Natsume's Book of Friends (2008–2024)

Bias Rating

Analyzing...

Center

Viewer Rating

Rating: 8.1

Overview

When Natsume Takashi inherits a book that belonged to his late grandmother he realizes the book is filled with the names of spirits she defeated and bound to her will. He then decides to return their names so they can be...

Starring Cast

Matthew Elkins • Hiroshi Kamiya • Kazuhiko Inoue

Where to watch

Prime Video

Apple TV

Bias Dimensions

Political: Center

Diversity: Moderate

Overview

Starring Cast

Matthew Elkins • Hiroshi Kamiya • Kazuhiko Inoue

Where to watch

Prime Video

Apple TV

Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...

Center

Primary

Political: CenterConfidence: High

The film focuses on apolitical, universal themes of empathy, loneliness, and personal connection, offering individual, rather than political or systemic, solutions to its central conflicts.

Diversity: ModerateConfidence: High

This Japanese animated series features a cast and setting authentic to its cultural origin, where the concept of traditional Western roles or race-swapping does not apply. The narrative explores universal themes of empathy and belonging without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or centering on DEI-driven social commentary.

Secondary

LGBTQ: N/AConfidence: High

Natsume's Book of Friends primarily focuses on the protagonist's interactions with spirits and his journey to find belonging. The series does not include any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes, resulting in no portrayal of queer identity within its narrative.

FemPower: N/R

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Gender Swap: NoConfidence: High

The anime adaptation of "Natsume's Book of Friends" faithfully maintains the genders of its established characters from the original manga. There are no instances of significant characters being portrayed with a different gender than their canonical source material.

Race Swap: NoConfidence: High

Natsume's Book of Friends is a Japanese anime series based on a manga. All characters are consistently depicted as ethnically Japanese, aligning with the source material and setting. There are no instances of characters established as one race being portrayed as a different race.