夏目友人帳
As I had promised, it's time for the so called anime review. Here I thought once this should have been my travelog. But well, things do change, do they? For staters yes, I had always been late in discovering good stuff. I mean always. Oh men, what a bummer but I did manage to find them in the end somehow. I'm writing this while listening to Kourin- Aisheteru and it had been my favorite apparently from the countless of list that I had gather from 夏目友人帳. I won't be going into chapters (uh-uh) since there are basically (4) season of the series, accomponied with (1) ova.
I do think some probably might not been a fan of the anime (what a bummer) since well-; Takashi is somehow a bit weak as a main character himself. But I do find the anime pretty endearing, and it give off a pretty deep impression. The story is about a young boy name Taksahi Natsume whose living off as an orphan since his parent had died when he was at a very young age. His mother died after giving birth to him while his dad passed away few years later. He had been living through different household simply due to the cruel fact that he had been passing from relatives to relative;- Just because his attempt to share his fears about witnessing ayakashi (youkai; spirit) at a very young age. He had been living a sad childhood life, being label as 'liar' , 'attention seeker' by his own relatives and friends just because he was telling the truth. But somehow along the road he had find a place where he could finally called 'home' with a distant relatives name Fujiwara's.
As his grandmother Natsume Reiko had passed away, the inherintance had eventually goes to Takashi. Just like Takashi, Reiko own a very strong spritual power that gave her a very big advantages when dealing with youkai. But unlike Takashi who atleast in my point of view had manage to make friends (with much effort that is),while Reiko is somehow a lonely girl. She had also been teased by the people around her due to the ability that she had possed. Therefore, she had been spending her time fighting off youkai, (saying that to 'kill time') with a deal at hand that if the youkai lost the battle they will have to form a contract with her by leaving their name in the 'natsume book of friend'.
The book, along with others Reiko possesion had been inherited by Takashi. A lot of youkai had been aftering the book since they could finally summon a stronger youkai to serve them. Takashi, by accident had freed a youkai name madara (nyanko-sensei, by tripping over a seal rope. Because Madara was trapped in a material form for so long, Madara ordinarily takes on the shape of a maneki neko (lucky cat). Takashi later learn about the book with nyanko-sensei guidance (although he had threaten to eat Takashi to gain the book for himself). He is a powerful ayakashi, who protects Natsume from others and teaches him spells on occasion, in return for Natsume's promise to give him the Book of Friends when he dies.
Along the way, Takashi spends his time dissolving the contracts and releasing the various spirits that come to him for help.I just love the time in between he have to perform the spell. It was simply cool. Not a solid reason enough eh?
Takashi had develop friendship along the way while keeping the secret for himself. I feel kinda sadden for Takashi since his responsibilies had somehow give him this imaginary boundary to keep off his distance either with his friend or the Fujiwara's. I feel sad but somehow respect his courage and sense of responsibilities. He had been through a lot as a kid, but that didn't falter his reason to help his youkai friend, his real life friend and his familes.
At one point with the ending of the arch, Takashi had asked the Fujiwara's to go and visit his home for the last time, before it will be sold. Takashi had never been that open with his feelings, and if he did, he'll disclosed it to nyanko-sensei either consciously or unconsciously. He had to suffered with countless of nightmare about his old memories precisely. It was so sad to watch how people perspective and judgemental view towards his 'lies'. He had been trying so hard to suppressed his childhood memories, just because he didn't want to remember the sadness of missing someone dearly to his heart. I had cried a buckle of tears seeing how he had struggle with his life. I also think that it was a fate that brough Takashi and Mandara together. I certainly feels like mandara would never leave Takashi side, since he had taken a like of the former along the way. Alright! I think that will be the end of the review. That's it guys. You had to watch it for yourself, I'm giving enough. Although this review might ended up in someone junk, heh I don't really care. It's a great anime, which I strongly recommend.