Natsume Yūjinchou

[MelancholicMariya]

Hey.

I was looking at the discussion threads a while ago and I decided to have a little look at Natsume Yujinchou san's discussion thread and checked out an episode or two of that season. It seems pretty good yet this is like.. the third season.

Now I ask this question, would you recommend me importing this series' Blu-ray Box, which contains the first two series, from Japan if I am a fan of what I saw of season 3. Now, I am a fan of Baccano and Durarara!! (The directors two other works.) yet I know they're not much alike, this is a very different anime, I just enjoy that directors work. Would it be worth getting if I'm a fan of his work?

Also, I am really into very Japanese comedy anime like Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Katte ni Kaizou, and Natsume Yujinchou comes off as very Japanese and it's a comedy.

With that in mind, would you recommend I just buy this based off of what I saw, or would you recommend I buy a few volumes of Viz's manga to make a decision?

[something]

Now I ask this question, would you recommend me importing this series' Blu-ray Box, which contains the first two series, from Japan if I am a fan of what I saw of season 3.
Probably. I've only seen Ep 1 of San so far but it's totally the same feeling as the first two seasons. And if you like the atmosphere you'll like the earlier episodes.

Now, I am a fan of Baccano and Durarara!! (The directors two other works.) yet I know they're not much alike, this is a very different anime, I just enjoy that directors work. Would it be worth getting if I'm a fan of his work?
Even if it's the same director, the show is too different to give a meaningful answer.

Also, I am really into very Japanese comedy anime like Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Katte ni Kaizou, and Natsume Yujinchou comes off as very Japanese and it's a comedy.
I wouldn't call it a comedy at all actually, and is soooo not even close to Zetsubou. It has some funny moments, usually via Nyanko-sensei, but the main thrust is emotional, sweet (and often bittersweet) stories - sometimes with a dash of action - about Takashi's encounters with youkai. Generally it's episodic, with stories about Takashi's grandmother (Reiko) being a common thread holding it all together, linking past and present. Takashi is only human, his lifespan just the blink of an eye to the youkai, so the links between Reiko past and Takashi present provide some really well-done bookends to each youkai's story.

[MelancholicMariya]

I wouldn't call it a comedy at all actually, and is soooo not even close to Zetsubou. It has some funny moments, usually via Nyanko-sensei, but the main thrust is emotional, sweet (and often bittersweet) stories - sometimes with a dash of action - about Takashi's encounters with youkai. Generally it's episodic, with stories about Takashi's grandmother (Reiko) being a common thread holding it all together, linking past and present. Takashi is only human, his lifespan just the blink of an eye to the youkai, so the links between Reiko past and Takashi present provide some really well-done bookends to each youkai's story.

That actually sounds more appealing than what I thought the series was. My example of Zetsubou-sensei was poor, I aplogise, what I actually meant by that was is, Zetsubou Sensei is very rich in Japanese culture in some ways, and Natsume Yujinchou seemed like it had a lot of Japanese culture in it too. I may be very wrong here, but it came off as very cultural in some ways, not in the style of comedy.

But yes this sounds pretty interesting. And for a final question, how is the animation for season 1 and 2? Is it very limited to specific scenes or is it high quality most of the time?

I ask this because Brain's Base usually has crazy good animation, Baccano!, Mawaru Penguindrum and Spice & Wolf, yet with Durarara!! they seemed to save the very good animation for very specific scenes. Does Natsume have good animation or is it just all about the atmosphere? I noticed Zoku's opening having some very lovely animation and atmosphere, but openings usually have good animation anyway.

Either way, thanks for the help. I'm certainly more interested in this series now.

[something]

That actually sounds more appealing than what I thought the series was. My example of Zetsubou-sensei was poor, I aplogise, what I actually meant by that was is, Zetsubou Sensei is very rich in Japanese culture in some ways, and Natsume Yujinchou seemed like it had a lot of Japanese culture in it too. I may be very wrong here, but it came off as very cultural in some ways, not in the style of comedy.
In the sense that it's all about traditional Japanese youkai and all, yes. Lots of chatter about gods and shrines and all that stuff.

But yes this sounds pretty interesting. And for a final question, how is the animation for season 1 and 2? Is it very limited to specific scenes or is it high quality most of the time?
I... don't remember exactly, other than that I've always remembered it as a good looking show, with some really beautiful backgrounds. Lots of forests and nature and stuff. There's not always a huge amount of movement but it doesn't need it most of the time. When it does, it does it well. So yes, it's pretty, and consistently so.

[nakimushi]

Hey.

Now I ask this question, would you recommend me importing this series' Blu-ray Box, which contains the first two series, from Japan if I am a fan of what I saw of season 3. Now, I am a fan of Baccano and Durarara!! (The directors two other works.) yet I know they're not much alike, this is a very different anime, I just enjoy that directors work. Would it be worth getting if I'm a fan of his work?


Well, as something has said, Natsume Yuujinchou is completely different from Bacanno and Durarara (however I think all 3 are excellent).


Also, I am really into very Japanese comedy anime like Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Katte ni Kaizou, and Natsume Yujinchou comes off as very Japanese and it's a comedy.

Well, it isn't a comedy. If I had to pick one show that was perhaps closest in type and execution to Natsume Yuujinchou, it would be Mushishi. It obviously isn't the same, but if you liked Mushishi, you would probably like Natsume Yuujinchou as well. Unlike Mushishi, Natsume Yuujinchou is set in a present day rural, scenic Japanese town. So from what you said, that may be a plus. I think the setting is great.


With that in mind, would you recommend I just buy this based off of what I saw, or would you recommend I buy a few volumes of Viz's manga to make a decision?

Well Crunchyroll has the first two as well as the third season (http://www.crunchyroll.com/natsume-yujincho), (viewable in US, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden.) so I would personally think you would get a better idea of whether or not you would like the first two seasons, by actually watching a few episodes, than you would by reading the manga.

Just to warn you, I'm very biased towards the show - I really like it a lot. I bought the R2J DVDs, as well as the BD box of the first two seasons, and will be importing the third season as well.

[MelancholicMariya]

Thanks for the replies.

I just watched two episodes of Natsume on Crunchyroll and I am very sold on this. I am however going to buy the manga too as I am not too keen watching anime online regularly. I will now and again watch a couple of episodes of a new show and decide as to if it's for me or not, but 2 episodes is usually enough.

So I'll buy the manga for now, save up for the BD-Box (which won't take long at all.) and possibly get season 3 during it's initial release if I can afford it, if not I can get it all at once.

Again, thanks for all the help.