Review of Natsume's Book of Friends
Natsume Yuujinchou is anime with unique atmosphere. While watching this series (especially first three seasons) you can feel some kind of "magic" flowing out of your screen. Depending on personality, many emotions can reach you. For sure, the biggest amount of emotions is being felt by melancholic. But this isn't the point. Everyone can see "Natsume Yuujinchou", but not every person would tolerate slowly plot and in consequence not every person would feel the full potential of this anime. Story - 8/10 But let's slow down a bit. Basically, the plot line tells about a regular student living in common japanese village. His name is Natsume Takashiand what's important - his parents deceased. Because of that, he need to face the reality and people who simply treats him bad. The most important is his ability which allows him to see demons and ghosts called "youkai". Excluded between people, living between ghosts - this is main topic taken by creator. The spectator's job is to confirm the fact, that Natsume is doing well in his "little own world".
Art - 6/10
About the art: admittedly it's getting better and better with every season. It's not extra-special but also it's not worst. Gradually with watching, the viewer gets used to the art. The point is to survive until it happen. ; )
Sound - 6/10
It could be controversial for Natsume's fans, but in my opinion music used in whole series is it's weak point. To be precise: i mean OST inside anime, without openings and endings. On the other hand, every OP and ED matches this anime in 100%. The rest of sound is like art - it also matches, but it could be better. (if openings and enings matches in 100% then OST would match in 55%).
Character - 8/10
When i look back on Natsume and his "pet" (yes, he have a "uniqe" cat), i remember the contrast between this main characters. We have a introvert and shy Natsume who "attack" the spectator with huge amount of emotions. But this attack is very, very subtle. In the other hand we have Madara or maybe Nyanko-sensei, who is expressive and direct. Except this two, we have Natsume's friends. Every of them have something that Natsume is missing. That makes us see the characters.as a "puzzle". Everyone is completing with each other - especlially with Natsume.
Enjoyment - 10/10
Let's forget about music and art and move to enjoyment. If you're into fights and blood, stop reading this. And don't watch Natsume Yuujichou. Really, it's for your sake. But! If you don't mind calm and light mix of drama and comedy, you'll feel all of possible enjoyment flowing out of this anime, like i felt. The Natsume adventures are exciting, even if they're monotonous. (I know, it sounds unbelievable, but it is truth XD)
*drums* Overall - 10/10
Don't get angry, shounen fans. Personally, I'm melancholic and calm like this anime is. And that's why I ended with rating it on 10 points.I'm almost sure that if you're even a bit like me, you'll like the Natsume series because of it's magic. But it's not only magic. It's both a striking realism (Natsume in society thread) and a thin veil of fiction whitch covers the real world. So, we have 8, 6, 6 ,8 and 10. But who cares about the average score from this numbers? Only final feelings matters, doesn't it? ; )