Natsume Yujin-cho

Truth be told, I wasn't excited about this show after watching the first episode. But after giving it a second shot, I was hooked. This is probably the sweetest Anime ever made, and I can't get enough of it. I'm almost done with the third season before moving onto Natsume Yujin-cho Shi, and I don't want it to end!

I absolutely love the relationship between Natsume and Madara/Nyanko-Sensei, even though Madara says he doesn't like humans and the only reason he's hanging around Natsume is to eventually eat him and take the Book of Friends - but we all know that isn't true. Their friendship deepens with every episode, and I have the feeling that Madara was once close to Reiko, Natsume's grandmother, in the same way. Madara is absolutely hilarious when he's in his Maneki Neko Nyanko-Sensei form, and has me laughing out loud constantly.

I love an anime that touches me emotionally to the point of making me cry, and this one is one that does. But unlike Jigoku Shoujo, which induces tears because it is so heart-wrenchingly sad, Natsume makes me cry because it is just that sweet. Episode 8, "Fleeting Light," about Hotaru the Firefly was one such and just so happens to be my favorite episode thus far. The ending may have been somewhat bittersweet, but it got to me in such a way that made me feel good, not sad.

I can't wait to see what happens to Nastume and his Youkai, and to learn what happened to Reiko and just who she really was.

[*Edit*]
There had better be a Natsume Season 5 coming! I intend to read the Manga to get the answers to my questions that Yujin-cho Shi neglected to give. But still, I want to see it in Anime! *hmph*