The Eccentric Family

Plot

Set in modern-day Kyoto, humans occupy the city while tanuki inhabit the earth and tengu the sky. The story follows the Shimogamo family of tanuki, who can transform into anything. Yasaburō, the third son, enjoys a carefree life, visiting his tengu teacher Professor Akadama and meeting Benten, a human woman who learned to fly from Akadama. The family grapples with their father's mysterious death, while Benten belongs to the Friday Fellows, a group that eats tanuki hot pot. The Shimogamos must balance their carefree nature, relations with other tanuki, and avoiding being cooked.

Characters

Yasaburō Shimogamo is the main character and third son, the most carefree and prone to trouble. Yaichirō, the first son, aspires to become Nise-emon, leader of tanuki society, like his father. Yajirō, the second son, transformed into a frog and forgot how to revert, living in a well pond and offering advice. Yashirō, the fourth son, is shy and reveals his tail or ears when frightened; he works at the Electric Wine Factory with Kinkaku and Ginkaku.

Tōsen Shimogamo, the matriarch, is protective and often dresses as a male; she loses her transformation ability during lightning storms due to severe astrapophobia. Sōichirō Shimogamo, the late father and former Nise-emon, was eaten by the Friday Fellows after Benten trapped him. Sōun Ebisugawa, Sōichirō's younger brother, severed ties after the death and seeks to become Nise-emon; he betrayed Sōichirō out of envy and love for Tōsen. Kinkaku and Ginkaku are Sōun's twin sons who bully Yashirō.

Kaisei Ebisugawa, Sōun's daughter and Yasaburō's cousin, hates Benten and hides that her true form undoes Yasaburō's transformations.

Media

The first novel was published by Gentosha on September 25, 2007, with a sequel on February 26, 2015. A manga adaptation by Yu Okada, with character designs by Kōji Kumeta, ran in Comic Birz from June 2013 to May 2015, collected in four volumes. The first anime season of 13 episodes aired from July 7 to September 23, 2013, on Tokyo MX, KBS, SUN, BS11, Kids Station, and KNB. Directed by Masayuki Yoshihara, scripted by Shōtarō Suga, scored by Yoshiaki Fujisawa, and animated by P.A. Works, it used opening theme 'Ecstatic Life' by Milktub and ending 'Que Sera, Sera' by Fhána. A second season aired from April 9 to June 25, 2017, with returning staff and cast, opening 'Narugamama, Sawagumama' by Milktub and ending 'Moon River' by Fhána.