Right now you can watch Natsume's Book of Friends in Australia on Crunchyroll, and in the US on Crunchyroll — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. 7 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Hiroshi Kamiya's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Crunchyroll.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Natsume's Book of Friends is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Natsume's Book of Friends through its more ambitious moments. Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him. Hiroshi Kamiya and Kazuhiko Inoue lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Across 7 seasons (2008–2024), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. What separates Natsume's Book of Friends from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Natsume's Book of Friends genuinely rewarding. Viewers who responded to JUJUTSU KAISEN will find a lot to like here too. The 7-season run rewards the patience it asks of you. Watch for Hiroshi Kamiya in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.

Natsume's Book of Friends wrapped up in 2024 — and 7 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.