Our newest Youkai friend is... a snow bunny?
Minnie: All right. Yesterday, I wrote a review on Natsume Yuujinchou. Today, the second season updates with its second episode. I am in love already. How can I resist not reviewing Zoku Natsume when I adore the anime so much? And the characters? Good luck trying to take over this anime next time Ric. Really. Let’s see what Natsume and Nyank-Sensei are up to in Episode 2 of the great Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou anime…
Last review, I forgot to mention one thing about this anime- the OP and the ED. This time, I will make sure to talk a little bit about them. The OP is pretty nice I think. A bit pop-ish for this anime and for my taste. Still, it has its merits because it matches the opening shots quite well. It might be hard to get used to because last season’s OP is very beautiful but I think most of us will come to love it eventually. As for the ED, how lovely! Calm, nice, and peaceful, Natsume is one of the few animes with an ED that makes you feel good after watching an episode. Good job for picking such a pretty song for the second season. And nothing beats seeing Natsume walking through the snow!
“I hated the humans who only seemed to make selfish wishes.” -Gen
“If you refuse, my curse shall be upon your family for three generations!” -Gen
My Lovely Quote
For this episode of Natsume, it was pretty hard to pick a quote out of the many I have to be the title but I believe this one is most suitable. Gen, the Youkai featured for this episode, is the speaker and in context, he is walking with Natsume when he says this. Whether he truly believes it or not is up to interpretation but from what I’ve seen, Gen probably developed this mindset after what happen to him and Sui in the past. Usually, it’s hard to hate something when you don’t know it personally. Let’s say I hate spiders. Why? There are lots of reasons behind it and they are all around me. Now, let’s say I hate snakes. I can’t really say that because I haven’t seen many snakes and they have never done something to me. In hatred, there is a reason behind it. And here, Natsume teaches us that. This episode also teaches to look past that hatred. Life long lessons in anime for once? Yes. Here it is.
“I haven’t played in the snow for a long time.” -Natsume
“Let him. If he melts, we’re rid of him. Peel this, would you?” -Nyanko-sensei
My Quick Summary
Even though Natsume is such a beautiful and fabulous anime, it is also very easy to summarize. At the beginning of the episode, Natsume wakes up from a dream about young him in the past. Today, he is to meet a Youkai name Gen who is the guardian of a forest. Gen tries to take Natsume’s body but misses and takes over a snow bunny instead. For a majority of the anime, Gen will be a snow bunny though he can change to a human-like form. Soon after he threatens Natsume’s life, he reveals the reason behind him trying to find a vessel- he needs to seal away an evil spirit.
“Sui cried out to the humans, expressing her love and desire for their happiness.” -Gen
“That night, Gen slept right next to the little snow bunny. But because it was just a little bunny made of snow, it melted by morning.” -Natsume
Before we get to meet the evil spirit, we learn about another Youkai name Sui who was once a guardian alongside Gen. Gen speaks very fondly of her. She seems to have been a very loving spirit who wishes the people happiness. There’s even a story about how the humans believe that if they see a tri-colored rainbow, their wishes will be granted. Ever since she hears about this, she waits for that certain rainbow to appear. According to Gen, her statue has been shattered and that is why he’s by himself now. After Natsume and co. track down the location of the evil spirit, it is none other than… Sui! What is going on here?
“You might not like people, but I like you.” -Natsume
“I’m not cold because… because you’re here.” -Sui
After Natsume and Gen escape the evil spirit of Sui, they return to Natsume’s house. In the middle of Natsume’s sleep, Sui tries to murder him. Apparently, his hatred for humans are taking over his mind and will. Thanks to Natsume, Gen breaks out of this and reveals what happen to him and Sui in the past. The humans pray to Gen and Sui to fertilize their soul because they are in the middle of a poor harvest season. Even though Gen and Sui do as much as they can, there is no way for them to help the humans. Outrages, the humans throw Sui’s statue over and cliff and break it, despite her caring for their happiness. The impact of this betrayal has made her into an evil spirit. In the end though, she is able to find herself in Gen’s arms. They return and Natsume plants flowers for them.
“She called it ridiculous and laughed. But whenever she saw a rainbow, her voice would be sad as she noted that it was not tri-colored.” -Gen
“Let’s go home. And someday, when your heart has healed, we’ll wait for the rainbow together once more.” -Gen
My Minnie Ramblings
This episode is so… emotional. I know my summary up there can’t even bring this episode justice but I don’t think any summary can. You have to watch the episode for yourself to see what this anime is all about. I feel for both Gen and Sui more than I ever felt for a major character in those stereotypical anime. Natsume proves again by the end of the episode that he really is a nice guy who loves to help those around him, even strangers. I have to give Natsume a lot of credit for bringing these two together even though he doesn’t seem to do much on the surface. It is because of his willpower that forces Gen to not change into an evil spirit. It is his willpower to hold Sui from running away that help Gen and Sui unite once more. Next episode, I get to see my favorite minor character Natori! But… it’s a hot springs episode. I hope that they won’t make this a filler. I believe in this anime and if my faith is well-placed, it won’t be a filler episode next week. For the last time this week, I LOVE ZOKU NATSUME YUUJINCHOU!
Minnie’s Overall Rating for Episode: 10/10
Minnie’s Anticipation for Next Episode: 6/10
