10 Reasons to Watch Natsume Yuujinchou

The supernatural slice of life series, “Natsume Yuujinchou” has been called by many as a beautiful but underrated show seeing as in certain opinions, ends up being overshadowed by other series. For those who may be looking for an interesting supernatural series but want to know what’s good about it, here are 10 reasons to watch Natsume Yuujinchou

1. The Art

Very rarely do you see the art style that this series has incorporated in modern anime anymore. The almost 2D style of the series brings a refreshing look with its simple beauty and light palettes. From the scenic backgrounds to the intricate details given to each of the youkai that appears, the art of the series is just a visual treat to the eyes and great source of inspiration in terms of settings and creatures.

2. The Protagonist

Natsume is character type that has been done before in terms of the concept of a high school student being able to see youkai. However, in terms of how he is portrayed in the series and how he was developed is a completely different matter. While he may not have the highly tragic backstory, it does not mean he had the easiest of childhoods either.

Throughout certain the series we see certain parts of this and not only is not exaggerated, it seems almost realistic in a sense. He is the type of character that slowly grows and show many sides throughout the series and that’s what makes him so interesting. Though he came from a simple concept the writers developed him in a way that the viewer wants to better understand him.

3.The Side Characters’ Stories

Side characters these days are gaining more attention from the audience but often times when it comes to youkai related stories, there is not as much investment in their stories. With these series, each episode is a new tale for different youkai who come visit Natsume. None are the same and most often you can see the effort done in creating the individual stories of these one time characters. Other times there are side characters who make a recurrence and over the course of the series you get to learn more about them.

4.The Music

This is one of the main highlights to look out for in the entire series and not just with the theme songs. From the opening to the background music up to the ending, there is a simple but fitting score for each moment throughout the series. Whether it be upbeat theme with good acoustics to it or a gentle soundtrack with well-placed strings, in a personal opinion, this is one of the greatest themes and soundtracks to find in the anime community.

5.The Peaceful Moments

There is only so much plot and drama mixed with action you can take before a viewer needs a breather. Most anime do this by creating filler episodes or comedic scenarios that may at times seem cliche. In this series they manage to slip peaceful moments even during the plot driven episode and have the viewer get a chance to figure out the scenario before jumping into the action.

6.The Emotional Impact

One of the most memorable things about this series is how much of an emotional impact each stories have. Whether it be a bittersweet tale of a spirit who was simply lonely or a heart waming tale of making a new friend and learning more about the mysterious beings that are youkai. Basically, with the series having a slice of life genre tag, it should be expected that it will have its emotional moments, but they work it out well.

7.The Journey

With a total of six seasons now, many viewers may find that number staggering in terms of catching up with the plot. But the viewer should not be daunted for with every ong anime series there is a journey to be had with the characters in terms of character developments and seeing different sides to the stories. From learning more about Natsume’s friends in school to seeing Natsume’s development with the spirit world, the journey of the series brings many rewards.

8. The Antagonists

In the first half the series, there is no set antagonist to be found against Natsume himself. But towards the second half of the series, without spoiling much, not only does the series create an antagonist, but they create a complex one at that. Someone who is of complete opposite to Natsume and is a subject of fascination. This much can be said about him though, he is like Natsume, but unlike him, he grew up in a family familiar with the supernatural.

9. The Comedy that Slips in and Surprises You

With how much focus is spent on the slice of life and supernatural genre, the little moments of comedy that slip in at the most opportune times are a surprise and a delight to have throughout the series. From the arguments between Natsume and Nyanko-sensei to the shenanigans that Natsume gets into because of spirits; it’s little moments like these that makes the series that much more enjoyable.

10. The Little Mysteries

When it comes to the supernatural genre, there is always little mysteries to be found throughout the series and this series is no different. The main mystery that is slowly being revealed in the span of the seasons is in regards to Natsume’s grandmother Reiko, little to nothing is known about her other than that she too could see youkai and was impressively strong but sly. Other characters also hold little mysteries to them and as a viewer it is always interesting to make a prediction or solve a puzzle and see if it is true.