Noragami
ノラガミ
- Action
- Supernatural
- Mythology
- Episodes
- 12
- Duration
- 24 min per ep
- Aired
- Jan 5, 2014 to Mar 23, 2014
- Status
- Finished Airing
Synopsis
In moments of desperation, a peculiar phone number written in red may appear—dial it, and a young man answers as Yato, a god for hire. A minor deity with no shrine to his name, Yato calls himself a “Delivery God” and dreams of earning legions of followers, but for now he scrapes by on five-yen odd jobs. When his weapon partner finally abandons him, even that shaky routine starts to fall apart.
Everything shifts after middle schooler Hiyori Iki is injured while trying to save Yato from a traffic accident. She lives, but the shock leaves her spirit untethered, able to slip from her body. Determined to return to normal, Hiyori presses Yato for help—only to learn he’ll need a new partner to set things right. Despite her misgivings, she agrees to assist him, and the unlikely trio’s search may be the break Yato has been waiting for.
Otaku Consensus
Noragami is widely embraced as a sharp, emotionally tuned urban-mythology action series—Studio Bones gives it punchy fights, expressive character acting, and a modern spiritual underworld that’s easy to sink into. Fans consistently praise the core trio’s chemistry and the show’s ability to pivot from comedy to genuine pathos without losing momentum. The most common knock is that, at 12 episodes, it can feel like it’s juggling tones and setups faster than it can fully pay them off, leaving some viewers wanting a more decisive narrative direction.
Why You Should Watch
Watch Noragami if you want a supernatural action show that treats Japanese mythology like a living city ecosystem—gods, youkai, exorcism, and street-level problems colliding in stylish bursts of Bones animation. Its real hook is character: a scrappy “god for hire,” a girl caught between ordinary life and the spirit world, and a volatile weapon partner whose growing pains land with surprising emotional weight. The series balances snappy comedy with bruised, human stakes, backed by Taku Iwasaki’s propulsive score and an OP by Hello Sleepwalkers that screams urban fantasy. Ideal for viewers who like shounen energy, found-family dynamics, and modern mythmaking with attitude.
Key Characters
- IIki, Hiyori(VA: Uchida, Maaya)
A middle schooler thrust into the supernatural, Hiyori anchors the story with stubborn empathy and a grounded perspective that keeps the gods’ drama feeling human.
- YYato(VA: Kamiya, Hiroshi)
A minor deity hustling as a five-yen “Delivery God,” Yato is equal parts charming and sketchy—an anti-hero whose desperate ambition makes him oddly relatable.
- YYukine(VA: Kaji, Yuuki)
Yato’s new weapon partner brings raw insecurity and bite to the team dynamic, turning every battle and argument into a test of trust.
What Makes It Stand Out
- 1
Studio Bones delivers crisp, kinetic action with strong character acting—fights are readable and snappy, but the quieter emotional beats get just as much visual attention.
- 2
Urban-fantasy world-building that makes mythology feel contemporary: gods-for-hire, youkai threats, and clear supernatural “rules” woven into everyday city life.
- 3
A tonal blend that actually aims for range—rapid-fire comedy, shounen momentum, and sudden emotional gut-punches—powered by the trio’s constantly shifting chemistry.
- 4
Music and audio design do heavy lifting: Taku Iwasaki’s score drives tension and momentum, while Hello Sleepwalkers (OP) and Tia (ED) frame the series with a modern, moody edge.
- 5
Character-forward storytelling: even when the plot accelerates, the show’s strongest scenes are built around identity, belonging, and what it means to be needed.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- Fun fact 1
- Noragami is based on the manga by Adachitoka, with the anime adaptation produced by Studio Bones and directed by Koutarou Tamura.
- Fun fact 2
- Series composition was handled by Hitomi Mieno, who also wrote scripts for multiple episodes (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12), giving the season a consistent voice across key arcs.
- Fun fact 3
- The show’s popularity is reflected in its major database stats: it sits at #27 in MyAnimeList popularity with over 1.3 million votes, alongside a 7.94/10 score.
- Fun fact 4
- The opening theme is performed by Hello Sleepwalkers and the ending theme by Tia, a pairing that reinforces the series’ mix of street-level energy and supernatural melancholy.
Studios
- Bones
