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Natsume's Book of Friends Anime Film Previewed in Long Trailer
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Aniplex began streaming a long trailer on Friday for Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Utsusemi ni Musubu (Natsume's Book of Friends: Tied to the Temporal World), the anime film of Yuki Midorikawa's Natsume's Book of Friends (Natsume Yūjin-Chō) manga. The video previews Uru's theme song "remember." (Note: Aniplex's video is region-locked to Japan, a region-free version is below.)
The anime will premiere on September 29 in Japan. The film will feature a returning cast. In addition, Kengo Kōra plays Mukuo Tsumura, a young man whom Natsume meets and befriends. Sumi Shimamoto plays Yorie Tsumura, Mukuo's mother. Ayumu Murase plays Daisuke Yūki, Natsume's schoolmate from elementary school. Viking comedy duo member Eiji Kotōge plays Monmonbō, a yōkai who has come to take its name back from Natsume. Viking comedy duo member Mizuki Nishimura plays Roppon-ude, a six-armed yōkai who aims to take Natsume's book.
Midorikawa is supervising the film's original story. Animation studio Shuka is returning from the television anime's fifth and sixth seasons to animate the film. Takahiro Ōmori is again serving as chief director, but Hideki Ito is the new director. Sadayuki Murai is again handling series composition, Tatsuo Yamada is returning for yōkai design, and Makoto Yoshimori is again composing the music.
The anime seasons and Midorikawa's original manga revolve around Natsume, a boy who has been able to see yōkai since he was little. Unfortunately, humans shun him, and there is not much fondness between him and yōkai either. One day, he inherits a Yūjin-Chō ("Book of Friends") from his grandmother. The book is actually full of contracts that his grandmother made to trap yōkai. As one yōkai after another shows up, Natsume tries to release or help them — even while many of them seek vengeance on him.
Natsume Yūjin-Chō Roku, the sixth anime season, aired for 11 episodes starting in April 2017. Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired. The anime's fourth and fifth home video releases bundled two new original video anime (OVA) episodes in September and October. Crunchyroll is streaming both OVAs.
Crunchyroll is also streaming the previous five seasons of the anime. Viz Media is releasing Midorikawa's original manga in English.
Thanks to Dennis R. for the embedded video.
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