Anime is Lit - Ep 04 - Natsume Yuujinchou

Ep 04 - Natsume Yuujinchou

Explicit content warning

10/08/17 • 62 min

Anime is Lit

This time we’re diving into Natsume Yuujinchou, also known as Natsume’s Book of Friends, with our very special guest Ethan. We discuss why the show resonates with us, how it uses short story techniques to build the overarching emotional storyline, and the use of mental illness allegory. Join us as we talk about one of our favorite shows and unpack what make it so meaningful.

*Note: the name of the Eastern story technique Ethan described is "Kishōtenketsu".

Ethan's Twitter @autonomousbagel

Opening song: "Floria" by Tomohisa Sako Ending song: “Natsu Yuuzora Sky” by Kousuke Atari

*Note: the name of the Eastern story technique Ethan described is "Kishōtenketsu".

Ethan's Twitter @autonomousbagel

Opening song: "Floria" by Tomohisa Sako Ending song: “Natsu Yuuzora Sky” by Kousuke Atari

Previous Episode

Ep 03 - Narration in Anime: The Tatami Galaxy and Beyond

Narration in Anime: The Tatami Galaxy and Beyond aka "This Podcast is (Not) About Evangelion"

Welcome to our jam-packed episode on narration in anime! Starting with The Tatami Galaxy and branching from there, we cover different techniques and styles of narration including the minimalist, overbearing, unreliable and even fourth wall-breaking. We discuss how these styles affect the show and the viewer, and why they shape the story's meaning and enjoyment. Emotional contextualization IS storytelling!

All shows mentioned are spoiler-free, so don't worry if you haven't seen them all!

Titles in order of discussion:

The Tatami Galaxy Princess Jellyfish Princess Tutu Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu Kino's Journey March Comes In Like a Lion His and Her Circumstances (KareKano) Space Patrol LuLuCo Arakawa Under the Bridge Baccano! UtaKoi (Chouyaku Hyakuninissu: Uta Koi) [Evangelion, unavoidably] "What Is Art?” = SOLVED

Contact Info: Twitter: @animeislitpod Email: [email protected]

Opening song: "Kamisama no Iutoori" by Juuji Ishiwatari & Yoshinori Sunahara + Etsuko Yakushimaru Ending Song: "Maigo Inu to Ame no Beat" by Asian Kung Fu Generation

Next Episode

Ep 05 - Evangelion Mythos

By request, this episode is a podcast version of the panel we presented at Kumoricon 2017 on the Evangelion Mythos and trying the plot arcs together. We try to give some context to the more vague plot elements, and talk through the psychological narrative, which fuels the story's climax from beginning to end.

Drunk Eva is coming next as a bonus episode!

**Spoiler warning for the Evangelion anime and films**

Links to the visuals/timeline from our panel: https://animeislitpod.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/episode-5-evangelion-resources/

Twitter: @animeislitpod Email: [email protected]

Opening song: "Cruel Angel's Thesis" by Yoko Takahashi, Ending song: “Fly Me To The Moon”, Megumi Hayashibara