Return to the Supernatural World
The highly anticipated seventh season of Natsume’s Book of Friends, also known as Natsume Yuujinchou Shichi, premiered on October 7, 2024, marking a return to the gentle world of yokai and the boy who can see them. This season, animated by Shuka, continues the heartwarming tradition of the series, blending supernatural elements with slice-of-life narratives. The show follows Takashi Natsume, a high school student with the ability to see spirits, and his adventures as he navigates his unique existence.
A Familiar Blend of the Supernatural and the Mundane
Season 7 maintains the series’ signature style, weaving together episodic stories that explore themes of friendship, love, and loneliness. Natsume’s journey of returning names to yokai from his grandmother Reiko’s “Book of Friends” remains central. Alongside this, the season delves deeper into the relationships between Natsume and his human friends, as well as the various spirits he encounters. This season continues to portray how Natsume deals with his ability to see yokai, which has often led to his isolation, and how he has developed a positive outlook by embracing his past trauma and supernatural abilities.
Episodes and Key Themes
The season unfolds with 13 episodes, each presenting unique stories. Some notable episodes include:
- The Fragment’s Lament: The premiere episode that sets the tone for the season, reintroducing us to Natsume’s world and his ongoing journey.
- Someday’s Garden: Explores themes of memory and connection through interactions with the spirits.
- Depths of the Page: Natsume investigates a curse in a bookstore, where symbols written by an evil spirit weaken anyone who sees them.
- Chobi’s Treasure: Focuses on a yokai’s search for a lost belonging, highlighting themes of loss and longing.
- The Abandoned Station, Two Wheels: Depicts Natsume’s interaction with a yokai in a deserted area, emphasizing the passage of time and the memories associated with places.
- A Difficult Two: The season progresses with more complex character interactions and situations.
- Natsume on the Moonlit Night: Delving deeper into Natsume’s feelings and how they impact his world.
- That Which Blocks The Ceremony: A story that explores the challenges of tradition and the spiritual world.
- The House Where a Promise Remains: Focuses on the weight of promises and their impact over time.
- Tell Me Your Name: The final episodes bring closure to some narratives and open new paths of character development.
- From the Path of Dreams: The season concludes with a look at how dreams and connections between people create Natsume’s world.
These episodes showcase the series’ ability to blend lighthearted moments with deeply emotional ones, consistently moving the audience to tears while simultaneously providing comfort.
Thematic Exploration
The seventh season continues to explore the series’ overarching themes:
- Friendship and Acceptance: Natsume’s relationships with his human friends, such as Kitamoto and Nishimura, take center stage, demonstrating their unwavering support and how they’ve come to accept him despite not knowing about the supernatural elements of his life. The series emphasizes the importance of human connections and found families, illustrating how Natsume’s bonds give him the strength to confront his past trauma.
- The Coexistence of Humans and Yokai: The show promotes coexistence, acceptance, and respect between humans and spirits, and how understanding the other can bring harmony.
- Loneliness and Belonging: Natsume’s past experiences of isolation are contrasted with his present sense of belonging, highlighting how his ability to see yokai, once a source of pain, has led him to profound connections with humans and spirits alike.
- Trauma and Healing: The show utilizes Natsume’s ability to see yokai as a metaphor for people on the margins of society, and focuses on how people can heal through their experiences.
Production and Animation
Shuka returns as the animation studio, ensuring consistency in the art style that fans have come to expect. The animation maintains its soft, watercolor-like aesthetic, which enhances the series’ gentle and melancholic atmosphere. The character designs are consistent with previous seasons, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the familiar world of Natsume. The production staff includes:
- Chief Director: Takahiro Omori
- Director: Hideki Ito
- Series Composer: Sadayuki Murai
- Character Designer: Akira Takada
- Creature Designer/Action Animation Director: Tatsuo Yamada
- Chief Animation Directors: Akira Takada, Orie Tanaka
- Art: Yukihiro Shibutani, Mao Miyake
- Color Design: Hiromi Miyawaki
- Screen Designer: Hitoshi Tamura
- Photography: Eiko Hiramoto
- Editor: Kazuhiko Seki
- Music Composer: Makoto Yoshimori
The soundtrack by Makoto Yoshimori remains a crucial element, with the opening theme “Alca” by Hinata Kashiwagi and ending theme “Komari Warai” by Toshiki Kondo, capturing the show’s emotional depth and creating a serene atmosphere.
Sadly, Yukihiro Shibutani, the art director for Natsume’s Book of Friends since its inception, passed away in September 2024. His contributions to the series’ visual identity will be remembered fondly.
Critical Reception and Impact
Natsume’s Book of Friends has garnered significant critical acclaim for its compelling storytelling, emotional depth, and unique blend of supernatural and slice-of-life elements. This season is no exception, continuing to resonate with audiences who appreciate its heartwarming narratives and exploration of complex themes. The show consistently receives recognition for its portrayal of Natsume’s personal growth, as he transforms from an ostracized boy into a young man who embraces his unique abilities and finds acceptance in his relationships.
The series has received multiple awards and nominations, including recognition from Anime Trending Awards for Takashi Natsume, and the show’s continued success highlights the enduring appeal of its themes of acceptance, friendship, and the beauty of everyday life, which are coupled with a touch of the supernatural. Its gentle exploration of spiritualism, traditions, and the interconnectedness of humans and spirits remains highly relevant in today’s world.
Where to Watch
Season 7 of Natsume’s Book of Friends is available for streaming on Crunchyroll, with episodes released weekly. The series is also available in some regions on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, although availability may vary.
A Fitting Finale
Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 7 provides a fitting conclusion to the anime series, offering viewers a blend of familiar comforts and new emotional depths. The season is a poignant reminder of the importance of human connection and acceptance and how trauma can be overcome through empathy and the bonds of friendship. For long-time fans of the series, this season serves as a heartfelt farewell to a world of gentle spirits, while newcomers will be easily drawn to the series’ unique charm. The series is a “special snowflake” fantasy that resonates with many for its gentle storytelling and themes of love, life, and loneliness. The series explores not just the beauty in the human and yokai worlds, but also the deeper emotional connections that exist between them.
