(L) Natsume Yuujinchou / Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou

[Usami Haru]

Natori is such a pimp. First he has not one, but two female spirits at his service. And when he tries to exorcise the other one, she goes with him! Akira Ishida always gets the ladies.

Apart from that, just watched the first 9 episodes and I have to say it, I love Madara/Nyanko-sensei, best cat ever! Also it's nice to see Kamiya Hiroshi after Zetsubou Sensei and the trap Gundam 00 in a totally different role.

[LKK]

I just blitzed through the first 9 episodes these last 2 days. What strikes me most about the series is the way it evokes those mythic memories of lazy summer days when life was tinted with streaks of melancholy but predominantly colored with rays of hope. Even though there were moments where tears were threatening (the lake swallow girl, the little fox cub, and the firefly spirit episodes choked me up), the tone of the series as a whole has been uplifting and full of hopeful promise. In episode 9, when Natsume said he would be sad if he lost the ability to see spirits, what a change that was for him from the beginning of the series. The animation style -- with its slightly washed out color palette and simplistic character renditions -- reinforces the feelings that we're looking at things through the mists of fond memory. I'm smitten.

Edit: Has anyone read the manga? How does it compare to the anime? Does it have a similar atmosphere and tone?

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by LKK

Does it have a similar atmosphere and tone?

Pretty much yes. It's the same as how the Mushishi anime and manga compare --- they're basically the same.

[Tiberium Wolf]

Ep 10:
Oh no! Why no Koto playing? I feel like I was cheated!

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Shiroth

Pretty much yes. It's the same as how the Mushishi anime and manga compare --- they're basically the same.

Great! Thank you. I'll be checking out the manga then.

[FlareKnight]

Was also a bit disappointed about not hearing the Koto. Was messing around with my audio seeing if my speakers broke down or something . Though I could get the meaning why we didn't get to hear it. Since the song really wasn't for the audience or anyone like that. Just for Bullseye . Though still would have liked to hear it since playing up the musical instrument kind of gives expectation of hearing it.

Natsume really has to be careful about getting possessed. Sensei fully fails as a bodyguard in this one. Gets attacked at the start by Bullseye without any help though he did handle it. Then gets attacked by a youkai and Bullseye has to come in for the rescue. Then Natsume jumps after the Koto and still no help. It all worked out in the end but just a thought I had through the episode.

A very interesting day with an uncomfortable feeling left with the male friends of Natsume . Just too much fun with that.

[White Manju Bun]

Originally Posted by LKK

I just blitzed through the first 9 episodes these last 2 days. What strikes me most about the series is the way it evokes those mythic memories of lazy summer days when life was tinted with streaks of melancholy but predominantly colored with rays of hope. Even though there were moments where tears were threatening (the lake swallow girl, the little fox cub, and the firefly spirit episodes choked me up), the tone of the series as a whole has been uplifting and full of hopeful promise. In episode 9, when Natsume said he would be sad if he lost the ability to see spirits, what a change that was for him from the beginning of the series. The animation style -- with its slightly washed out color palette and simplistic character renditions -- reinforces the feelings that we're looking at things through the mists of fond memory. I'm smitten.

Edit: Has anyone read the manga? How does it compare to the anime? Does it have a similar atmosphere and tone?

Told you, youd like it

So far the firefly epi has been my fav, gawd I cried

I know Shiro answered your manga ques but I agree, it has the same tone, a bit more is added (just little stuff) but same calm, soothing feel to it (sadly of course we cant hear Nyanko-sensei in it ).

Edit: Question and this might just be cuz Im not familar with Japanese lore and whatnot but is there a reason why alot of the youkai seem to wear masks or atleast cover their faces? Espc the female ones?

[FireChick]

I saw episode 10 and...I KNEW IT!! I KNEW Noto Mamiko was Asagi's voice! I sooooooo knew it!!

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by White Manju Bun

Question and this might just be cuz Im not familar with Japanese lore and whatnot but is there a reason why alot of the youkai seem to wear masks or atleast cover their faces? Espc the female ones?

I've wondered about that, too. Earlier in the thread it was suggested that Tsubame's mask in ep. 6 was there to cover "demon eyes," but we eventually see Hotaru's face in ep. 8, and her eyes look normal. Like Manju I think there's some deeper cultural symbolism that I'm missing here.

I, too, was sad not to hear the koto, but I understood it from a dramatic perspective. And what was that with Nyanko-sensei's look the morning Natsume woke up possessed? That had to be one of Nyanko's most hilarious expressions yet.

I assume only Natsume can see Nyanko-sensei. So what do his aunt and uncle think when he comes down for breakfast carrying an invisible cat? He must look like he's hugging himself.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

I assume only Natsume can see Nyanko-sensei. So what do his aunt and uncle think when he comes down for breakfast carrying an invisible cat? He must look like he's hugging himself.

It seems like Natsume is not the only one that can see sensei, because back in episode four one of Natsume's classmates commented oh how they thought they heard sensei speak. I'm sure there have been a few more cases in this series so far where people have seen him.

I'm not 100% sure why they can see sensei, so i hope it'll at least be explained at some point.

Also i'd love for a full explanation on the masks the human-formed youkai wear.

[Kirarakim]

I thought everyone could see Sensei in his cat form just not in his demon form. Because in episode 9 didn't Natsume get thrown out of the restaurant for bringing a pet inside?

[SeijiSensei]

Now that you mentioned it, that scene didn't make any sense to me either.

Nyanko-sensei looks like a "prosperity cat." He certainly doesn't look like any normal cat I've ever seen. That's why I thought only Natsume could he see him, since otherwise they'd be getting lots of extremely puzzled expressions from passers-by. If Nyanko was going to blend in, wouldn't he have chosen to look more like a normal kitty? Perhaps he can project some magic field so that people other than Natsume don't recognize how unreal he looks?

[Deathkillz]

@ SeijiSensei ~ Nyanko sensei is a strong enough "youkai" to have a physical form which everyone can see. But it is interesting if you note his unique appearence though despite how exaggerated he looks to the viewers, in the anime they could just see him as an unusually fat, tabby cat.

As for the masks I am guessing it may have something to do with how each of the youkais all have some kind of "attachment" to the physical land but to those who still have "good" in their hearts. Evil youkai just tend to manifest into all sorts of appearences but it seems like the "good ones" are easier at keeping a human form.

[Sorrow-K]

Ep 10

I'm going to disagree with most so far, since I thought the absence of music during the koto playing scene was a good thing. In a subdued work like this, the absence of music can be a lot more powerful than any piece of music, and they used sound effects like a river streaming by to set a gentle, yet hollow ambiance which I thought was perfect for that scene. It was unexpected as well. The easy thing for them to do would have been to put a piece of music in, but by doing something different and unexpected, they made it more powerful. Natsume described it as "a beautiful sound that I had never heard before" so you could even make the argument that trying to make that sound could have cheapened it. I genuinely think they did the right thing in this scene.

A lot of Natsume's classmates have suddenly become sexually confused. Another great piece of storytelling, but I couldn't help but wonder where Nyanko disappeared to when Natsume was in trouble. He didn't exactly answer when Natsume asked him.

[zzeroparticle]

Mixed on the whole lack of koto music thing in this episode. While I can definitely get on board the explanation that the music was meant for Bullseye's ears only (and a very good symbolic way to hammer that message home!), there were probably better ways to give the audience a feeling that the piece is just heavenly. I have no issue with them taking a koto-less approach because oftentimes, leaving it up to the audience's imagination can be more powerful than actually putting it in. While, I don't think it was done particularly well here, I do concede to it being rather difficult to pull off. Using the background noise from the stream felt like a page out of John Cage's 3'11'' which is... not the impression that I should be getting.

That issue aside, this episode's been consistent. The bit of hilarity in the first half kept me amused and the background story was on par with prior episodes, so can't say I'm disappointed in the storytelling department.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Sorrow-K

I'm going to disagree with most so far, since I thought the absence of music during the koto playing scene was a good thing. In a subdued work like this, the absence of music can be a lot more powerful than any piece of music, and they used sound effects like a river streaming by to set a gentle, yet hollow ambiance which I thought was perfect for that scene. It was unexpected as well. The easy thing for them to do would have been to put a piece of music in, but by doing something different and unexpected, they made it more powerful. Natsume described it as "a beautiful sound that I had never heard before" so you could even make the argument that trying to make that sound could have cheapened it. I genuinely think they did the right thing in this scene.

Like i already said, i was just expecting to hear the koto play --- that's the only reason why i was a little bit upset for that scene, though even still i do believe what they choose to happen for that scene had more of an impact, like you just mentioned.

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by Sorrow-K

Natsume described it as "a beautiful sound that I had never heard before" so you could even make the argument that trying to make that sound could have cheapened it. I genuinely think they did the right thing in this scene.

I think that was definitely the effect they were trying to achieve. By not playing a piece during that scene it leaves it up to the imagination of the viewers and what you think could have been the best sound, as people have different tastes I thought it was a good choice that they decided to leave it for viewers to think about.

A lot of Natsume's classmates have suddenly become sexually confused. Another great piece of storytelling, but I couldn't help but wonder where Nyanko disappeared to when Natsume was in trouble. He didn't exactly answer when Natsume asked him.

In a way, Nyanko is more of a "tough love" character than someone who will immediately lend a hand. He was probably close by during the attack and assessed on whether his help was needed during such a situation which wasn't needed because bullseye was there. But I am willing to think that he did help soften Natsume fall down that cliff

[Kanon]

So I'm not the only one that was a bit "shocked" by the Koto scene. They talked so much about Asagi's playing that I obviously couldn't wait to hear it, so not hearing anything surprised me at first. Well, in the end, I think it wasn't a bad idea to do this scene like this, for the reasons explained above.


I'm looking forward to the next episode more than usual, looks like we'll finally learn more about Nyanko-sensei ! I hope we'll see Reiko again too, it's been a while.

[ApostleOfGod]

Oh my Gosh.

I just got the ED.

I'm overflowing with joy. About to listen to this full ED for the first time. Will post thoughts on it later.

[Orchunter226]

Anyone know if there is, or will be, a Nyanko-sensei plush?

I want one rather badly.