- Type: TV
- Studio: Brain's Base
- Publish Date 2008-07-08
- Status: Completed
- Genre: Animation Comedy Drama Fantasy Horror Slice of Life Supernatural
- Scores: 2.53 by 4,405 reviews
- Duration: 24 min
- Views: 448
Natsume's Book of Friends
Takashi Natsume has never fit in because of an odd ability to see mysterious beings called youkai. He was left alone and abandoned after being moved from one foster family to another. He has gradually distanced himself from his current caregivers and classmates since he has come to terms with the fact that no one will ever believe him. Natsume unexpectedly releases Madara, a powerful spirit that takes the guise of a lucky cat, when he mistakenly destroys an intangible barrier. Madara discovers Natsume's striking similarity to his deceased grandmother Reiko Natsume, an outcast who rose to fame in the youkai community for publishing the Book of Friends. It now belongs to Natsume, along with the ability to summon the written names of the youkai Reiko vanquished. Natsume chooses to keep the book despite having no interest in its abilities in order to preserve his grandmother's memories and keep nefarious youkai away from it. As a result, he strikes a bargain with Madara, giving him the book when his allotted time is over in exchange for Madara serving as Natsume's unofficial bodyguard (also known as Nyanko-sensei). Natsume's connection with youkai and humans gradually gets better as a result of his newly discovered objective of liberating those Reiko had sealed.