OP: “Alca” by Hinata Kashiwagi (Kashiwagi Hinata)
For my part, there aren’t that many anime the place the phrase “timeless” applies. However Natsume Yuujinchou is one, identical to his emotional photograph adverse, Busy (which is much more so, given the vagueness of the time interval wherein it’s set). Natsume Yuujinchou by no means actually adjustments a lot. And neither does the me who seems to be at it. Each time this franchise provides a brand new incarnation, I am instantly transported to the individual I used to be the final time I watched it. Regardless of how a lot time has handed, it is as if no time has handed in any respect. And if that is not the definition of timeless, I do not know what’s.
However a variety of time has over, that can’t be denied. It has been seven years since season 6, simply the longest hiatus but. Why? Who is aware of. Midorikawa Yuki’s manga nonetheless sells a ton, for 21 years. Gross sales are down a bit, however for a sequence of its age, From Natsume numbers are remarkably resilient. Perhaps it is simply tougher to get the important thing employees collectively lately. The godfather of anime, Oomori Takahiro, has been filling the imprecise position of “major director” for some time now, and it would not look like Shuka is producing that a lot normally.
Regardless of the purpose for the lengthy wait, it is at all times nice to have this present again. And as you would possibly anticipate, not a lot has modified. The animation continues to be crisp and clear, the artwork nonetheless pleasing with that mushy EH Shephard coloration palette. Kamiya Hiroshi has gotten older, however his voice by no means actually match, so I am used to it by now. And Inoue Kazuhiko stays a real surprise as Nyanko-sensei. It is top-of-the-line character-seiyuu combos in anime historical past, and I may by no means think about anybody else taking part in the position.
“Shichi” begins with what was actually archtypical Natsume Yuujinchou episode if there ever was one. A few children break a window – and a bit of pottery – with a baseball. Natsume provides a youkai its identify again. All very regular, however this time the grateful Youkai insists on giving his benefactor a present. Natsume is reluctant to simply accept it, however the youkai floats away (he seems to be some sort of cloud) earlier than he can return the present. It’s a sort of ash that may give miraculous properties to all kings, akin to sake cups with sakura scent if ash is utilized in its creation.
Tanuma-kun items Natsume some potter’s clay left over from his father’s kiln. Whereas Nyanko-sensei urges him to make a sake cup, Natsume is keen to make a vase. In truth, one of many properties of the ash is {that a} minimize flower could make a minimize flower reside for 30 days if the ash is a part of the vase. However ultimately Natsume despairs of his capability to create one and decides to form one thing for which he has a mannequin. And so Mini-Sensei is born – however probably not born till the resident buffoons are available and trigger the accident the place ashes are thrown on the nonetheless moist Mini-Sensei statue.
Mini-Sensei is a cute little factor, though it is not instantly clear whether or not he is useful or mischievous. Ultimately, the full-size mannequin realizes that he can talk with Mini through telepathy. Seems he was initially a part of a Buddha statue, Jouzansohou, ended up in a ceramic hen within the possession of a priest, and that hen was what shattered the baseball to start with. So begins Mini-Sensei’s odyssey to return to his statue – the ash’s magical powers have allowed Natsume’s clay cat to behave as a vessel for his soul. It is extremely a lot a traditional N.Y story, albeit on the extra relaxed facet of the ledger when it comes to hazard or pathos.
Considered one of my core rules at Natsume Yuujinchou is that the eps that concentrate on Youkai are higher than those that concentrate on the human forged. One other is that it is higher in a wistful, bittersweet mode than when it illuminates on a standard, conflict-driven plot. I would be proud of a complete season of episodes like this, regardless that I do know full nicely that will not occur. It is all about steadiness – every part Natsume season is nice, however the perfect have been those that went exhausting with what the sequence does greatest.
ED: “Komari Warai” by Toshiki Kondo (Toshiki Kondo)
