Manga Review: Natsume Yuujinchou GN 16

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 16
Author: Yuki Midorikawa
Viz Manga/Shojo Beat
192 pages

Natsume's human friend Taki can only see yokai if they walk through one of her spell circles. Although many yokai see her spells as aggressive traps, putting her at risk of their retaliation, the latest yokai to pass through her circle may have something other than revenge in his heart. But is that any better...? (Source: Viz)

Spoiler alert: Review contains spoilers for this volume of Natsume Yuujinchou/Natsume's Book of Friends.

It's no small secret that Natsume Yuujinchou is a slow burning story that prefers to explore its characters through multiple stories over time rather than punch up every volume with explosive plot twists. And it has worked well for the series over these past volumes. This latest volume continues the trend but also brings new dimensions to Natsume's relationships, whether it's with his human friends or with the yokai world. When his human friends are drawn into the supernatural and he's the only one who can help, how will Natsume respond?

Kamisama Hajimemashita: Why Nanami Momozono Is My Queen

When I grow up, I want to be like Nanami Momozono. There, I said it, it's true. After finishing the tenth volume of the Kamisama Kiss manga, it's an undeniable fact that Nanami is the coolest human kami in the history of supernatural shojo. And there is no better story of a down on her luck homeless teen girl who turns into a capable and fearless homegrown deity than hers.

First of all, there's something remarkable about the shojo manga Kamisama Hajimemashita aka Kamisama Kiss. It's a supernatural story, an inter-species romance, a human drama, a comedy of errors, and a fantastical action tale all rolled into one, but it is never fully overwhelmed by one of these elements alone.

And it's safe to say that Kamisama Kiss has quickly become one of my top favorite shojo titles. Not in recent years, but ever, because it's doing everything right and has a fantastic heroine to boot. Nanami Momozono is a gift from above, a queen in ability who deserves the crown, a local deity worth worshiping. In a genre where it seems a lot of heroines are an unfortunate shade of milquetoast, Nanami is assertive, energetic, and willing to make herself heard to protect the ones she loves and strengthen her position as the head of her shrine.

Book Sprites: It's A Fight To Survive, Fools!

Some times, you have time to write a 1,000+ word review of a single book. Some times, you just don't. For those times, we have Book Sprites, compact book reviews for the discerning reader with no time to lose. No major spoilers lie here!

In this post, we have volume 15 of Soul Eater, volume 15 of Natsume's Book of Friends, and volumes 2 and 3 of Attack on Titan. There's evil spiders, lurking ayakashi, and colossal wall-smashing titans. 

Spoilers for the above books lurk within!

Soul Eater volume 15 by Atsushi Ohkubo: The Baba Yaga Castle saga is over! The Baba Yaga Castle saga is over! Do the Excalibur dance and rejoice, because the Baba Yaga Castle saga is over! Not because it was a bad story arc - in fact, it's been the strongest arc so far in the manga - but because it exposed so many continuing plots beyond the walls of Arachne's castle that you just really want to go beyond it already. And in this volume, we do!

Manga Review: Natsume's Book of Friends GN 12

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 12
Author: Yuki Midorikawa
Viz Media/Shojo Beat
192 pages

Natsume meets a kindhearted yokai who has found a ruined letter he desperately needs to read. There is another yokai who has power over paper who might be able to help him. But this yokai's name is sealed in the Book of Friends... Will it be willing to help the grandson of the woman who bound it?! (Source: Viz Media)

It is officially the perfect sort of weather to read Natsume Yuujinchou: when the world is cold and blustery, and you need sweet, warm stories to wrap yourself around and get lost in. If any series would be my top choice for such treatment, it would be Natsume's. This twelfth volume is yet another reason why Natsume's Book of Friends continues to be the best supernatural/slice-of-life series running with Shojo Beat.

Also, Nyanko-sensei is truly the best sidekick - although the walking maneki neko would probably lose his mind if he heard himself being referred to as such. Ha!

Book Sprites: Natsume, Shugo Chara Chan, Blue Exorcist

Some times, you have time to write a 1,000+ word review of a single book. Some times, you just don't. For those times, we have Book Sprites, compact book reviews for the discerning reader with no time to lose. No major spoilers lie here!

Shugo Chara Chan! volume 2 by Peach-Pit: If you liked the first volume of Shugo Chara Chan! - surprise, it's more of the same! Amu's guardians take a antic-filled trip through the various seasons and their respective holidays, and in their usual fashion, make a mess out of everything. It was cute and fluffy and ultimately forgettable. Thank goodness for the Kodansha Comics' habit of giving us end notes because this volume is swimming in Japanese cultural references, ones that entire jokes hinge upon understanding.

The crossover chapters with various manga titles like Arisa and Hell Girl were entertaining enough. Maybe we'll get lucky and get a crossover with Yuu Watase... Or is she even Kodansha? Hrm.

Blue Exorcist volume 5 by Kazue Kato: I can see where the anime deviated from the manga, because this is a piece of action sorely missing from the animated adaptation. We're seeing the repercussions of revealing Rin's devilish heritage, and the affect of it on his classmates are very palpable in this book. We also see more of the Rin/Yukio brotherly dynamic, as Yukio continues to fight to become a better exorcist and go against his own blood. The hunt for a demonic eye with terrible powers takes Rin and his group to Kyoto and into even more family drama, only with Bon and Shiwa.

Looking forward to how Bon will deal with his personal issues before the fight to regain the eye commences. Also, damn Yukio, you even make an oversized Hazmat suit look good. Ah, Cross Academy, how we love your attractive glasses-wearing instructors.

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 11 by Yuki Midorikawa: This week on Natsume Yuujinchou - YOUR HEART CRYING AND BURSTING INTO A THOUSAND PIECES. So, typical Midorikawa! In this volume, we see Natsume grow as a character as he spends time with his friends and returns to his childhood home, going back into a painful and melancholy past. It's wonderful to see Natsume open up to his friends more and more, although he still has things he must hold back because they hurt too much. Natsume's utter selflessness continues to break my heart. Take care of yourself, Natsume!

Also, it's too cute to see Nyanko-sensei insist that he's only hanging around Natume for the Book of Friends when it's clear that the great spirit has become protective of Natsume and genuinely cares for the boy. Oh, Nyankichi! I can't blame Taki for her initial reaction to seeing Nyanko-sensei; I would want to cuddle him, too!

News: NIS America Licenses Natsume Yuujinchou Anime

Hey, look, the first anime I ever wrote about for License Line has been licensed for retail release! I'll definitely be preordering this title the second it becomes available (all four seasons of it!).

Santa Ana, CA (December 30, 2011) – NIS America is excited to announce the acquisition of Natsume’s Book of Friends (working title; JPN: Natsume Yujin-cho), an extraordinary heartwarming drama about the relationship forged between a high school student and his spirit companions. The title is produced by the powerhouse Brain’s-Base and Takahiro Omori. NIS America will release the retail version of Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 4, which will begin airing on Crunchyroll in January 2012, as well as retail releases of seasons 1 through 3. The retail release for Natsume’sBook of Friends will come in NIS America’s highly praised premium packaging.

You can read the whole of NISA's press release here. You can also watch streaming subbed episodes of Natsume Yuujinchou on Crunchyroll.

Manga Review: Natsume's Book of Friends GN 10

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 10

Author: Yuki Midorikawa

Viz Media/Shojo Beat

192 pages

One of Natsume’s elementary school classmates is in town, but the unexpected reunion is for a dark purpose. Shibata knows Natsume’s secret, and threatens to expose it if Natsume doesn’t do what he says!

Spoiler warning: Contains major spoilers for the Natsume Yuujinchou manga series so far. Read on with caution!

Natsume’s Book of Friends is still the best supernatural shojo manga you aren’t reading even though you most definitely should be. It has a lot of things going for it, like gorgeous artwork and an amazing cast of characters, but this particular volume highlights one of its best strengths: the continuing character arc of one Takashi Natsume, the boy who can see yokai. In this most recent volume, he has some true moments of growth related to his relations with both humans and the supernatural which are beautiful to witness, and it’s this kind of gradual yet worthwhile development in a protagonist that makes Natsume’s story an essential one for manga fans across the board.

Manga Review: Natsume's Book of Friends GN 9

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 9

Author: Yuki Midorikawa

Viz Media/Shojo Beat

192 pages

Natsume learns that no good deed goes unpunished when an irate yokai accuses him of stealing her ring when she came to the Fujiwara house to get her name returned. Natsume thinks he knows where the ring has disappeared to, but can he find it in time, or will the place he’s come to think of as home be destroyed by the vengeful yokai?!

Spoiler warning: Contains major spoilers for the Natsume Yuujinchou manga series so far. Read on with caution!

There are no words in the English language yet invented to describe how much I absolutely love the Natsume Yuujinchou manga. The linguistics of the world have not yet accurately formed a vocabulary for the feelings that well deep inside my heart every time I open the latest volume of Natsume’s stories, or the feelings that linger within me when I close the book for the last time, already anticipating the next volume in the series. 

It is one of those magical series that you have to read to understand why, and volume nine is a landmark volume for everyone involved – for Natsume, for Nyanko-sensei, for his friends both human and yokai – but it does all of these things quietly, intelligently, in typical Yuujinchou fashion. And this is what makes Natsume’s Book Of Friends a must-read manga across the board.

Manga Review: Natsume's Book of Friends GN 8

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 8

Author: Yuki Midorikawa

Viz Media/Shojo Beat

192 pages

Spoiler warning: Contains some spoilers for the Natsume Yuujinchou manga series so far. Read on with caution!

Nyanko Sensei is recovering after being wounded in the last yokai incident, so Takashi is on his own when he accidentally releases a yokai right before the school festival. With new friends and his ever-strengthening relationship with the Fujiwaras, Takashi has more reasons than ever to keep the supernatural at bay. But does he stand a chance without Nyanko Sensei's power to back him up?

Manga Review: Natsume's Book of Friends GN 7

Natsume's Book of Friends volume 7

Author: Yuki Midorikawa

Viz Media/Shojo Beat

200 pages

Someone is attacking yokai and stealing their blood, and Takashi is dismayed to discover that the assailant is human! The more he investigates the attacks, the more danger he finds himself in as he digs deeper into the occult world of the exorcists. Someone is planning something horrible and even the help of Natori – actor and exorcist extraordinaire – might not be enough to save the yokai . . . or Takashi!

Spoiler warning: Slight spoilers for what happens in this volume are in the review below.

In this volume of Natsume Yuujinchou (I just can't get used to calling it by its translated name!), we get an eerily close work into the world of exorcists, examine the relationships of one Natsume Takashi, see yokai learning how to play shadow tag, and see one of manga-ka Yuki Midorikawa's earlier short works – which, it will surprise no one, involves the supernatural world blending in with the human world. All in all, another outstanding volume of manga that deserves praise as well as fannish examination. And, of course, plenty of squee over Nyanko-sensei being typical adorable stubborn-headed Nyanko-sensei.

Read the rest of the review after the jump!

AMV Of The Week: Drawn Dream

Some AMVs are so gorgeous, so skillfully put together, that they should be presented without commentary lest words break the spell of a beautifully crafted presentation. Drawn Dream is one of them. It is arguably one of the best Natsume Yuujinchou fan vids in existence. Enjoy with all of your heart.

AMV: Drawn Dream
Author: Silent Man Anime
Music: "Life in Technicolour" by Coldplay
Warnings: None applicable.

Initial Thoughts - Natsume Yuujinchou San

It's back! It's back! Strike up the band, start a parade, get the party started, Natsume Yuujinchou is back! I mean. Ahem. As a huge Natsume Yuujinchou fan since the anime started - and have since started reading the manga with equal amounts of love - the return of Natsume and company is a fresh breath in a season that isn't looking too great in terms of originality or quality.

Warning: contains spoilers for the episode described after the jump break.

License Line: All the Strange, Strange Creatures

What is License Line? Put simply, it's a bi-weekly feature on Nagareboshi Reviews in which yours truly posts about a certain anime/manga series that truly, desperately needs to be licensed and put on my shelves ASAP - from the obscure but well-deserving manga to the stream worthy but not yet DVD licensed anime.

For the first edition of License Line, I find it only apt to feature an anime series whose third season has just debuted on the fourth - the always charming supernatural slice of life known as Natsume Yuujinchou (夏目友人帳), also known as Natsume's Book Of Friends (as Viz has translated it for the manga's English release). That's right - an anime that is both supernatural and slice of life. How does Natsume Yuujinchou manage this precarious balance of seemingly opposite genres? With the greatest of ease and knowing when to keep one element from overwhelming the other.

What is Natsume Yuujinchou? Natsume Takashi has never had an easy life. Being born with the ability to see ayakashi - otherwordly spirits - Natsume has felt disconnected from the world of the living due to his abilities and from the world of the spirits due to being a mortal boy. Keeping this ability a secret has made his life extremely difficult and the idea of friends seem like a distant memory to him. When he inherits a mysterious book from his grandmother, Reiko, who also had the sight, Natsume's life is soon turned upside-down. His 'book of friends' contains the names of all the ayakashi Reiko met in her lifetime who she tricked into giving her their name, thus binding them to Reiko for life - but now that Reiko's death is leaking out into the world of spirits, everyone is itching to free their name from the book or capture the book themselves, gaining control over hundreds of ayakashi in Japan. With the snarky sidekick Nyanko-sensei at his side (an ayakashi trapped in the shape of a lucky cat), Natsume is on a quest to return the names of the ayakashi to their rightful owners as well as manage to balance his new entrance into the spirit world with his continuing life as a mortal teenage boy in the human world.

Why should it be licensed? Because this anime is quality with a capital Q. Watching an episode is akin to drinking a calming cup of tea during a lazy summer afternoon that fills you up slowly and, as you reach the bottom, leaves you melancholy in the best way possible. It can be compared to the equally balanced supernatural slice of life Mushishi, although Natsume Yuujinchou comes with a regular cast and a permanent setting along with a main character who isn't a wanderer and therefore is slightly easier to connect to. It is a beautifully rendered series in both art and story with an involving cast of characters (especially the wisecracking morally ambiguous Nyanko-Sensei) that will endear to any fan of XXXHOLiC or Amatsuki – although without the noodle limbs and the confusing storylines, respectfully.

Viz Media, make an honest franchise out of Natsume Yuujinchou? You already have the manga – it’s only perfect that they should bring out the anime as well. The fact that neither Natsume Yuujinchou or Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou are sitting on my shelves with my other anime DVDs is a sad fact indeed. Someone should correct it. And maybe, just maybe, release some Nyanko-sensei plushies as well? ♥

You can watch Natsume Yuujinchou streaming online at Crunchyroll!