猫と友人帳 | Neko to Yuujinchou | CHAPTER 1
Takashi Natsume is a young man with the ability to see Youkai. While coming home from school, he's chased by two Youkai, demanding him to give them the Book of Friends. In the midst of the chase, he breaks a barrier sealing a youkai in the form of a Lucky Cat.
Tropes associated with the episode:
- Adaptational Villainy: Karikage, the other youkai chasing Natsume, wanted the book for himself in the anime. In the manga, he wanted his name returned just like Hishigaki.
- Amazing Technicolor Population: Hishigaki has purple skin, she is of course a youkai which explains the odd tint.
- Canis Major: Nyanko's true form is a giant inugami.
- Cyclops: Hishigaki has a single centered eye as does the youkai Natsume saw arranging flowers at one of his previous guardian's homes before he learned not to talk about the spirits he sees with people in order to avoid ridicule and abandonment.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Hishigaki only wanted her name returned to her. She met Reiko one day when she ate a steamed bun left at a shrine. She handed over her name and was made one of Reiko's followers. Since then, she eagerly awaited the day when Reiko would either visit her or call her name. That day never came and Hishigaki fell into despair, feeling even lonelier than before.
- Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: There have multiple times in the episode where Natsume hits youkai.
- Dramatic Chase Opening: Natsume is being chased by a pair of youkai that have mistaken him for his grandmother.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: The youkai Karikage.
- Epic Fail: While trying to claim the Book of Friends for himself, Nyanko gets stuck in a wall.
- Flashback: The youkai, Hishigaki, remembers when she met Reiko and when she signed away her name which are memories Natasume sees when he returns Hishigaki's name.
- Ghostly Chill: Nishimura and Kitamoto are chilled by a sudden strong wind when Hishigaki and Karikage run past them chasing Natasume.
- Ghostly Glide / Power Floats: Hishigaki glides through the forest when chasing Natsume.
- Maneki Neko: The giant inugami Madara was sealed inside one, leading to his being called Nyanko.
- Mistaken Identity: Karikage and Hishigaki chase Natsume after mistaking him for his grandmother Reiko.
- Mr. Exposition: Nyanko explains the Book of Friends and why youkai are chasing after Natsume.
- Mystical White Hair: Hishigaki is a youkai with long stringy white hair.
- New Transfer Student: Natsume is a new to the area and Nishimura and Kitamoto discuss that he seems a little odd though they are noticeably trying to make friends with him and concerned when he runs across their paths and then back into the forest while he is being chased by Hishigaki and Karikage whom Nishimura and Kitamoto cannot see.
- Obviously Evil: Well, Nyanko makes it clear that he's on Natsume's side. However, he obviously wants to use the book for his own purposes.
- Paper Talisman: Part of what was being used to seal Madara.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: The other youkai, Karikage, disguises himself in attempt to claim the Book of Friends.
- Posthumous Character: Natsume's grandmother Reiko who left him the Book of Friends.
- School Uniforms are the New Black: Natsume, Nishimura and Kitamoto are seen wearing their uniforms outside of school, justified in that the episode takes place on a school day and they are all seen on their way home from school.
- Shrines and Temples: Natsume escapes from Karikage and Hishigaki to a temple where he accidentally releases Madara when he trips over and breaks a rope with shide hanging from it circling a small shrine.
- Spirit Advisor: Madara assigns himself to Natsume as one.
- Why Don't You Just Eat Him?: Nyanko has the ability to turn into a large creature and easily devour Natsume. However, for some reason, he chooses not to, even when Natsume refuses to give him the book.
- Youkai: Natsume can see those hidden to normal humans like Hishigaki and Karikage and acquires and unwanted bodyguard in the form of Madara who is an inugami.
- Zigzag Paper Tassel: There was a shimenawa hung around the shrine Madara was sealed in which Natsume accidentally broke.
