English Dub Review: Natsume’s Book of Friends “Unchanging Form”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Natsume continues to spend his days giving back to yokai their names from the Book of Friends.  One day, as he’s heading home, he finds himself chased by a giant rolling pot.  The yokai in the pot insists that his grandmother Reiko stole a doll from her.  When she threatens to hurt his family, however, he’s forced to go out and find it.  But would his kind, smiling grandmother Reiko really steal a doll from someone? 

Our Take:

We’re back once again for more yokai adventures with Natsume and Madara!  Considering that the show’s seventh season is right around the corner, there’s no better way to celebrate this occasion than with the release of the fifth season’s English dub release.  So, how do we start our latest series of yokai-helping adventures after our poignant trip down memory lane in season four’s final episode?  Why, with a doll hunt, of course.

The season five premiere sees Natsume encountering a yokai named Kaystubuo residing in a pot.  Kaystubuo tasks Natsume to find her missing doll, which she claims was stolen by Reiko years ago, or she’ll harm his family.  With the help of the yokai residing in the forest, Natsume eventually finds the doll, which has been covered in dirt for years, so Natsume cleans it and dresses it in a new kimono, much to Kaystubuo’s delight.  Additionally, Natsume comes across a massive yokai who has a gigantic affection for acorns and accuses him of stealing its name.  During the confrontation, Natsume discovers a flashback depicting Reiko’s reasoning behind her theft and connection with the giant spirit.

If you’ve seen the previous seasons of Natsume’s Book of Friends, it’s a no-brainer that you’ll get exactly what you expect from “Unchanging Form” regarding its animation style and narrative.  It’s impressive that a simple and light-hearted concept has lasted for more than four seasons, even though its plot structure starts to get a little repetitive.  Fortunately, the show still relies on its heart and thematic depth to maintain my interest, with this episode further displaying Natsume’s quest to learn more about his grandmother.  

Many of his relatives thought Reiko was a weird delinquent due to her ability. However, through the episode’s flashbacks, we see Reiko in a much different light, indicating that she may not be as heartless as people thought.  This element alone is enough to consider this episode a suitable start to a new series of yokai adventures with Natsume.  The question now is whether the remaining episodes could maintain this momentum long enough to provide another solid season.