flo.pouros - 2016-11-01 23:55:11

Along the same lines as Mushi-Shi; subtle, but at times very thrilling. The first season, however, has not aged well.

nhackett - 2016-04-10 15:25:07

INTRODUCTION:-This is a once in a lifetime anime i am damn sure after a few years this will be considered a master-piece,I remember coming back home tired in the evening after college, I got hooked into it. It is refreshing and breathtaking watching this anime. Smoke a split before before an episode you will thoroughly enjoy the experience.

ANIMATION & PACING:-It is the best anime that I know of  in terms of pacing. I mean there are others but personaly I like this best. NY cant be compared to Mushishi, NY is altogether in another domain and its unique you wont get to see an anime like this.The animation is out of this world. It literally takes you to another world.The colours used literally connects you to nature.10/10 here

STORY:- Story is great, you can relate to the story from the first episode itself.If you dig Slice of anime genres this anime is made for you.

CHARACTER:-Character development is bang-on. Rarely I see so much time and effort spent in character development in an anime. Even the people around the main character are well developed. The main character maturity is also well plotted as the story develops. 10 on 10 here.

100% enjoyment guaranteed.

I can confidently say this Anyone who cannot appreciate this anime does not deserve to be be happy because it will mean that one is devoid of emotions and he/she cannot feel anything while watching the anime.

Damn Man this anime warms your heart. The feeling i got watching this anime is the same when i used to hug my Dad as kid. There were some moments in this anime where my heart fluttered like a grasshopper. I can say a lot of things about NY, but I will stop here, don't wanna make this review boring.Dude if all this doesn't make you wanna watch the anime i don't know what will.Go and watch now highly recommended.

N.B.-Last I always say this try to watch all anime series "Japanese audio with English subtitles", you will gradually start to appreciate it, It's like beer the taste is acquired slowly. Hey you  fellow human I am talking to you believe me when i say this that you are missing a lot watching dubbed versions,it ruins the enjoyment.

russel.lacy - 2016-03-21 23:43:46

I've started Mushishi right after finishing Natsume yûjinchô due to all the similarities and I notice that the latter is shoujo, the former seinen... they're distinct, yet parallel... while Natsume seeks out to grow and develop himself its 'masculine' counterpart seems to just serve as a caretaker, already wise...

Natsume is about feelings, essentially... he explores what might be, what was, what couldn't be... every episode can end in tragedy, but thanks to a deus ex machina in the form of a chubby cat... who is really this most ferocious wolf, things are reconciled. Not realistic, but at least Natsume himself is indeed vulnerable, especially when alone... and loneliness seems to be a predominant subject in the series.

At times it can be sweet, others almost transcendental... visceral essentially, but also attempts to think things through; Natsume doesn't often act irrationally, although he seems to be perpetually optimistic.

This series, along with the aforementioned, may truly be the yin and yang of yōkai anime... and while the depths of the psyche can be perceived in both, Mushishi is generally darker... Natsume, being calmer, is not necessarily naïvely optimistic like, say, Aria can be... and generally has an episodic direction, and while there isn't much that is over-arching, there is ample time where all the ayakashi just decide to hang out...

ryan.miguel - 2014-10-10 18:16:42

Every season of this somewhat slow-paced anime is beautiful. The story develops carefully and the characters are very lovable and appealing. The episodes in general are both melancholic and heart-warming and, although there aren't excessive bursts of emotions, the anime itself is packed with feelings and, personally, I couldn't stop watching it.

Character development is slow, however, it's beautifully done and realistic as personal change usually happens gradually. The animation and art style are very pleasing to the eye, the colors are stunning, and the overall soundtrack is quite appealing. To me, the openings and endings are remarkably beautiful (especially once you get to know the story).

I would describe this anime as being pure and beautiful; and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something bittersweet and heart-warming. 

esperanza83 - 2014-07-19 06:42:01

Natsume's Book of Friends follows Natsume, a quiet and reserved young man who has the unique ability to see Yokai (demons I believe). Because of this gift he becomes ostracized, however, he begins to learn about acceptance and courage from new human friends and some non-human ones too. 

The story is simply that Natsume has inherited the Book of Friends from his Grandmother, Reiko. The book has the names of yokai in it and thus Natsume has the ability to control the ones listed. However, instead of doing this he is determined to free each yokai by returning their name. That said the Book of Friends is very desirable in the spirit world and he is in constant danger from evil yokai.

The anime is essentially a monster of the week format. More often than not Natsume will meet a yokai, it will cause some problems, Natsume learns about the problems, maybe have some outside forces having some influence, and then he returns the name. Each story is usually very touching and the show does an excellent job getting you invested in a character you know you're most likely not going to see again. If you think this sounds similar to Muishishi, it is but there are a couple of key differences (which in my opinion make this a better show.)

One of these is that Natusme has a companion, Madara (Nyanko-Sensei) a fortune cat that is actually a powerful yokai called Madara. He swears to protect Natsume with the promise that he will acquire the book of friends when Natusme dies. However, the level to which he actually wants the book is questionable. He acts as a mentor and a lot of comedy relief in an anime that can get serious very quickly.

Natsume himself slowly develops into a bolder character as time goes on. He is much more daring with the yokai than humans though as he takes significantly more time to open up to others, and to especially to share his gift.

Another is that some of the characters are reoccurring and it's always nice to see a face you know when everything else is changing so quickly. The yokai are extremely varied in look and personality. There is a lot of imagination packed into the series and it really shows here.

The art is very nice to look at, but if you're a fan of high temp colors you're more likely to be disappointed as it does seem to be somewhat muted compared to the style of a lot of shows. I'd say it fits the anime pretty well. It does not have the best animation, but it's not distracting. One thing I'll say is that the art direction is pretty good especially down to how humans are portrayed very realistically and the yokai are extremely bizarre.

Natsume's Book of Friends is a slow paced anime that is most likely best digested an episode at at a time. However, I'd challenge you to actually watch it like that.

cronin.janae - 2014-03-12 19:08:28

Natsume Yuujinchou is a simple anime that is also positively stirring. It follows Natsume Takashi as he aids spirits in any endeavor asked. He holds his late grandmother's "Book of Friends" that contains the names of the spirits she defeated to be called whenever summoned. The show explores loneliness and the yearn for compassion as Natsume meets new spirits and people.

Story: 7/10

There is nothing too complicated about the story. Each episode follows Natsume as he aids different spirits by either returning their coveted names or accomplishing a certain task. Natsume's kindness and eagerness to help the spirits really drives the story. However, the story follows the same formula which could seem stale to some viewers. Nevertheless it is still heartwarming and has it moments of tension and emotion.

Animation: 7/10

The animation is standard in my opinion. Nothing really sets itself apart from other anime other than the spirits. There are so many unique spirits that this show has to offer. The scenery is calming and pleasant to the eyes. The humans pale in comparison to the spirits, but there isn't anything wrong with the way the humans look. Viewers won't see the next great wave of animation, but it is still nice to watch.

Sound: 6/10

The music is full of Japanese folk that really compliments the calming nature of the anime. The sound effects and voice acting were fine too. Nothing really popped in this category, but that doesn't mean there was anything wrong or right with it. It just seemed standard all around.

Character: 8/10

I think this is where the anime really succeeds. All the spirits have such interesting and zany personalities. I particularly love Natsume's lucky cat idol and and powerful bodyguard Nyanko-sensei. There is much more to Nyanko-sensei that the anime has to explore, yet there are moments where he just acts like a simple fat house cat. He gets obnoxiously drunk and selfish, but he shares some compassion towards Natsume. There is also the exorcist Shuuichi Natori who is more aggressive when dealing with the spirits. I think there is a lot of potential in the characters the show reveals as it will keep the story much more interesting.

Enjoyment: 7/10

I liked this show and I'm glad I picked it up from my backlog finally. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't consider it my new favorite anime. I'd put it on par with my enjoyment with Gin no Saji (agriculture anime). On the surface there doesn't seem much to the show, but give it the time of day and it won't disappoint. It may get boring, but if the viewer is interested in spirits and slice of life than it'll be enjoyed.

Overall:

Overall I give Natsume Juujinchou a 7/10. It's definitely refreshing anime to watch in between all the mind-freaky anime that's out there. If you want to take a step back and watch something calming and funny I would recommend this anime. I look forward to see the other seasons!

fisher.ed - 2013-08-08 17:44:30

It is difficult to call a series, or anything for that matter, a masterpiece. This is because the quality of individuality causes each person to feel differently. Every person's heart has a lens unique to him or her, one which no one else will ever truly and fully understand. When I first looked at the cover of Natsume Yuujinchou, what captivated me immediately was the gentle expression in the eyes of the main character, Takashi Natsume. However, nothing else about it motivated me to watch this show. After viewing the entire first season, it is the lens in my heart that allows me to say with utmost confidence that Natsume Yuujinchou is the most beautiful series that I have ever had the honour of viewing.

This series does not provide for a complex and mind-boggling plot line, nor does it have a sparkling plethora of characters to deem it a masterpiece in these categories. The story, in fact, is very simple. Takashi Natsume is an orphaned child who possesses the ability to see and interact with youkai, creatures of Japanese folklore. As a result, Takashi's childhood is a lonely and painful one where no one understands or believes him. He soon discovers that he has inherited the "Yuujinchou", or "Book of Friends", from his deceased grandmother, Reiko, who was deeply involved with the supernatural. When a youkai's name is written in the Yuujinchou, it grants the book's owner complete control over said youkai - and Takashi Natsume is now its owner. This results in numerous youkai chasing him down to get their names back.

Natsume Yuujinchou follows an episodic format for the duration of its thirteen episodes. While this may be a turn-off for some, what this series excels at is making each episode more or less unpredictable and gripping. In this way, it never seems repetitive. On the contrary, the stories presented are emotionally involving to various degrees. While other emotional shows like Clannad and AnoHana: The Flower We Saw That Day slap their viewers in the face with heart-wrenching moments over the course of multiple episodes, Natsume Yuujinchou repeatedly tugs on heart strings and evokes similar feelings in under twenty-five minutes, though to a smaller extent. Takashi's encounters with these otherworldly beings bring forth the importance of morals, friendship, and acceptance.

In terms of characterisation, the entire show focuses solely on Takashi and how his encounters alter his feelings about both youkai and humans. By his side is Madara (or Nyanko-sensei), a powerful youkai that takes the form of a lucky cat and is by far, the source of all humour in Natsume Yuujinchou. His sometimes witty, sometimes not so witty remarks provide for many genuinely hilarious moments, especially when he and Takashi get into arguments. There exists a small cast of supporting characters consisting of Takashi's schoolmates, the kind couple he lives with, and the various youkai he meets. It is made clear that the focus was meant to be solely on Takashi and Nyanko-sensei, because these two far outshine every other character on screen in terms of development and how memorable they are. Therefore, I don't necessarily see it as a flaw that the supporting cast was not given copious amounts of character development (as I usually look for), because doing so would shift the attention of the viewers beyond what was desired. This does not mean that the supporting cast isn't colourful, however, as they do serve the role of depicting how Takashi slowly strives to improve his relationships with not only the youkai, but the people in his life as well.

Natsume Yuujinchou was animated by Brains Base, responsible for wonderful titles like Baccano, Durarara, Mawaru Penguindrum and the second season of Spice and Wolf. Needless to say, I was quite taken by the lovely and fitting visuals. The art style in particular added to the spiritually touching feel that the series gave off. It is a blend of soft pastel colours and soothing backgrounds depicting lush greenery. While the quality of animation does drop noticeably during scenes with excessive movement, it is fairly ignorable because of the simplistic style of the show as a whole. Character designs are beautiful and never appear out of place in the tranquil backgrounds. I especially love the serene expression that Takashi assumes when returning a youkai's name. The youkai are diverse, and while some are cute and harmless, there are others that take disturbing forms which often contrast the otherwise peaceful backgrounds and art. And what else could further improve this series except a masterful soundtrack to compliment the visuals?

The main composer of Natsume Yuujinchou's soundtrack was Makoto Yoshimori, also responsible for the aforementioned Brains Base titles Baccano and Durarara. However, looking at the enormous difference in tone between those two series and Natsume Yuujinchou, I was a bit apprehensive that the soundtrack would disappoint. To my relief, Yoshimori composed a befitting compilation of soft-sounding melodies to encapsulate the tone of Natsume Yuujinchou. However, it is not perfect, as there are few tracks that are extremely memorable. Of course, that does not apply to the opening and ending. The opening is a wonderful track sung by Shuhei Kita, who I wish I heard more often. Expectedly, the visuals place heavy emphasis on Takashi, Nyanko-sensei, and Takashi's grandmother, further supporting my belief that the supporting cast was sidelined purposely- but skilfully. The ending is animated dissimilarly to the rest of the series, as it is looks like pencil sketching, and accompanied by a song that feels hopeful, yet melancholic. Personally, I never skipped either one of them.

Natsume Yuujinchou is not even close to perfection, and as mentioned earlier, it will not appeal to everyone because of its constant episodic nature, calm tone, lack of excitement and of an obvious story line, and limited focus. In addition, the atmosphere has a tendency to shift between light-hearted and emotional (which, for some reason, bothers people). I do recommend this series wholeheartedly if you are certain these qualities are either something you can ignore, or that they will not hamper your enjoyment. If I were to be completely honest, I fell in love with Natsume Yuujinchou after finishing the first episode, and mentally placed it in my topmost favourites halfway through the first (of four) season. It resonated with me in a way that is unforgettable... that was special.

jamel.mcglynn - 2013-07-19 20:50:42

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.Many of 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: 8/10Characters: 8/10Animation/Art: 10/10Music: 10/10Acting: 8/10Season One Overall: 8/10Season Two Overall: 9/10Season Three Overall: 9/10For Fans Of: Mushi-shi, XxXHoLic

mante.dean - 2013-03-17 12:41:58

This reviews a review on the four current seasons as I feel that they should be combined into one reviewEvery once in awhile you get an anime with a very simple premise and very simple ambitions. Sometime these animes will exceed these ambitions and become something special. In the case of Natsume’s Book of Friends, or Natsume Yuujinchou, it exceeds its meager ambitions and then some to become one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen.The plot at its base level is actually quite cliche. It follows Natsume Takashi, a boy who has just started high school. Takashi can see spirits who are invisible to almost all humans. One day he ends up inheriting an old book from his recently deceased grandmother. Inside the book is a collection of incomprehensible and random scribbles. The next day he is attacked by a spirit who is asking for the “Book of Friends”, Takashi is used to being chased by these spirits so he does the natural thing and runs. While attempting to escape he accidentally releases a seal that has been placed on a spirit. This spirit turns out to be a rather, shall we say, rounded cat. Surprisingly this cat is actually a very powerful spirit. This spirit tells Takashi of the Book of Friends, the book that he received from his deceased grandmother. When his grandmother, Reiko was young, she would challenge various spirits to duels. If they won they could do whatever they want with her. If she won they would write their name in the book of friends, which would give her control over them if she desired. She never lost a single duel, as well she never made any of these spirits do anything. Many spirits find this book desirable as they would want to be able to control a large number of powerful spirits. Takashi takes it upon himself to return every name that is included in the Book of Friends and, in repayment for undoing the seal, the cat, now dubbed Nyanko-sensei by Takashi agrees to be his bodyguard under the condition that if and when Takashi loses his life, Nyanko-sensei will receive the Book of Friends.This anime is an episodic anime, and there is no specific plot. Despite that there are 50 episodes of this show to date and I feel that all of them have their own unique purpose. This has been the first time with an anime of this length where I still felt that I needed more, not because I need to know what happens, it’s just that every single one of these episodes felt unique in their own way. There are similarities between episodes however and I feel that the episodes can be, more or less divided into three tiers, the episodes in these tiers share similar themes and overall quality with each other.The first tier and definitely the worst tier is the Takashi and spirit episodes. These episodes consist of Takashi helping a spirit with their problem and may or may not run into one of the two exorcists of the show. The problem with these episodes is a result of Takashi’s character. In a sense he acts as a bridge between the humans and the spirits that he can see, and in these episodes, without being able to interact with other humans he seems to lose a bit of his humanity. On top of that these episodes are actually quite predictable. It basically ends with Takashi floundering about doing seemingly nothing until Deus Ex Machina a, b, or c decides to show up and save the day. That is how the majority of these episodes end and it got old for me real fast. They aren’t bad, they are just extremely average and predictable though there are a few in this category which i would consider special.Now we move on to the second tier, and respectively the second best type of episode. These episodes are what I like to call the human spirit connection episodes. Unlike the first tier this one takes Takashi’s role as a bridge between the humans and spirits and makes good use of it. These episodes are designed to show the relationship and major differences between the world the spirits live in, and the world that we as humans live in. It shows how while both parties are able to think and feel emotion, they are worlds apart at the same time. These episodes made for some of the more thought provoking episodes as the themes they showed were generally quite interesting to think about.Finally we come to the third, final, and best tier, the flashback tier. surprisingly, the best episodes of this anime were definitely the flashback episodes. This is due to the way that Takashi develops as a character over the course of the series. Takashi’s past is well, a bit depressing to say the least. Both of his parents died at a very young age and as such Takashi has been passed to his distant relatives. However because of his ability to see spirits, he would often get scared and scream at what appeared to others as nothing. Other children regarded him as a freak and eventually his relatives would decide he was too much of a hassle and send him off to another family. This happened until he ended up with the Fujiwara family just when he began high school. As he begins high school, he has a fresh new start and this time makes some friends. It starts off as few at first but the number gradually grows and grows, and his friends help him to develop into a better person. Sometimes Takashi will revisit something from his past, it may be a person who hated him, or one of the few people who treated him with kindness but every time he revisits these moments as a better person, it is unimaginably heartwarming. I would just like to put this in perspective, I have never cried in an anime. I have been sad, certain animes have definitely made me depressed but I have never cried. For this anime to make my first anime tear a tear of joy, it had to do something special. On multiple occasions this show made me cry, it was never a depressing cry it was always a cry because of how heartwarming it was. The way that Takashi is able to come to terms with his past and live on really helps to show how he has grown up as a character and you have to admire the careful thought they put into each second of his development. In my opinion, the real strength of this anime is its character development. In Takashi’s case, there is no point where you can say “this is where he changed in this way”. It is a very slow but very obvious development, you won’t notice a difference between episodes but if you watch an episode at the beginning of a season and one at the end it is as clear as day how he has grown. It makes every episode enjoyable as you watch it to see exactly what Takashi will learn in any episode.That is what I think lets the show get away with its length. It is not a tense, nor emotionally high show to watch. You can watch this show over the course of a couple months and you still won’t get bored of it. It is simply a relaxing and heartwarming show to watch and you only need to watch one episode to put yourself in a fantastic mood. This show is like some anti-depression drug. If you are feeling down and just want to be happy, cry a few tears of joy, and feel great about life then this show works perfectly. That is what i believe this show did right, and why it is so deserving of large runtime that it received. In my opinion this anime is fantastic, sure there are a few episodes that I would consider to be just above par in direct comparison to others and the animation is only average but this show is simply beautiful. It is by no means perfect but I would consider it a must watch for anyone who enjoys something that is truly heartwarming. As such I give it a 9/10.