Natsume Yujincho Seasons 1 – 4 Review: Great Characters, Great Atmosphere, and Just Pure Relaxation

Posted on by Karandi
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This is part of a series of re-posts of older reviews on 100 Word Anime. The original review came out in May 2016 and can be found here.

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It might seem strange that I love Natsume. Given my usual tastes for faster paced stories, stories that are a little bit darker, or stories that do something a bit unexpected, there really isn’t any reason for me to be such a huge fan of Natsume.

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And yet there is something incredibly compelling and adorable about Natsume himself that manages to draw me into this world and makes me want to spend more and more time with him.  Natsume in the early episodes of season 1 is damaged, and that damage doesn’t just disappear. It fades and comes out in different ways at appropriate times, and slowly, ever so slowly, it is being healed, but there isn’t an instant fix.

In point of fact, it’s hard to even notice how far Natsume has developed as a character until you go from an episode mid-way through season 4 and maybe watch an episode from late season 1 or early season 2. Natsume is a dynamic character who continues to take on board the experiences he goes through and these become integrated into his overall character. While it is subtle development it is consistent and ultimately it makes this whole story feel authentic in a way few manage. And it isn’t just Natsume.

All of the characters in this show develop slowly but surely in ways that fit with the experiences they go through. You really feel like you are part of this group and watching this show is like catching up with old friends. There’s a strength of writing and character development that you do not normally come across. This is something Irina and I explored when we took on the Natsume Supporter Character Battle to determine who the best supporting character was in this story. It ended up being a heart-breaking experience as we pitted truly great cast members against one another.

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The plot also moves. While each episode really is the yokai of the week appears with either a problem to be solved or a desire to get their name back, each season feels like it is moving forward. Season one helps Natsume overcome his unreasonable hatred of all yokai. Season two sees him developing some actual human relationships that aren’t superficial or simply being acted out. Season three helps Natsume begin to understand Reiko (his grandmother) and her actions. The season four plunges us into finally facing some of Natsume’s child-hood trauma and finding some closure.

Natsume Yuujinchou Season 6 Episode 4

Posted on by Karandi
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Review:

I really do love the episodes where Natori or the other exorcists are involved. The added conflict Natsume faces not just between yokai and human but the different ways humans approach yokai really does give this series a little bit of drama and usually it comes with some a bit more tension and danger than the other episodes of this mostly sweet show.

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Once again, Natsume has stuck his nose into Natori’s business and there’s a good chance Natori has overheard a yokai stating that Natsume has the Book of Friends, one of the few secrets Natsume has kept from Natori because of his torn emotions when thinking about how Natori might react. It will be interesting to see next episode (it was TBC) whether they choose to finally get into this given its been a continuous point of contention for Natsume in regards to his friendship with Natori or whether they decide to put that conflict on the shelf for yet another season given both the characters seem happy enough not to address it.

Looking forward to the next part of this particular story (which actually concerns some ex-exorcist’s house and his daughter, but to be honest I’m finding the relationship between Natori and Natsume more interesting than the current monster of the week).

Natsume Yuujinchou is available on Crunchyroll.

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Karandi James.

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Natsume Yuujinchou Go Episode 1

Posted on by Karandi
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Natsume Yuujinchou Go Episode 1 Overview:

Natsume inherited his grandmother’s book of friends which contains the names of all the yokai she defeated. He now tries to give them back.

Review:

It’s Natsume and despite some minor changes in character appearance and the slightly sterner tone of his guardians, it really feels like nothing has changed and we’re just back in one of the earlier seasons. For episode 1 we get Natsume’s usual explanation about his grandmother and his ability to see things and then we get the story moving. It was nice that this episode seemed to start to give us more of Reiko’s story as this has remained fairly much an enigma over 4 seasons.

Whether they continue with this as a focus or not remains to be seen but it would certainly be something I’d enjoy watching. If you are looking for a slightly slow moving but incredibly sweet story, Natsume is a definite must and this first episode of season 5 is giving us more of what has been great about the series. If I have one complaint about this episode it would Nyanko Sensei’s very limited characterisation and lack of bite in his dialogue. When every character is sickly sweet you need the sarcastic cat to break things up a bit.

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Natsume Yuujinchou – Season 1 – 4 Series Review

Posted on by Karandi
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Overview of Natsume Yuujinchou:

Natsume Yuujinchou, or Natsume’s Book of Friends is the story of a boy named Natsume who has been passed around from relative to relative since he lost his parents and it never works out. As a kid he was strange because he could see yokai and never really learnt not to tell people this or react to the yokai. Now, as a teenager, Natsume moves in with a new couple and tries to start a life in the place his grandmother lived. Only the yokai in the area want their names, which his grandmother kept in a book, returned.

Review of Seasons 1 – 4 of Natsume Yuujinchou:

It might seem strange that I love Natsume Yuujinchou. Given my usual tastes for faster paced stories, stories that are a little bit darker, or stories that do something a bit unexpected, there really isn’t any reason for me to be such a huge fan of Natsume.

While rewatching it recently, I wondered why I liked it so much. Flying Witch, out this season, is a nice, slow piece about a slightly odd girl moving in with family and starting a life and each episode someone new comes with a problem or just to visit and then we move on. And yet, I am finding Flying Witch mind-numbingly boring.

Natsume Yuujinchou - Natsume chilling with Nyanko-Sensei in a tree

The difference, I think, is in the protagonists offered by the two with Natsume Yuujinchou just hitting the mark for me.

Natsume in the early episodes of season 1 is damaged, and that damage doesn’t just disappear. It fades and comes out in different ways at appropriate times, and slowly, ever so slowly, it is being healed, but there isn’t an instant fix.

Wow, you’ve got friends now, emotional trauma solved! In point of fact, it’s hard to even notice how far Natsume has developed as a character until you go from an episode mid-way through season 4 and maybe watch an episode from late season 1 or early season 2. And it isn’t just Natsume.

All of the characters in Natsume Yuujinchou develop slowly but surely in ways that fit with the experiences they go through. You really feel like you are part of this group and watching this show is like catching up with old friends. There’s a strength of writing and character development that you do not normally come across.

Human and Yokai friends - Natsume Yuujinchou

The plot also moves along despite its slow nature. While each episode really is the yokai of the week appears with either a problem to be solved or a desire to get their name back, each season feels like it is moving forward.

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Season one helps Natsume overcome his unreasonable hatred of all yokai. Season two sees him developing some actual human relationships that aren’t superficial or simply being acted out. Season three helps Natsume begin to understand Reiko (his grandmother) and her actions. The season four plunges us into finally facing some of Natsume’s child-hood trauma and finding some closure.

The art style is also really pretty. There’s definitely a reliance on soft colours but the nature effects, whether it be sunlight, flowers, leaves, snow or rain are always gorgeous and the characters are simple but easily distinguished.

Music is used well throughout the series but again has a very laid back kind of feel to it. Sound effects are mostly understated which makes the occasional dramatic effect really stand out.

I’m really looking forward to the fifth season of this anime.

If you want something warm and fuzzy and don’t mind watching events unfold at their own pace, Natsume will be a very rewarding watch. And if you’ve read much of my blog, you know this is a series I’ll come back to again and again, and the manga is also pretty awesome.

Natsume is available from Crunchyroll.

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Donate to the blog.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James