Natsume's Book of Friends

My daughter has learned Japanese and lived in the country for a while. So, it's not at all surprising that she's been trying to get me to watch anime with her....which I've done, off and on, for many years. In her latest efforts, she's been guiding me towards anime that I would enjoy...less fighting anime and more ones that show a lot about Japanese culture and folklore. The latest series we've begun watching is "Natsume Yûjinchô"...and I've really enjoyed the program.

Natsume is an odd teenager. He can see youkai (Japanese gods/spirits) and this ability was passed down to him from his grandmother. However, what he also inherited from her was a book with the names of all the youkai that she's captured and made her servants...and these spirits begin pestering Natsume to free them once and for all...which he does slowly through the course of the program. Along for the ride is his 'cat'...who is a youkai himself...and a cute and powerful one at that.

The best thing about the show is that it is NOT just another fighting or Pokemon-type show. I am NOT putting these down but tired of them because for many years this seemed to be all we got here in the States. But with Crunchyroll, you now have many other 'different' anime...ones that don't fit that style and which might appeal more to older folks. I am 55...and this sort of thing works for me.

The animation style is excellent, the main character very sweet and likable and each episode is unique and explores different youkai...and it's all very interesting and well worth seeing.

This is a feel good kind of show and it's good at what it does. If you need something warm and relaxing this is what you need. If you liked Sangatsu no Lion this gives similar feelings. Lastly what happened to episode ratings ? It looks like someone get upset and gave multiple ones and twos. It's unfair for this cozy show so in my humble opinion these should be the first season ratings Episode 1:7 Episode 2:9 Episode 3:9 Episode 4:8 Episode 5:8 Episode 6:9 Episode 7:8 Episode 8:8 Episode 9:8 Episode 10:10 Episode 11:7 Episode 12:9 Episode 13:10 .

I love this series, but then, this kind of anime is my thing. Mushi-shi, Mo No No Ke, Paranoia Agent - definitely my fave themes. The show overall has a nice solid rating, but the episodes are ranked horribly! The five highest ranked episodes out of this entire series rate only 4 stars? Some are 2 stars?? What The?!? That makes no sense. The entire series would rate 3.5/10 stars if these episode rankings were true. Something doesn't tabulate here. IMDB Staff have any ideas?

This anime series is perhaps one of my favorites. It is beautifully animated. Light and airy feel and a delight to watch. It is not an action packed anime but one with an interesting storyline where you slowly learn to fall in love with the main character, because they are just an all around good person. There is some action in this series.

This story follows a boy who can see ghosts, and stumbles onto a book he inherits from his grandmother. Who also had the ability to see ghosts. This book has the names of all the ghosts his grandmother had 'claimed' and one by one the boy meets these spirits. Many who mistaken him for his grandmother. You watch and learn the story of each spirit and you also not only learn about the boys own story- but you learn about his grandmother through the spirits. One spirit - who claims himself to be 'godly' embodies the statue of a lucky cat - comes to life as a real cat with the abilities to transform to a larger being. He chooses to protect the boy, claiming he's only doing so to snatch the book of names. Through the series though- it comes to show that this cat may be choosing to protect the boy for other reasons. The relationship between the two is filled with comedic situations that are sure to make you smile, and other situations that may leave your heart a little warmed.

Though the boy is an orphan.. the family that he obtains in his life are those that choose to be his.

I stumbled upon this series entirely by accident and started in the middle of the series (5 I think) and had to go back and watch the whole thing. What a tremendously wonderful anime!

Natsume is a teen-aged boy who can see "youkai" (Japanese spirits/monsters...their form varies so much that it's a little hard for me grasp exactly what they are...perhaps someone more familiar with Japanese culture would). This ability has caused nothing but problems for him particularly given that he was orphaned at an early age.

At the beginning of the series, he's been taken in by a childless couple who seem to be the first family to treat him with kindness. We see him struggling to connect with the couple as well as other teen-agers who want to be his friend. While Natsume is shown to be compassionate, caring and responsible but he's also portrayed as emotionally damaged by his childhood experiences and a bit reckless at times. We see these characteristics played out time and time again via his interactions with youkai. Natsume is frightened by them but wants to help them as well given that many youkai come to him with problems to solve (generally involving the titular "Book of Friends"). What I find particularly interesting is how the writers of the series present understandable motivations for some of the most frightening youkai (though some are just scary for their own sake).

His "spirit guardian", a cat called "Nyanko-Sensei" who can transform into a terrifying monster if needed, finds his compassion and recklessness irritating and often scolds him for it. However, in one of the most subtle touches in the series, we see the ornery dismissive cat becoming more and more fond of Natsume (though he denies it strenuously).

The pace of the films is often slow-moving and sometimes there is very little plot. But each episode ends in a positive, life-affirming way. Some even bring tears to the eyes. Well worth watching for those weary of the action-packed violence of other shows in the genre.