Natsume’s Book of Friends / Natsume Yūjin-Chō
Genres: slice of life, supernatural
Themes: folklore, Iyashikei, spirits
Objectionable content: Mild
Plot Summary: Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. Containing the names of these spirits, a binding contract was formed between the spirits and the owner of the book. Now, Natsume is determined to free the spirits and dissolve the contracts. With the help of a spirit cat, his days are filled trying to return the names to these spirits.
Number of episodes: 13
Vintage: 2008-07-07 to 2008-09-29
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Second Season / Zoku Natsume Yūjin-Chō
Genres: comedy, slice of life, supernatural
Themes: folklore, Iyashikei, spirits
Objectionable content: Mild
Plot Summary: Natsume is again meeting new youkai and helping them. A lot of friends join him along the way, he meets others who can also see the spirits and at times they join forces to solve the latest mystery. As always, Nyanko-sensei is there to help Natsume on his quests.
Number of episodes: 13
Vintage: 2009-01-05 to 2009-03-30
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Third Season / Natsume Yūjin-Chō San
Genres: slice of life, supernatural
Themes: spirits, youkai
Objectionable content: Mild
Plot Summary: Takashi Natsume sees spirits, and with the help of his lazy and sake-guzzling bodyguard Nyanko-sensei he returns to spirits their names that were stolen by his grandmother Reiko Natsume. Not all of the spirits are peaceful though, and he often fights to keep himself and his family and friends safe while at the same time fighting the loneliness that plagued him before he found his home.
Number of episodes: 13
Vintage: 2011-07-04 to 2011-09-26
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Fourth Season / Natsume Yūjin-Chō Shi
Genres: slice of life, supernatural
Themes: folklore, spirits
Objectionable content: Mild
Plot Summary: Takashi Natsume continues to return the names of the spirits that have been written in the “Book of Friends” he inherited from his grandmother, Reiko Natsume. While Natsume is still aided by the chubby Nyanko-sensei, he’s now helped by some of the friends he had made in his journey; be it human beings or spirits. As he becomes closer to both, Natsume faces the inevitable question of the sides he has to take especially when there is a conflict between the two.
Number of episodes: 13
Vintage: 2012-01-02
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Fifth Season / Natsume Yūjin-Chō Go
Genres: drama, supernatural
Themes: spirits
Objectionable content: Mild
Plot Summary: Takashi Natsume is a boy who’s been able to see youkai ever since he was a child. Ever since he inherited the “Book of Friends” from his grandmother Reiko, he and his self-proclaimed bodyguard Nyanko-sensei have spent their days returning names to the youkai who are bound by the book. As he meets the different youkai and people, he finds himself with many more things that he cares about. He wonders whether it’s right to keep secrets to protect someone as little by little he works up the courage to build even more friendships.
Number of episodes: 11
Vintage: 2016-10-04
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Sixth Season / Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku
Genres: drama, supernatural
Number of Episodes: 11 + 2 OVAs
Vintage: 2017-04-11 to 2017-06-20
Natsume’s Book of Friends: Seventh Season / Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku
Vintage: 2024-10-07
Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Itsuka Yuki no Hi ni (OAV) Vintage: 2014-02-05
Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Nyanko-sensei to Hajimete no Otsukai (OAV) Vintage: 2014-02-05
Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Utsusemi ni Musubu (movie) Vintage: 2018-09-29
