Natsume Yuujin-chou, Episode(s) 6 & 7 – Blurring the lines

Yes, thank you!!!! Thank for not sucking (rofl)!!!!

After watching episodes four and five, I was almost certain that episode six would crystallize my tentative decision to sweep Nastume Yuujin-chou into THAT’s ‘Dropped’ section and close the lid. Anxiously certain. Freedom was so close, I could almost taste it. I probably would have done so much sooner if the choice to drop another anime series hadn’t been such a tough call. After all, I’m a relatively new addition to THAT and I would like not to peg myself as some rambling, fly-by-night otaku with a short attention span and a troubling fondness for commas. On the other hand, I was getting bored to tears watching Takashi shuffling around returning names like a temp worker.

Episode six squelched the evil little whispers in my head nudging me to kick this anime aside. It is easily the most exceptional yet, another story of a heartfelt reunion that spans captivating visuals, a colorful episodic plot and a few patches of sentimentality in just the right places. I’ll even admit that I shared a tear or two with Natsume-dono toward the end of his brief adventure with the swallow-youkai. It really felt like something deep inside his soul had defrosted, watching Takashi’s eyes glisten as he raised his head to the sky with potent and touching sincerity. Also amazing was the fact that his catharsis was initiated by a demon—more proof that feelings are capable of transcending the descriptive boundaries of “ayakashi” and “human.”

"Amazing look", indeed. While the quality of each episode has steadily increased, that's more than I can say for Takashi's sense of fashion. Take that silly hat off! >_<

Episode seven was slightly weaker than its forerunner thanks to a patent drop in animation quality. If you ask me, all the artsy-fartsy stills are nothing more than a lurid attempt to build budget, either in anticipation of something superb or in the wake of episode six’s smashing impact; as I have stated before, stills are the standard fare of the past and no longer capable of eluding scrutiny amidst the modern anime studio's usual panoply of animation techniques... But that’s okay because I enjoyed it anyway! I am sensing a general increase in charisma.

So, seeing as my faith/interest/patience has been phoenix-downed it looks like I’m back on the Natsume-wagon… for the time being. Episode six is really the highlight here. I would at least like to praise this series for its mercurial goodness before signing off on it completely. Join me now, but don’t expect it to last through the Fall season’s onslaught. Fair enough?

Impressions, Episode 6

Takashi-kun faints from being possessed at the beginning of the episode.

Takashi is a dichotomy of a character. I cannot conclude my feelings about him. Is he resilient, and worthy of hardship? Or is he delicate, and deserving of protection? Instances of physical exhaustion could be explained away as being caused by youkai (see above), yet they function to portray Takashi as alternately strong (consider when he fights back) and weak (sleeping after returning names from the Yuujin-chou, the said fainting spell, etc.) The difficulty is that it is a fairly consistent circumstance for Takashi's 'normal' social activities to be interrupted by the supernatural. This a problem for someone who is in the process of writhing free from social ineptitude. As far as character development is concerned, it is like potting a sapling in soil one day and thrusting it into gravel the next; these ever-changing situations leave little opportunity for Takashi's essence to firmly take root. I would appreciate an episode where he didn't get harassed, but that's probably just wishful thinking.

So, this is what "swallows" like to eat, hmm... Maybe mutant swallows!

It is quite intriguing how, just as with Tsuyukami (sp?), the offering of food to youkai by humans serves to nurture them in some fashion, whereas other youkai prefer to dine on humans themselves. Aside from obvious differences in the choice of cuisine, the main difference lies in presentation: humans do not offer themselves when forcibly consumed, yet it would seem human food (less favored than human flesh, I would imagine), when offered, takes on an entirely new significance and potency for youkai. Ironically, it is human offerings, not human flesh that enable them to assimilate the glories of human existence.

I chose the tagline 'blurring the lines' for this post because each progressive episode of Natsume removes a bit of the distinction between humans and youkai/ayakashi. We have seen now, multiple instances of humans falling in love with youkai, and vice versa. Though they are separated by form and the spheres that they inhabit, Takashi-kun is coming to understand that these barriers are not absolute.

Quite similar to the Hyakkiyako in xxxHOLiC.

Having succumbed to the swallow's pleas for assistance in meeting her most-precious person, Takashi once again finds himself going the extra mile to obtain a magical yukata that will transform the wearer into a human for a single night. A 'perfect fit,' I'd say...

Thus, the lines have blurred.

Impressions, Episode 7

A handsome reward to the man or woman who can tell me what gender this creature is.

Episode seven explores feelings of uselessness and the desire to feel needed by others. Takashi smiles happily when Shigeru (his host father) requests a favor of him. In contrast, the fox-child wrestles new feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy with his/her mother recently deceased. The anime's sense of symmetry once again shines through, and the cycle of give-and-take indicated by Lelangir is also propagated when Takashi is (presumably) generously reciprocated for his earnest offer of help in the previous episode. What goes around comes around; this time, it is his turn to feel needed.

SSBM, anyone?

Takashi lives up to his reputation as a "Natsume."

And now, a haiku (follow the lines):

Do notice the leaf

An offering in the rain

One cannot ignore

Much as Takashi has come to love youkai, the impressionable fox child bravely ventures past its dislike for humans (after being saved from the bullies), and even goes so far as to offer our human hero shade from the rain. It is not long before Takashi becomes the next human on a youkai's 'person I must see' list.

This was a little too cute for me to leave out. Even furries need love and affection!

It couldn't be helped.

Shokkeru's Humble Opinions

Episode 6

Oh, come on Sasada. You know you liked it... Oh gawd, what's wrong with me.

So episodes six and seven have something in common. Takashi bonding with animal spirits (although there aren't really uncommon or anything). Episode six involved Takashi meeting a female spirit who used to be a sparrow. I honestly thought this episode was a little slow and uninteresting at first. It was really more of the same stuff, the whole "Hey gimme back my name" sort of deal. But I was shocked emotionally once Tsubame first met the man she was looking for. I believe that was easily the turning point of the episode and became a heroic struggle for Takashi to allow Tsubame's emotions to reach the man. And when Tsubame finally got to meet with him, I almost cried as Takashi did in the end.

Initial reaction: Crazy spirit bitch.

Well that didn't last long. Talk about your mood swings.

Tsubame's personality was a bit of a strange one for me at first. When she had the mask on, she seemed like the stereotypical crazy spirit that's out to get Takashi, but once that said mask came off, her personality changed dramatically. I'm not sure whether it was the mask (which would explain it very conveniently) or simply a drastic mood swing... not that it matters much. I bring this up because I think it shows how even in shows based on things that have been used over and over again (spirits, supernatural beings, etc) that you can be pleasantly surprised and still find something special in episodes such as these. Tsubame's personality by the end of the show allowed for a heartwarming atmosphere and really let you connect with the characters more. The bond between Takashi and Tsubame turned out to be more interesting to watch than the relationship with Tsubame and that one guy (don't really care about his name enough to look it up again). And I'm so glad that Tsubame wasn't another one of those "I'mma get chu!" types of spirits.

Takashi you player. You already have Sasada, damn it.

Episode 7

Oh hey, you're the guys from episode three. Wait, you're not the same guys? They're your cousins? Okay, that explains it.

Episode seven has Takashi meeting with a (feminine)little fox-spirit boy. I'm not sure what to think of this episode really. It was cute, nice and overall a happy episode to watch, but I didn't really feel any depth or overwhelming emotions like I did with some of the other episodes. I guess it was a nice little story and pleasant enough to watch. The spirits with the same designs as the guys from episode three really annoyed me though. Being bigger and a different color doesn't really cut it for me.

Yes, it's a boy. Don't let the hat fool you.

So the only thing I can really take from this episode is that Takashi likes furry shota traps... okay, just kidding. But, damn do they make it really confusing. Not that it matters much since you can make the fox child either a boy or girl and nothing would change in the story, but it's really hard not to think about it. I've heard he wasn't as feminine in the manga so there should have been less confusion. The anime, however, turned this character so trap-like it's almost disturbing.

Yes. Become a man!

Atta boy!