Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. Vulgar and strange, they have inspired fear
in humans since the dawn of time and have, over the ages, come to be known as "mushi." The stories of
the Mushi and the people they affect are all linked together by a traveling Mushi-shi, or "Mushi
Master," who seeks rare Mushi sightings and uses his shaman-like knowledge of Mushi to help the
affected people.
What are the Mushi and what do they want?
(Source: Funimation)
Mushi-shi is a conceptually fantastic and elegant story that challenges traditional tropes and patterns while still using a common medium that anyone could understand. While fighting the paradigm can be an open door to critical acclaim and widespread popularity, the actual enjoyability of the show can suffer for it. The beginning starts out very strong, with the main character Ginko traveling around this strange medieval-technology land littered with the natural, meddling spirits called Mushi, that very few people can see and even fewer still can deal with. Concepts are creative, execution is relaxing but occasionally unsettling, visuals are, at times, alien and heavy-handed, but they still combine to form a strange, beautiful work that blends in with the natural scenes. It’s easy to be wrapped up in Ginko’s world, because it’s believable and wonderful, like a painting of a forest. However, when the illusion of realism leaves your dulled eyes and you come out of your Mush-shi induced coma, you may start to realize that despite the show’s ability to steal your time away from you, half of the show is boring drivel that you fail to notice due to distractions. Flashbacks for context begin to take up a third, or an entire half of certain episodes. Ginko, the titular Mushi-shi, loses relevance and becomes his own deus ex machina. Mushi problems boil down to a set of specific commands that always happen. Here is a formula if you ever want to watch it and see: 1. A problem is introduced. (Disease, loss of a sense, deformed birth, annoyance, natural disaster, food issue, memory) 2. Ginko determines that the cause is a Mushi that practically only he can see. 3. The problem is either solved by Ginko, resolves itself, does not need resolving, or cannot be resolved. Credits roll. That’s the entire show. That’s it. Throw in perhaps 3 flashback episodes of Ginko as a child, and there you have all 49 episodes of Mushi-shi. There is no recurring plot. Every episode is an episodic vignette into some villager or tradesman or Ginko’s life. Even Ginko does not always appear, and often he is not even the solution to the problem. This brings my main point: Mushi-shi’s focus was, after watching all of it, never on Ginko, never on just humans. It was all about nature, the entire time. Every episode is a metaphor for living with nature, appreciating nature, fearing it, respecting it, maintaining relationships with it. This is not a bad thing, by any means! This is a beautiful point to focus on, and one that needs more attention. It is not sensationalist nor pretentious. It is thoughtful and considerate, kind and profound. But as a relatively long-form show, counting to 46 episodes and 3 special, longer episodes? It becomes very dull at times, and loses some merit as a show. As a novel or comic, it’s understandable that one reading such a contemplative series would want to take his time and seriously consider concepts such as respect of nature. As a show, as something _enjoyable_, Mushi-shi fails.
When I started watching anime again in 2014 after a long hiatus, I saw fans of a series called _Mushishi_ praising how it was “beautiful” and a “masterpiece.” In these same discussion threads, there were also critics arguing that _Mushishi_ was actually “pretentious” and “boring.” Seeing such strong opposing opinions, I opted to see for myself how good—or bad—_Mushishi_ truly was. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/g5y2bxf.png)~~~ About a quarter way through the first episode, I was already siding with the critics. The central character, Ginko, who appeared to be a kind of paranormal investigator, is seen traveling deep into an unusually vibrant forest. He’s headed to the home of a child living there to investigate a strange ability he’s said to have. When they meet, perplexing conversations ensue, which, at the time, I found difficult to follow, and not particularly interesting. The second episode frustrated me even more. For most of the first half, I grudgingly stared at these two kids sitting in a dark room discussing something pertaining to eyelids (keeping my own eyelids open was a struggle). Before I could get to the second half, I stopped the episode, and concluded that this series just wasn't for me. As I befriended more people in the anime community, I noticed that many of those who shared my interests also thought highly of _Mushishi_. I wondered, “Why do these people with such excellent taste (lol) love such a dull series? Maybe I missed something?” I attempted to give the second episode another try, this time approaching it as I would a meditation (or a tedious assignment). I turned down the lights, cleared my mind, relaxed my face and shoulders, took a deep breath, and gave it my undivided attention. In such a relaxed state, I usually feel a peaceful indifference. Watching the second episode again, I wasn't as impatient during the first half, but I wasn't quite enjoying it either. However, I was more receptive. I initially took notice of how ubiquitous the environment was. A scene would often open with or cut to an intricately detailed—and admittedly beautiful—slice of nature. It was around this time that it dawned on me that nature itself is a character in this story. There’s Ginko, the various people he meets, and nature. Nature is sometimes the protagonist, other times it’s the antagonist, but it’s not an entity that acts with bias. Nature, and the "Mushi", which are a supranormal extension of nature, just are. In this context, everything started to make more sense. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/x18f4RZ.png)~~~ When I finally saw the unexpectedly creepy second half of the second episode, my attention was firmly hooked. As I progressed to the next episodes, another thing that became apparent was how the problems and concerns of the characters mirrored our own, providing openings for us as the audience to relate and emotionally connect. Each story guides us through the mental, physical, or sometimes moral process of trying to solve a particular issue. However, people’s plights aren't sensationalized. _Mushishi_ doesn't seek to make you feel angry or depressed. While there are moments that could make you feel that way, it doesn't indulge in negativity or drama. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/RclSwSD.png)~~~ I was later impressed by how much ground _Mushishi_ could cover in just 23-minute episodic intervals. The directors, under Hiroshi Nagahama’s supervision, did well in balancing the elements of Yuki Urushibara’s award-winning manga. The studio, Artland, didn't cut corners on the production either. The art and animation quality exceeded that of a typical television series, sometimes reaching the levels you’d expect from a feature film. These visuals were underpinned by a traditional and occasionally haunting soundtrack. _Mushishi_ is infused with subtle, and easily overlooked, commentary on the ways in which we’re connected with each other and the world around us. Thinking back, it’s amazing the difference eased expectations and a little patience can make. With that said, such an approach can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to like anything. Sometimes you’re just not compatible with something, and that’s perfectly fine, too. In my personal case, I was more compatible with _Mushishi_ than I’d thought as it has since become my favorite anime. ~~~img(https://i.imgur.com/NAmewhn.png)~~~
__Spoiler alert!__ If you have read my previous reviews, you know that I had some problems with how loud anime usually are. How so many characters feel the need to scream all the time, for the music to switch around, for everything to be so up-in-your-face. Even the calm shows, the serious ones, would just annoy me all the time cause everyone kept acting like fucking buffoon. And like I said in my Neon Genesis Evangelion review, I wanted to change that. I wanted to watch more shows that I actually enjoyed and not ones that I had to tell myself that I did. So after Eva, I had a few shows that I wanted to watch. Welcome to the NHK, Ergo Proxy, FLCL, Xavier Renegade Angel (not an anime, but I don’t just watch anime you weebs), but there was one that I had been on my watchlist for a long ass time. One that I kept pushing up, one that I decided to not push up anymore. That being Mushi-shi, one of the most relaxing shows of all time. Mushi-shi is set in a japan infested with spirit-like beings called mushi. Some can see them, some can’t, and one of the people that can is called Ginko who lives off helping people who are having problems with these mushi. Whether it is hive-minded babies or wandering swamps, he can help. Or hopefully at least… But because Ginko tends to attract mushi, he is forced to wander around Japan, exploring this new wonderful world. And that’s what makes the show great in my opinion. The show follows an episodic structure, meaning that every episode has a story separate to the other, only sharing the mushi and Ginko himself. This means that we never really get to know any characters except for Ginko. I have heard that people found this to be bothersome, which I think is a fair point. But on the other point, I think this is what makes Ginko such a sympathetic character. Ginko is a very laid-back character, with a character design fitting that perfectly, but there’s also something so sad about him. Having to move around all the time makes it hard to make connections to people. He has a disconnection to the real world, so he has to look to the other-dimensional to find the familiarity that everyone needs. And I think making you sympathize with a character through writing is a good thing but making it so the basic structure of a show makes you do so is something really impressive. So while I may agree that I felt a disconnect to the world since I never really felt anything for any other character than Ginko, I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. And that’s the reason why I think the episodic structure works so well. Having an overarching story with big themes and deep character developments is good and all but I have always found it interesting when a show doesn’t need that to make something great. To show someone the daily life of a person with no real order and to give that person so much character for it. There are other reasons why I think the structure works well. The way that every episode ends so undramatically and how they end so mysteriously which makes you think of your own continuation. But it’s the way that it makes you sympathize with Ginko that makes it so special. Cause I wouldn’t really say that any of the individual stories are all that great. While they have some interesting ideas and visuals, I never found them very thought-provoking or memorable. And that’s a theme with this show. While one episode might not be fantastic, in the context of the whole show it becomes great. An example of this is the mushi themselves. Aside from Ginko, the mushi are the only things that glue the show together. And while I don’t think any of the individual mushi shown in the series are that interesting, the way that the whole mushi concept works I find so much more than that. And what makes them that is their description. The Mushi are described in a lot of different ways. Neither plant or animal, in between being dead and alive, in between Ying and Yang. So what does it mean to be between death and life? What does it mean to be between the Ying and Yang of life? What does it mean to be? And that’s what makes the show so thought-provoking in the end. It doesn’t really feel like they set out to make you question what it means to be alive, or what it means to be a plant. it doesn’t try to make you think about yourself but does so by making you think about something else. It’s reminiscent of how I believe a certain character (or characters) in Made in Abyss makes you think about what it means to be human while not really setting out to make you think about what it means to be human. I think that’s a really interesting way of conveying a theme, by making the fact that you are thinking about it convey that theme. Again, there are other reasons why I think the Mushi are so interesting, partly because they aren’t really written as a force of evil but just existing. But that’s what makes them so great. They convey something by not really conveying it. There are other factors as to why this show is so good of course, the music feels like a combination of BotW’s calm atmosphere and Hollow Knights feeling of exploration (Though, it isn’t as good as either of them), the dullness of life contrasting with the fantasticalness of the mushi being shown with colors. But in the end, it’s the episodic structure and the mushi themselves that makes the show what it is. It’s the simple becoming something great. It’s the emergence of life. In the end, Mushi-shi isn’t a show that I think I’ll think about every day like I do with movies like Your Name and The Social Network or tv-shows like Bojack Horseman. Even though I’ve argued why Mushi-shi’s forgettable stories are good, it may be the reason why I won’t think of it all the time like other anime. In a way it is pointless. It didn’t change me, and it didn’t change Ginko. But isn’t that the most human thing ever, the pointlessness of life? __Weak 8/10__
This review will be __spoiler free__ as I hope that more people would then decide to watch this incredible anime I was always pretty wary of watching _Mushi-shi_ because even though it has been recommended to me many times, it has also been labeled as being boring and meaningless. After finishing the show, I can potentially see it being “boring” to some people due to its slow pacing, however _Mushi-shi_ surprised me in many unexpected but pleasant ways. This is a show that manages to tell a plethora of different stories exploring a wide variety of themes while maintaining high quality storytelling and well-written characters across the entire season, a feat that most shows (episodic or not) fail to accomplish successfully. __Story - 9.5/10__ The basic premise of _Mushi-shi_ follows the main character, Ginko, as he travels around Japan to solve problems involving Mushi, which are described as the most basic form of life and is used as an allegory for nature throughout the majority of the show. The show has an episodic format where each episode has its own self contained story, and characters, besides Ginko, rarely make more than one appearance. I always prefer overarching stories over episodic ones, however _Mushi-shi_ is definitely an exception as its episodic nature contributes so much to the melancholic tone and themes of the show that it would almost be wrong for _Mushi-shi_ to be told in any other way. The greatness of the show comes from the fact that even though the problems of each episode are all related to the Mushi, these issues always aid in the telling of character focused/driven narratives that explore many different but relatable themes. The show achieves this successfully because the Mushi are more similar to natural disasters/phenomenon than animals where they are not inherently good or evil but they rather exist without purpose and act beyond the "comprehension" and control of human beings. Instead of going on a quest to destroy all Mushi, Ginko is able to help the people deal with their personal problems that are only made more apparent through their encounters with the Mushi. It is difficult to talk about the many different themes without spoiling the story, but the show does an excellent job not only exploring existential topics such as the vastness of the world and the purpose of life, but more grounded ones like grief and ethics as well. __Art - 9.5/10__ The art is just gorgeous. It is never anything revolutionary, but it fits the show incredibly well, especially the backgrounds and the environments. The Mushi are also very well designed in my opinion since they were not something incredibly flashy, but instead, some Mushi can be majestic while others can be underwhelming or ugly just like the things that exist in nature. The only minor complaint I have is that the characters can look very similar, but it’s not really a big problem since I can’t imagine how they can make well over 40 different characters all completely unique from each other. ~~~img(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTAzMDA0ODktNmE4Ni00NjkyLWEwMjYtNmFmNWQ3NzQ5NGY3L2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_.jpg)~~~ __Sound - 10/10__ The soundtrack in this show perfectly captures the essence of the show. Just from the opening alone, you can already start to feel the sadness, loneliness and melancholy in the tone of the show. The voice actors are also incredible, the emotions were all displayed in very realistic and impactful ways that definitely resonated with me. __Character - 10/10__ The characters are without a doubt the best thing about the show. It is true that Ginko is a very complex and incredibly likable main character, but the real stars of the show are most of the side characters that Ginko helps each episode. I am genuinely amazed at how _Mushi-shi_ is able to consistently develop characters better in a single 20 minute episode than what other shows can do for a single character in over 20 episodes. These characters are so surprisingly developed and none of them are shallow or one-dimensional in their personalities nor their beliefs. Of course there were stories and characters that were much more memorable than other ones, but a majority of the side characters are all interesting and I was actually invested in most of their problems and stories. __Enjoyment - 9.5/10__ I think it’s no surprise that I enjoyed _Mushi-shi_ a lot. It’s world intrigued me from the very start and its wonderfully developed and compelling characters kept me interested till the very end. The world building also goes much deeper than what I mentioned in the review. The only reason that this is not a 10/10 is because I feel that the last four episodes were a bit rushed and the stories were less captivating compared to the rest of the show. __Summary__ _Mushi-shi_ is a relaxing show that is almost guaranteed to make you think deeper about your own life as well as the world around us. If you are looking for an action-filled or cheerful anime, then you should probably turn away, however, if you can appreciate slow-paced stories that contemplate nature as well as life as a whole, then I can’t recommend this show enough.
__Without spoilers :__ If you have had enough of the usual shounen action anime, if you are seeking something different from what you usually watch, if you like atmospheric shows with supernatural elements, then mushishi may be the anime you are looking for. However, if you can't enjoy slow paced stories, with no action nor hype elements, if the word "boring" is what you use to describe what you call bad anime, if you can't handle episodic shows, then please don't even try to watch this anime, it's not for you. Mushishi is about exploring some weird creatures called "mushi", a kind of living beings that are not humans nor animals, beings that are responsible for weird phenomenon that can't be explained by the laws we know. The main character is called Ginko, he is a person who spends all his time traveling in order to unravel the mystery of the mushi and eventually help people whose lives are threatened by these creatures. People like Ginko are called mushishi, thus the title of the show. This is a unique tale of nature and life, a tale of hope and despair, a story about the meaning of one's existence, a show that tackles human problems in an original approach, with supernatural elements and mystery all along the journey. It has great world building, touching stories, sometimes sad, sometimes happy, amazing backgrounds and good animation, relaxing ost that fit perfectly the atmosphere and the themes of the show. Because it's episodic, the rule of 3 episodes is applicable. If after 3 episodes you don't connect with the themes of the show just drop it, it won't get different after. __With potential spoilers:__ In this part i will talk about what makes this show great in my opinion, and the problems i found when i was watching. Let's start with the good elements: 1) the best thing in Mushishi in my opinion is __the atmosphere__. This show is mainly atmospheric to the extent that you feel transported to a mystic world while watching. It's like meditating and diving into your soul. This effect is the result of the the themes of the show, the manifestations of the mushi in particular and the great work the studio did with the visuals, ost and sound design. 2) when the anime lacks action and the other hype elements that attract the mass, the writer should compensate it with some great story telling, world building, dialogues and character development. In my opinion mushishi succeeded greatly in the 3 first elements, the character development isn't bad, but there is nothing impressive about it to be honest : - __story telling and dialogues :__ in every episode, there is a new story that is told so perfectly by a lot of techniques including back stories and the use of a narrator. The dialogues are well done, they serve the story and are useful for giving info about the world and showing the characters feelings and way of thinking . -__ worldbuilding and mystery :__ because it deals with creatures that exist only in this show, mushishi did a great job overall building its world, the creator gave a lot of time to show the behavior of the mushi, their interaction with nature, their positive or negative impact on humans and the particularities of each mushi. The mystery is also done well almost in every episode, the nature of the mushi and the lack of knowledge people have on them created a lot of mystery that add the tension to the stories. However, some episodes were confusing as hell, because there wasn't enough info to understand the mushi. I will talk about this later. 3) __the themes:__ this is another strong point of mushishi. The anime deals with numerous themes that are related to nature, human society and life problems. The way this show tackles theses subjects with supernatural elements (the mushi) is simply amazing. It makes the watcher think of life in a way he never experienced before. Mushishi talks about the meaning of life, the well being of people and where they belong, how some people overcome their past and what hinders their evolution, how some people get stuck in their painful situations and never manage to reach happiness, how the good and the bad are not easy to define and how life can be either simple or difficult depending on how you view things. 4) __the work of the studio:__ to be honest the quality of the visuals really shocked me, i still can't believe this anime was created back in 2005. The details in the backgrounds and the fluid animation are to praise, this anime is simply visually stunning when it comes to these points. The character design is however not that good, as a lot of characters look very similar and their expressions are not very detailed. The ost is amazing, the man who did the ost of the original naruto is the one who composed mushishi, he nailed the mystic and the historical vibes, his music was so relaxing a fitting the atmosphere. The sound design is one of the best i've seen in anime, the sound of animals, the rustling of plants, the sound of wind, the footsteps, the breathing... Every sound is done perfectly and with a lot of care. Now, let's talk about some problems i think this show has and somethings i wish they did but they didn't do: 1) going back to the worldbuilding and the mystery, some episodes were confusing due to the lack of info about the mushi and especially due to the absence of laws that can be applied to the world of mushi: in fact there is no specific laws that are applied to all the mushi that show their limtits, the only law we know is that they seek well being just like humans. I really wish they had constructed the world of mushi with laws so that the watcher don't get confused at some points, and to limit the plot conveniences that could occur. For example, in ep 19, ginko gave the unseen girl some medicine and people started to see her, we don't know why the medicine caused that effect as we don't know the limits of the that mushi, and thus it felt convenient. Another thing that bothered me is who can see the mushi, they never said what does it take to see the mushi, why some people see them while others not. I think they could have done better with these details. 2) a lot of the stories are forgettable although they leave you with a strong feeling or impression. I think this is due to episodic formula of the show.Except from ginko and adashino, all the characters appear in only one episode, which makes their stories fade away as you continue watching other stories and as time passes. I don't have a problem with the episodic approach, i think it worked very well with Mushishi, but i would have preferred to see a main plot line that they can return to, and some other characters that we could go back to. 3) there was something that was repeated almost every episode and i keep questioning it, but so far they still haven't talked about it in details, i'm talking here about how ginko and other mushishi have so much knowledge about mushi: Except from one episode, ginko knows the names of all the mushi he was dealing with, he knows their behavior and their properties. I really wish we had episodes where he discovers ghe mushi for the first time, where we can be shown his methods of getting knowledge from those mushi. We've only seen one episode where he doesn't know anything about the mushi (the one who reincarnate the dead) and he ironicly didn't do well in that episode and drew some conclusions that weren't very accurate. 4) the last point i'll talk about is ginko's character. I think he is a fun character to watch, his personality is likeable, and we did have some character development via some flash backs. But what i don't understand - and i think the show somehow neglected - is his motivation, why does he help people he doesn't know? We know that he attracts mushi and want to explore their world further, but why does he take risks to help people in every situation? Sometimes, he was about to die doing that, and we never got some explanation about it. I think they should have given some time to develop this point, cause it's important in order to fully understand the character. To conclude this review, i think mushishi is a fantastic anime with a unique concept, an anime that i've never seen something like it before. It sur has its problems that i hope they will avoid in the second season, but they are negligible when you see the great stuff of the show. It's not for everyone as a lot of people will get bored while watching the slow paced stories, but for those who are interested in nature, in old and simple life style and some deep interpretation of life, they'll probably fall in love with this anime.
_Spoilers ahead!_ "The world is full of life unknown to man", says a woman's voice. Mushishi ends with this sentence. First of all, Mushishi became one of my favourite shows. Sometimes you just want to feel struggling emotions, to see energy and action, sometimes you expect a plot which just begins and ends following a straight line of happenings. Conversely, sometimes you just need peace and introspection. Mushishi is a slow-paced, relaxing, sometimes boring and generally mysterious anime, which examines the beauty and the horror of existence. Ginko is a Mushishi, a "Master of Mushi", being Mushi mere living essence. Sometimes Mushi can be perceived as ghosts, parasites, creatures so primordial to the extent of being less evolved than many bacteria or plants, and visible only to certain lucky (or unfortunate) people. The plot is basically a travel: as Ginko explores new places, mountains, forests, villages and so on, we become his companions and see him as he treats people's illnesses caused by some "parasite-Mushi", explains what he studied about them and how he discovered their features. If we look at it this way, it sounds pretty boring. Ginko's background is quite mysterious, even if some episodes of the total 26 are dedicated to explaining when his journey began. However, you don't really need to know anything more. The real "main character" is not Ginko, but nature itself. As we understand that neither human beings nor Mushi can be classified as extremely good or extremely bad, but rather creatures merely living in the same world and age, trying to survive, everything gets clearer. Ginko's profession is a sort of curse, since he didn't really chose to become a Mushishi, to see his "master" die or to travel endlessly. His body "cohabits" with Mushi, and his aura naturally attracts them. As a result, he understands them and tries to make people afflicted (or blessed) by their close presence, to do the same. In one episode, he says: "It's neither your fault, neither Mushi's. You two are just trying to survive". Another fundamental concept crossed my mind as I appreciated this anime: the whole show tries to convey an ECO over EGO way of life. Rather than insisting on the fact that we, as human beings, have the right to destroy the unknown, or to crush natural habitats in order to improve our living conditions regardless of the damages we inflict to other living creatures, Mushishi promotes an ECOlogic philosophical belief. We are living beings as a deer is, as a bacterium is, as a tree, as Mushi are. But it extends this discourse to a more poetical way of looking at the world we live in. Have you ever felt like our souls may reside in our pillows, and function as a medium between our daily lives and the dreamland? Mushi may need our sleep, the sounds we emanate, the heat we give off, the light we absorbe. Everything is the same thing, and we should value the "here and now". It's more than a philosophy, it's a meditation exercise. It's mindfulness at its finest. That is why there is no particular action: the best way to perceive life and death is to live in small villages, villages close to the sea, on top of mountains, to live in societies at their first stages, far from the hectic life of big cities and our sometimes too fast-paced lives, where human-to-human and human-to-nature relationships are extremely powerful. And to study, travel, deal with daily life problems, communicate. That is why Ginko is so mysterious: it's not an edgy choice, because a bizarre character draws the attention of thirsty people. Ginko constantly lives between two different worlds, and has become an expert of the unfamiliar. He can't be more interesting than what he actually has to offer, which is his experience and the results of his studies. That is why there is not a proper ending: Ginko will travel until his death, as the show encourages us all to do. Getting curious, helping people, living in harmony with nature, appreciating little things, accepting the course of events, grasping the nature of pain and sorrow. Mushishi is not for people who adore feverish binge-watchings. This can be a flaw of the show, and it doesn't necessarily mean that people who prefer a different kind of show should feel outraged or insulted. This show is the cup of tea of people who need to see paintings-like screenshots, with a verdant nature and a musical background that is sometimes relaxing, oscillating between meditation sounds with their bells and gongs, sometimes disturbing and captivating. I personally found it deeply comforting and introspective, and it made me question some of my values and morals. Am I being too selfish? Am I being too stubborn? Am I being too kind, do I truly know myself?
Mushishi is maybe the best narrating I've seen from any anime. This isn't for some epic all-encompassing plot, yet rather for a moderate wordy methodology that gives you new characters, new settings, new stories, and new mushi to manage every scene. Other roundabout anime may tend to lose your advantage partially through, yet Mushishi is unique in that every scene will leave you absolutely and totally fulfilled. img220(https://i.ibb.co/Y0yWSLq/d3dd3gx-544e2c12-e294-4aba-a552-5e6c51c9f48b.jpg) img240(https://i.ibb.co/KXszpdF/avatars-000203296958-70t8e0-t500x500.jpg) After a scene of Mushishi closes, there is no compelling reason to surge in to the following one to finish up the cliffhanger from the past scene. That is on the grounds that there will never be an absence of an end in every scene. Every scene is its own story, totally remarkable from the wide range of various scenes. At the point when I watched Mushishi, I'd see a scene, be fulfilled, and when I was in the state of mind I'd watch another. I was rarely dependent, however it never tumbled off my radar. It held my advantage reliably all through the multi month time span that I watched it, and keeping in mind that some may commend shows that make you need to watch everything in a day, I see that as a shortcoming. It implies that you were forever discontent with a solitary scene, and that to get your "fix" you needed to copy through numerous at a time. That distinction is the greatest solidarity to Mushishi, and what gives it its enduring allure. img(https://i.ibb.co/zV4747Q/0iT9htz.jpg) Another strength of the show is its lovely delivering of nature. Obviously, when the show is soaks so vigorously in nature you would anticipate this, yet there are some really stunning scenes in this anime. The lone defect in the activity is the sluggish character plan. People from one scene to another are indistinct from one another, and Ginko appears to just be unmistakable through his white hair and green eyes. This feeds into the other large imperfection in the show: the characters. No character other than Ginko is at any point completely figured it out. We can feel for a portion of their issues and feelings, yet what we are truly left with toward the finish of the scene is the story they were utilized to tell. This is fine: it's a verbose anime and nobody would anticipate that these characters should be terrificly grown, however it could be an issue for certain individuals. At last, I should discuss how every scene blurs into another completion piece. It provides the watcher a feeling of a sense of finality with every story: that what they had quite recently seen was a piece of something bigger, but instead its very own work.
I like this anime quite a bit. No major spoilers btw img(https://i.imgur.com/AJhTwv9.jpeg)
Mushishi is a mystery slice of life. Each episode tells a story about Mushi affecting the everyday life of people all around. Mushi are a sort of being that are not plant nor animal, good nor evil. They're a sort of spiritual being that only certain people can see, that purely just try to survive more than anything, which can sometimes negatively affect those around them. Ginko, a Mushi-shi (a sort of Mushi shaman) goes from town to town, investigating these happenings, studying the Mushi, and helping people along the way. Mushishi is not an "everybody wins" show. It shows that there isn't always a happy ending in life. Some people die. Some people are forced to live with some unfortunate circumstances due to the Mushi. Ginko doesn't have all the answers, but he does what he can. Sometimes he directly helps. Sometimes all he can do is sit, listen, and sit in the back lines and see how things play out. This show is beautiful. img220(https://files.catbox.moe/lv358r.png) img220(https://files.catbox.moe/4tzov5.png) img220(https://files.catbox.moe/b94xdo.png) img220(https://files.catbox.moe/acgqst.png) img220(https://files.catbox.moe/0g5xj6.jpg) img220(https://files.catbox.moe/j4dykk.png) The art style fits the mood of each episode. It's a soft art style, which great detail going into the backgrounds. The soundtrack is equally gorgeous, always managing to fit the scene. The soundtrack is rather somber for the most part, but so is the show. Though it has one of the most happy and relaxing openings I've heard in some time that I always find myself singing along with. One thing I really loved about this show is how each episode ends. There's no cliffhangers like most shows that make you watch the next episode. It's episodic. At the end of each episode, either the problem is resolved, or it's not. And they move on. At the end of each episode, you're just left with thoughts of what just happened. And some of them are just really sad!! Tears would likely be dropped. But yeah, the appeal isn't necessarily to see what happens next, but what else is going to happen. What's the next Mushi going to be like? Will Ginko be able to help? Will the next village be able to help itself? The story isn't centered around Ginko, either. It's about the people he encounters. I'd say it's not a great show to marathon, but rather take your time with. Just watch 1/2 episodes at a time and you'll be good. Mushishi is a show that you'll know if you would enjoy it after one episode. I feel it doesn't follow the three episode rule. You get what the show is going for in just one episode. If you feel the pacing is too slow, this show is not for you. If you don't feel interested in the mystery, this show is not for you. But if you get a chance to watch, and you find it equal parts intriguing and relaxing, then I feel you're really going to enjoy it. Personally I rate the whole thing the anime,ova,movie combined a solid 9-9.5/10 youtube(https://youtu.be/tIZDnQtmFIU)
Mushishi es de esas obras que sino escarbas dentro del medio es probable que no sepas de su existencia. Como si de una obra de Chiaki Konaka o anime de los 80´s se tratase, actualmente nadie da un carajo por ellas excepto por un pequeño sequito de fans que las alaban como la segunda venida de Jesucristo. Y la verdad es que entiendo este tipo de status. Mushishi al igual que varias de esas obras, su densidad, ritmo lento y conceptos poco convencionales, resultan repelentes al público general del medio, y sumado a su formato episódico y larga duración, es probable que incluso a los más acostumbrados a este tipo de historias incluso de duerman. Y es que Mushishi como si se tratase de una película de Tarkovsky, es una historia en la que el foco principal en vez de ser la trama u algún acontecimiento emocionante, es más sobre como los personajes interactúa entre si y el entorno y conforme a ello reflexionan sobre alguna temática en específico. Y esa es otra razón por lo que la serie resulta poco convencional, si quieres entretenimiento aquí no lo tendrás, pero si quieres sentarte un rato a reflexionar sobre algún tema, este es tu lugar. Ya que alrededor del 90% de los capítulos toman algún tipo de temática que se desarrolla junto a la trama de este episodio en cuestión. Y ese elemento es la espada de doble filo, ya que un punto en el que encuentras positivo, encuentras otro negativo. Y es que el formato episódico arruina este aspecto, ya que al no haber una trama establecida, la exploración temática hasta cierto punto se ve afectada al no poder expandirse de forma lineal, y otro aspecto que se puede ver tanto positiva como negativamente es la variación de temáticas que toca la historia. Por el formato esta en varios episodios toca temas completamente diferentes a los anteriores, haciendo que un episódico pueda tratar sobre aceptar las responsabilidades, el siguiente sobre la aceptación de la muerte de un ser querido, el siguiente sobre el valor de una vida con respecto a un pueblo, y así pueden ir variando las temáticas. Esto hace que por un lado los temas sean variados, haciendo que la serie no se vuelva repetitiva pese al formato, y que está a través de sus mensajes sea más trascendente con lo que quiere contar. Pero por el otro lado esto aumenta el problema del formato, que es que estos temas no se pueden expandir a gran escala, y junto a ello la variedad de estos hace que la serie no tenga cohesión alguna, ya que a diferencia de otras historias episódicas como Cowboy Bebop o Ergo Proxy, las cuales en su mayoría el formato era episódico, en estas las tramas formuladas seguían la misma temática, pero dándole un foco diferente a esta, haciendo que las temáticas al contrario se enriquezcan más en exploración, en cambio en Mushishi se siente como una rara mezcla de temas sin ningún tipo de relación puestas en una sola serie. En cuanto a las fórmulas de los episodios he de decir que son muy competentes pese a las limitaciones que tienen. Primero se plantea una problemática relacionado a la intrusión de un elemento sobrenatural el cual nuestro protagonista debe de resolver utilizando sus conocimientos. En primera las problemáticas son bastantes variadas, ocurriendo un problema completamente diferente al anterior, ya sea el acontecimiento sobrenatural o el cómo afecta al entorno en el que desenvuelve la trama del episodio en cuestión. Los capítulos pese a su duración se desenvuelven de una forma muy buena y competente en cuanto a su presentación que se resumen en: Ginko llega a un lugar, le explican las cosas que pasan en ese lugar, intenta encontrar una solución, surge alguna complicación, y el problema se resuelve. Si bien la formula suena repetitiva, son los contextos y situaciones las que dotan a la serie de variedad, ya que si bien la fórmula es la misma, el cómo se desarrolla es diferente. Y con ello uno de los puntos que veo que menos mencionan de la obra y que la verdad a mí me gustó mucho son las conclusiones de los episodios, ya que estos no solo concluyen la trama desarrollada en los capítulos y dejando en claro la reflexión o mensaje de este, sino que también son las formas en como acaban, ya que las conclusiones o son positivas, haciendo que todo termina bien resolviendo la problemática, o terminan con una nota agridulce en la que si bien se resolvió el problema, quedan consecuencias permanentes de esta, como por ejemplo el capítulo del tipo que sus sueños se hacían realidad, en donde si bien se resolvió el problema, igualmente eso no soluciono que todos en el pueblo habían muerto y que básicamente este era inhabitable. Y esto tiene que ver mucho con la gravedad del asunto y que tan dispuestos estan los personajes en resolver el problema. Y junto a ello uno de los elementos más importantes de estos episodios son los personajes, los cuales pese a la duración del episodio, al final terminan teniendo un desarrollo que va de la mano de la problemática y el tema del episodio. Y al igual que las tramas estos terminan siendo distintivos debido al problema, teniendo un conflicto a partir de esta, como la incapacidad de aceptar una muerte, el no poder dejar ir algo, o un sentimiento de remordimiento o culpa por algo del pasado. Y ese conflicto en cuestión es desarrollado apropiadamente en el capítulo, con el personaje madurando y dando paso a la conclusión. Como podrán ver si bien el formato episódico es algo perjudicial hasta cierto punto, este está respaldado por una buena fórmula en sus episodios. Y uno de los puntos más importantes del por qué esta fórmula funciona, es el protagonista. Ginko es presentado como un tipo carismático que solo busca hacer su trabajo y nada más, este es en su mayoría es como la voz de la razón y el que solucionara la problemática debido a su experiencia. En si es caracterizado como un tipo relajado, tranquilo y bastante serio. Este es el personaje que posee mayor proactividad en toda la serie, siendo que es su trabajo el resolver la problemática, y en ello algunas veces este entra en debate con los pueblerinos sobre sus actos y el cómo maneja la situación, y en resumen es el que saca a colación las temáticas del capítulo. En si tiene una personalidad decentemente dimensionada, y con ello una especie de filosofía sobre la naturaleza y de la vida y el libre albedrio que da de que hablar en varios episodios, y también un trasfondo que si bien no es del todo profundizado, da a entender el porqué de su relación con los mushis. En resumen es un personaje que si bien no se desarrolló o no tiene un gran nivel de complejidad, en cuanto a caracterización es bastante completo, y es un protagonista lo suficientemente competente para una obra como esta. Y otro punto que quisiera tocar y que no veo a muchos mencionar siquiera es la construcción del mundo. La serie en cuanto a esto es bastante eficiente. Hay varios pueblos con leyendas, leyes y mitos que justifican la forma de ser de los pueblerinos que muchas veces es cuestionada por el mismo Ginko por el cómo son moralmente. Y no solo el mundo terrenal, sino que el elemento del Mushi y el cómo se desarrolla en el entorno rebosa creatividad, siendo como una especie de youkais con una forma más abstracta, haciendo que se creen mitos acerca de estos, y también el cómo algunos estan sujetos a un ecosistema en específico como si de animales se tratase. Y bueno, como hablar de Mushishi sin mencionar la ambientación y el apartado técnico. Visualmente la serie es destacable por sus hermosos fondos, llenos de detalle que (valga la redundancia) detallan muy bien en la naturaleza de los escenarios, no exagero al decir que cualquier frame de la serie sirve para ser tu próximo fondo de pantalla o marco. Y con ellos el uso de estos fondos sirve para denotar lo que quieren representar algunas escenas, alunas veces con lo místicos y peligrosos que son los Mushis, o la tranquilidad y calma de algún pueblo. Y el apartado sonoro no se queda lejos, al punto de que la música es algo indispensable en esta serie, la música refuerza esa aura mística y a la vez densa y relajante de la serie a través de melodías lentas que pegan con el ambiente o el momento en cuestión. Y a través de estos elementos la atmosfera general del show es bastante tranquila, y esto se potencia más por el ritmo tan calmado de la obra y por qué fin de cuentas es un slice of life. Y ya para ir concluyendo porque me canse de escribir. Mushishi al final, es una buena serie. Pese a lo perjudicial que es su formato hasta cierto punto, la obra ofrece una exploración temática si bien algo limitada, bastante competente debido a la fórmula de sus episodios, personajes, conflictos y resoluciones. Sin lugar a dudas es una serie que no es para todos, la mayoría seguro no darán un carajo, y he de admitir que yo fui de esa mayoría hace ya un tiempo. Pero lo unico que puedo decir es que al menos denle una chance, ya que si bien probablemente llegue a no gustar por sus muy importantes defectos, realmente es una gran experiencia que dudo que se vuelva a repetir dentro del medio. 7/10
~~~img500(https://i0.wp.com/i.imgur.com/KKxinNs.jpg?zoom=2)~~~ Many people struggle to wrap their heads around specific folklore that is entirely different from the cultural roots of their own country. It can be an arduous task for the ill-prepared minds that want to explore all facets of any country’s folklore that captures how its culture evolved from its roots to the present. There hasn’t been much anime that handled folklore with the level of atmosphere and creativity that the show Mushishi has to offer, and for this, we have to be thankful for its existence. A beautiful one, to be more specific. How Mushishi develops itself from the ground up, in terms of its overall narrative, is by separating plot arcs into every episode with their own story that all feel unique and thought-provoking. The people, who Ginko comes across in these different episodes, are never seen again as he tries to make sense of how these “Mushi” behave and how they adapt to the landscape of Mushishi’s world by engrossing them in the people. What makes it extraordinarily admirable is the level of detail that encompasses the show's entirety despite not having an over-arching “story.” Almost every character feels like actual people rather than one-dimensional caricatures that shows, like Mushishi, typically fall into when they try to do the same formula. I wouldn’t say that it’s as perfect as one would hope, but it’s more than enough for it to garner warm praise for its in-depth characterization. Ginko himself proves to be a competent leader by giving him the excellent detective mind akin to other great detective characters by giving him a solid back-story to his past life and how he came into being a Mushi-shi himself. However, the absence of an overarching narrative in Mushishi doesn’t work since it is bounded by a slight disconnect of a tightly structured world that wants us to feel engrossed and connected. Still, it ultimately doesn’t come across as anything but average. While most of the episodes prove to be good in themselves, watching them all together and trying to encapsulate the very nature of the particular world they want to portray. It feels empty and shallow. It intends to make an episodic show, but at the same time, it tries to create this living, breathing society on a macro-level that doesn’t fit right on an episodic show. Its two properties of world-building don’t coincide perfectly. Mushishi comes across as far from perfect in this facet. The structure of Mushishi might’ve taken it took into a slight nose-dive, but there’s one exact detail to the show that makes up for it, the atmosphere. ~~~img500(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/mushishi3.jpg?w=768)~~~ The atmosphere has to be just right for the viewer to be engrossed in it, and there’s plenty to go around in Mushishi. One other crucial detail that every person always mentions about Mushishi that comes from the gloomy atmosphere is that there’s not one person who finds the atmosphere nothing but beautiful. It’s hard to make an atmosphere that is faulty. Still, the one thing that would do a disservice to any show of Mushishi’s nature is how poor it creates a mood that is too blatantly lifeless or monotonous in integrating with the tone. To which I applaud Mushishi for bringing itself to its knees and flourishing. The lack of a lot of music helps to let us breathe in the atmosphere without any distraction for long periods while looking at the incredible artistry of the scene in question. I would’ve appreciated it even more if there was no music. The random musical instrumentation spread out at specific episodes doesn’t feel like the anime needed them. With something as slow and methodical as shows like Mushishi, it manages to pace itself near-perfectly in letting us take in the scenes at face value without hinging on quick interludes that would hamper every scene. Despite its slow pacing, it never feels like a slog. It’s like listening to a great drone/ambient album that goes on for 2 hours, and once it’s done, you feel as though only mere minutes have passed because of how entranced you were from experience. That is one thing to describe Mushishi: Entrancing. Once you’ve set your sights and attention to the subtle details put into, not only the art but how hypnotic the writing of the dialogue is and the breathtaking Mushi sequences are, you can’t take your eyes off of it for one minute. Great care is given to the tone of Mushishi as it builds up the mood at specific points to make it feel very compelling and robust on a mental and emotional level into the stories. The Mushi sequences alone are all extremely breathtaking to experience because of their lucid creativity and imagination that were put into practice by the brilliant artistry of the show. They’re the sequences that will forever be burrowed into your memory by the sheer awe-inspiring imagination inspired by Japanese folklore. These include the designs of the Mushis themselves and how the sequences themselves were directed brilliantly by how tense and uneasy they were portrayed whenever they appeared on-screen. ~~~img500(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/mushishi2_29.jpg)~~~ The artwork borrows heavily from influences of old Japanese artistry on an old Ukiyo-e print from early 17th Century Japan. It gives the atmosphere a bonus from the wonderfully detailed backgrounds and the creative animation of the sequences I mentioned beforehand. There’s not much in the way of overall breathtaking energy because of its plodding nature, but it doesn’t do a disservice since it fits very well to the tone. The character designs themselves look like actual human beings and have very minimal detail to the foreground of the palette on-screen. Mushishi is a show that has to be seen to be believed, and you have to experience it for yourself to see the qualities come full force. It certainly did for me. Despite my thoughts on it not being perfect in how I view all of its positive aspects, that shouldn’t be a clear sign to not go through a genuine calming experience that you’ll hardly ever see in most anime. Watch it before you go to bed or anything that tries to make you reach a state of tranquility. It should prove worthy of any acclaim to people who’ve been interested in the pure Japanese mythology that this series has created for itself. If an anime show could rank along with “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” as one of the most significant contributions to Japanese art that showcases its aesthetic insight into its own culture, Mushishi would be that anime, bar none. Grade: A-
__Life has two essential skills that can help you in basically any situation.__ Talking, and more importantly listening. Most of Mushishi, in it’s span of three seasons, two specials and one film is our main character Ginko, listening. Paying close attention to not only how lives have been affected by these primordial entities called mushi, but also how it affects every village and its inhabitants. There is a veil of warmth and adventure in seeing Ginko help villagers with their troubles and it's fascinating. I'd often find myself watching an episode before bed. In an odd way, it reminds me of my parents telling me a bedtime story. Unlike a bedtime story though, many episodes end on a bleak note. In it's subtle storytelling it blends in elements of folklore that I've only been able to find in mushishi. For that reason it’s often labeled as iyashikei, which is one of my favorite genres. Being a subgenre of slice of life, this anime is a great example of iyashikei, literally meaning healing in Japanese. It has very clear differences from other anime in the genre like yuru camp or non non biyori. Trimming out the comedic and brighter tones of a series like yuru camp, we are left with a darker study of human nature and it’s tendency to destroy its surroundings or in this case, mushi. There’s a sense of resolution as the credits for each episode rolled, even if the conclusion wasn't necessarily happy. Mushishi's lessons come from the struggles everyone faces; and how Ginko attempts to fix them. The interesting part about Ginko is that he doesn't expect anything in return, which presents ginko in a humble and earnest way. He genuinely just wants to help people coexist with the mushi that’s causing them issues. In the two episodes we get from his past, one being episode 12 in the first season and the second being the first episode of mushishi zoku shou season two, we see that he had his fair bit of hardships in becoming a mushishi. Having this scattered backstory of him that we learn over the duration of the show, it's clear that he not only respects mushi but wants to aid in forming a connection between their world and the human world. The duality between these two worlds is that humans ultimately want to have their own selfish ways. Even if it means destroying the mushis natural sense of order. The cases vary from episode to episode but the one that I think best illustrates this is episode 20 in the first season, “Sea of ink.” In this episode, Ginko does his usual line of events and travels to help Tanyuu, a girl who has a situation with a mushi. What made this episode special for me is the fact that firstly, Tanyuu, based on her lineage, trapped this mushi inside of herself. This mushi that is labeled the “forbidden mushi” is only kept at bay by writing scripts with ink, which contain it. At the end of the episode we see her express her desire to travel with Ginko and gain a deeper understanding of the world that the mushi live in. It’s a warm sentiment that showed Ginko finally forming a deeply woven relationship. Traveling from place to place, Ginko can never truly stay anywhere as he would only be causing a burden to those around him. As he attracts mushi wherever he goes, he is constantly mobile. Rather than mourn about his condition, he extends a compassionate hand to those that struggle with a mushi. In this, we see a common theme. Ginko is in fact an expert in mushi and is always willing to help but he is by no means a savior. This is evident in a number of episodes where the person that is inflicted with the mushi will simply not adhere to Ginkos advice. In those cases the episodes often end in sadness and even tragedy. What I found really cool about the anime was that it maintained a similar style and pacing all throughout, even though there was almost a ten year gap between the first season and zoku shou. Whether it’s raining, sunny, or snowing, the scenes and atmosphere of the places that Ginko travels to are truly amazing and unforgettable. To give a brief contextualizing of mushishi, we need to look at what iyashikei is and why it exists. Tracing its origins back to 1995, it emerged as a result of the terrible Tokyo subway sarin attack and the great hanshin earthquake. As such, Japan had once again entered an apocalyptic setting. Post WW2 Japan has emerged it’s feelings of fear and anguish in multiple mediums and sub genres as seen in movies like Godzilla or anime like NGE but how Iyashikei tackles these feelings is in seeing the value of the everyday tasks. Waking up, going to school, spending time with your family, traveling, eating great food, seeing friends. All things that one comes to enjoy when tragedy strikes and fair enough right. To get personal, I have seen this true in my own life. When I reach points in my life where tragedy strikes, I begin to appreciate and savor the little moments because I know they are temporary. They can vanish like a balloon that gets filled with too much air. When looking at an Iyashikei series like Yuru Camp or Barakamon, this is pretty clear. These anime take place in contemporary society that deals with everyday situations. Nothing overly tragic takes place in either anime but both deal with very serious issues. In Barakamon, Seishu moves to the countryside to rediscover his calligraphy style and learn how to deal with criticism. In Yuru Camp, it focuses on the main character Rin learning and developing her ability to balance her love for camping alone while appreciating her ability to camp with her friends in the outdoor activities club, especially in the ongoing season. Both anime have similar qualities to mushishi but it’s still an obvious outlier in the genre. It doesn’t take place in contemporary society. It doesn’t have any moe tropes in it’s cast like other slice of life that fall into the CGDCT category. Other than Ginko and a handful of characters, the cast is limited, with every episode having unfamiliar faces. I remember having this odd preconceived notion about this show. This wandering white haired dude that smokes a cigarette in eso Japan. It seemed uneventful and to an extent, it is. But that's exactly what makes it special. While we don’t have mushi in our world, helping others is a taxing thing to do. Why? Because speaking is drastically easier than listening. In order to help, you must genuinely listen and put your own thoughts and opinions in the background. To listen with true intent to understand what they’re trying to express one can also learn something about themselves. That alone can bring incredible positive change into your life. 2020 was a year. I have a lot of upcoming videos so keep an eye out for them. 2021 has been rocky so far but I have faith that it’ll be a great year. Especially with COVID-19 still being a major part of our lives, iyashikei is more important than ever. It extends so far. Even with a game like animal crossing new horizons being released last year, it embodies the spirit of focusing on the trivial and otherwise mundane things we do everyday. Giving yourself a moment to reflect on yourself and heal from any negative thoughts you may be having. Having a bite sized episodic anime that doesn’t have any larger than life conflicts or crazy combat or any serious interpersonal struggles, it gives you the opportunity to unwind, refresh, and reflect. Thank you for reading. Stay well.
~~~img620(https://64.media.tumblr.com/0a3eee7636585f6f34a620fb3242b6b1/6cf84968005bf472-04/s1280x1920/80f6ffa69014dfc3826f4c92245309210b9309cf.pnj)~~~ _The most serene, silent shore of the anime ocean. It is the product of an idea that pays tribute to nature and the living in the splendour of simplicity. Mushi-shi is a work of volunteerism, a devotion that is not hidden, but mysterious among the people, which carries in its heritage the preservation of an ancient wisdom for eternity and its use for the benefit of the living. However, the fact that life forms called "mushi" come out from under every stone is the excuse of the anime, the dough in need of flavouring. The main narrative elements that make this anime valuable are the human stories told through the medium of mushi, and the fantastic elements and fiction that caress the sensitive belly of inspiration and make you experience the pleasure of imaginative description and creation._ ~~~img620(https://64.media.tumblr.com/539cb4adae6c3d45a2377b32f36c4f77/6ee984495210f4aa-31/s540x810/7cf45485ca25ad6ce270f4dc563a05c141fcdb07.gifv)~~~ _[Ginko](https://anilist.co/character/425/Ginko)'s wandering indifference, yet his inner control, which is understood in the respect for the living, his ability to continue farther and farther wherever he goes, and his unfamiliarity with the idea of the end of the journey embrace you with sincerity like a novel character. Like every voluntary loner, he has a past condemned to inviolability. His thesis, which takes its shape within the framework of his teaching, reminded me of [Hermann Hesse's fictional traveller Knulp](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24854.Knulp) when I ignored his extreme isolation against the vivid and obsessive, and his purposefulness in line with Japanese culture._ ~~~img620(https://64.media.tumblr.com/237c5e13e65fb98c4254e6bc0fcf67e4/6cf84968005bf472-16/s2048x3072/1d9f08c1aeb873d4c87c96b98f1cdd6a3c861722.jpg)~~~ _A village traveller, a nature connoisseur, a piece of nature, sure of what is right, detached from the fixed, escaped from the sense of belonging, unafraid of his imperfection, sometimes selfish but open-hearted. At first, in the midst of stories that sprout aesthetic ideas in the mind with their beauty, his excessive dominance over the whole of the situations and his makeshift superiority over every problem disturbs the eye, but in time one gets used to it, and towards the end of the story, as Ginko's weaknesses and resignations find their lines, it takes the form that radiates serenity worthy of true peace._ ~~~img620(https://64.media.tumblr.com/f42ed83ed1808bff9f8ba302dceee9fd/6cf84968005bf472-0c/s2048x3072/99d89945e14521825feece66af608c0435aee6df.pnj)~~~ _I emphasise that it is one of the productions with calming, mystical and relaxing original music. All songs are instrumental except [Ally Kerr](https://anilist.co/staff/104068/Ally-Kerr)'s The Sore Feet Song, and these are the songs that give the soundtrack its unique power and fit the anime perfectly. These works, the product of [Toshio Masuda](https://anilist.co/staff/100358/Toshio-Masuda)'s musical genius, can have a softening effect by soaking the tired mind in milky white waters..._ ~~~img620(https://64.media.tumblr.com/6b46ad041459937de0c8492aec7abb21/6cf84968005bf472-ce/s2048x3072/7b0dbe2e34a00f921501978a8ef151684c084e57.pnj) img620(https://64.media.tumblr.com/9c980fdd5134cafaabe3c3860af09749/6cf84968005bf472-ee/s2048x3072/aec2775483cdd51315df5fcf2bf20e12c2f63d2d.pnj)~~~
***
__MUSHI MASTER
(INTRO)__
We live in times where everything can be easily accessible, our waters are cleaner, our food is easily produced and transported, and there is far greater entertainment we consume today than there could have been hundreds of years ago. But one thing that stands out from the rest is that information is far more abundant right now than it was in the past. If you find something in the streets that you can't easily identify, you can easily open up Google to confirm it. Feeling sick but couldn't decipher what caused it? A trip to the doctor is just half an hour away, or google your symptoms and do some home remedies.
However, that wasn't always the case as it was a few decades ago and could be argued even a little while ago. People back in the day didn't have the privilege of having a shelf load of information in the comfort of their palms, nor could it be carried anywhere they please, and some weren't even literate. People back in the day lived simple lives; the sky was at its most blue, and a lone or a couple of wooden houses under the forest were in its most luscious green, with air devoid of industrial smell. It was a simple life lived by people in the past, yet one thing that has never disappeared from before to now is the ability of people to tell stories.
Today, we would be watching various art films, reality shows, news shows, or an hour-long TV series right in the comfort of our own homes, but back in the day, people didn't have that kind of privilege. Stories are spread by meeting and talking with people. Stories that came from a faraway village about a supernatural phenomenon that is unexplained by its nature. These stories people tell are mostly filled by the curiosities of people, but more than that, it testifies that the desire to clash and find more stories, no matter how absurd they can sometimes be, is innate to us.
They seem strange and alien, primitive and peculiar; they are unlike any flora or fauna known to us; they are feared by men and women who encounter these beings, which came to be known as "mushi." Not a lot of people know what certain abilities a mushi has unless you'll talk to a professional about them. A mushi master comes along and helps people who are unfortunate to encounter and interact with a mushi. Ginko, the Mushi Master, has a lot of stories to tell about his adventures. ***
__CHAPTER 1
A MUSHI AMONGST THE GREEN__
Mushi-shi isn't your typical fantasy. It blurs the lines between reality and the fantastical, creating a world saturated with ancient mystery. Imagine curling up on the sofa, enveloped in the warmth of a childhood memory, listening to your grandparents whisper tales passed down through generations. Every whisper hints at a time beyond reckoning, where even your grandparents' ancestors were shrouded in mist. Mushi-shi captures that boundless wonder, leaving you both captivated and questioning just what lies beyond the veil.
That vibrant green, once a siren song of calmness, now cloaked the jungle in an eerie pallor. Each step deeper felt like a silent descent into mystery; the melody that once soothed is now a haunting counterpoint to the unsettling quiet. A prickling feeling on the back of your ears as a sense of something neither here nor there, neither living nor dead, is in your surroundings. A mushi is what Ginko calls it, and the people in this world weave themselves into the very fabric of the world alongside with the mushi.
Mushi are enigmatic creatures that walk a tightrope between life and something else entirely. Some seamlessly blend with the living, while others warp reality in unsettling ways. From a bridge appearing only once a few decades, or a fire leaving behind deadly frostbite. Even death takes on a strange twist with Mushi, as corpses thrown into the ocean might find an unnatural rebirth. Even seemingly beautiful things, like a dazzling river, can harbour hidden dangers, luring the unwitting to their doom. Each subclass of Mushi comes with its own bizarre quirks, further blurring the lines between natural and supernatural. Their presence irrevocably changes human experiences, leaving a lasting mark on anyone who encounters them.
Unseen and enigmatic, mushi weaves through the fabric of human life. Although independent, they subtly tap into the essence of what it means to be human, like a pervasive fungus absorbing life's vital spark l. Their myriad forms and vibrant abundance, a spectacle almost beyond human comprehension, can overwhelm and unnerve some. Not everyone can embrace the unsettling reality of the mushi's influence on our lives. We have no control over these infectious, supernatural beings; we can only adapt and coexist. ***
__CHAPTER 2
A TALE OF THE LIVING__
Mushi is supernatural and unknown in nature and has his own sets of goals on how to survive while being attached to its host in their own unique way. In most cases, they manipulate the feelings of those they attach to in the most psychologically traumatic way possible, from bringing the vaguely dead to luring something that isn't alive. The mental toll it takes for a mushi to torment the grieving is great, yet what it leaves behind is greater.
Mushi exploit a person's grief, particularly the longing for deceased loved ones, to maintain their parasitic hold. But discovering these relapses are mere illusions, facades for the parasite's infestation, shatters this illusion with devastating consequences. Facing not only the parasite's insidious manipulation but also the ostracization and scorn of their community as "oddballs," the victim endures immense mental anguish. Yet, even amidst this crushing isolation and despair, their desire to live further endures.
Even amid the crushing weight of guilt and the emotional turmoil inflicted by the Mushi, those touched by their influence cling to reasons to live. Though these motives may seem ordinary, the fire of determination within their hearts burns fiercely. Though their loved ones may be forever lost, they strive to keep their memories vibrant, a beacon of purpose even when that promised reunion feels impossibly distant. With unwavering acceptance, they carry on, their resilience a testament to the human spirit's enduring flame.
Mushishi compels us to confront our definition of a meaningful life. In its quietude, it exposes the limitations of material comfort and technological advancement as pathways to inner peace. It reveals the profound solace found in embracing personal grief, even within the desolate confines of a memory-haunted home. This profound longing for a lost loved one, though seemingly bleak from an outsider's perspective, holds immeasurable value far exceeding any worldly possession. While the outward appearance may suggest misery, it pales in comparison to the emptiness of a life devoid of such cherished memories. ***
__CHAPTER 3
RURAL SUPERSTITIONS__
If you've ever lived in a rural environment, you would start to notice these nostalgic feelings that Mushishi emanates. Rural beliefs between solitude and awareness of surroundings—these uneasy feelings you have over the luscious green emanating around the forest. A glance at it might not be able to see, but if you squint a little more, you might start to see the invisible life that's surrounded the living. Whether they have intentions of ruining a living person’s wellbeing may be instinctual, but as humans remain the recipients of these harmful misdemeanors, an exaggeration of superstitions arises, and as the mystery becomes more unknown, the greater the fear it eminates.
The impact of Mushi in rural areas is greater at higher levels, whether directly or indirectly. Unlike the privileges of the modern world, where anything can be explained with logic, if things can't be explained, there will be preventive measures that ensure the safety of society without the discrimination of one person or a group of people. That, however, doesn't work in rural areas. In rural areas bound by rules of the mouth, it ties people together by their intuition and would go their own way in order not to be harmed by the effects of mushi, even abandoning the people they know in order to get a hierarchical leverage, whether for their safety or selfishly.
Even though a terrifying creature called a "mushi" is no longer present in this village, its legacy of fear lingers. Stories and rituals passed down through families keep the memory of the unforsaken event alive, even though it might not be relevant in modern times. The trauma experienced by victims and the fear witnessed by others have become deeply ingrained in the community's collective memory. Even though the mushi is gone, the fear it instilled persists, casting a long shadow over generations.
Even though a mushi is just a fictional aspect of the show, it perfectly encapsulates the folktales of real-life rural towns shared from people to people and the beliefs they still hold even when the original purpose is lost in translation, or it could be a mere miscommunication, a form of prejudice over a single person, or a significant event that shaken the people who lived during the time of down. In today's modern society, we can just brush off these kinds of stories as a mere blip of the unknown, exaggerated as time goes along. It still doesn't stop us from listening to a nonfiction story that may or may not have happened in the past. ***
__CHAPTER 4
BETWEEN DEATH AND THE LIVING__
In episode one of the second part of Mushishi: Next passage showed how young Ginko encountered the border between death and the living for the first time of his life. That was later known as the River of light. As the show describes, it is the channel where mushi transcends between the living and the nonliving, keep an eye on it and you will be sucked into with little hope of returning to your real self. It's the backbone of the mushi lore and the most times it returned in multiple episodes. With this presence, you always get to wonder what it truly means to be between the living and the nonliving?
Ginko is one of many exceptions to being able to live with humans while also seeing a mushi; therefore, he can technically be in between the threads of the living and the non-living. With Ginko having a long enough experience with Mushi, he has grown accustomed to their nature to the point where he is one with the Mushi while at the same time interacting with people from the living. The balancing of two worlds can take a huge mental toll, but Ginko, through years of experience, managed to balance himself; however, it's not the same with other characters.
There are characters in the series who either have the desire to disappear with the mushi because the living world betrayed them or have no choice but to live with the nonliving, and we see snippets of these characters traversing between the living and the nonliving with huge conflicts of awe and confusion. However, between the living and the nonliving is surprising a world that is emptier than the nonliving, in between worlds where neither recognizes you as one of them despite being one with them. You lost the identity you possess and had to force yourself to traverse the undesired unknown.
Mushishi delivers loneliness in a way that is calming and haunting. The majestic spectacle of the Mushi that's eye-catching with offerings of lust in between the living and the nonliving with promises of a better life than the sufferings of the living world, however, traversing the unknwon can be anxiety-driven, as the mushi tricks you from the offerings, actually luring you down into a downward abyss of eternal misery, and then here's Ginko, living in both worlds, walking from the world of known and unknown with all of the heavy weight behind his back, travelling with no destination, a wanderlust caused by the curse. ***
__CHAPTER 5
WANDERLUST__
Life is a weeping journey of the known and unknown. Ginko, our main character, traverses through the unknowns of the jungle. He has this condition because, because of him being a mushi master, he couldn't stay in one place for too long because it caused the mushi to come closer to that specific place, and that's not good for the people who are living in that area. Therefore, Ginko, the mushi master, has to be on constant travel, an aimless adventure into the unknown, yet it's never a sad journey but rather a lust for something new to see on the horizon. No matter how dangerous everything may seem, you still want to keep stepping forward to see a brand new adventure through the aimless journey.
Ginko, a travelling mushi master, encounters various individuals on his journey. He possesses a unique ability to perceive and comprehend these beings, which he employs, often unknowingly, to assist others impacted by Mushi-related problems. Although he maintains a seemingly detached demeanour, his deep compassion shines through in his actions. While respected by many, he also faces opposition from those seeking to exploit Mushi for their own gain. Undeterred, Ginko continues his mission to protect both people and Mushi, using his own unconventional methods.
While Ginko's personal growth takes a backseat to exploring the world of Mushishi, his character embodies the universal yearning for adventure. He taps into our desire to break free, grab a backpack, and wander into the unknown, immersing ourselves in nature's embrace. That's part of what makes Mushishi so captivating - it resonates with our inner desire to explore the mysterious woods and supernatural realms. Ginko becomes our guide, an unconventional hero who aids those he encounters on his journey. He represents the spark within us, the urge to explore and help others along the way, our inner wanderlust. ***
__THE NEXT PASSAGE
(OUTRO)__
Not everyone finds solace in the serene embrace of Mushi-shi. Its meandering pace and self-contained episodes, lacking a grand overarching narrative, might leave some viewers yearning for more action or a deeper connection. Unlike shows fueled by cliffhangers and plot twists, Mushishi invites you to simply wander its world, savouring each encounter like a whispered folktale from times gone by. It's not about reaching a specific destination, but about appreciating the journey itself, a journey that might not resonate with everyone, but only for the people who appreciate these kinds of storytelling.
Like a cozy fire on a winter night, Mushishi draws you in with its gentle warmth. Initially, the silence might lull you, but soon, you're captivated by whispers of forgotten tales inherited through generations. These stories, bordering on the fantastical, might elicit an eye roll with their fantastical creatures defying reality. Yet, you find yourself enthralled, eager to unravel the lives touched by these otherworldly beings. The narrative unfolds like a quiet conversation with your grandparents, sharing tales passed down from their time. Despite the seemingly chaotic encounters, an underlying curiosity compels you to see how it all unfolds, how lives intertwine with destiny, and how even the extraordinary holds a touch of humanity.
Mushi-shi is not just an anime; it's an experience. Each episode unfolds like a hushed folktale, weaving fantastical creatures, quiet lives, and the whispers of generations past into a captivating tapestry. Stunning visuals and animation elevate the sense of emptiness and wonder, painting landscapes that vibrate with life even under a cloak of gloomy subtext, mixed in with the soundscape perfectly complements the visuals, adding depth and emotion with subtle yet evocative touches, it's a masterpiece worth experiencing at least once. To savour its essence, approach the series gently, consume one episode per day or two. Let the slow pace and aimless wanderings pull you in, and soon you'll find yourself captivated by the show's unique brand of adventure – one that's both devoid of a set destination, and meaningful. ***