Natsume Yuujinchou

We're entering the last month of summer, and I think I'll miss it when it's gone. Summer is probably my favorite season- clothing becomes lighter, I can walk around the water, and stay out to watch the sunset in warmth. I've started a new anime and I've binged a season in 2 days. It's not as bad as consuming 2 seasons in 1 day, but I should be studying.

The anime's about a boy and his adventures with youkai, which only he can see. Youkai are like... Eastern-folklore version of spirits/ghosts? Similar to what you'd class fairies and goblins and mermaids. The anime's episodic, but there's some continuity. What I fucking hate about it though, is how there's rarely a happy ending. Even when it's happy it's bitter-sweet. There's also no clear resolution- like, I guess some people prefer some loose ends be left up to the imagination, but for me, I want clear cut conclusions of "this is what happened".

When every episode ends that way, you can imagine my frustration.. but I keep watching because it's a good anime. I actually really like the main character, Natsume Takashi. He's meant to be really strong except he gets almost-eaten every second ep by the youkai. I really like his personality though... he could've grown up all warped and twisted, but instead he's just grateful for what he says, and tries to protect what's precious to him. A lot of the male protagonists I've seen are really "shounen", they harbor a lot of angst created by their childhood, and then over the story they kind of get over it with the help of friends and overcoming adversity or whatnot. That's probably closer to how I am, but I wanted to be someone like Natsume. Just... being kind, a bit naive at times, but enjoying life without being all jaded.

Watching this anime makes me want to run around fields in my shorts and make the most out of summer time.