Comments on: Natsume Yuujin Chou, Episode 1 – The Fat Cat And The Book Of Enemies

By: Ren

Ren — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:36:10 +0000

I totally agree with you… especially the “Natsume Yuujin Chou will definitely be a show that a lot of people will skip over sadly.” part. Because I did… after watching the first 14 minutes of the first episode I stopped it. I thought it was too boring and that, that anime is not for a “JUMP! anime” watcher like me.

I don’t know why, but I gave it another try and watched the 1st episode again. Believe it or not… after several episodes (particularly ep8) GAWD! it made me cry!

The atmosphere in this anime is just so calming! This anime is like a breath of fresh air for someone who watches action/comedy/adventure anime. I’m glad that I have watched it again and found out how refreshing this anime is.

… and that is a well written review of this anime!

By: Maipeisu

Maipeisu — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:15:30 +0000

@Sarah
I am a rabid Amano fan. I have loved his sketching/drafting style and character designs since I first played FF6, at the young age of eight. I don’t know much about the opera itself, but I have heard music from The Magic Flute before — I remember it being one of my favorite Mozart pieces. Where can I find this artbook? ^^

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:18:54 +0000

Am def gonna check this out, sounds really good. I have a new find (was actually a present), you may have heard of it “Mateki, the magic flute” by Yoshitaka Amano, its this really amazing art/anime book, with amazing illustrations, its based on the opera by Mozart, quite tragic, but so so cool!!

By: Dando008

Dando008 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:14:32 +0000

I think this has a bit of similarity on the one series called Mokke, in this series though It has just taken a different approach in the story. I am very interested to see what this show will bring out.

By: Suma Sang

Suma Sang — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:34:39 +0000

Well said, Maipesu – I really like your blogging style. And I agree that it is a hidden gem, Shokkeru. Natsume Yuujin Chou gives me the same feel of Miyazaki movies: it is magical in the subtlest of ways. The ED theme left me feeling wistful. Though the idea is a recycled one, I still like the direction the anime is going, in terms of storyline, art, music, and sound direction, etc. It’s definitely going on my must watch list.

By: THAT Animeblog - To Love-Ru Episode 15 - Jurassic Dork

THAT Animeblog - To Love-Ru Episode 15 - Jurassic Dork — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:10:07 +0000

[...] blog on the show anyways. For now, I’ll just remain blogging TLR and my small portion of the Natsume posts with [...]

By: Alaena

Alaena — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:30:54 +0000

I’m a huge fan of Midorikawa Yuki, who authored the manga which the anime is based on. Every last one of her amazing works manages to have real, interesting characters that defy the norms of anime cliche, so I figured that, naturally, nothing of hers would get the attention it so desperately deserved.

I’m so, so happy that Natsume Yuujinchou has a chance to shine.

I really love all the thoughts on this episode, and I agree. This definitely isn’t the type of series that you want to watch to be riveted to your seat in anticipation of shocking plot twists, gore, and explosions, but even though the idea isn’t original, the style of the series brings it’s own special feeling to the genre.

By: Christina

Christina — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:59:58 +0000

I’ve read up to the fifth chapter in the manga. The plot doesn’t really advance much but it gets better with the story telling. The manga-ka (Yuki Midorikawa) of this series likes to center her stories around themes of loneliness. Just look them up at mangafox. If you ever read her short story collection, the one that is closest to this series is “Firefly Lit Forest”.

By: Shokkeru

Shokkeru — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:52:01 +0000

@Omisyth: I personally felt bored with the show while they were just idly talking about the book and other things, but I was still captivated by everything else in the show. One being the history between the spirit and the main character’s grandmother. I don’t know why, but stuff like that interests me.

@issa-sa: If it means anything to you, I never even touched xxxHolic and I don’t really plan to, but I’m so loving this one.

@Paj: While I’m not really eagerly waiting for the next episode, I think this is one I can enjoy at my own pace. Unlike shows like Code Geass that keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting (which is fine too sometimes), it’s sometimes good to have a anime you can relax with whenever you feel like.

@D.J: Yeah, I felt the comic elements were a little short of being anything hilarious. But, I agree with you that it fits in naturally with the rest of the show. Anything too insane would probably wreck the entire mood and atmosphere that they’re trying to set up.

By: D.J

D.J — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:54:18 +0000

It does have that certain je ne sais quois and its definitely one show I am going to continue to follow based off of this first episode.

I can also see the FMA vibes too, but given that its Aniplex that’s to be expected I guess.

The comic elements aren’t too overdone or intrusive and seem to naturally belong there. Which I agree is good, because I think it would really ruin that lighthearted feeling you get if it was all emo.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the next episode.

By: Paj

Paj — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:44:28 +0000

I don’t know about others but this is one of the few ones that I am following quite rabidly. I really enjoy these kind of stories and yes, there is something about it that captivates me too. I have watch tons of anime and I tend to go with what I feel rather than objectively view and cut it apart. i do that after I let the feelings and story sink in. I will look forward to your blogging.

By: issa-sa

issa-sa — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:40:05 +0000

The difference between this and xxxHolic to me is that I’ve already decided to watch this based on the first episode, while I never got past ep 1 of xxxHolic.
Other than that, I’m so glad you managed to point (what my own half-assed rushed post on Natsume Youjinchou didn’t manage to) out the things in the episode which inexplicably attracted you to the show. I just know I’m digging the ‘mood’ of the show right now and hope too that it becomes that hidden gem this season.

By: lelangir

lelangir — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:26:10 +0000

my first thought was “takemoto yuuta”

By: Maipeisu

Maipeisu — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:19:15 +0000

@Omisynth – I already see the polarization going on, myself. But I have to reemphasize that this anime seems rather captivating (to me.) It puts me in an escapist mood and I’m hoping coming eps will continue to have that effect. At this point, I’m not so concerned about the plot. Good storytelling can make a trip to the grocery store into an engrossing adventure.

@Riex – I really loved Mushishi too, and I’m almost offended when I hear people call it boring (even though I can understand where they are coming from.) But I hope not to mislead you — I can be starry-eyed sap when it comes to anime ^_^ (i.e. a show has to be really BAD for me to rip it to pieces.)

By: Cherubium

Cherubium — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:30:46 +0000

This is one of the few shows that i want to watch this episode. So it’s glad that other people have the same view as I do.