Completed Anime
Natsume's Book of Friends

“Lonely boy inherits grandmother's youkai name book, befriends cat spirit, and frees sealed spirits to find belonging.”

Natsume's Book of Friends

8.3
315 rank · 585,570 viewers · 16,767 favorites
Slice of Life Supernatural Iyashikei Mythology Shoujo
13 episodes · 24 min per ep min · Summer 2008 · Brain's Base · PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
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Episodes · 13 13/13 aired
EP 01 EP 13

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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...

However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...

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Synopsis

Lonely boy inherits grandmother's youkai name book, befriends cat spirit, and frees sealed spirits to find belonging.

Due to an unusual ability to see strange creatures called youkai, Takashi Natsume has never fit in. Passed around from one foster home to another, he was left isolated and lonely. Over time, he has accepted that no one would ever believe him and has closed himself off to his current caretakers and classmates. When Natsume accidentally breaks an intangible barrier, he frees Madara—a mighty spirit in the form of a lucky cat. Madara notices that Natsume bears a remarkable resemblance to his late grandmother Reiko Natsume, an outcast girl who became known across the youkai world for creating the Book of Friends. It is now in Natsume's possession, along with its power to call upon the written names of the youkai Reiko had defeated. With no interest in its powers, Natsume decides to keep the book for the sake of his grandmother's memories and to protect it from scheming youkai. Therefore, he makes a deal with Madara: he will hand him the book once his time is up, and in turn, Madara will act as Natsume's unofficial bodyguard, nicknamed Nyanko-sensei. With his newfound goal of freeing those Reiko had sealed, Natsume's relationship with both youkai and humans slowly begins to improve.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

What people say

Community consensus

Derived from 135 sampled reviews

8.6 /10

What 135 viewers settled on.

92% recommend
Score distribution
median 9 mode 10 σ 1.90
1510
Agreement

Polarized

σ 1.90 · split reception

split
The polarity gap

6.0 pts

Recommenders 9.2 · others 3.2

Yes
No
Score over time

↓ 1.44

Running avg · Jul 2008 → Sep 2025

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Production slate

A Tv Production · Summer 2008

Brain's Base.
in association with

TV Tokyo · Aniplex

  • Format 13 × 24′ eps × min
  • Total runtime 5h 12m all episodes
  • Aired Jul 2008 – Sep 2008 Summer 2008
  • Source Tv media type
  • Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
  • Ref. BS-3475 catalog

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