Natsume Yujin-cho

Natsume is a nice anime to kick back and relax to as you watch. From the pastoral country settings to the main characters themselves, everything just give off the impression of being relaxed. Please do not confuse this with boring. The characters are very likeable and sympathetic. The main plot of the series is less important in the long run as it is just a device for the show and the viewer to explore the characters' hopes,fears, problems, and lives in general. The next time I need to introduce someone new to anime as a medium, this would be one of the shows I would recommend.

Natsume Yuujinchou is about a highschooler boy who has been passed on from relative to relative an ends up in a small town with two kind people named Touko and Shigeru. Natsume Takashi has a sixth sense, he can see spirits and demons. He has cursed this ability and hates his sight, when he learns that the demons chasing him are actually after the book he carries- a mythical book called the Book of Friends. The Book of Friends contains names of many demons and spirits that Natsume Reiko has conquered, his deceased grandma.

First of all, I have extremely picky taste when it comes to anime/manga. Only a few anime's have made it on my list of being great, so I usually stick to manga. My rule is: only watch an anime once you have read the manga for it. In most cases, anime generally changes the storyline to fit an animated version. I fell in love when I read the manga series (at the time I had only read up to 44 chapters, I've now read 57), but was doubtful of the anime. I didn't think this could be animated so well!! It seemed a story like this would turn out the same way Negima did- great manga but horrible anime. I was shocked when I watched the first episode! They also did a good job with the voice actors throughout the anime, I couldn't have picked them better myself.

The feel of this anime is incredibly calm, but you have to know now that YOU. WILL. BE. IN. TEARS. It has some really heartfelt moments and even I teared up a little (I say this because my heart is like a rock. I'm not very sensitive)! I wish I had watched this sooner, I had always seen pictures of it but never thought that it was worth my time!! The music was soothing, but I like the intense songs the best, like Amakakaru Chikara. Natsume Takashi himself has made it onto my list of favorite characters- currently tied for first place with Negi Springfield- and the animation was pretty godly too. It wasn't hard on the eyes, and demonstrated the flow of the anime well,

Overall, this anime is my current favorite. I have bought majority of the manga's that are out where I live and I plan on buying the three season from eBay soon. ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WATCH IT WILL SURELY REGRET MISSING THIS MASTERPIECE. Make sure to support the manga too!!

This anime is truely amazing. It has heartwarming stories that make you want to cry and never put the series down. The storyline following Natsume is truely amazing and is not limited to just a single skeleton(place). Many of these episodes can be watched in any order but watching him bond with Lucky Cat Nyanko is part of the fun.
The characters and animation truly capture the moments of the anime. In some of the episodes if the scene was drawn from a different angle you would not get the same feeling as you would watching the way they did it.
The music itself is beautiful pieces of piano music and other forms. The music is simple yet captures the mood very well. I have noticed that some of the piano pieces sound similar or the same which gives a slight feeling of repetition. The beginning and ending songs are very well chosen for this anime and I truly hope to see more from this Producer and the cast who drew it.

From the start, there was something peculiar about Natsume Yujincho. As my curiosity was already piqued at first sight, it was only natural that I clicked watch. The ability to see yokai, or spirits, isn't a natural thing that most people are gifted with. In Natsume's case, it's exacerbated by his familiar look to his grandmother, Reiko. Now, I know that many people who read these reviews already know the story for the series. So, like some of my other reviews, I'll keep this toward a more personal note.

What drew me to this series was the yokai and the relationship between the two main characters, Natsume and Nyanko-sensei as well as his grandmother. Having a wide array of spirits to draw upon, there wasn't much, 'This episode feels like last weeks.', in Natsume Yujincho. However, there was one thing that did make me wish that the show had. It was a little difficult at times to relate to the yokai as much of them are episodic characters. Some of them, it was easy to have some sort of attachment strong enough to actually care about the yokai. Episodes six and seven of the first season come to mind with a swallow spirit and a fox spirit respectively. At times, the featured yokai exhibit such strong emotion that it's difficult not to care about them.

The other portion that kept me watching was the book of friends and it's relationship with Natsume and in turn his relationship or lack of with his grandmother Reiko. The series follows Natsume and Nyanko-sensei with a few reoccurring characters. They were strong enough depicted that the previous problem of mine never came to mind. As the stories of the various yokai encounter Natsume in which he gradually gives back the names go on, we learn more about the main characters. In that sense, the deliverance is nearly perfect.

I do remember that the music was lovely, quiet and often complimented the scenes very well. Unfortunately, it has been a while since I watched the series, so recalling the music is a bit difficult. The opening and ending sequences feel a little subdued when it comes to the music, it's soft and soothing much like the series itself. The music when playing generally makes you feel good.

In the end, I was hardly disappointed with the series and couldn't recommend it to anyone more than I can. It's a beautiful series as it follows Natsume and the book of friends. Nyanko-sensei's advice as well as leadership is always humorous in my opinion. While at times I could care less about the yokai in question, it's easy to overlook it at the wonderful animation, the bond that forms between the two main characters, and the enigmatic Reiko. Now that the third season has been available to watch for a while, I'll be just as glad to watch more.

My wife and i watched every episode as soon as they where available . This story is quite good with simple animation that is refreshing. I liked the fact that they focused on a story arc that was streamlined and not campy. I dislike storys that go in soo many difrent directions that it is hard to keep focused on the world. This animation shows you how Spirits manipulate the main architecture. Fantastically well executed. Watch this if you ever thought that "this might be better if things were simpler".

Natsume Yujincho- Natsume's Book of Friends
Natsume Yujincho is a more calming sort of anime.
It has no defined storyline except Natsume doing errands for the youkai even though it should be the other way around.
Music, of course, would be calming as well. But, it's great music.
Characters are the best. Natsume's changing personality, Nyanko-sensei and fellow youkai for the comedy relief, and the other friends.
Animation is pretty good as well.
As I said... it's just very refreshing.

Natsume possesses a strange ability, he is able to see spirits. His dead grandmother also had this talent, and was misunderstood by her family and friends. One day, Natsume happens to see a lucky cat, who tells him that his grandmother was the owner of the book of friends, a book which holds the names of the spirits she duelled with. Natsume sets himself the dangerous task of returning the names to the spirits in the book, whilst doing this he learns about each spirit's connection to his grandmother.

This anime is wonderfully slow paced, deep, and thought provoking. If you loved Habane Remmei, Kino's Journey or Spirited Away, you will love this. It isn't for everyone, but for those who prefer quieter anime, you will love it.

Hopefully it gets a DVD release soon...

In a culture riddled with guns, aggression and special effects, Natsume Yujincho offers an escape for those who's nature permits. Ideally suited for those who are as tranquil as a bubbling stream in spring, Natsume Yujincho is a serene story of mortal interaction with the spirit kingdom.

The grandson of a woman who marauded the land capturing and sealing the names of spirits, Natsume seeks to return the names of those spirits his deceased grandmother had sealed. For every name he returns a name, Natsume is shown glimpses of his grandmother's past which affords Natsume some understanding of his own troubled childhood.

Whilst some of the character animations have a childish quality to their design, the overall quality is first-rate. The music is delightfully matched to the overall aesthetic and the story is wistful, calm and slightly positively melancholic.

A gentle and charming journey of self-discovery, that should not be missed.