HOLY SHIT!
.... is it just me or am I writing more and more series recommendations/commentaries these days than anything about my own life? LOL
NATSUME YUUJINCHOU夏目友人長By MIDORIKAWA YukiManga DownloadAnime DownloadA really heart warming series. The story is basically about a orphan boy called Natsume who can see spirits. Because he saw strange things from birth, he was shunned by his relatives and was passed around quite a lot. But don't let that deceive you, he's actually not emo at all (as if I'd like a series that has a emo main character!). Story starts actually when he moves to a new town and home, where he inherited a book called the "Yuujinchou" (book of friends) which contains the names of all the spirits that his grandmother defeated. He also accidentally set free a powerful spirit called Madara, who ends up being his guardian on the condition that Madara gets the Yuujinchou if Natsume died.
The series doesn't contain a full on plot/story line, but is more episodic. But, there's plenty of character development. Slowly you see the main character's personality, and through each episode you see him changing ever so slightly. It's an interesting series in that it's very... subtle. Nothing's in your face or anything like that, there's meaning behind each chapter/episode so it's not completely a waste of time. As my friend said, it's a very "Sunday afternoon" sort of show to watch. Relaaaxing~
I also shall mention another manga series (well more of a oneshot) by the same author called "Hotarubi no Mori e". It's a shoujo, but one of the most... bittersweet thing's I've ever, EVER come across. The art is okay, but the story telling is just so smooth and flows so well... it's like Mushishi. Art style is so suited to the story that needed to be told. It's an ending that is both happy, and so sad. I don't think I've come across anything else that comes even close... well maybe Kaori Yuuki's Count Cain. But even then... I still think Midorikawa is better.
HOAR HOAR HAOR.
okay I'm done procrastinating.