Natsume Yujin-cho

Natsume Yujin-cho has to be one of the best shounen animes out there. The artwork is very well done and unique. It has it's own style that you won't find in too many animes. The art sometimes reminds you of ancient Japanese art. There are a variety of character designs that you won't find in any other anime. The characters are also well done. They all have their own distinct personalities. The different relationships Natsume has with both the youkai and humans are interesting and heart-warming. Natsume is a wonderful male lead for an anime. He can be a bit of a pushover but his sweetness is definitely one of the things that make people fall in love with him. You can't forget the awesome Nyanko-sensei. He adds a lot of humor to the anime and is very entertaining. The other characters Natsume associates with add to the wonderfulness that is Natsume Yujin-cho. The background stories for the different characters and the settings are dazzling and amazing. There tends to be a lot of romance going on but not with Natsume exactly. There's also action and magic fights that are astonishing to watch. Natsumi Yujin-cho is definitely a good anime. I recommend all fellow anime lovers to give a good. I can nearly guarantee that this anime will touch your soul and worm its way into your heart.

Natsume Yujincho is a GREAT anime. Besides the stories that keep you entertained, it's the characters who make you laugh. Especially Sensei. He's the cat in the photo. Then you have Natsume. He's bedn tormented by youki since he was little. So, he doesn't like them at all, but that changes when he moves in with some distant relatives. There he meets Sensei and discovers the book of friends. A lot of youki are after the book and will do whatever it takes to get it. Natsume strikes a bargain with Sensei. Sensei will help protect the book from other youki in exchange, when Natsume dies he will give the book to Sensei. This is absolutely worth watching, no doubt about it So be cool like this face and go watch it now!

People say it has a slow pace, but thats not necessarily true. I find this one better than one of the Monster of the Week anime shows because it sometimes introduces new characters, goes through daily life problems, and the music that goes along with it matches. This anime really is relaxing, although the animation seems kind of weird in the beginning you'll get used to it. The character's backgrounds are the same, but that creates new paths for them (CHEESEY! :3) Like how two characters are able to see Youkai, but one ends up hating them and one ends up loving them in their daily lives. Either way, this anime revolves around youkai! It's also cool to see the different types of "monster like" creatures there are, it kinda expands your knowledge of creepy lookin' creatures! Not to mention that the plot is a sad, yet heart warming ride. <3 I love this anime.

**CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS**

First off, for an Anime with so many demons running around, don't expect much in the way of action; most fights (as such) are ended in a single flash of light from Madara. This series is more about cohabitation and friendship than anything else, and stays very true to that theme. I'll start with the negatives, so I can end on a happy note. The series is dedicated nearly entirely to the social development of Natsume, and little else. Not physical development, not moral development, and not a growth in personal maturity. 42 Episodes in, Natsume is the same good intentioned (and sort of wimpy) person he was at the start, only happier, as he has accumulated human and yokai friends. For someone whose Grandmother could subdue junior league gods barehanded, Natsume's total lack of ability its a little disappointing, and it leads to episodes becoming sort of formulaic. Most episodes can be summarized thusly: "Pansy boy with good intentions bites off more than he can chew, and is saved by the power of friendship".

That being said, for a series which basically goes nowhere, it's a lot of fun, and almost relaxing at times. It's also very dynamic with regards to mood, ranging from lighthearted and funny to profound and emotional, and while social development is about all there is to this series, it's done very well. This series eschews the usual power-up / level-up mentality associated with so many other animes of this genre, and is instead content to let Natsume's happiness determine his personal success. Most of the characters are very well designed within their limitations, contributing greatly to the story with very limited interactions. Music is also pretty decent, nothing to write home about, but appropriate, and the animation is probably the single best factor, with very high relative "realism" compared to most animes.

Overall, I would summarize this series as a slow but pleasant Sunday drive. I could never say this series had me on the edge of my seat, but sometimes, that's nice too.

This anime... what can I really say? It's downright amazing. The storyline is great (while it can be slightly confusing at some times), the characters are well drawn and developed, and it sets a lot of moods for the viewer.
The story follows Natsume Takashi, who has seen youkai- Japanese spirits- ever since he was a child. After running away from a youkai that, for some reason, is calling him Reiko, he accidently breaks the barrier of a shrine. After the shrine is destroyed, Natsume finds himself staring at what appears to be a large cat. The cat youkai doesn't reveal its name, so Natsume decides to call it Nyanko. Nyanko-Sensei tells him the reason why the other youkai was chasing him was because Natsume's grandmother, Reiko Natsume, defeated the youkai and written it's name down in 'The Book of Friends.' The book is considered a powerful item, and youkai have searched for it to use its powers for their own selfish reasons. Natsume then decides on trying to return all of the names of the youkai his grandmother defeated.
The characters (there are very many side characters) are well designed; the music is perfect for the scenes (love all of the openings and endings); overall, this is an anime that I absolutely love.
Here's to hope the 4th season- January 2012- will be just as good as the previous three!