The appeal and reviews of "Nurarihyon no Mago": A masterpiece anime depicting the world of monsters

"Nurarihyon no Mago": The story of Rikuo, a boy torn between being a monster and a human.

"Nurarihyon no Mago" is a TV anime series based on the popular manga by Shiibashi Hiroshi, which was broadcast on Yomiuri TV and other stations from July 5 to December 27, 2010. The 26-episode series tells the story of the growth and struggles of Nura Rikuo, a boy of both human and monster descent. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and highlights of "Nurarihyon no Mago," as well as the background to the series.

story

Nura Rikuo, a junior high school student living in Ukiyoe Town, looks like a quiet, ordinary boy, but his house is an old-fashioned Japanese house where youkai take care of him. Rikuo is the grandson of Nurarihyon, the most powerful youkai, and is considered to be the third generation leader of the currently vacant youkai clan, the Nura Clan. However, Rikuo himself wants to live as a human, and he can only use his youkai powers at night. Furthermore, Rikuo does not retain any memories of when he is transformed into a youkai while he is human.

The yokai of the Nuragumi believe that one day Rikuo will succeed him as the third head of the family, and support him. On the other hand, there are also yokai who see Rikuo as a failure, and some people appear who try to take Nuragumi's place as the top yokai. Various dramas unfold, involving the humans of Ukiyoe Town.

Rikuo is afraid of his powers as a yokai, but he struggles to protect his life as a human. A diverse cast of unique characters, including his childhood friend Kana, the head of the family, the yokai of the Nuragumi clan, and the onmyoji Yura Hanakaiin, watch over his growth. Will Rikuo be able to rise to the top of the yokai?

character

There are many fascinating characters in "Nurarihyon no Mago." Below, we will introduce the main characters.

Nura Rikuo

The main character, Rikuo, is the grandson of Nurarihyon, the leader of the monsters, and is of quarter monster and quarter human descent. At night, he can transform into a monster, but Rikuo's human memories of this transformation are lost. His grandfather expects him to take over the family business, but he wants to live as a human. His growth and struggles are at the heart of the story.

Kana the Head

Kana, Rikuo's childhood friend and classmate, is quite easily scared and often encounters frightening scenes. She has a secret admiration for Rikuo, who once saved her in his youkai form. Her presence is an important factor in supporting Rikuo's life as a human.

Snow Woman

Yuki-onna, who takes care of Rikuo and calls him "Waka" in the Nuragumi, can freeze enemies in an instant with her special move "Cursed Snowstorm: Snow Makeup". In order to protect Rikuo, who can only transform into a youkai at night, she attends the same school as him in human form. Her name as a human is "Oikawa Hiyori".

Aotabo

Aotabo, a giant, strong, fallen monk, is a Nura clan yokai and Rikuo's caretaker. He usually keeps his strength in check, but when he removes the skull rosary ornament, he unleashes his true strength. To protect Rikuo, he goes to school under the name of a human named "Kurata." He goes by the nickname "Ao."

Fish

The head of the Nuragumi faction, the bird yokai who controls medicines and poisons, took good care of Rikuo when he was young. Due to the fact that their feathers contain deadly poison, the fate of the yokai family has been that they are physically very weak for generations.

Ushi-oni

Ushi-oni, a member of the Nuragumi executive team and the head of the Ushi-oni group, has a calm and collected personality and is deeply trusted by Rikuo. He was once a human, but became a demon out of hatred for the murder of his mother. He is dissatisfied with Rikuo's lack of determination to take over the Nuragumi.

Hanakaiin Yura

Yura, a descendant of the onmyoji "Hanakaiin" family and Rikuo's classmate, aims to defeat all the monsters. She transferred from Kyoto to Ukiyoe Junior High School to train in monster extermination. She is a genius onmyoji girl who can control multiple shikigami at once.

Kiyotsugu

Kiyotsugu, a rich boy and classmate of Rikuo, used to deny the existence of youkai, but since Rikuo transformed into a youkai and saved him when they were in elementary school, he has been completely fascinated by them. He formed the "Kiyotsuji Mystery Detectives" and is devoted to studying youkai every day.

Nurarihyon

Nurarihyon, Rikuo's grandfather and the commander-in-chief of the Nuragumi, the supernatural power of eastern Japan's monster clan, wants his grandson Rikuo to succeed him, but Rikuo, who wants to live a normal human life, is reluctant to accept his wish.

Production background and staff

"Nurarihyon no Mago" is based on a popular manga serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" by Shiibashi Hiroshi. It was a huge hit, selling over 3.6 million copies, and has finally been made into an anime. The animation was produced by Studio Deen, with director Nishimura Junji, series composition by Takahashi Natsuko, character design by Oka Mariko, and yokai design by Tagashira Shinobu. The music was composed by Tanaka Kohei, and sound direction by Goda Hozumi.

The voice actors are also impressive, with many talented voice actors participating, including Jun Fukuyama as the main character Rikuo, Aya Hirano as Kana Iemoto, and Yui Horie as Yuki-onna. Yui Horie also provides the narration, adding excitement to the story.

Broadcast information

"Nurarihyon no Mago" was broadcast on various stations including Yomiuri TV from July 5th to December 27th, 2010. It was available to watch at various times from Monday to Friday on stations such as Yomiuri TV, UHF, Animax, BS11, and Bandai Channel. It was also streamed online on Bandai Channel, allowing many viewers to enjoy it.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme was "Fast Forward" and "Sunshine" by MONKEY MAJIK. The ending theme was "Sparky☆Start," "Symphonic☆Dream," and "Brilliant☆Message" by Katate☆SIZE (Hirano Aya as Kana Ienaga, Horie Yui as Yuki-onna, and Maeda Ai as Yura Hanakaiin). These songs are important elements that liven up the atmosphere of the story.

Rating and highlights

"Nurarihyon no Mago" depicts the growth and conflict of Rikuo, who is torn between being a monster and a human, and has been highly praised for its story development and the appeal of its characters. In particular, Rikuo's desire to live as a human while fearing his monster powers and yet accepting them has resonated with many viewers. In addition, the unique characters, such as the monsters of the Nura Clan and the onmyoji Yura, add excitement to the story and draw viewers in.

Highlights of the story include Rikuo's growth and struggles, his bond with the Nura clan's monsters, and the relationship between humans and monsters. The battle scenes and monster designs are also superb, providing visual enjoyment. Furthermore, the music and voice acting are also important elements that add excitement to the story, and the overall quality is high.

Related Titles

"Nurarihyon no Mago" has related works such as VOMIC, "Sennen Makyou", "OVA", and "Fierce Battle: The Great Futsal Tournament! Nura-Gumi W Cup!!". By enjoying these works together, you can gain a deeper understanding of Rikuo's story.

Recommendation

"Nurarihyon no Mago" is a moving story about the growth and conflict of Rikuo, who is torn between being a monster and a human. I would especially recommend this to anyone interested in monsters and traditional Japanese culture, and to those who like human dramas and stories of growth. You can also enjoy the gorgeous voice actors, beautiful music, and spectacular battle scenes, so be sure to give it a watch.

Through Rikuo's growth and struggles, this work conveys many messages to viewers, depicting the importance of the relationship and bonds between humans and youkai. Please try experiencing Rikuo's story through "Nurarihyon no Mago."