Natsume's Book of Friends Season 4

Hmm..... how do you review an anime considered to be a sleeper masterpiece? How do you place a rank on the underdog? How, I ask those who are reading this review, How? I am a man of neutralness. I find both good and bad in all animes... all except this. For all 4 seasons, 50+ episodes, I cannot find a single fault with this anime. The story is exceptional... each episode withholds a magic of uniqueness. There's literally no telling where the particular episode will lead to (unless it is an continuation). And although the characters are introduced in a random order, they contribute to themain plot with equal importance. The anime also includes a lot of elements. Romance, thriller, sometimes quite scary, and comedy. And let's be honest, this anime is portraying quite a touchy subject. None of the ghost animes are as carefree and as... laid back as this. Now some may argue this carefreeness causes the anime to be quite boring. But that's just not true. It's laid back because it can afford to. Like I said, it's jumping-around-plot keeps you just interested enough to watch, and keep watching, the next episode. The music, I think, is an element which holds the whole together. Subtle, meaningful, and simply brilliant. It sticks the anime parts together like glue holding an paper aeroplane. Even by itself, the music is great. Now, I always include some element of badness in my reviews.... but seriously, I can't think of any. As always, I thank thee (people/morons/geniuses [delete as appropriate]) for reading my review all the way here. And I am not ashamed of breaking my policy of neutralness :>

What? It's over already?! Those thoughts never left my head while watching this season. Although I'll have to admit, I was slightly disappointed in the lack of "big events" during this season. However, the anime has always kept a relaxing mood, whilst gently adding action and drama in small amounts. It'd be weird if something completely crazy and big were to happen anyways. I found myself wishing Natsume would say more things, admit more things, yet how realistic is it for him to actually do everything we as the viewers want him to do? In reality, Natsume has always acted in character, even when hegrew and his ideals changed, he still was realistic and understandable. Nyanko Sensei was also quite the character. His loyalty was admirable throughout the series, and although slightly boisterous he was undoubtedly intelligent. He managed to subtly enter his way into the family, assisting Natsume's effort to further develop his bonds with not only Youkai, but also humans. When I took a day or two break from the anime, I lost interest in finishing it. However every time I watched just one episode, I was hooked right back into the anime and my eyes were glued to the television screen. I'm definitely going to miss this anime and the characters. I do wish there was another season explaining more of the past of Nyanko Sensei and Reiko. The 52 episodes of Natsume Yuujinchou have gone by so quickly as I would have expected. I bid a farewell to this highly enjoyable anime!

I'm so glad i found this anime. Natsume really brought me to tears , both happy and sad. This season is probably my favorite though. It goes into deep detail about his family, his past life and his friends. Natsume begins to open up more to yokai and his human friends. This anime is honestly so uplifting. Through out the seasons , this season he finally accepts how happy he is, all the new people he met, and happily accepting that he can see yokai. I literally feel like i watched natsume grow up and toughen up into a person he truly was from thebeginning with the help of everybody. The only sad part is there has yet to be a season 5. They have lots to cover. For example , natsume still has the book of friends, all the rest of the remaining yokai is still there , i don't think he learned enough about reiko and exactly what kind of person she was, and what about nyanko? Is he always going to stay with natsume ? I mean we all know nyanko cares for natsume but we need to remember why he started being natsumes bodyguard !!! Ugh please make a season 5

Natsume's Book of Friends A life enclosed in isolation, that's the daily standard for Natsume Takashi. He happens to be special, but according to him for the worse. His eyesight extends beyond the world people usually dwell. His extraordinary spirit, allows him to see what human in reality co-exist with. This "gift" however has for the most part brought hardships upon him. Terrorized by the so calledyoukai, he has been forced to act differently, bullied, despised, was how he often was treated. Even the kindest of people couldn't truly understand him. And the fact that he was parentless and passed along relatives didn't help the cause. Things however started to change when he moved into the household of the Fujiwara's. For the first time somebody of their own will wants to him to live with them. A book is also passed down, which belonged to his now deceased grandmother, which as him had the ability to see youkai, and because of that also generally disliked. The book contained names of youkai, which his grandmother "defeated", her way of making friends. Natsume accidently unseals the powerful Youkai Madara, which in turn enlists himself as Natsume's teacher, solely as he proclaims to receive the "Book of Friends" which it's called. This being, becomes Natsume's first friend. He also gains more friends which most, ironically are from coincidental incidents based on his ability to see youkai. Natsume is also very kind, often to a degree which puts him in dangerous situations. But at the same time it is this kindness which enables him to bond with youkai as well as humans. He often gets asked, human or youkai? I'm pretty sure he would answer with something along the lines with "There are both good and evil of both kinds." Natsume used to hate being able to see youkai, he saw the ability not as a gift but a curse. But along the series that changes. At one point he temporarily couldn't see youkai, and even though he found it surprising, he couldn't deny the sorrow which followed. Something similar happens among the youkai which know Natsume. At first they only saw their connection as a way to pass time, later as a valued bond. Madara saves natsume countless times, always saying its for the books sake. His good willed intention start to portray to such an obvious degree, that Natsume later jokingly repeats the same sentence when he in turn saves Madara. The ability which Natsume once hated, is now invaluable. He continues, his grandmother's interactions with the youkai, but differs to a large degree, but because of this also does something his powerful grandmother never succeeded in, he makes friends. The portraying of Natsumes days which we view is fairly unique. The medium which it is formed in, is probably one of the more suitable, and a niche which anime holds. illustrating the supernatural visually that will say in another form than drawn, usually tends to be fairly disastrous. But here it melts in well, it looks completely natural in the context where it is depicted. The general harmonic atmosphere which resonates through the series is also pleasant. It doesn't either get dreary since its contrasted continually with other elements like sorrow. But even if some parts are, it's a harmonic kind. I'm also glad that the interactions with the youkai, their stories and their relation to humans, are what they are. It would have been horrible if "youkai" Only had functioned as a concept, and not been dug into. The biggest strength of this series is probably its constant pending between happiness and sadness, while constantly holding a harmonic base. It goes without saying that the series has it's share of problems. At some points it gets to a point where it is a bit monotone. Which may be a way of showering its feel over the series, but as for me its not a good point. It also gets a bit cliché at some points, I guess since its aimed at teenagers. But that's not a valid reason, I don't see any reason to make it generic because it's aimed at a younger audience. To be honest, it's more the reason to not make it over generic. It is however an enjoyable series, I wont say it's fantastic, its simply nice. But I'm fairly sure this was intended. The show isn't mean to be groundbreaking but harmonic. I'm not saying there's nothing to take from it, surely there is. But the series isn't hollow to the extreme either, which is something a lot of anime have the tendency of being. The series at least, has an unique way of painting the canvas, something which also is usually absent. However the path Natsume took, the place he reached. A place where he can look upon stars, not alone but with friends, both humans as youkai. I wont deny it's hearwarming.