Note: This is a content review for season one only (episodes 1-13) of Natsume’s Book of Friends.

Natsume Takashi is an orphaned teenaged boy who has the ability to see spirits; because of his unique ability he has been shuffled around to live with various members of his extended family his entire life, developing a reputation as a strange and problematic child, and being ostracized by most of the people around him. Our story begins as he moves to the countryside to live at the home of some distant relatives, and discovers that his mysterious grandmother, Reiko, who shared his gift, once lived in the area - and has left behind a book of contracts she made with the local spirits. The book holds the names of those spirits Reiko defeated, and whoever has control of the book also has control of all the spirits whose names are written in it. Natsume resolves to return the names to their owners, and learns more about his grandmother and her life in the process. He makes a deal with a powerful spirit who takes the form of a fat cat to guard him as he returns the names; in exchange for the protection, the cat - nicknamed Nyanko-sensei - will receive the book should Natsume die before all the names are returned.

It sounds like a generic premise at best - but unexpectedly, instead of the boy vs. demon or “gotta catch ‘em all” sort of story one would expect, Natsume Yuujinchou takes the route of something quite different - it is a slow-moving tale about friendship, family, unconditional love, simple kindness and goodness, and personal growth. At its core it is a quiet and emotional story about loneliness and the difficulty of overcoming it.

The narrative takes the form of standalone stories in which Natsume helps a spirit or returns a name, tied together only by the underlying character and relationship development. The stories are sometimes cute, sometimes touching, sometimes bittersweet, and always rewarding.

Natsume’s character and development are the central focus of the story; he is an awkward, quiet, and reckless but ultimately good-hearted boy, who is developed throughout the story with a sensitivity and realism rarely found in fictional stories. It is his innate kindness and determination to do good that affects those around him - both human and spirit - and ultimately wins the day. As Natsume helps the spirits and humans around him and returns the names from his grandmother’s book, he builds his own metaphorical book of friends.

The animation is not outstanding, but it is good and does its job well. The colors, shading, and lighting all lend to a soft and gentle atmosphere; the use of still frames adds to the tranquil atmosphere of the story, and the background art - which is based on actual locations in the countryside of Japan - is especially noteworthy for its beauty. The music is simple, but lovely - it is memorable, and suits the series perfectly.

Natsume Yuujinchou is simple, but it carries itself well - it is graceful and charming, and manages to be sweet and sentimental without ever descending into drippiness. Natsume Yuujinchou does not boast the most exciting action, the most deep or complex themes, the most intriguing narrative, or the best humor - but it certainly makes up for it with heart.

Violence: Natsume is always being targeted by the spirits, many of which can be pretty malevolent; though violence is at a minimum in the first season, there are a few grisly scenes and Natsume is frequently in danger. Natsume also has a tendency to punch things when he is in danger or simply runs out of patience with Nyanko-sensei.
Theological Themes: As a reading of the summary would probably imply, there are lots and lots of spirits and monsters involved. The story is based around Japanese folklore and Shinto beliefs. There are local Shinto gods and shrines and festivals, Buddhist priests, exorcisms, and spirit possessions involved.
Other Problematic Themes: There is some minor language in the translation provided for Crunchyroll’s streaming episodes. Nyanko-sensei really likes his alcohol. One of the very few recurring characters in the series is a female spirit who seems to have had a crush on Natsume’s grandmother Reiko. It is only brushed on lightly, but is present. And, though many of the spirits Natsume befriends are cute or harmless looking, some of the spirits' designs would probably be frightening for young children.

Violence: Violence is usually kept to a minimum. Natsume gets chased far more than he gets attacked. I think blood was only present once for a brief moment. There is also some light slapstick.

Sex and Nudity: None.

Theological Themes: Well, this is all about yokai. Natsume can see them, but most others can't. Reiko is said to have great spiritual power, which allowed her to take the names of all the yokai. Some of the yokai are benevolent, others not so much. In one of the stories, a yokai was mistaken for a god and was revered, Spoiler: however without worshipers, it could not stay alive.

Problematic Themes: There is some mild swearing, though its' super infrequent to the point where I could count it on one hand. Nyanko-sensei also gets drunk a few times.

Overall: Natsume's Book of Friends is one of the most wholesome and refreshing shows that I've seen in a while. It really makes me feel at peace. Even the stories with more bittersweet endings feel right. It never made me feel sad, only that things are going the way they should. I honestly feel safe and hopeful whenever I watch it.

This is an episodic anime, where Natsume deals with a few different yokai each episode, though a few look like they will be recurring characters. Some of them are friendly and just want help or their names back. Others aren't and seek to harm people or take the Book of Friends.

Natsume is an interesting protagonist. He is very kind and gentle, always hoping to take the path that helps people. However, he is also very sad and reluctant to open up. He's been through a lot, and he does not want to put that burden on other people. He sometimes comes off as disinterested in people, even though he truly does care about them. One of my favorite things about it is watching him grow to care about other people and yokai, and slowly working towards forming relationships with others. I love him. He's my son.

The other characters have a lot of potential too. Nyanko-sensei, our other lead, is rather vain and troublesome, but he grows to care about others, particularly Natsume. I look forward to seeing what they do with the rest of the cast, particularly since the last episode tied in a lot of the more important side characters in a very engaging way.

The art and color scheme is very atmospheric, adding to the soothing nature of the show. The character designs aren't my favorite, but they are very fitting.

I'd say preteens and up for this one, mainly due to the slower nature of the show, and some of the yokai being a bit creepy for younger audiences. I do think older children could give it a shot if they could handle that.