Watch Gingitsune: Messenger Fox of the Gods

Gingitsune: Messenger Fox of the Gods is an anime series that was first aired on TV Tokyo in October 2013. The story is set in a small town in Japan, where the protagonist, a high school girl named Makoto Saeki, inherits the position of a shrine maiden from her mother. The shrine is dedicated to the Inari fox god, and the position of the shrine maiden is responsible for communicating with the god's messenger fox, Gintaro.

Throughout the series, we follow Makoto and Gintaro as they form a bond and work together to fulfill the various requests that come to the shrine from the local townspeople. These requests range from helping a lost child find their way home to resolving conflicts between family members.

One of the central themes of the show is the importance of the local community. The shrine and the messenger fox are considered integral parts of the town's identity, and the interactions between Makoto, Gintaro, and the other townspeople highlight the interconnectedness of their lives. Over the course of the series, Makoto learns to appreciate the people around her and to understand the importance of the shrine and her role as a shrine maiden.

Another theme that runs throughout the show is the idea of tradition versus modernity. Makoto struggles to balance her duties as a shrine maiden with her life as a modern high school student. Her classmates view the shrine as outdated and irrelevant, and Makoto herself sometimes feels unsure about whether the traditions of her role are still relevant in the modern world. However, as she helps the townspeople and interacts with Gintaro, Makoto comes to understand the value of tradition and the role that it plays in connecting people to their past and to each other.

The character development in the show is generally strong, with Makoto and Gintaro being the two most fully-realized characters. Makoto begins the series as a somewhat aloof and unsure teenager but grows into a confident and empathetic young woman over the course of the show. Gintaro, for his part, starts out as a gruff and sometimes uncooperative messenger fox but gradually opens up to Makoto and becomes a more caring and compassionate character.

Aside from Makoto and Gintaro, the show's other characters are somewhat less fleshed out. Makoto's best friend, Satoru, is a supportive but somewhat one-dimensional character, and the rest of Makoto's classmates are mostly just there to provide contrasts to her own personality. The townspeople who come to the shrine with requests are similarly not given much backstory or detail, but their interactions with Makoto and Gintaro are often heartwarming and provide insight into the connections between the characters and the wider community.

Visually, the show is nicely animated and has a warm, colorful aesthetic that matches the tone of the series. The supernatural elements are well-integrated into the show's world and are often used to create visually interesting scenes and sequences. The show's soundtrack is a standout feature, featuring a mix of traditional Japanese instrumentation and more modern sounds that help to reinforce the themes of tradition and modernity that are present throughout the series.

Overall, Gingitsune: Messenger Fox of the Gods is a charming and heartwarming anime series that is well worth watching. Its focus on community and tradition is refreshing, and its characters are generally well-developed and likable. The show's visuals and soundtrack are also high points, making for a delightful viewing experience.