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Contributor Report: Cadence

The following is a list of all ratings and reviews submitted by Cadence. The links below can be used to quickly scroll down to a specific title.
Air (TV) (Jump to title)
- Overall: 8
- Violence Rating: 4
- Nudity Rating: 3
- Theological Themes: 5
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Angel Beats! (Jump to title)
- Overall: 3
- Violence Rating: 6
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 6
- Other Negative Themes: 4
Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai (Jump to title)
- Overall: 5
- Violence Rating: 2
- Nudity Rating: 3
- Theological Themes: 4
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Chihayafuru (Jump to title)
- Overall: 7
- Violence Rating: 2
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 2
Clannad (Jump to title)
- Overall: 5
- Violence Rating: 3
- Nudity Rating: 3
- Theological Themes: 4
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Clannad After Story (Jump to title)
- Overall: 8
- Violence Rating: 4
- Nudity Rating: 4
- Theological Themes: 4
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Erin (Jump to title)
- Overall: 9
- Violence Rating: 3
- Nudity Rating: 1
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 2
Haibane Renmei (Jump to title)
- Overall: 10
- Violence Rating: 2
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 3
- Other Negative Themes: 3
K-On! (Jump to title)
- Overall: 7
- Violence Rating: 2
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 1
- Other Negative Themes: 2
My Neighbor Totoro (Jump to title)
- Overall: 10
- Violence Rating: 1
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 1
Natsume's Book of Friends (Jump to title)
- Overall: 10
- Violence Rating: 2
- Nudity Rating: 1
- Theological Themes: 5
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Review Note: This is a content review for season one only (episodes 1-13) of Natsume’s Book of Friends.

Natsume Takashi is an orphaned teenaged boy who has the ability to see spirits; because of his unique ability he has been shuffled around to live with various members of his extended family his entire life, developing a reputation as a strange and problematic child, and being ostracized by most of the people around him. Our story begins as he moves to the countryside to live at the home of some distant relatives, and discovers that his mysterious grandmother, Reiko, who shared his gift, once lived in the area - and has left behind a book of contracts she made with the local spirits. The book holds the names of those spirits Reiko defeated, and whoever has control of the book also has control of all the spirits whose names are written in it. Natsume resolves to return the names to their owners, and learns more about his grandmother and her life in the process. He makes a deal with a powerful spirit who takes the form of a fat cat to guard him as he returns the names; in exchange for the protection, the cat - nicknamed Nyanko-sensei - will receive the book should Natsume die before all the names are returned.

It sounds like a generic premise at best - but unexpectedly, instead of the boy vs. demon or “gotta catch ‘em all” sort of story one would expect, Natsume Yuujinchou takes the route of something quite different - it is a slow-moving tale about friendship, family, unconditional love, simple kindness and goodness, and personal growth. At its core it is a quiet and emotional story about loneliness and the difficulty of overcoming it.

The narrative takes the form of standalone stories in which Natsume helps a spirit or returns a name, tied together only by the underlying character and relationship development. The stories are sometimes cute, sometimes touching, sometimes bittersweet, and always rewarding.

Natsume’s character and development are the central focus of the story; he is an awkward, quiet, and reckless but ultimately good-hearted boy, who is developed throughout the story with a sensitivity and realism rarely found in fictional stories. It is his innate kindness and determination to do good that affects those around him - both human and spirit - and ultimately wins the day. As Natsume helps the spirits and humans around him and returns the names from his grandmother’s book, he builds his own metaphorical book of friends.

The animation is not outstanding, but it is good and does its job well. The colors, shading, and lighting all lend to a soft and gentle atmosphere; the use of still frames adds to the tranquil atmosphere of the story, and the background art - which is based on actual locations in the countryside of Japan - is especially noteworthy for its beauty. The music is simple, but lovely - it is memorable, and suits the series perfectly.

Natsume Yuujinchou is simple, but it carries itself well - it is graceful and charming, and manages to be sweet and sentimental without ever descending into drippiness. Natsume Yuujinchou does not boast the most exciting action, the most deep or complex themes, the most intriguing narrative, or the best humor - but it certainly makes up for it with heart.

Violence: Natsume is always being targeted by the spirits, many of which can be pretty malevolent; though violence is at a minimum in the first season, there are a few grisly scenes and Natsume is frequently in danger. Natsume also has a tendency to punch things when he is in danger or simply runs out of patience with Nyanko-sensei.
Theological Themes: As a reading of the summary would probably imply, there are lots and lots of spirits and monsters involved. The story is based around Japanese folklore and Shinto beliefs. There are local Shinto gods and shrines and festivals, Buddhist priests, exorcisms, and spirit possessions involved.
Other Problematic Themes: There is some minor language in the translation provided for Crunchyroll’s streaming episodes. Nyanko-sensei really likes his alcohol. One of the very few recurring characters in the series is a female spirit who seems to have had a crush on Natsume’s grandmother Reiko. It is only brushed on lightly, but is present. And, though many of the spirits Natsume befriends are cute or harmless looking, some of the spirits' designs would probably be frightening for young children.
Noein: To Your Other Self (Jump to title)
- Overall: 7
- Violence Rating: 5
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 3
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Summer Wars (Jump to title)
- Overall: 9
- Violence Rating: 3
- Nudity Rating: 3
- Theological Themes: 1
- Other Negative Themes: 3
Tamayura (Jump to title)
- Overall: 5
- Violence Rating: 1
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 1
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Jump to title)
- Overall: 9
- Violence Rating: 2
- Nudity Rating: 2
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 2
Tokyo Godfathers (Jump to title)
- Overall: 8
- Violence Rating: 4
- Nudity Rating: 5
- Theological Themes: 1
- Other Negative Themes: 5
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (Jump to title)
- Overall: 8
- Violence Rating: 4
- Nudity Rating: 1
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 2
Toradora! (Jump to title)
- Overall: 4
- Violence Rating: 3
- Nudity Rating: 5
- Theological Themes: 2
- Other Negative Themes: 4
Other activities: 0 records found.