OVA
Description
Nyanko-sensei is a powerful yokai whose true name is Madara. He normally appears as a round, plump maneki-neko, a form he took after being sealed inside a lucky cat vessel years before the story begins. That vessel was a crafted yorishiro created in a pottery village, and his ordinary appearance is small, charming, and easily mistaken for a stuffed animal or a pet cat, although he insists he is not a cat. His genuine form is a large, elegant white beast resembling a fox or wolf, and in that form he can fly and project an intimidating presence.
His personality is a blend of hedonism, arrogance, and sharp pragmatism. He is openly gluttonous and loves sake, shrimp, squid, and sweet bean buns, and he can be lazy and disorderly in daily life, spending much of his time eating and sleeping. He is quick-tempered and often condescending toward lesser yokai and humans, yet he is also cunning and experienced, carrying the accumulated wisdom of a very long-lived spirit. He hides a practical, protective nature behind complaints and gruff words, and his behavior frequently contradicts his self-interested claims.
His stated motivation is purely contractual: after being freed by Natsume Takashi, he agrees to act as Natsume's bodyguard on the condition that he will inherit the Book of Friends when Natsume dies. Over time, however, his real motives soften. He continues to frame his actions in terms of that bargain, but he genuinely watches over Natsume, worries about his safety, and stays by his side even when there is no personal gain. His connection to Natsume's grandmother Reiko adds depth to this, as he knew her when she was young and even refused her challenges, so his name was never placed in the Book of Friends.
In the story he serves as Natsume's self-proclaimed bodyguard, companion, and guide to the yokai world, providing practical knowledge about yokai rules and dangers while also acting as comic relief. He lives with Natsume in the home of the Fujiwara couple, who perceive him only as an ordinary cat. In the OVA Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Nyanko-sensei to Hajimete no Otsukai, he becomes separated from Natsume while chasing a dragonfly and encounters two young children who have gotten lost while running their first errand. He repeatedly tries to leave, but he is reluctant to abandon them in a forest filled with dangerous yokai, so he ends up escorting the siblings to their destination, thoroughly exhausted by their playful and curious nature. The episode highlights his grumpy but dependable character.
His relationships are central to his development. With Natsume, he moves from a wary contract partner to something resembling a family member, and Natsume comes to regard him as one of the most important beings in his life. The Fujiwara couple treat him as a beloved household cat, with the husband calling him Nyangorō and the wife calling him Nyankichi. He is known to Natsume's friends Tanuma Kaname and Taki Tōru, the latter of whom adores him and often hugs him, which he dislikes. He has a contentious, childish rivalry with the exorcist Natori Shūichi, and a quarrelsome but familiar friendship with the female yokai Hinoe. Among other yokai he maintains a certain distance while understanding the hierarchy of the spirit world.
His development is gradual and understated. He begins as a self-serving and somewhat shady figure, but his actions increasingly show loyalty, warmth, and concern for Natsume. He learns to care about humans more than he would ever admit, and though he continues to grumble and pretend otherwise, his role shifts from opportunistic guardian to genuine protector and friend.
His notable abilities include shapeshifting, flight, immense physical and spiritual power, and the capacity to repel or intimidate other yokai when he reveals his true form. He can also take on a human appearance resembling Reiko when needed. He possesses broad knowledge of yokai customs, spells, and territories, which he occasionally passes on to Natsume. While he is among the strongest beings in the setting, he is not absolute in power, and he wisely avoids direct confrontation with god-class spirits. His strength is used not to show off but to protect Natsume and maintain a fragile balance between the human and yokai worlds.
His personality is a blend of hedonism, arrogance, and sharp pragmatism. He is openly gluttonous and loves sake, shrimp, squid, and sweet bean buns, and he can be lazy and disorderly in daily life, spending much of his time eating and sleeping. He is quick-tempered and often condescending toward lesser yokai and humans, yet he is also cunning and experienced, carrying the accumulated wisdom of a very long-lived spirit. He hides a practical, protective nature behind complaints and gruff words, and his behavior frequently contradicts his self-interested claims.
His stated motivation is purely contractual: after being freed by Natsume Takashi, he agrees to act as Natsume's bodyguard on the condition that he will inherit the Book of Friends when Natsume dies. Over time, however, his real motives soften. He continues to frame his actions in terms of that bargain, but he genuinely watches over Natsume, worries about his safety, and stays by his side even when there is no personal gain. His connection to Natsume's grandmother Reiko adds depth to this, as he knew her when she was young and even refused her challenges, so his name was never placed in the Book of Friends.
In the story he serves as Natsume's self-proclaimed bodyguard, companion, and guide to the yokai world, providing practical knowledge about yokai rules and dangers while also acting as comic relief. He lives with Natsume in the home of the Fujiwara couple, who perceive him only as an ordinary cat. In the OVA Natsume Yūjin-Chō: Nyanko-sensei to Hajimete no Otsukai, he becomes separated from Natsume while chasing a dragonfly and encounters two young children who have gotten lost while running their first errand. He repeatedly tries to leave, but he is reluctant to abandon them in a forest filled with dangerous yokai, so he ends up escorting the siblings to their destination, thoroughly exhausted by their playful and curious nature. The episode highlights his grumpy but dependable character.
His relationships are central to his development. With Natsume, he moves from a wary contract partner to something resembling a family member, and Natsume comes to regard him as one of the most important beings in his life. The Fujiwara couple treat him as a beloved household cat, with the husband calling him Nyangorō and the wife calling him Nyankichi. He is known to Natsume's friends Tanuma Kaname and Taki Tōru, the latter of whom adores him and often hugs him, which he dislikes. He has a contentious, childish rivalry with the exorcist Natori Shūichi, and a quarrelsome but familiar friendship with the female yokai Hinoe. Among other yokai he maintains a certain distance while understanding the hierarchy of the spirit world.
His development is gradual and understated. He begins as a self-serving and somewhat shady figure, but his actions increasingly show loyalty, warmth, and concern for Natsume. He learns to care about humans more than he would ever admit, and though he continues to grumble and pretend otherwise, his role shifts from opportunistic guardian to genuine protector and friend.
His notable abilities include shapeshifting, flight, immense physical and spiritual power, and the capacity to repel or intimidate other yokai when he reveals his true form. He can also take on a human appearance resembling Reiko when needed. He possesses broad knowledge of yokai customs, spells, and territories, which he occasionally passes on to Natsume. While he is among the strongest beings in the setting, he is not absolute in power, and he wisely avoids direct confrontation with god-class spirits. His strength is used not to show off but to protect Natsume and maintain a fragile balance between the human and yokai worlds.