those profoundly sad stories or infantile ones. It's just remarkable. Composition is done greatly, the stories are very entertaining not mentioning the way the characters are developed. Only sometimes did I find anime series where equivalence between sadness and happiness is remained sosplendidly as it is here. That makes the series subtle and delicate. Instead of violence, it shows many aspects of being unique and how hard is to cope with it and keep it a secret. The subject of solitude is also presented very good. Natsume Yuujinchou bears with the issues very well, making the series one of the greatest in recent years. Actually, I dare to say it's probably one of the best ever. Despite the fact there are a lot of rather sad plots, it doesn't make the series depressing. It's more like the saying goes 'always look on the bright side of life'. And so the characters do. The anime resembles life with its ups and downs. That's the thing I probably like the most in it. It doesn't seem to be about some unrelated world. It's very convincing despite the supernatural features. The main character inherits from his grandmother a book of friends, a nightmare for spirits. And that's basically what the series is all about. There's just one thing in common and the rest are accidental, sometimes even not related stories. Natsume has the capacity of seeing spirits which had brought him a lot of sorrow and troubles in the past. He doesn't exactly know why he can see them. They had been bothering him all his life, and he has no clue what they wanted from him. He desperately seeks other people who can see youkai. One day he sets free a noble spirit. They make a promise and since then, their friendship gradually become stronger, though no one will ever admit it. They eventually become inseparable and go through many hardships. Both characters are developed surprisingly good. At first, it's hard to find out what kind of relationship is between them, as they constantly beat or scold themselves. As the story goes further, Natsume finds himself being surrounded by many friends - humans as well as youkai and he doesn't feel lonely any more. He has to choose between youkai or people, as he helps both of them simultaneously, which is not an easy matter. STORY 9/10 As the youkai appears only for each episode, every one of them leaves warm memories. Some of them appear every now and then, so we get to know them thoroughly. They are like people - some seek revenge, others are eager to befriend. For Natsume it doesn't matter if it is a human being or a youkai - he just wants to help them and tries to work out in which world he feels more poised. There are a lot of human characters who show up unexpectedly in various episodes. They are also very significant, because most of them carry important messages. CHARACTERS 10/10 Needless to say, the music is wonderful. It gets along with the series, making it even more magical. As I like anime soundtracks, I can honestly say this one made a good impression on me. Openings' music as well as endings' is so catchy that it doesn't want to get away from my head. I don't mind it, but I feel a great desire to listen it over and over again. MUSIC 7/10 To tell the truth, at first I didn't like the art in this anime. Particularly because it seemed to me too simple. I thought the youkai should be more detailed and the colours more powerful (fancy speaking, I started watching it backwards - from the second series ^^"). But then I realised that's the way it should be made and started admiring it ever since. ART 9/10 I recommend it to anyone who wants to relax themselves. You definitely should see it, as it displays a warmth and cool affection. OVERALL 9/10
KurosuGemu
Story – 7/10 Natsume Yuujinchou’s (NY) story is very light and charming. There is no over-arching plot with twists, though there are occasional flashbacks that help develop Reiko and Takashi’s character. The story mostly consists of light comedy, some sad situations, and many happy endings for each individual stand alone episode. Some episodes are better than others (that is to be expected), especially towards the last few episodes of the season. Therefore, the quality of the story varies for each episode. While this anime’s plot is not as heavy and emotionally engaging as other anime (ex. Fruits Basket), the story is quite charming and enjoyable. Animation –8/10 The animation is for this show is very good. The human character drawings are consistently good, with very few instances where the quality is less than acceptable. In other words, the soft colors, human character designs, and their backgrounds complement the show’s charm. Further, the spirit design is wide and varied that separates each individual spirit from each other. Though there is a more noticeable drop in quality for the spirit drawings when compared to the humans. Characters – 8/10 The main characters Natsume and “Nyanko-sensei” (Madara) are a funny couple to watch. Some of the characters turn out to be very likeable despite only seeing them for a few episodes (for example, the wolf boy), however some are rather one dimensional. Overall, the main and supporting cast of NY is characterized in a good manner. Music – 9/10 If anything stands out for me in this series, it is the music. 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 with emphasis on the ED. Enjoyment – 7/10 Overall, I felt that this anime did its job of delivering its charming and playful message to the audience. It may not have all the frills and thrills of other shows, however it’s a good anime to pick up if you are in the market for a light feel good show with a little bit of comedy. Average Series Rating – 7.375/10
thepinkangel
Oh my goodness, where to start. Natsume Yuujinchou is a small gem of a series, and I'm glad I followed a friend's recommendation to watch it. This small, often overlooked series is so beyond charming that I wonder how anyone could pass it up! The story is simple, because there's no overall arcing plot. The series basically consists of self-contained episodes where Natsume looks to help youkai with their problems and give them back their names. Sometimes he seeks to help out humans troubled by youkai. In any case, Natsume is always trying to help someone while "Nyanko-sensei" scolds him for his human stupidity. Each story serves ascharacter development, either for Natsume, the youkai involved, or both. The youkai teach Natsume about themselves and about humanity, and Natsume ends to teach the youkai that not all humans are so bad. Natsume learns to be more social and gains a few friends as the series goes on. For the most part, each episode has a fairly happy ending, though some are heartbreaking yet beautiful. Generally the show has a very optimistic outlook on things, but doesn't gloss over potential emotional tragedy. The art is fantastic. Everything about the style is simple and gentle, but very beautiful as a whole. The linework and soft colors work beautifully together, and the animation, when given to show off beyond walking and talking, is awesome. I welcome the simple and more realistic character designs for the humans, and the simple but not generic designs of the youkai. I LOVE the music. Like everything else in the series, it's subtle and unobtrusive, simple but very pretty. The opening and ending themes are also very fitting. As for enjoyment and overall value, let me say that I was disillusioned to anime a few years ago, and have very little patience for it now. But Natsume was so charming that I couldn't put it down once I found it. And now I'm hooked on season two! A definite recommendation.
Takai
-INTRODUCTION- I've been looking forward to this anime ever since I saw one of the promotional images -- Natsume sitting on a tree branch with his foot slightly touching the water underneath, and an unusual looking cat by his side. I fell in love with that image alone and could not stop thinking about it. Needless to say, I watched Natsume Yuujinchou while it was still ongoing and waited eagerly for the subtitles to come out. Now that it's over, I can say for sure -- it was a short but beautiful experience, and became one of my very special personal favorites. -STORY- 10/10 "Thank you... for notgrowing to hate humans." Each episode Natsume encounters a different youkai. Sometimes, it's a youkai seeking to get his/her name back; at other times, a youkai wanting some other help from Natsume, which he can never refuse. As much as those stories revolve around youkai, Natsume Yuujinchou is ultimately about humans. It focuses on the bonds between humans, as well as the bonds between humans and youkai. Each story is very well thought out and carries a deep message that Natsume derives from his encounters. Reasons why Natsume cannot let go of his bond with youkai, reasons why youkai fall in love with humans; Natsume Yuujinchou is a collection of beautiful bittersweet pieces of a not very ordinary every day life. Each piece left me with a somewhat sad but warm feeling and made me go back to re-watch and think upon it again and again. -CHARACTERS- 10/10 Natsume Yuujinchou is full of unique personalities. Natsume does not help youkai just because he has nothing better to do. His bond with the beings of the other world is very deep and is explored in great detail. From a boy who was forced to shut himself off from nearly all humans, Natsume grows to trust humans again and shares his experiences with others. Seemingly eager for nothing more than obtaining the Book of Friends, Madara is also not that simple of a character. With time, he becomes attached to Natsume and, despite his own constant contradictions, appears to worry more about his companion than the actual book. Youkai are also very interesting. Although most of them appear only in their assigned episode, each one is very memorable, and their personalities and inner troubles are so well thought out that it's hard to believe that they were really present for only twenty minutes. -ART/ANIMATION- 10/10 The artwork is beautiful. It may seem rather simple, but it couldn't be more perfect for this anime. In fact, the simplicity of it is what makes it truly stunning for me. It greatly enhances the story and the atmosphere with its warm colors and memorable designs. Also, every time a scene of Natsume returning youkai's name is shown, I fall in love with this anime all over again; it almost makes me feel his breath as he blows out the letters from the page. -SOUND- 10/10 After the very first episode, I fell in love with both opening and ending songs. Like the artwork, the soundtrack is beautiful in its simplicity and fits Natsume Yuujinchou's atmosphere perfectly. It's the kind of music that probably would not feel the same or as special outside of the actual anime, but combined with the rest of the aspects, it becomes a wonderful soundtrack. --- What more can I say? I fell completely in love with this anime. If you want something relaxing and heartwarming, Natsume Yuujinchou is for you.
viperduo
Natsume Yuujinchou follows the supernatural/natural genre that seems to be a cross between xxxholic, ghost hound and mushishi. It has a Mushishi-like elegance to the artwork and storytelling while at the same time following an xxxholic-esque structure aka. schoolboy meets schoolghost. It is, however, naive to think that it is merely run of the mill supernatural anime stuff for it does have an extraordinarily well-written plot that follows closely to its original roots in the manga. It's brilliance is not in a complex storyline, grandiose tales of self-discovery or even the attainment of some extraordinary superpowers but the sharp, simple, "I make this sound so ordinary"feel to it. Like a haiku, it starts, develops and ends a story neatly within a chapter and any lingering sentiment after will only reflect the strength of its character developments within that short a period of time. The protagonist too, is not extremely perculiar. He is Watanuki without the drama, changing and adapting without a lot of fuss. Taking his self-discovery all within stride, without any dramatic fireworks or outbursts either. You might think this may sound boring for an anime but you might want to give it a shot before you turn it out your front door. If the characters don't charm you, the storytelling might...
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