Review of Natsume's Book of Friends

Natsume Yuujinchou is from a genre I previously had not tested very much, thinking I wouldn't like the slower pacing of a show like this. However, I was completely, and happily surprised by it. Story: 9. The story is based around a young high school male named Natsume who can see ayakashi. One day he ends up accidentally breaking a seal on a shrine, releasing an extremely powerful demon... who is trapped in the body of what looks like a Lucky Cat statue. He becomes Natsume's bodyguard, and goes by the term "Nyanko-sensei," helping Natsume in his adventures. Natsume meets and helps a variety of ayakashiand humans.

Art: 8. Standing by itself, I would typically give this art a nine, but if you look at the later seasons, it just doesn't hold up. However, the art is simply beautiful, plain and simple.

Sound: 8. I don't feel like there are any major problems with the sound, I just wished there was more of a background track in some places, and to be honest I dislike the ending.

Characters: 9. With so many characters in thirteen episodes, it makes creating the breadth of characters they did truly amazing. I completely respect the creators, and with each character I feel attached and feel they bring something new that I haven't seen before. I love the way characters are animated in this show, and how their facial expressions subtly change. The only reason I don't give it a 10 is because many of the male characters look extremely feminine.... a bit interesting but... makes the variation lack somewhat.

Enjoyment: 9. I love this show, I really do. There's something that made me not enjoy it nearly as much as I do other things, to be honest, and that was a friend of mine complaining through it the whole time.

Overall: 8. I recommend this show to every single person who likes anime. It's gorgeous, the story is wonderful, and the more I watch, the more I love. Definitely continue on with the other three seasons if you like it, because Natsume is worth it.