Natsume Yuujinchou Roku Specials
Summary: Suzunaru no Kirikabu
On a hot summer day, Takashi Natsume and his feline companion Madara take a walk to buy jelly. Suddenly a truck passes the two, running over an old, masked man who asks Natsume for help. The mysterious individual turns out to be a youkai, the spirit of the Suzunaru tree that was recently hit by lightning and cut down. As the tree withers away, the youkai requests Natsume to fulfill his one final wish: to bring him water every day until he draws his last breath.
Mugen no Kakera
Tamami, a young schoolgirl, counts her steps through a forest, following instructions on a piece of paper. She stops to take a break and falls asleep but is awakened by an odd talking cat. Through meeting the cat and his human partner, Natsume, she learns that the forest has its own separate world from the contemporary, where one can see things otherwise invisible. Putting her trust in the duo, Tamami tells them about the story of how she helped a white owl that reappeared in her dreams to lead her back inside the bizarre forest.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Suzunaru no Kirikabu
On a hot summer day, Takashi Natsume and his feline companion Madara take a walk to buy jelly. Suddenly a truck passes the two, running over an old, masked man who asks Natsume for help. The mysterious individual turns out to be a youkai, the spirit of the Suzunaru tree that was recently hit by lightning and cut down. As the tree withers away, the youkai requests Natsume to fulfill his one final wish: to bring him water every day until he draws his last breath.
Mugen no Kakera
Tamami, a young schoolgirl, counts her steps through a forest, following instructions on a piece of paper. She stops to take a break and falls asleep but is awakened by an odd talking cat. Through meeting the cat and his human partner, Natsume, she learns that the forest has its own separate world from the contemporary, where one can see things otherwise invisible. Putting her trust in the duo, Tamami tells them about the story of how she helped a white owl that reappeared in her dreams to lead her back inside the bizarre forest.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Natsume Yuujinchou Roku Specials Trailers
Natsume Yuujinchou Roku Specials Pictures
Natsume Yuujinchou Roku Specials Review
Natsume Yuujinchou Roku Specials — Suzunaru no Kirikabu On a hot summer day, Takashi Natsume and his feline companion Madara take a walk to buy jelly. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Slice of Life, Supernatural conventions as a Special work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.4). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Natsume Yuujinchou Roku Specials offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Slice of Life, Supernatural, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Madara
Main
Inoue, Kazuhiko
Japanese
Madara
Main
Wehkamp, Christopher
English
Natsume, Takashi
Main
Kamiya, Hiroshi
Japanese
Natsume, Takashi
Main
Gibbs, Adam
English
Aiko
Supporting
Clark, Leah
English
Aiko
Supporting
Kuno, Misaki
Japanese
Fujiwara, Shigeru
Supporting
Itou, Eiji
Japanese
Fujiwara, Shigeru
Supporting
Magill, Seth
English
Fujiwara, Touko
Supporting
Itou, Miki
Japanese
Fujiwara, Touko
Supporting
AuBuchon, Jennifer
English
Gingko Tree Youkai
Supporting
Ogata, Kenichi
Japanese
Hakuhi
Supporting
Hayami, Show
Japanese
Hakuhi
Supporting
DuBose, Bruce
English
Hinoe
Supporting
Okamura, Akemi
Japanese
Hinoe
Supporting
Searcy, Molly
English
Hitotsume no Chuukyuu Youkai
Supporting
Matsuyama, Takashi
Japanese
Hitotsume no Chuukyuu Youkai
Supporting
Mathis, Brian
English
Kitamoto, Atsushi
Supporting
Suganuma, Hisayoshi
Japanese
Kitamoto, Atsushi
Supporting
Haimoto, Mike
English
Misuzu
Supporting
Kuroda, Takaya
Japanese
Staff
Deai, Kotomi
Director, Episode Director
Kawakubo, Keiji
Episode Director
Kunisawa, Mariko
Script
Yoshinaga, Aya
Script
Iwasaki, Tarou
Storyboard
Terahigashi, Katsumi
Storyboard
Sako, Tomohisa
Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Lyrics
Yasuda, Rei
Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Performance
Kamata, Hitoshi
Animation Director
Midorikawa, Yuki
Original Creator
Oomori, Takahiro
Chief Animation Director