Alternative TitlesEnglish: The Natsume Book of Friends Synonyms: Natsume Yuujin-chou, The Natsume Book of Friends, Natsume's Book of Friends Japanese: 夏目友人帳
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 13
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Jul 7, 2008 to Sep 29, 2008
Duration:
24 min. per episode Rating:
PG - Children
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.441 (scored by 8055 users)
Ranked: #922
Popularity: #227
Members: 16,196
Favorites: 522 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
fantasy supernatural |
SynopsisNatsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. Containing the names of these spirits, a binding contract was formed between the spirits and the owner of the book. Now, Natsume is determined to free the spirits and dissolve the contracts. With the help of a spirit cat, his days are filled trying to return the names to these spirits. (from ANN) |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Natsume Yuujinchou
Sequel: Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
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Takahiro, Omori
Director, Sound Director, Episode Director, Storyboard |
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Atari, Kousuke
Theme Song Performance |
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Kita, Shuuhei
Theme Song Performance |
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Takata, Akira
Chief Animation Director, Key Animation, Character Design, Animation Director |
Reviews
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thepinkangel
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
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13 of 13 episodes seen
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| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
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 as character 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 very sad. 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. read more
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swtcakes
35 of 47 people found this review helpful
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13 of 13 episodes seen
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
10 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Natsume Yuujinchou is one of the few animes, in my opinion, that deserves a 10 out of 10 in every category. This series is so light and peaceful, it's a great getaway from all those heavy animes. At first, I was skeptical about this series, but in the end, I gave in; every episode gets better and better. I recommend this anime series to any age group, and both male and females.
(Please stop here and read the synopsis of this anime if you haven't already.)
Story:
Natsume Yuujinchou has a beautiful storyline that follows the life of Natsume Takashi as he discover friendships and form strong bonds. The story tells of his pains of saying goodbye and his joys of encounters so small yet so meaningful.
It's a peaceful story filled with emotions of every kind, not to mention there's a bit of comedy as well.
Character:
Natsume Takashi, the main character, is a gentle person with a soft spot in his heart for youkais (spirits) in need of his help. His relationship with youkais develop more and more as the series goes on. At first, he feared them, but as he get to know them, he begins to see similarities in youkais and humans alike.
Madara, aka nyanko-sensei, is the other main character aside from Natsume. Madara is a high level powerful youkai that possess great spiritual power. Because he wants the book of friends from Natsume, a deal between him and Natsume was made; Natsume will hand over the book of friends once he dies. Thus, begins the journey of Madara and Natsume. Madara stays by Natsume's side, acting as his body guard til the day that Natsume dies. As the series go on, the relationship between Natsume and Madara becomes closer and closer. Madara begins to see Natsume as a friend rather than just another human being, and Natsume slowly begins to cherish their friendship.
Aside from Natsume and Madara, there are other characters in this series worth mentioning, and they are... everyone else of course! Yes, each and every one of the characters that appear in each episode is different, yet worth mentioning, because everyone of the characters plays an important role in Natsume's development; his acceptance of the 'gift' or 'curse' he possess: the ability to see spirits. While accepting Youkais, he also accepts other's (human's) concern for him. He begins to make friends and slowly change his lonely self.
Art/Animation:
The art of this anime series is superb. I really like the way the characters are drawn, but I like the outdoor nature scenes even more. Since the setting is the countryside of Japan, there are a lot of nature scenes. The art contributes a lot to the overall peaceful feel of the anime. The art is, at times, very detailed, so I give the art a 10 out of 10, because it suits the anime so well.
Music/Sound:
There are two openings and endings so far, and I have to say, all four songs are awesome! There's also the soundtrack within the anime itself, and those are great too; it really suits this anime. One thing I'd like to point out is the first ending song of this anime series; it really pulled each episode together.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed this anime a lot. At first I watched the first three episodes, and I had a good impression of this anime. Then I waited a day and watched some more. Somewhere around episode 6-8, I was hooked! This anime just gets better and better each episode. Every episode, you learn the story of a different youkai, and at the end, you feel the emotions that were presented in that episode, whether it be the happiness of a new bond, the sadness of a farewell, or the excitement of a new encounter. This is a wonderful series to watch when you need something to relax you from whatever stresses you may have. The art is especially soothing; the animators did a superb job on the nature scenes.
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Note: Second season is even better xD
Note#2: Natsume Yuujinchou is more of a heart warming story, than an action packed shounen anime, as some people might mistakenly believed. read more
Recommendations
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natsume yuujinchou is a watered-down cross between xxxholic and mushishi
Although not similar in the aspect of Japanese Youkai, Mushishi still has good Japanese environments and the obvious feature of spirits that can only seen by certain people. Not many blatant parallels can be made between the two, though there's a high chance that anyone who likes Natsume Yuujin-Chou will like Mushishi.
Though the two have their differences, both are about a main character who can see something others can't, and strives to help them. Also, both stories have a certain almost laid-back atmosphere to them. Natsume Yuujinchou, however, has more of a plot than Mushishi, as well as supporting characters that stay for more than one episode.
They both have a similar theme.
Both deal with things that can only be seem by few people. Both have the main character helping someone in which only they could provide assistance. Each episode is about a different spirit/mushi.
Both of the main characters can see spirits. Both series are episodic, they can be watched in almost any order. Both have a lot of drama packed into these short stories.
If you liked Mushishi I believe you'll most definitely enjoy Natsume Yuujinchou. :) I could see similarities right off the bat, in how they both deal with spirits or other supernatural creatures. Both main characters have a sense of compassion when interacting with these entities, and often will try to find the least violent method of solution. Also, both series are episodic, yet it's a style that suits them well. The day-to-day solving of problems has a relaxing sort of mood in both series, and I think they complement each other nicely.
Spirits are all around us, but only some have the gift to see them. Both series are somewhat episodic, revolving around human interactions with spirits, as well as with each other.
Both anime have a calming atmosphere and tells the story of someone with a special ability as they learn to live with the supernatural.
Deals with the supernatural and very episodic. Has the same calm, bittersweet atmosphere at the end.
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Both main characters are the only one's in the story that can see spirits. They also share the same sense of loneliness that comes with it. There's a few episodes in both Natsume Yuujinchou & xxxHolic that go into true detail about their feelings of being alone. It's drama unlike i've ever seen before, and i love that part about each of these shows, so much. If you've seen one of these shows, then i highly recommend you check out the other.
both main characters can see spirits / demons and then in a way help them ^^ oh and both of them have charters that act silly so its funny is some ways
there are some episodes in xxxholic that really remind me of Natsume Yuujinchou
natsume yuujinchou is a watered-down cross between xxxholic and mushishi
Both are about ayakashi and yokai, share a bit of story and they both have a Zashiki-Warashi in it. xxxHolic is pretty dark, while Natsume Yuujinchou is lighter and uses more colours.
Same basic idea - a guy that can see the supernatural. Natsume Yuujinchou is little more touching and lighter, while xxxHolic is a bit funnier.
The character of Watanuki (xxxHolic) is very similar to Natsume (Natsume Yuujinchou). Even though the stories of the two series are different except for the boy-who-can-see-spirits thing, the "feel" is the same. Also, Nyan-ko sensei is kinda like a cross between kuro-Mokona and the Kudakitsune.
Both series start out very similarly, both of the main characters are being chased by spirits which only they can see. Both are fairly episodic though xxxHOLiC definitely links more episodes together.
Well, as already many ppl said:
both series have main character really similar: Watanuki Kimihiro & Natsume Takashi. They are good guys, with a special ability: they are able to see spirits/ghosts/demons.. They also share the 'loneliness' side, b'cuz of their capacity they are usual to be alone.. Maybe watanuki's personality is a bit more 'funny-comic' than that natsume, but anyway they are both real good ppl with a "golden heart" that help others.
About the story, well both stories are really similar b'cuz of the *oriental japanese tradition* in them, about the traditions to believe in something like typical japanese spirits and about all the atmosphere!
The way how both stories are showed, is simply awesome: delicated, sweet and loveable.
About Natsume, the anime it is really full of amazing colors, and also graphic design is exelent^^
Well, from Holic's side, it's an anime from CLAMP so char design is obviously great.
What else i have to say? they are both awesome. Holic is more known than Natsume, so i suggest you: don't lose that gem that NY is! believe me, watch it ;3 they both worth it!^^
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Opening Theme"Issei no Sei (一斉の声; Simultaneous Voice)" by Shuuhei Kita
Ending Theme"Natsu Yuuzora (夏夕空; Summer Evening Sky)" by Kousuke Atari
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