Hey Anime Lovers!
There’s animes which aren’t all that hyped up, but still manages to steal someones heart in a really special way – Noragami is one of those for me. It was released in 2014 and may not be as well-known as larger games, but it has its own distinctive allure. First, I like how it effortlessly mixes humor, action and heartfelt emotion in a way that never seems forced for once. At its heart, it is a story of gods and humans and spirits, though for all that, it’s also about wanting purpose and belonging.
It follows the story of Hiyori Iki, an average middle school student whose life is changed after an encounter with Yato, a fictitious god who wants to become known and worshipped but is poor at everything and living in near poverty. Their bond results in a series of laughter-filled moments they'll never forget. To me, Noragami is one of the anime that can have you laughing one minute and breaking your heart the next which is why it deserves more attention.
Story Summary and My Review
In Noragami, the protagonist, Yato is a nameless God. He has no shrine, no followers and almost no recognition. He doesn't receive prayers and respect like other gods because his existence is maintained through him doing menial tasks for a measly five yen. From taking on cleaning bathrooms to searching for lost pets, Yato will do it all without a thought in his dream of one day having millions of worshippers. His easy-going nature hides a grim fact of his past: he is actually a god of destruction, which starts to matter to him within the series more and more.
The plot actually picks up when Hiyori Iki, a typical school girl, rescues Yato in an accident only to have her soul pop out of her body. This mysterious condition makes her see marks (the names of God) that connect her to the spirit world and Yato. I love Hiyori character for being so loyal and determined. Torn as she is with her diminishing humanity, however, she refuses to forsake Yato or Yukine, the tortured boy who becomes Yato’s shinki. The three of them make up the emotional core of the anime.
The comedy and drama are never more beautifully balaced in Noragami. Yato, a goofball at heart, is always portrayed as such — making goofy expressions, scrawling his phone number on random walls in town and offering divine intervention for mere pocket change. In the show’s lighthearted moments, he is almost irresistibly likable, but there are shadows behind his smile that the show never lets you forget. Once Yukine is introduced the overall tone gets more serious. As a spirit that still feels the sting of his lost life, Yukine is overcome by envious frustration. His trials nearly break Yato, serving as a reminder for viewers that the relationship between gods and their shinki is fragile but necessary. These are still like, some of the most hardcore episodes that anime has to offer.
Characters are also written with a personal touch. Yato isn’t that kind of hero who”s got all his shit together. And he’s fallible, vulnerable and haunted by the blood he has shed, though also seeking a new identity. Watching him come to terms with who he is slowly but surely and as he progresses towards creating a better future feels satisfying. Hiyori is more of a side character. She plays an important role in keeping Yato’s feet on the ground, and her own story of living between two realms gives her great depth. Yukine’s evolution from a bitter, damaged spirit into a trusted ally gives the series an emotional payoff that you remember.
Visually, Noragami is stunning. Studio Bones provided its usual slick animation and pretty colors, which pop out against grimier scenes. The battles against phantoms are fluid and imaginative, and the casual moments are all rich with lived-in details that make the characters feel like people. Oh, and the soundtrack is pretty fabulous too. The blend of rock and emotional instrumentals establishes the mood perfectly. Even the opening song is so catchy and one of my all time favorite anime openings, it immediately draws you in.
The other thing that I found attention-grabbing was the issue of identity. Nothing, however, asks as persistently as Noragami what it means to be remembered, what it means to be useful, and what it means to be loved. Divine beings here are only as real as humans remember them to be, meaning their existence is frail. Yato’s craving for recognition is less a question of fame than a matter of survival. It says so much about how everyone, regardless of who they are, just wants to feel as if they matter, that someone needs them. It’s that human dimension to a superhuman story that makes Noragami such a lasting hit.
Sure, the anime has its problems. Not all arcs were adapted in full as it’s based on a longer manga. Some side characters might have benefited from further exploration, not least among them the other gods, who whirl in and out of the tale only to disappear. The pacing can be a bit uneven, dragging in some places and rushing too quickly through others. But despite these problems the emotional pay off is worth it. The plot may be flawed, but the emotions linger.
For me I found Noragami to be more than just “another action show.” It was about making a connection to characters who seemed imperfect, and therefore real. Yato showed me that even if one is caught up with the past, change can come as long as the right people are around. Hiyori demonstrated how devotion can keep a family together, no matter its blood ties. Yukine's characterization exemplifies how broken souls can be mended by placing trust and forgiveness above all else. It's for those lessons that this Anime is still one of my all-time favorites.
Recommendation?
For an anime that's both upbeat and profound, Noragami is a great option to consider. It delivers you action, comedy and supernatural confrontations; but it also serves up pauses for meditation and heartfelt narratives. If you enjoyed Blue Exorcist, Soul Eater, or even Angel Beats that same energy is very much present here but unlike anything else.
It’s this potential that Noragami has a talent for tapping into. The characters are with you still after its last episode, and the emotional arcs are real rather than forced. It also isn’t too long to get through in a couple of sittings. As someone who has watched many anime and one who is a bit of a novice, Noragami delivers the goods. It’s maybe not as recognizable as the big ones, but it should be on your watchlist. Give it go, and you might just find yourself enchanted by Yato's quest as much I was.