Mushishi

Mushishi is really one of those series that's very unique and mysterious. The story starts off with a Mushi-shi named Ginko, which throughout his journey, encounters different kinds of people that are in strange situations that are caused by these creatures called "mushi." They exist to somehow help out people that are afflicted by the mushis, so they act like medical doctors that's wandering about from place to place. The people he encounters are really unique, and their problems symbolize diseases in the real world, at least as I see it. Ginko appears in the villages where these peoples are and try to relieve them of these mushis, or just to try to help them out somehow. The mushis could be infesting inside the person, or exist outside their surrounding environment that could even affect an entire village. Either way, they cause something that makes their victims act strange. The story line is very episodic, but it really does fit the plot since each episode depicts Ginko being faced by a different problem each time. The art in Mushishi is really something that's worth appreciating. The vivid forests that Ginko travels through, the ocean that's constantly shown in the story, and the villages themselves are all very detailed and are just great just staring at them. Right when the first episode started off, I was thrilled by the details the people behind this anime put their backs into. The fog and mist surrounding the forests and the village makes me think of going outside on an early morning and breath in the crisp morning air while the birds chirp on the trees. That laid back feeling is really something. This could be a recent series that was first aired only two or three years ago, but I totally appreciate the animation and art on this one. The sounds involved in Mushishi are also great. The opening song just resembles one or two of my all-time favorite bands. The slow and mellow flow of the music is just laid back, and it just fits what the story is all about. Even the ending is very unique for an anime. Every episode ends with a different ending music, along with a different piece of art to show with it. With other anime, I usually just watch the opening and ending once, then the rest of the series I just skip them and go directly to what I'm supposed to be watching. But Mushishi is different. Every episode, I watch (or maybe just listen) the entire opening just for the music, then watch the whole ending for each one too. It's that great. The voice actors, specially the one doing Ginko's voice (in Japanese of course) really did a great job, so I give kudos to him for that. The sounds just come in at the right time, especially that bell or chime that rings out of nowhere, but fits the scene. Mushishi's characters are also great. There's the doctor that buys all of Ginko's weird collection, then the people that are afflicted by Mushis themselves. I kind of felt like there was a shortage of main characters though, but I think that making Ginko the character that everyone revolves around fits this anime anyways. That's because he travels around, and that's the only way of fitting all the pieces to the puzzle. Ginko's history also depicts someone that makes him what he is today. The people on this series also somewhat felt like they have the same faces, well at least mostly everyone, with a few that's just different. It felt like they have the same ancestors from way, way back then that just shows just now. But, that's just something weird that I had to add. But back to the discussion, I say the characters that Ginko meets on his travels are very mysterious as if they're ominous or something. But in the end, they're just regular people. This series is really something that I have enjoyed. It's something that persuades me to travel myself. No, it MAKES me want to travel. I really like shows where the main character travels to different places, and Mushishi just took the word "Adventure" to the next floor upstairs. I really had fun watching the series, and it's a show where everyone will find something to enjoy. The creators really need to start thinking of making a sequel that covers the last half of the manga. PLS! Overall, this anime is my top favorite all time anime that even surpassed Cowboy Bebop. I'm really into action animes like Bebop and hilarious ones like GTO, but Mushishi got that humble feel to it that just makes one feel good about something. This work is truly a masterpiece, and I recommend it to anyone who's reading this review.

If there's one thing you can say about this show, it's certainly unique. But this show is one of those ones that are kind of hard to rate, because it's really not for everybody. I personally enjoyed it but I could very easily see someone else getting bored out of their mind by it. Might as well get started then. When you watch this show, the most obvious thing that will pop out is the atmosphere itself. Taking place in *gasp* Japan in... I don't know shit about Japan's time periods but either way it's not modern. It takes place in a time where the resident's interactions with nature are more you know, relevant. A time where people didn't have big modern cities or advanced medicine or anything like that. This is a time where people are forced to directly live off of and be at the mercy of nature to survive. In many ways, this makes the setting and time period practically perfect. As our protagonist, Ginko, wanders around the countryside we see a good variety of settings, all of which can be almost equally beautiful. Quite frankly, the art and the atmosphere are pretty much the best I've seen in any anime I have ever watched. It's great, it really is, especially when it comes to the designs of the mushi. The thing is, even though this show focuses heavily on nature and the spiritual sides of things (well, I guess I wouldn't exactly call Mushi spirits but that's not important right now) some of the events, concepts, and ideas presented in the show are still very much relevant to us today. This show is completely episodic, but some of the individual episodes actually end up covering some pretty heavy topics. The show can really make you think some times, which is another thing that I like about it. Still, that's not to say the show isn't without its faults. Whether these issues are actually a big deal to you is going to make all the difference between whether you enjoy the show or not. If those issues don't bother you, this show is probably going to be one of the absolute greatest shows you'll ever watch. If they are problematic, than this show might end up being a bit boring to you. In which case, I suggest you might want to just watch a few episodes and then drop it (you can basically watch the episodes in any order by the way. I personally think episode 21 is a really nice one by the way.) So what are those issues? Well, one of them is simply the lay out of the show. Ginko is a wanderer, going from place to place... and he can't stay in one place for long. This is central to his character, and fortunately it's explained pretty decently why he's actually like this... as opposed to "wanderers will be wanderers. Loners will be loners." Like you might see some shows say xP What does this translate to? Well, it's a completely episodic anime, with no overbearing plot to any of it. It's literally just the guy going from place to place trying to help people that have problems pertaining to mushi. In a similar fashion to crime shows like CSI or whatever, it might end up feeling a bit repetitive after a while. There are plenty of recurring themes, and it doesn't help that some of the side characters look ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME. The show can be monotonous at times, so if you don't like shows that follow this sort of format in general, you might not like it too much. I personally wouldn't call this a flaw as much as it's simply a format that some would find appealing and some wouldn't. Though I will admit it would've been nice if the show at least attempted to have some sort of plot that brought the episodes together. The only other thing I think is worth mentioning is the characters. The thing is, there's really only one character worth mentioning, and that's Ginko. Everybody else is pretty much gone after they're episode is over. So I guess I'll talk about Ginko first. As a protagonist, Ginko seems like a good fit for the show. He's designed in a way that makes him more modern looking than anyone else in the show. Apparently they originally intended the show to be more modern... and changed that... but kept Ginko's design. However I'm not entirely sure about the source on that so if I'm wrong don't lynch me. Either way, he's actually a surprisingly bad ass character. I am a person who likes character development, so it's a bit of a disappointment that Ginko didn't get more of it. His backstory is actually pretty interesting in a way but it basically only answers the most basic questions you have about the character. Still I can say that I enjoy his character. Every other character on the other hand only gets an episode of development so it's challenging at times to get invested in them. But for what they got in the time frame, some of their stories can actually hit surprisingly hard. Not as hard as they would if we got to know them better instead of just one 20 minute episode but still heavy nonetheless. The characters are a lot more realistic and toned down then you would expect from an anime. This is a positive thing to me especially if you want to take a break from... well, almost every anime ever. Still, this could be a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. One of the main reasons this show can feel so repetitious is because the side characters aren't really all that distinguished from one another. They're all unique in some way, but because they're *mostly* just pretty normal people reacting to abnormal situations they don't really distinguish themselves that much. This is made even worse because of the way they're drawn. This is the only reason I give the art a 9 instead of a 10, the side characters all look way too similar. In most anime you'll see different hair colors (many of which won't be realistic at all), different hairstyles (many of which won't be realistic AT ALL), different clothing (except for you know, most high school animes) etc. This show really highlights why somewhat unrealistic but varied characters designs are actually a good thing a good portion of the time. Yes, they all look like actual Japanese people in that time period. But seriously, some of those character designs look almost exactly the same. You'll see a decent amount of young couples throughout this series, and it's almost impossible to tell them apart design wise some times other than say, the hair length of the girl. The characters are just that similar looking. So yeah, that's the show. I personally enjoyed it, but this is one of those shows that are kind of hard to judge. It's just the kind of show that will be completely amazing to some viewers and a complete snooze-fest for others. It's a nice slow paced atmospheric anime, and it also has one of the most relaxing theme songs I've ever heard. So if you don't have a tolerance for a slow pace or a little repetitiveness then this might not be for you. You might want to just watch the first few episodes, a couple of other random episodes and then drop it. Or you could watch the whole thing. The show's not for everyone, but for anybody who thinks they have the patience to watch a sort of laid back show like this then give it a try. It's an interesting show, it really is.

They lay, unseen in the shadows, the mysterious beings known only as the mushi. They are the closest to the earth of any living being that dwells on its surface. They live around us all, and are, for the most part, very docile creatures, but they become deadly as well. When this happens, it is wise to seek the help of a mushi master. The story of Mushi-shi follows one such mushi master, named Ginko. A mysterious man who only stays in one place long enough to aid those who need him, and then leaves to the next place. The plot of Mush-shi is episodic and nothing short of extraordinary. If all the beauty in the world were to be moulded into a show, it would be Mushi-shi. Its roots dwell deep in ancient Japanese culture, it's heavily symbolic, but never obvious about it, and it's simply an amazing experience. The show seems to take place around the 1800s in Japan, but it is never confirmed, as much as all the Japanese culture in it would lead us to believe, as well as the fact that most characters in the show wear traditional Japanese clothing. It never loses an air of mystery, though, which does leave room for argument. The show always leaves you satisfied, and although it isn't one to watch in one sitting, it's a perfect show for before going to sleep. The characters are another interesting aspect of Mush-shi. Aside from Ginko, characters only appear in one episode (with the exception of a close friend of his.) However, each episodic character is given enough back-story that you care for them. You want them to overcome their troubles and live a happy life. You feel the genuinely upset for these one episode characters when they have trouble overcoming these obstacles. It's truly amazing how this was pulled off, and I salute them for doing so. Ginko himself is a very interesting character and always a joy to have on screen. He's laid-back, sarcastic, but always willing to help others. He really loves his work, even if sometimes it doesn't seem like it. Details on his character are given out little by little as the series goes on, and by the time you get to the episode with his story, you'll find it rather hard not to get teary eyed. He's one of those characters who you have to love. The art in this series is, you guessed it, beautiful. The character designs are simplistic but if they had been any more detailed, the show's tone may have been altered slightly. They're really better off simplistic. The characters dress in clothing typical for the setting, making it feel very natural. The colours and backgrounds are soft and inviting, adding to the lullaby effect of the show. The animation is rather minimal, but it doesn't need to do any more than it does. It's simple, but effective. Everything is a high point in this show, and the music is no exception. It's extremely soothing and again, beautiful. There is a lot of piano in this score which is used to great effect. The animation in the opening is very minimal, but the opening song, which is in English, is a very relaxing song and captures the tone of the show well. The ending of the episode merges seamlessly into the ending theme, sending you to sleep with images of the world you just left. This is one of the series where I refuse to watch it in a certain language. I absolutely will not watch Mushi-shi in Japanese. Odd, I know, considering everything about this show is Japanese, where as many other anime are heavily Americanised. Allow me to explain. Mushi-shi, as mentioned before, is much like a lullaby. I don't want to have to read when watching it. Honestly, I just want to relax and watch without having to worry about that. Your best off just watching in whichever language you know best. The acting in the Japanese is solid; I'm sure, as it always is. In English, Travis Willingham plays Ginko perfectly, as well. Not only that, but every single minor character is acted perfectly, without many miscasting. Overall, Mushi-shi is a stunningly unique and beautiful series. It isn't one to be watched for hours on end, but rather to watch before going to sleep. Everything about this series is beautiful. If you ever had trouble believing that anime was art, watch this series, it will make you think twice. It isn't action packed, and who knows, some people may find it boring, but can I take away marks for that? I don't think so, since excitement isn't really what it set out to do in the first place. It set out to teach people about how Japanese culture was and still is partially, and to act as a lullaby, and it surely does that. I could recommend this series to anyone, including people who don't normally watch anime.

Declared one of the best of 2007 by AnimeNewsNetwork, Mushishi is a supernatural drama set in old rural Japan that boasts visuals and storytelling over action and fanservice. Mushi are a group of primiative lifeforms that are neither animal nor plant, and invisible to most people but have lived amongst humans forever -- kinda like poltergeist plankton. Their shapes and sizes can vary from small as an insect to as large as a small pet. The show follows a man named Ginko who is a "Mushishi" -- a witch doctor of sorts. One of a small group of people who can see Mushi, he studies them and helps people whose lives are being effected by them. Ginko has the added problem of being a person who attracts mushi as well, forcing him to be nomadic to help maintain the balance of life in the areas he's in. The best part of this series is the artwork. Beautiful landscapes of lush vegetation, constant light and atmospheric effects, and special effects used for the mushi don't look like CG pasted on top like in a low-budget series. Character design wasn't bad, except that there wasn't enough variation between the appearance of the villagers, making it appear some are in multiple episodes when in fact it is a different person every time. The stories themselves are fantastic in their humanity and charm. The quality of the writing varied some (especially near the end) but overall kept me happy throughout the show. Mushishi is first and foremost not an action series, and would generally bore anyone who's really looking for stimulation. I've heard people say you shouldn't watch it late at night (because it will put you to sleep) and while I can't say that's accurate, it is a series you generally have to be in the right mood to enjoy. The music is simple and calming. It may be a little cheesy or repetitious at some points (like Casio-keyboard Muzak for the local Chinese buffet) but generally sets the mood right for whatever is happening. Only the opening theme has any singing, and the ending score that leads out each episode changes each time. Those are so nice and blend so well with the final minute or so of the story that I generally sit through the end credits to enjoy the rest of the song. Mushishi is entirely episodic in nature, and there are only one or two references to previous episodes made in the entire run of the show, neither of them were important plot-wise, so the viewer is free to watch the show completely out of order for the most part. It's also a slice-of-life show, meaning that the stories don't always have a conclusive start or finish. Some of the stories end on a happy note, some sad or bittersweet, some don't really resolve at all. A couple of times we start with Ginko having already met the supporting cast and the story already begun. This also means the series itself has no conclusive end and the final episode was a little weak. It took more than three months for me to watch the series, and it should have been done in a month at the most. But the one-episode stories and overall feel of Mushishi makes one not want to watch it quickly. But that's okay in this case, and I still highly recommended it for someone looking for a more contemplative adult anime or for fans of high production values.

I had no idea what to expect going into the show. The description reminded me of the average American episodic TV show where each individual episode is some kind of case or problem and there is an overarching plot to keep the general story moving. I also expected some preaching about environmentalism and the effects of human habitation on the environment and other such morality-bashing. Thinking thus, I jumped in head-first and discovered what I can only express as one of the most beautiful experiences I have had. This show deserves every single grain of praise and more. The story is simplistic to the extreme. Ginko is actually never the true protagonist of the story. Despite being a very mysterious and somewhat intriguing character, replacing him each episode with anybody else wouldn't change the anime in any way because the true center of the story are the mysterious, vibrant, various, and occasionally vicious Mushi. The tiny creatures and their various effects on humanity are the central arc of the story. As humans continue to spread their influence, they encounter more and more of these weird creatures and their experiences with these beings is the totality of each episode. Rather than watching a show, the feeling comes across that we are witnessing the birth of folklore which is something I have not seen done often. The narrative simply flows from the start of the episode to the end, very much like the flow of a metaphorical river, indicative of the stream that is life. It is very real, the temptation to dump on our heads the lessons of environmentalism and the dangers of industrialization and the destruction of life etc etc. Yet this anime never takes that path and simply presents the events as they are. As the Mushi themselves, each episode just... is. Beautiful yet haunting. The art is outstanding (as is my rating). With an anime as slow and gentle as this, the art also reflects this tone. Characters are rounded, drawn with soft strokes, their hair straight, their clothing coloured softly with no loud colours and Ginko himself an oddity among them as the one who stands out. The environments are beautiful with dense forests painted lush greens, the waters a sparkling grey even rocks painted as unassuming objects with dull, short strokes. The Mushi, being the star of the show, are multicoloured, varied and lively. Each have their own characteristics and are hence drawn to reflect such characteristics. If you're looking for a lovely anime, this should surely be under consideration. The sound, as is the show, is also gentle with very little percussion or woodwind instruments. Strings and bells are the crux of most of the music driving further the impression that you are watching the birth of folk tales which begin in houses and small gatherings where such gentle instruments would accompany the tales they would narrate. Though they suffice, none of them are memorable and you wouldn't want to listen to them out of context of the anime itself. If it weren't for the characters themselves, this show would have fallen completely apart at the seams which is why it is remarkable how wonderfully relatable and memorable almost every single one of them are. All the people are real and simple characters with their own lives and problems. If they are suffering, we feel for them and want them to get better. We feel their sadness in their times of trouble, their joy in being helped out of their situations and their peace when they continue to live their lives or otherwise. I would have expected Ginko to be the aloof, mysterious, dark but helpful character we see so much, eg Black Jack. But the truth is he is merely another person, helpful, simple, blunt and without many layers to peel. He has only the simplest but sweetest of reasons to continue travelling and he does so with few complaints and has very little interest in his own mysterious past for, as a traveller, he has learned to look ahead and revel in the present and hope for the future. The Mushi too are characters in their own right. We are always told that they are merely simple creatures only wishing to survive, who only inflict harm because of their nature, not their intentions. However harmful, ambiguous, or terrifying they may be, they too, like the humans, wish to live on and we are able to empathise with that. IF my review didn't give you the impressios that I IMMENSELY enjoyed this anime, then again I tell you that I absolutely did and will surely return to any episode of this anime in times when I am in sorrow or doubt to calm myself down or to simply enjoy the beauty of this show again. This is definitely an anime you need to experience at least once in your life and you will be all the better for it.

If there's one thing that I've learned after all my time here on MAL, it's that filthy casuals and critics are one and the same. Both groups are prone to overrating and underrating various programmes and ignoring flaws in their favourite shows whilst discussing them. The sole difference lies in the programmes that these two groups watch... oh, and the fact that it would seem people put more sway into a critic's opinion than a filthy casual's and why wouldn't that be the case? Critics are the ones that know what's good and what's rubbish, right? Not exactly. When you get right down to it, all shows have their strengths and shortcomings and what is good and what's rubbish is ultimately left to the viewer to decide. With all of that said, let's get on with this review. Today, we're looking at Mushishi: one of MAL's most precious critical gems that I don't particularly care much for. We all know about Mushishi: it's an episodic supernatural drama about a wandering shaman who does exorcisms. Each episode follows a rather formulaic approach: we have a person who's being plagued by spirits, our shaman comes to the rescue by performing an exorcism, then leaves to wander the earth some more. Argue all you want about semantics but that's the basic plot and formula that the show follows over the course of 26 episodes. Now this approach has a lot that's going for it. I mean, Western programmes pretty much rely on an episodic format so it must do *something* right. Since each episode is a self-contained story, you can (quite literally) watch this show in any order you wish. Even though each episode follows a formulaic approach, what goes down in every episode is something to behold. There's something inexplicably mystifying about the way that the mushi affect the lives of others along with how Ginko resolves the problems that people have because of the mushi. Inexplicable mystification aside, the episodic format lends itself to one problem that all shows of its ilk tend to have: consistency with episode quality. Given that every episode in a particular show is NOT written by the same person, it's only natural that some episodes would be much more entertaining to watch than others. Whilst this problem affects all programmes, this dilemma is especially noticeable in episodic shows. Even if a particular episode in a show with an overarching story is lacklustre, at least it contributes *something* of relevance to the plot. Mediocre episodes in episodic programmes are no better than sour grapes on the vine: finish one and you're left with a bad taste in your mouth. As blasphemous as it may be to say, not every episode of Mushishi is the epitome of perfection. On another note, the episodic format also has one other problem: it doesn't give the viewer an impetus to keep watching more episodes beyond whether or not they want to see more of Ginko and his exploits against the mushi. As much as I liked watching Ginko work his magic against the mushi that were plaguing some poor unfortunate soul, it's not the kind of show I would gladly watch again. If you've watched one episode of Mushishi, you've basically watched them all (this statement is especially true in both seasons of Zoku Shou). Obviously, that's not the case but that's what it feels like to me! I don't have any impetus to keep watching more episodes because there's no overarching story gradually progressing nor is there anything remotely entertaining I found whilst watching this show. Sure, I was mystified by what was going on but I wouldn't necessarily conflate that sort of enchantment with any feelings of being entertained. On the subject of characters, Ginko (the wandering shaman) is the only character (of relevance) we're ever exposed to. Yeah, every character we're exposed that ISN'T Ginko is exclusive to that episode alone and that's quite a shame too. There were some characters that I would've loved seeing again but just didn't because of that damned episodic format. As great as Ginko is, it would've been nice to see some familiar faces along the way. Speaking of Ginko, we never really learn much about him aside from a few details surrounding his past and he doesn't really go through much in the way of significant changes over the course of the programme. It's no stretch of the imagination to think that I actually struggled to find a reason to care about Ginko at all that goes beyond the fact that he's cool and he's also voiced by Travis Willingham. Yeah... Mushishi isn't exactly the epitome of characterisation to say the least. In terms of production values, Mushishi has it down-pat to say the least. This was a show produced by Artland and it would seem that they know how to keep the critics pleased, especially given that Artland was one of the studios responsible for bringing us the much-lauded Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the biggest critical darling MAL has to offer. It's safe to say that these guys know what the hell they're doing when it comes down to animating something. Audio-wise is also a similar story, since the OST and dubbing (across both the Japanese and English tracks) are also pretty damn good. Say what you will about Mushishi's story and characters, but I think we can all agree that this was one of the best-produced programmes to ever come out of 2005 as a whole. So, final thoughts? Mushishi is one of those shows that I can see why people like it in the first place but I just can't see myself getting into it but what do I know? I'm a filthy casual who likes garbage such as Elfen Lied and InuYasha in earnest. Maybe I lack the capacity to understand the true beauty of what's going on in front of me. Then again, you know what they say: different strokes for different folks. If you like Mushishi, that's fine and dandy but it's one of those shows I'm simply not a fan of. Anyway, feedback is always welcome and with that, I'm out. Peace :)

In the past science was still unknown, thus whenever an incomprehensible phenomenon happened, humanity attributed these incidents to supernatural occurrences. In the west gods were the main explanation, whereas in the east, particularly in Japan, such events were mainly tied to spirits and demons. There are quite a few anime that present such themes as Mononoke or Natsume Yuujinchou, yet in the case of Mushishi, it presents these topics through "creatures" called "mushi". Mushishi is a fantastic anime that displays these themes wonderfully trough a compelling narrative and presentation of the story, as well as wonderful character presentation. ~Story~ Mushishi follows the main protagonist Ginko, a mushi-shi or mushi researcher, who travels from one place to other in order to investigate the mushi. These are considered to be the most basic life forms of the world, including to be tied to the explanation or meaning of life itself; yet almost no information exists of these, as most people are unable to see them. Nevertheless, some people are aware of their existence, making the mushi-shi's job to investigate easier, as these may harm humanity as well; however, Mushishi's intention is to transmit the fact that mushi are neutral beings. It incorporates them as natural things that coexist with other life forms, different from other mediums where usually it is the root of "evil" as it disadvantages humanity, and thus needs to be exterminated. The anime is of episodic nature, yet does an outstanding job when it comes to narrating and presenting the story. The mystery buildup of each event is well done, by carefully introducing the viewer the circumstance of the village/people affected without revealing more than necessary to later unravel how everything happened and is solved. These incidents are varied, yet very human and realistic, at times being even a bit disturbing. Another positive aspect of Mushishi's episodic nature is the fact that each episode gives an insight on what mushi are, their variety, behaviour and habitat, as well as shaping the world and people in that era; besides, mushi seem to have a foundation in both science and fables, in which viewers may recognize some phenomenons in real world where the author decided to explain these through. As the show progresses, viewers may begin to appreciate it even more, as each situation is always different and leaves the audience wondering what is to be expected next. ~Characters~ Ginko is certainly is one of the most interesting characters in the anime scene. He is of benevolent nature, yet mixed with common sense and his own knowledge of the mushi, which consequently in some cases he may come over as a harsh individual. This is due to his conceptions and beliefs of life itself, which naturally includes mushi as well; in his eyes every type of life form is equal and should be respected. Some background story to Ginko is provided, yet is scarce, which leaves the viewer longing for more, but it doesn't influence the story in any negative way. There is no big cast of characters in Mushishi; in fact, Ginko is the only character that is present in every single episode.This doesn't mean that the supporting cast is dull and underdeveloped; these are very human and outstandingly well presented; in fact, you really begin to care and relate to the characters throughout the episodes, because of their struggle, the human decisions and hardships they have to endure. Other thing to note is that cast are not stereotypical in any way, they're simply persons with problems. There are the interactions of Ginko with the villagers, which could be described as a scientist who comes to explain to people who posses no knowledge on the subject, which is quite intriguing to see. ~Animation and sound~ The animation quality of Mushishi is well done, character's movement are realistic and well executed, as well as the scenery such as trees, clouds, rain and snow. The backgrounds are nothing outstanding, yet varied, well displayed and detailed, matching correctly with the atmosphere it is trying to convey. Character designs are nevertheless a minor drawback, as most are nearly indistinguishable from each other, yet fulfill their purpose. Nevertheless, it also avoids the issue of judging the characters by their appearance, enhancing the general atmosphere of the anime. The voice actors performed their role well, though nothing remarkable.The soundtrack used is simple, yet matched perfectly with the narrative and presentation of it, negating usage of any type of soundtrack when needed; rustling of leaves, conversations, which added to the general atmosphere it was trying to convey, some of them being very memorable. There is however a certain lack in variety of these, consequently hindering the viewer from fully enjoying the show. ~Enjoyment~ Overall Mushishi was a wonderful anime; it is an experience everyone should have had, it is a journey into the world of the mushi, based on science and fables at the same time. In addition to the fantastic narrative and execution of it, characters, soundtracks and animation used matched perfectly with the anime. I'd love to have seen more background story on the main protagonist, yet was easily overlookable. This anime is a must watch for anyone interested in the supernatural exploration, sharing similarities with Natsume Yuujinchou, yet more intricate. It is a series best watched when not marathoned. Thank you for reading.

Ethereal beyond imagination, a simple metaphor of change, or simply being... The meaning of life may be within the medley of artistic expressions in a mushi... it is both about that which isn't and that which lives... art and nothingness... these seasons have some themes that are possibly transcendental... love, loneliness, existence... the music, the colour, all complement to create a canvas of beauty... Someone recently thought it might be too slow... but, the deliberate pace is wholly intended... if it was any faster it would not create the same atmosphere, a similar mental state, the wholeness that it results in... do note that the pace is set within the music too. Essentially, it is narrative... it is the art of storytelling... the wonder of a legend, but combined with all else - and darkness - it creates this state which it intended to convey. Then there is pathos too... contained within a constant mystery of these creatures, mushi, some would think hallucinations... their interaction with what could be, what is possible within a certain logic. It is mostly tragic, but within it what could be glimpsed as an alluring beauty... it is nature as it changes, as it moves... The only narrative left now, Suzu no Shizuku, one yearns for...

Ginko is a Mushi-shi, a travelling man studying mushi and solving the problems of people related to the mushi. Mushi are neither plants nor animals, they are life in its purest form. Story: Mushishi is an episodic show, every episode has an unique story of it's own. The storytelling is perfectly handled and the blending of reality and fiction is very well done. Many episodes makes you think of how you would handle the problem and what your reaction to the mushi would be. Originality also plays a big role in Mushishi, every episode feels like a new and fresh story and the mushi are always different than the ones before so it doesn't get repetitive at all. The formule for every episode is pretty much the same but since there are no rules set in the mushi world you never know what could happen and that makes for some mindblowing endings. Another great aspect of Mushishi is that in many episodes you can actually place the Mushi in the real world and it would perfectly fit the problem that's occuring without being unrealistic. Characters: Our main protagonist Ginko has a great sense of justice and doesn't place the mushi in a category of good and evil. The mushi just try to survive, just like we do. I see people claim that Ginko is underdeveloped, but that's a false statement since he is already developed. He also has a great backstory and a good sense of humor. He even builds his own harem while following his journey(JOKE). But he's not the main focus, the main focus here are the mushi situations the side characters get in. The side characters always have solid development especially for an episodic series and a good amount of depth to them, their reactions are realistic and their bonds are showed really well. The only little complaint I have is that some of the characters look too much like eachother but that doesn't ruin my enjoyment for the series at all. Sometimes the characters could use a bit more development by the end of the episode. Sound & Animation: The music fits this anime perfectly, it's relaxing and mysterious and adds to the amazing atmosphere which is one of the best in all of anime. The voice acting is also very good and fits the characters very well. The art is amazing, the backgrounds are some of the best I've seen in anime and the characters are well drawn. It also has two great opening songs, with the second opening being one of my favourite openings of all time. Every episode has a different ending and leaves you sitting on your chair as if you've just seen a movie. Overall: I have never loved an anime as much as this, I feel like this will be my favourite anime of all time, it could change but I doubt it. It's so relaxing, unique and well done. I will say this anime is not for everyone, and you probably shouldn't marathon it because of its episodic nature. Also, Mushishi can be very dark so be aware of that. One of my few 10/10's. A MUST WATCH.

"If the four fingers on my hand represent animals and the thumb represents plants, humans would be here, at the tip of the middle-finger, farthest away from the heart. The closer to the palm of the hand, the simpler the creature. Around the wrist, all the blood vessels come together, right? About there are fungi and microorganisms. It's hard to distinguish between plants and animals at this point. But high up the arm, past the shoulder, close to the heart, there are still things beyond those." These things are called "midori mono" - Green things -, or "mushi", a slightly misleading term, given it translates to "insects" or "bugs". Because they are much closer to being the very essence of life rather than mere manifestations of it, few people are able to actually see them. One such person is Ginko. Being a "mushi-shi", a mushi master, he travels rural pre-westernized Japan conducting research and helping people who get to indirectly experience the existence of mushi, as these outlandish creatures tend to be the cause of sorts of strange phenomena and problems. The original manga could be called an anthology, seeing it is basically a collection of unrelated short stories. The anime, consequently, is episodic in nature, meaning it contains no overarching story, not even two-parters. Each episode is a self-contained adaption of a chapter from volumes one to six of the manga. Over the course of twenty-six episodes, there are only three recurring characters. One of them appears in no more than three episodes and another one remains but a faceless narrating voice - except for that one time. The third one is Ginko. His rather unusual appearance reflects the fact his ability sets him apart from other people. Although the time the story is set in would normally require all characters to wear wafuku - traditional Japanese clothing -, Ginko is always dressed in yofuku - typically Western clothes. In-story, however, no one seems to even notice, and unlike regarding his hair and eye color, the viewer is never given any explanation either. Ginko's personality is even more unusual. If the average male lead is a boisterous hothead who acts purely on impulse, Ginko is the exact opposite. Whereas other mushi-shi think of the mushi as vermin to be exterminated, Ginko knows they inflict problems on people because they are, like every other living thing, doing what they have to in order to survive. If, however, the only way to save a human life is to eliminate a mushi, he will do so without regret. He simply understands the way nature works and accepts it. "Why do you kill us?" "Because you consume human children." "It isn’t my fault." "It isn’t my fault either, except we're stronger, so you're going to die." While this may imply that Ginko is somewhat wooden or stoic, he is, in fact, rather laid-back. His facial expressions can be quite funny and his manner of speech is blunt, almost rude at times. He does not like to lecture people but prefers to give them just enough advice for them to be able to make an informed choice. Needless to say, people don’t always listen. Mushishi is often mentioned in the same breath with Kino no Tabi which is understandable in a way, seeing both are episodic anime centered around one person travelling. And while I rather like Kino no Tabi, I'd like to emphasize that Mushishi is much more subtle, much more unobtrusive in its approach, but much more thought-provoking notwithstanding. Sometimes calming, sometimes disturbing, there is something about its general vibe that feels incredibly special, magical almost.

Mushi. Strange lifeforms said to be more primitive than germs and bacteria. Very few people can see them and they can cause strange phenomenom ranging from weird illnesses to paranormal events. And we also have the Mushi-shi. Mushi experts specializing in eradicating or capturing harmful mushi, helping people with their mushi problems. One of them is Ginko, the mushi-shi with a strange white hair, traveling to various places to help people and also to seek more knowledge about mushi. Despite having a relatively high rating, my expections for anime was rather low. It doesn't have action, it doesn't have romance so pretty much I just watched this anime on a whim. But after finishing Mushishi, I found myself thoroughly impressed because this was indeed a great anime. Mushishi is an episodic anime set in fictional old Japan. Watching Mushishi reminds me of folktales and legends. The way the story is told, mixed with gloomy and sometimes relaxing atmosphere of the show, really gives you this feeling of eeriness. The story itself is unique and creative. There is no overarching plotline so there are new characters every episode with new mushi problems and of course our mushi hero Ginko appears to save the day. The story sounds simple but I have respect for the creators of Mushishi and writers who create episodic stories in general, because not only will they have to create new stories every episode but also every episode needs to be just as good as the last one. And unlike non-episodic anime, episodic shows doesn't have cliffhangers to keep viewers from watching. Artwise, Mushishi's backgrounds and sceneries are well-done, capturing historical Japan very nicely. However, I can't really say the same for the character designs. The characters looked to much alike. There were a number of times where I thought I was looking at a character from a previous episode. Well that is pretty much the only gripe I have with regards to the art but all in all Artland did a great job. Anyone who watched Mushishi will definitely remember the opening theme "The sorefeet song". The song doesn't really have anything to do with the story or theme of Mushishi but I personally think it's the perfect op for Mushishi because it surprisingly fits well with the atmosphere of the show. There are a lot of characters in Mushishi because it is episodic and most of them will never appear again in later episodes. So I'm not going to talk about the supporting characters anymore because they are not given much characterization and are only created solely for one episode. Let's just talk about Ginko the main character. Ginko is by far not a complex character but that doesn't mean he is shallow. He is level-headed, insightful and very knowledgeable. He kind of reminds me of Kakashi from Naruto. Put simply, he is the type of characters cool boys wants to be when they grow up but fails miserably. Overall, Mushishi is a great anime that you shouldn't miss. If you want a breather from all the battleshounen or romance shoujo you're watching and would like something that is unique and well-thought-out, then you should watch Mushishi. Highly recommended.

Here is a seriously unique anime experience that everyone at least ought to give a shot. It does have some serious flaws that should not be overlooked, but its strong story-telling, gorgeous background art, sublime take on horror, and intriguing central character all insure that this is something truly special--to be cherished by only a few perhaps, but so be it. Mushishi concerns itself with the traveling healer Ginko, who specializes in illness and other associated phenomena caused by 'mushi,' which seem to be troublesome spirits, but which Ginko insists are a form of life akin to something between plant-life (or perhaps fungus) and insects. Mushi are not purposely malevolent (indeed, they don't really seem to be 'purposely' anything), but in their own struggles to survive and breed they affect the world around them in troublesome ways--and when people come into contact with them, the results are often frightening or tragic. Having an unfortunate history with mushi himself, Ginko has become a mushishi--a person who specializes in the 'biology' of mushi, and who uses his knowledge to help others who come into contact with them. I see this show frequently described as a 'horror' (more specifically speaking a 'body horror') and while I suppose that strictly speaking this is true, it doesn't tell the whole story. It is true that the people who find themselves in symbiotic relationships with mushi often suffer in some physical way (though not always), and occasionally this suffering enters into some truly squicky territory. However, even at its most horrific, Mushishi pulls together some truly beautiful, unforgettable imagery. One can quake at what is actually unfolding on the screen, but nonetheless be in awe of the sublime artistry that is on display. If Mushishi is a horror, than it's a beautiful horror, with some sequences attaining an almost transcendentally lovely quality. (Comparable to Miyazaki's work, in some instances. I would particularly, and favorably, compare Mushishi with Princess Mononoke.) It's hard to describe without sounding like a dope or using lots of superlatives, but the writers and animators take advantage of the uniqueness of the mushi to put on display truly generous displays of wonder. And speaking of wonder: dat background art. And dat music. And dat writing. And dem voice actors. Nearly everything about this anime screams quality, but I would particularly like to single out the main character. Ginko is the glue that holds everything together here. Mushishi is a purely episodic series, where he is the only regularly recurring character. There is no overarching plot to speak of. The episodes could be watched in completely random order and it likely would not affect one's experience with the show at all. There is no real beginning and certainly no end. I would argue that there is a subtle emotional arc to the series and would encourage people to watch it in order, however, and this arc relates entirely to the development of Ginko himself. There are two episodes that flashback to Ginko in his youth, but otherwise Ginko himself is something of a mystery. In spite of this, the writers wring a great deal of character of this secretive, mysterious man, and they do so with great subtlety and feeling, aided immensely by the animators and the Japanese voice actor. (I must report that the English voice actor does an alright job, but Yuto Nakano *owns* Ginko.) Watching him carefully and listening to him intently is a surprisingly rewarding experience--pay special attention to the way he acts around children and women, or the way he deals with villagers. There is a lot to Ginko, coiling just beneath the surface. And Nakano masterfully expresses this without ever giving too much away, gently emphasizing Ginko's quirks, and even imbuing him with some quiet but powerful sex appeal. It's one of the best male voice performances I've ever heard, right up there with Jurota Kosugi as Akio in Revolutionary Girl Utena and Steven Blum as Spike in Cowboy Bebop. I could go on and on, not only about Ginko (have I mentioned his character design yet? God, I love it!), but about everything else that this series does right, as well. But I feel like I need to explicitly state that it's not all peaches and cream--there are some things here that may really bug you, assuming that you don't mind the episodic storytelling at all. For starters, there are the character designs--almost all of them who aren't Ginko. They're not bad character designs--I actually really like them. The problem is that there's less than a dozen of them to be spread out across the whole twenty-six episodes and however many dozens of characters there are. As powerfully written and acted as all of these dozens of one-time characters are, it's a huge blow to the show that they're not given their own unique faces. One could argue that this was done purposely--thematically, doing this does make some sense within the context of the show, but I find it to be a blow to the show's quality, nonetheless. On a similar note is the music. Again--fantastic music. And I mean that--it's truly a wonderful score, perhaps one of the best I've heard in an anime series. But there's far too little of it to stretch across all twenty-six episodes without it becoming stale, and it is certainly not helped by the fact that it's used in almost exactly the same way in every episode, and even in the same order. Similarly, with very few exceptions, all of the episodes follow nearly exactly the same structure. Which I suppose you must expect to some degree from an episode series, but here it gets to the point of being almost painful. There was one stretch of episodes in particular where accurately predicting the fates of some of the characters was so easy to do that it was almost funny--and it's all because of patterns that the show establishes. For me personally, these are not insignificant flaws. There are ways around them--for example, this is honestly a show that I would never marathon. It is best experienced piece by small piece, and I would not recommend watching more than four episodes of it in a day. Indeed, ideally, I would recommend that you only watch one episode of it every night, preferably right before bed. Go on watching whatever other anime you are marathoning at the moment, then finish your night off with one episode of this. In fact, this is almost a show that I could watch one episode of every night before bed for the rest of my life--it just gets you in the right state of mind for sleep. Not because it's boring (though some people will find its slow pace and lack of action to be just that) but because it's just seems like such a perfect prequel to a night of dreams. One last thing--if you're looking for an anime experience similar to this one, I'd highly, *highly* recommend Kino's Journey. Seriously, if you haven't watched that one yet but you love this show, you are wasting time simply by allowing yourself to finish reading this sentence.

Mushishi is the story of a Mushishi, or Mushi-Master, Ginko, as he travels around the world helping those who are having Mushi troubles. Mushi are unique beings that aren't plants, animals, nor human. All Mushi are different which can cause for quite an interesting story. Story - Well, Mushishi is a bit different. It doesn't follow an actual plot, but instead has episodes that are unique to the overall basis of the story: a Mushi is causing trouble to someone or some village and the Mushishi, Ginko, tries to help whoever is in need of help. However, the stories are very interesting most of the time and will hold the viewers attention. I will admit, some of the stories were a bit boring, but 90% of them were really good. Art -Well, the animation of the actual Mushi was good, however, the characters in each episode were pretty much drawn the same. In fact, you might get confused sometimes in the beginning since you have to realize that other than the main character, there aren't many recurring characters despite the similar appearance. On the other hand, the overall animation of the detailed backgrounds were very nice. You'd be amazed if you just paused on some of the mountain or forest scenes. Quite nicely done. Sound - Being a supernatural anime, I enjoyed the "spooky" sound that came from it. The OP and ED also followed this supernatural-theme, which was very enjoyable. The sound went together nicely with the anime. Character - Well, not much development is shown since we only have 1 main recurring character, but we do get background on Ginko in a few episodes. It would have been nice to see some more, though. Ginko is pretty like able too since he is very levelheaded and knows what he is doing. Enjoyment - Most of the time I really enjoyed Mushishi. However, since some of the episodes weren't that good (more or less around 5 of the 26 episodes), I did get bored throughout those, but otherwise I found the episodes to be really unique and interesting. Overall, Mushishi is a very unique supernatural anime that will gain praise by any Supernatural fan. If you prefer things like Romance, Comedy, and Action then this is not the anime for you. But anyhow, I enjoyed it. ^_^

Mushishi started as a manga by Urushibara Yuki. It won her a couple awards and got adapted into an anime at the end of 2005 going into 2006. The adaptation was handled by Artland, the studio behind Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino, Ichiban Ushiro no Dai Mao & Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu. Which isn't exactly a strong track record but it's also a small sample size. So, how does Mushishi compare to the studio's other offerings? It'll be very difficult for it to not be at least the second best thing I've seen from them. Story: This series doesn't have a single over-arcing story. Rather, it's an episodic series where we follow Ginko on his various adventures. Ginko is a mushishi, a person who studies and deals with complications caused by organisms called mushi that many people can't even see. I'm not sure how that's supposed to work given the way eyes function but it's a fantasy world so they can have elements like that. Each episode presents a mushi related problem. Each episode focuses on a different issue and how it gets resolved. One thing I really appreciate about the series is that it does vary a lot. Ginko may show up right away or come later. He may investigate or he may know exactly what's going on. He may or may not have a good solution. Things may end happily, tragically or bitter-sweetly. It creates enough variety to keep things interesting and to keep the audience invested in new situations as they come. The pacing in the individual episodes is handled very effectively as well. The atmosphere is really good and the world itself is quite intriguing. There are some episodes that are better than others but there aren't any that are bad. All of them are good, at least. The series continually introduces new mushi which is good in that it keeps things interesting but it also leads to some of the solutions coming across as forced. Almost like Urushibara came up with the idea for the problem and wanted a specific ending for the characters who were having trouble but didn't know how to get to it. Fortunately, there aren't many episodes that have solutions like that but there are a few. Characters: We only have two major reoccurring characters, Ginko and his friend Adashino. They're both really strong characters with a good level of depth. Then we have the side characters who frequently take the focus for the individual episodes. These characters do get well fleshed out and have serviceable motivations for what they're doing. They all have verisimilitude and that helps create investment in those scenarios. Even the less important side characters still manage to come across like actual people. I also appreciate that those characters who are put into antagonistic roles have sensible reasons behind what they're doing and are usually acting more out of ignorance or greed than any malice. Art: The visuals are superb. The backgrounds are really detailed and there are some gorgeous nature scenes. The mushi are frequently visually interesting and there are some legitimately creepy moments with them. The characters also look quite good, although the way mouths are drawn can be odd. Sound: The voice acting is really good for both the major and side characters. Nakano Yuto in particular does a superb job in the role of Ginko. The music is nicely done and suitable for the series. Ho-yay: There really isn't any in this series. Some of the side characters get romance but it's always het. Final Thoughts: Mushishi is an excellent series. It takes a good premise and uses it to great effect. If you're looking for an episodic series, I do recommend it. My final rating is going to be a 9/10. Next week I'll be looking at another series I was asked to review. It's going to be Love Hina.

Disclamer: Let me be fully serious now: Mushi-shi is a crazy 420 weed show about an old man who has a big addiction and nobody tells him about it and is not safe for kids to watch. Nobody has seemingly to put this together but me, but I feel that for the children and their safety I have to say that first! Now, onto reviewing this crazy show! The story is like a said, some dude keeps hittin the bong and sees freaky things called Mushy, and helps people come down from their high! I am never kidding, was this show made in Colorado or Hamsterdam!? It is a touching and imaginative journey that is highly episodic so there isn't much to spoil, much like the Journeys of Kino, except Mush-iy's Ginko is a man. There is also some exploring of nature vs humanity and the togetherness of them. The sound in this show has a lot of soothing sounds because it mostly takes place in nature, where all the good drugs come up. Stoners like me, and people boring like stones, will feel right at home on their trip. Meanwise, the art of the show is stunning beautiful and goes perfectly with Pink Flyod or some celtic band that chubby chicks might like similar to Nitewish; there are so many colors and makes you want to get away from society! Your enjoyment of the show is depending on how long you like episodes that do not have much connection or big development. There is very little to tell you that Ginko will ever quit smoking so much, or that others will give up their addiction in the long run. If you like art and relaxing while you munch down some chips, you will love Mushy!

A masterpiece. There are some shows that are addicting, some shows are to be gulped down like a severely dehydrated man drinks water and then there are some shows that need to be savored, shows that are are like a balm on irritated skin - cool and soothing, to be used at regular intervals and at each time giving so much satisfaction. Mushishi is the latter kind. Watching it while letting the amazing art, beautiful sound and touching stories wash over me was such a great experience. It is an anime that could have gone on forever and I would have watched every minute of it. You can just see the amount of love, work and thought that has gone into crafting every frame of the show. Every scene is a work of art. The scenery captures more than just the image, it captures the soul of the place. The world is particularly impressive. What struck me as extraordinary was the fact that there were no evil people or creatures. There was no monster that the hero is fighting. The people aren't evil for the sake of being evil. There are occasional grey characters and even they are just out to survive. Even if something is harming us, the idea that we should consider that it is just trying to live and we should tolerate it is so foreign in this world. In our world the knee jerk reaction to something bothersome is to destroy it. Ginko's empathy is not seen as something extraordinary in the anime, just a part of the world. That universe is completely fleshed out. The mushi live an existence separate from what we know as normal and that is okay. The stories are complete and they work very well even taken without the whole. What moves the stories are the characters. We are only introduced to them for a short while and we see them as human in the sense that we don't understand them completely, we don't have to understand them completely but we know their story and that matters. I love detective stories and Mushishi is paced like one. Introduce the problem and have the detective figure it out. The eureka moment doesn't give the same jolt that I get when a detective figures out a problem we are baffled by even when we have all the information, but it is still nice. Another important part of the anime is love, in its most powerful and intangible form. It is in every story and in every form. The music flows through the show. The opening track is with its visuals sets the tone perfectly and drops gently into the story, the background slowly pulling its viewers into the story and keeping us there till a few seconds after the credits start to roll. The feeling that the story continues through the credits, that the story continues beyond what we have been told, that the characters we were with live on is solely because of the beautiful music. Ginko is the main character but it isn't really about him. This is such a strange show that way. It isn't character driven in the sense that we need Ginko to make the story interesting. In many episodes he seems almost like a foot note in the main story. Even in the final episode, where I was expecting some kind of bang, just has him as a secondary or even tertiary character. It is a testament to how compellingly they have written that world that we don't need an anchor to sink into it. His western clothes remain a mystery (albeit a well dressed one). I really wish there were more episodes of Mushishi.

Mushishi, in every sense of the word, is an experience. Not only is it an experience for the characters that are told in the episodes; it's also an experience for its watchers. You feel sympathetic towards the people you watch. You only see them for a set time limit of about twenty minutes, but you may go through years of their lives. After the episode is done, you feel like you've known them personally. That's how real and powerful Mushishi feels. Mushishi is one of those anime gems that really cares about the important things that made anime so great in the first place. One, is the superb animation. Each episode seems to get a certain color range depending on the Mushi it sponsors. In one episode, the mushi was a type of purple flower and so every frame had some kind of purple hue to it. In another episode, the colors are bleak and gray until the very end when the mushi appear and burst into vibrant colors. These patterns usually happen in the beautiful backgrounds of Mushishi. By contrast, however, the humans are of simple design. Realistically, most characters have dark hair colors and plain clothes. This contrast forces you to look at the nature scenes and grasp their splendor. Sounds also play an important role in Mushishi. Toshiro Masuda does a very good job at making the mood through this sounds. There is no melodramatic music of an orcestra or annoying j-pop/j-rock songs; just simple instruments and simple melodies that are very calming. Masuda also made all the ending songs, for Mushishi doesn't truly have one ending theme. This way it is better; it catches the mood for each episode quite nicely. Funimaition provided the English dub, so if you watch any of their stuff you'll instantly recognize the voices and they do their jobs exceptionally well. However, voice acting is not one thing Mushishi stresses on, even for the Japanese version. Everyone talks in a slow manner, and they sound natural (unlike most anime with screaming pink-haired characters). Sub or dub, you'll get a good deal here. Watching the dub will probably be the better deal, since then the focus is on the screen, not on subtitles. Once the talking is finished, the most striking detail of all was the emotion you can feel in response to watching such a soothing and tranquil anime. Besides the obvious short stories that come out of episodic series, there is a back story that occurs throughout the whole series. But what it exactly it is is up to the viewer. The first episode had a quote that can resemble the series: "Life in its purest form." In Mushishi, everyone is living their lives, along with the mushi. It's only when they interact with each other when things get complicated. Mushishi is one of those series that are best seen through animation. The anime is also an art form. An art that both entertains and makes you think long after the credits roll. It makes you want to pack up your things and walk through a forest. It touches the part of you that feels like there can be so much more to life just waiting to be discovered by finding yourself in a new town... Pros: + Splendid animation that is prone to detail + Characters you can sympathize with + Not cliche at all + Is highly rewatchable + Unique soundtrack + One of the best dubs + Follows the manga almost frame by frame Cons: + Shorter than the manga + Not too many recurring characters + It leaves you wanting more

Ok let me start off by saying, that nigga Ginko was on some real shit. I want whatever he's smoking. I decided to review this anime, because it made such a huge impression on me, but perhaps not for the reasons one would assume. Honestly, to the untrained eye, this anime was BORING. Excuse my blatancy, but to someone who's accustomed to the high-paced, exponentially increasing plot lines which are evident in many action and shounen anime, this show is like your fourth hit on a blunt. The effect just isn't as stringent, or lasting, if you will. But where Mushishi really caught my eye, was the originality, and the subtly embedded within it, which leaves the audience with a sentimental understanding of something more than just basic plot or entertainment. It's not such a slap in the face with emotion, or appearance of profundity; in fact, it's quite the opposite. The seemingly minute deviation from different story lines contain the interest factor in other aspects. It may not be an on-the-edge-of-your-seat type of show, but in essence, the simplicity complimented the sensibility. I must say it was a refreshing change which causes you to think beyond moe and tig 'o biddies. Mushishi is... Well, in the words of Rich Homie Quan, it can "make you feel some type of way."

To be completely honest, I never really got warm with Mushishi. Nonetheless its still a pretty good anime. Story: 7/10 Mushishis plot is completely episodic. Yet, every episode still is unique in its own way, with varying endings, plots and characters. Like a 20 minute movie. Art: 8/10 The backgrounds of Mushishi are really outstanding and probably one of the best backgrounds I've seen so far. The character designs on the other hand are mediocre at best. Besides main char Ginko everyone looks the same. The Mushi on the other hand have great and varying designs, making all of them really unique. Animations are fluent and nicely done. Sound: 8/10 The best thing first: Again the background. The OST has an awesome spiritual ring to it, which outlines Mushishis idea. Same goes for the ending songs, which are unique, yet similar to each other and blend in with the anime. As far as the opening goes, I think "Sore Feet Song" is a pretty average song, which still manages to fit to the anime just as well. Character: 6/10 Which characters to begin with? There is only Ginko. And well, to be honest, he's basically just this good-willed anime main char, as seen times and times before. His background is only mentioned as sidenotes every now and then, which is more interesting though. Definitely better than just telling us 'Well, that's his background, deal with it.". A real character development is missing as well, at least for Ginko. The minor characters of each episode develop by coming in contact with Mushi. Enjoyment: 6/10 I already told you, I never warmed up with Mushishi, thus rather disappointing enjoyment. Still, its quite the sentimental and deep anime, so if you like that kind of stuff, go for it. Overall: 7/10 Not my kind of anime, yet still a really good show. Recommended if you like anime with deeper meaning.

Mushishi is definitely a masterpiece. Mainly because it is the most original anime I have ever seen. Well, of course, there are other very original animes. But to my mind, the difference is, that all those animes were later copied. The word "copy" might be to harsh. We could say that other animes, were created, following the same idea with more or less similarities, but I have not heard of an anime so similar to Mushishi, that you could say it is not original anymore. The scale of its uniqueness is still enormous, even if we compare it to other media. Well, you might say, that there are other episodic animes with weird stories and new character introduced each time. But that is not where Mushishi's originality lies. The point is in its atmosphere, the whole idea of the world, and the stories themselves. And those stories are my favorite part of Mushishi. To a person who hasn't watched this anime yet, I'll try to describe it. In each episode, the main character Ginko travels around the world and helps people with Mushi problems. And every story will be fascinating to everyone. Because at first look, those stories are just fun to watch. Some are goofy or hilarious, some are extremely emotional and sorrow and some just make you feel happy. But! If you try to dive into the depths of every story and understand it inside out you will find mushishi very thought provoking. Some episodes provoke thoughts quite easily, while others have the meaning hidden under heavy allegories. And that is why everyone will like Mushishi, deep philosophical problems hidden under simplicity and fun. And the range of those philosophies is pretty wide. From something as basic as connection between humans and nature to the complexity of emotions and the meaning of life and death. Another amazing part of Mushishi is its atmosphere. It is truly outstanding because it's so soothing and relaxing that you could just fall asleep watching it. The environment is perfectly synchronized with with ambient sounds and music creating a unique atmosphere similar to Tarcovsky's movies. The budget does not seem to be top notch, and technically speaking its mediocre. But the director's work makes it up with usury. The idea of mushis and how they look helps a lot. They blend into the entirety enhancing the soothing atmosphere with those shining, tingling, wavy creatures flying around everywhere. All this sums up and becomes a phenomenon in the world of anime art. Like in every episodic anime, you will meet a lot of different characters that you will forget quite easily. Besides Ginko himself there are few important characters introduced in the backstories of Ginko, but the main story, or should I say stories, are concentrated around one-time characters. They are usually created in a way to help the idea of each story. Sometimes symbolic. But we also see realistic characters in episodes where they are psychologically analyzed. But no matter what kind of character it is, when you watch Mushishi, you get really attached to them feeling their pain and sorrow, or joy and happiness. All in all, if you are wondering if this anime is your type. I'd say wonder no more, because Mushishi fits almost every type. Except maybe action, but to my mind, action lovers will enjoy the relaxing atmosphere as much as everyone else.