Review of Natsume's Book of Friends

When sifting through a large amount of anime, you mostly find ones that are average and a little bit above average. They are the series that usually keep you entertained throughout, but with little more to be satisfied with. But sometimes, you occasionally stumble upon a series that is much, much more. With only 13 episodes to its name, I can say with sincerity that Natsume Yuujinchou is one of those series that i can definitely say is nothing short of a masterpiece. From what I've watched so far, I can distinguish that most 13 episode series are either average or poorly done, with somefew exceptions. Natsume Yuujinchou is an episodic series, meaning that it follows no straight plot but rather, tells one story per episode. Initially, you might think that because of this the plot will be rather loose and fragmented, but everything seems to intertwine nicely.

The series follows the teenage protagonist, Natsume, in his journey towards understanding and helping the fellow Youkai and Ayakashi in his neighbourhood. What really shines is the interactions between him and the Youkai; they are so beautifully done that more often than not you'll find yourself tearing up a little as he passes through each of them. I guess part of the flaws of this anime is that the interactions are sometimes too short - the impact they give you makes you want to find out about them just a little bit more. Most of the episodes end with a bittersweet feeling that leaves you satisfied but melancholic. It's hard to describe, but it's kind of a sad but heartwarming effect. Each episode is relatively simple in terms of plot; in fact, the whole series is as simple as it can be. One could say that this is a flaw, but I say that it is a positive. It's just about an adolescent boy who, with his trusty cat companion, finds new ways to understand both humans and Youkai.

One of the things I give the series credit for the most is the animation and the soundtrack. In terms of quality, Natsume Yuujinchou definitely doesn't shine in terms of crispness and it doesn't possess cutting edge graphics that can be compared to say, Guilty Crown. However, the animation of Natsume is very unique; everything is composed of pale, pastel and dreamy like qualities which accentuate the softness of the storyline and gives it that extra boost. The art blends together nicely with the interactions of the Youkai, and I found the scenery particularly pretty. That being said, I also loved the OP and the ED especially, simply because the art went so well with the rest of the series.

The art also goes hand in hand with the soundtrack, which is composed of mostly slow, melodic tunes which really emphasize the raw nature of the series. I found the music really soothing in some parts, yet saddening in the scenes which ended up being bittersweet. The different components of the anime really flatter each other and, as a result, make it so much better as a series.

For a 13 episodic series, Natsume Yuujinchou develops a surprising amount of depth and symbolic meanings as each episodes passes by. You get to see Natsume transition into a much better person through the interactions of Youkai; beings that he had disliked when he was younger. Throughout the series, I was expecting the whole thing to be a little disjointed or even a little fragmented in places, but I was pleasantly surprised with the result. I think that, by having a series with not much complexity in its plot means that it can be exploited into becoming a startlingly meaningful show by focusing efforts into developing the characters and everything else.

Story - 9/10
Art - 9/10
Sound - 9/9
Character - 10/10
Enjoyment - 10/10