Mushishi

The episodes are random and have nothing to do with each other. The main character travels to a different place in each episode, solving another mushi problem. The anime would be more interesting if these mushi problems had some relevance to real life, but they don't. The anime also doesn't tell us much about the main character's past or personality. So it's neither deep in storyline nor deep in character development. The artwork are music are also very simple. There are better serious anime out there. I recommend Serial Experiments: Lain, Earth Maiden Arjuna, Kino no Tabi (Kino's Journey), Please Save My Earth, and Now and Then, Here and There.

Mushishi to me, is like that one friend that we all have. You love seeing them... for about twenty minutes and then you realize why you haven't seen them for so long. At the beginning i came into the show thinking that i could finish it in a day or two. Two years later, between falling asleep through episodes because of the blissful and calming music and dark art styles. To forgetting which episode i am up too, resulting in starting from the beginning, i can happily say Mushishi has been a pleasure to complete. The premise of this story all revolves around Ginko the Mushishi and his travels throughout the land in search of helping people with mushi related issues. Every episode focus' on a new group of characters (with the exclusion of Ginko) and the problems they are going through caused by a type of mushi. Blah blah blah, i'm assuming everyone has already heard of Mushishi, if not you know where to find the descriptions. All in all, the stories are somewhat darker than what i expected which was a nice surprise. The art style was something truly unique. Throughout every episode is has been consistently dull, which worked in it's favor tying it perfectly with the story. The detail of surroundings and landscape were brilliant taking into consideration that it was created nearly 10 years ago. Sound was a strong component to this show. It fitted the mood exceptionally well. Simple is better, much better. This anime doesn't go over the top with this component, which i feel is the reason it worked so well. Sometimes all a scene needed was a softly played instrument to set the mood. The character development was brilliantly done for the character that each episode was based around, which is hard because it is all episodic and got a fresh batch of characters every episode, but thankfully it worked out. I was however a little bit disappointed with the amount of personal background information our main man Ginko didn't get in season one. In saying that, it wasn't necessary to the plot and we still got some pieces of information here and there. All in all, this show was truly one of a kind. Now time for me to watch season two, see you in two years. Byeee.

Mushishi is a very special anime. It is basically an episodic show in which each episode a new idea is introduced to the audience. These ideas take the form of the so called "Mushi".. little spirit like creatures which cant be seen by everyone. While these Mushis can be interesting on their own and some definitley are, their interactions with humans and the devastating consequences and live lessions that result out of these are what really makes the show so unique. Each episode of Mushishi tells a story about one of these interactions, which are mostly negative in nature. People losing loved ones, are unable to let go of them, people being an outcast in their village because there is something wrong with them and they might infect others or stories about dementia or miscarriages, all caused by these Mushi. But there are also uplifting stories about reincarnations of your loved ones, blind people being able to see or the unconditonal motherly love. Although most of these stories have a tragic element to them. While the cause for all of these things in the show are these fantasy creatures, the ideas are very connected to real life drama. And just like in real life, the solutions the show gives are not always easy, if there are any at all. The show follows Ginko who is a travelling Mushi expert who helps the people deal with these problems. While he is supposedly our main protagonist he actually only takes a supporting role in each story and it is the drama and the Mushi inflicting it, which are the real part of interested in each episode. Mushishis settings are mostly in nature or in rural villages. Its soundtrack relaxing and soothing. Combined with its episodic nature many people put Mushishi in the Iyashikai genre. However the topics of this show can be deeply disturbing and thought provoking so I am not sure if I agree with that assessment. Overall Mushishi is both calming and agitating, peaceful and provoking, simple and complex, straight forward and chaotic.Its one of the few anime that transcends the medium and really shows what anime has to offer. I think it should be watched by anyone, regardless if you like or dislike anime, because it has so many things to tell and teach.

“The glow from the light in a house during the winter is a welcome sight to creatures, beasts, mushi and humans alike.” Mushi are spiritual life forms that are neither plants nor animals nor microorganisms and are invisible to most humans. They have no specific reason for their existence and very little data is available on them. Although they are mostly passive, certain mushi are dangerous to humans. Mushishi (or mushi master, however you’d like to call it) are experts on mushi who travel across the country researching these mysterious creatures. Before I go into the story, let me start off by saying that the concept of mushi and their existence is brilliant. The mushi world the characters live in is spellbinding and you feel yourself being drawn into their mysterious and beautiful world. To make the viewer believe in the existence of supernatural creatures to this extent is a feat that only Pokemon has managed to achieve. The story of Mushishi is very simple – Every episode, Ginko goes to a new village, where he sees a person who is suffering from an illness caused by a mushi and decides to help the victim. Although all 26 episodes of this show follow the same format, it never gets boring or tiresome at any point as each episode deals with a new kind of mushi, which are intriguing to say the least. While some mushi just cause mild deafness, some mushi rip the soul out of the victim’s body. And it is up to Ginko to restore them back to normal. Although the storyline is deceptively simple, the treatment of the theme makes it gripping. Watching a doctor trying to find a cure for an unknown disease has never been this entertaining. While some cases are slow paced and have a detective-like feel to them, some are action-packed and exciting. As the series progresses, the problems get more complex and the atmosphere becomes darker. But I’ll get to that later. The way normal human sickness symptoms are linked with mushi is really well thought out. Mushishi is an episodic anime that consists of a set of short stories and can be watched in any random order and it would all still make sense. Each of the stories is derived from Japanese folk tales and therefore has a significant amount of detail attached to them. The plot twists and turns unpredictably and there is never a dull or predictable moment in any of the 26 episodes. Just when you think you figured out what was going on, a revelation is made out of the blue and this shatters the crux of your speculations. The animation is stunning to say the least. Mushishi features some of the most beautiful artwork I have ever seen. The forests and mountains are done artfully and create picturesque sceneries of rural and sub-urban Japan. The animation quality improves greatly as the show progresses. The characters look very realistic, a bit bland though. The village folk fit perfectly and they all look just how they should be. The mushi look very cool and have a spiritual aura and an unearthly feel to them. I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful the art is. The music takes you on an absorbing journey throughout, the oriental instrumentals adding to the charm – another success story by Toshio Masuda. Every single track is soulful, absorbing and soothing. Every episode has a different ED. And each of them is done well. The OP is an English song called “The Sore Feet Song” and is a charming piece, with a breezy acoustic guitar strumming in the background to the pleasant vocals of Ally Kerr. The background score does a wonderful job in setting the mood. One other thing the audio department can be really proud of is the sound effects. The wings fluttering, snow crunching, crickets chirping, leaves rustling, waves crashing and every minute sound is done to perfection. Hell, it is so detailed that you can hear the change the voice in the characters when they are talking outside and when they are talking inside an empty room, where it echoes. The voice acting is subtle and not overdone anywhere. I would recommend both the dub and the sub as they are both excellent. The characters in each episode are completely different, with the sole exception of Ginko. Since the characters are all villagers, they are depicted as simple illiterate farmers. In each village, there are a new set of characters, each with their own voice actors. The cast list is nearly endless because of this. Ginko’s doctor friend appears in a couple of episodes and the voice of Nui can be heard during the opening and closing narrations. Ginko is a very simple character. He is a very friendly and likeable person. Although not hesitant to put his life on the line for saving a patient, he is a very calm and composed (sometimes laidback) guy who has a certain teacher/professor air about him, probably because all mushi masters are basically scientists. The show does go into his past, but rarely. Almost episodes/arcs have a bittersweet ending, which is never loose-ended in any way. Each episode also has a satirical message, which is pretty deep and goes unnoticed unless you completely grasp the situation the characters are in. Once you manage to understand the underlying meaning of the episodes, you will find yourself marveling at the creativity and subtlety with which it was handled. The quality of the episodes remains consistent till the end. The feel of the show is outstanding. Since the events that take place affect only rural and middle-class Japanese, the viewer gets a wonderful insight into real Japanese culture and tradition. It even focuses on certain delicate topics such as forced arrange marriage and social exclusion. You feel yourself drifting along these tiny villages and getting a taste of their lives. While the series starts out as Ginko dealing with minor illnesses, you see him handling extremely dangerous ones in the later episodes. The already atmospheric show becomes darker and at times you feel yourself being engulfed by the power of the mushi. The ending of the series is not climatic in the least, but then again, you don’t watch Tom & Jerry hoping to find out whether Tom really catches Jerry do you? That being said, the episodic and slow paced nature of the show might not appeal to everyone. This is not for those who expect a trite thriller that gets your adrenaline pumping while moving towards a catastrophic culmination or a fairy tale slowly travelling towards the much awaited poetic justice. It is a journey in which you are a fellow traveler along with the mushi, mushishi and the villagers. Your experiences may not be spectacular but may linger and leave a long lasting image in your mind. If you liked Kino’s Journey, Natsume Yuujinchou or Haibane Renmei, then you can’t go wrong with this show. [ THE WRAP-UP ] Mushishi is one of the most unique anime out there. With an exceptionally original concept and a definitive atmosphere to it, this one is a real show-stopper. Having only one character appearing consistently in every episode, things never get repetitive. The show follows the definition of the word ‘episodic’ to the T and maintains the quality of the episodes throughout. The animation is superb and features some of the best artwork I have ever seen. The soundtrack is filled with oriental tracks that is soul stirring and the sound effects deserve special credit. It does a wonderful job in setting the mood. The OP and the EDs are fantastic as well. Once again, the formula of ‘realistic approach to a supernatural concept’ is applied and fits like a glove. Each episode is the kind of short story that you want to curl up with during a rainy afternoon or a lazy Sunday. Overall, Mushishi is the kind of anime that I would pick up after a couple of years and fall in love with it all over again. There really is no reason that this anime deserves anything less than a 10. ~As always, feedback of any form is appreciated. Thanks you for your time ^^ ! ~

After 4 years of watching anime I have finally found THE most boring show i have ever seen. This dood Gingko or whatever just walks arounf and goes to peoples houses and "helps" them with their mushi problem when most of the time he just tels them what to do or doesn't help them at all. This dood's whole career is this and he ain't even good at it. Story is atrocious, Mushishi is episodic which means like 90% of this is filler. I see a lot of people liking this trash becaseu the art and animation is beautiful but i can debunk of of these false claims. Its only the background art that is half decent and i can name so many animes with way better ones. The animation is only okay becasue Artland (animation studio) barley makes any animes so they hoarding their money and put everything they have into this show just to cash out and leave for 8 years (which is what actually happened). Sound is annoying that bell that rings gets so annoying and since this show is so slow there is hardly and music ever playing just to get that sad "tone". This comes out as boring and awkward everytime. Characters are all the same and act the same, i can litterally just summarize this show in one sentence, Man goes to town meets person with mushi, person has sad backstory gingko convinces person, person is either inspired or now knows more. There now you don't ever need to watch this garbage. Obviously i did not enjoy anything about this it just pissed me off at how everyone is and how repetitive and ANNYOING THAT DAM BELL IS. Please Please don't ever watch if you want to be bored and waste your life then watch stupid haikyuu or dumb March comes in like a Lion or just watch paint dry because there is no difference.

The brisk night breeze cuts your face as you trudge through the fresh, powdery snow. You glance upwards to the tranquil, star laden canvas in the sky, wondering just how long you've been traveling. There's a rustling of thicket, seemingly blanketing the woods around you, and a distant echo of howling, vibrating your frigid bones. At last you see the cabin, your eventual destination. Squinting through the bramble of branches in your field of view, the shack has a small stream of smoke billowing into the crisp, clear air. There's a dim glow of a fire inside the window, causing them to produce condensation and steam up. Suddenly, an ominous aura comes over your body, causing you to halt and you confirm that this is your target. A mushi, more menacing and intriguing than any you've combatted before. Consumed with curiosity and caution, you resumed your trek to the cabin. Mushishi, adapted by Studio Artland (LotGH) in 2005, is one of the most unique and fascinating anime I have ever seen. Viewers follow Ginko, a “mushi-shi”, through an almost documentarian style series, with an amicable yet languid atmosphere. He travels across vibrant landscapes in search of “mushi”, who are transient beings exhibiting a plethora of unique abilities. Through his journeys, Ginko wishes to uncover the true nature of these creatures, and perhaps develop a more coherent understand of human existence itself. Mushishi is a hard anime to recommend. If you don't watch it properly (i.e., no bingeing here) or with the right mindset, it can fall off and become boring. The anime is less of a standard beginning, middle and end and more of an experience. That being said, it's best enjoyed in small doses with the lights off in order to really feel the ambient nature the series exudes. The way each vignette is handled makes the anime episodic in structure, which can be less than translatable for some viewers. The ending of Mushishi is also much more like your standard episode instead of a conclusion, leaving much room for a sequel… which we all know happened some years later. The lack of recurring characters can also cause the series to seem emotionally disconnected. It's hard to empathize with one-offs with little to no development but in a way this adds to the impassiveness the series embodies. The effort is directed to the mushi and the environment more than the individual affected, which is what I believe the show’s creator was trying to get across. Ginko himself is an enigmatic character. He represents the ponderer in all of us, and as if stricken by his own curiosity he actively seeks out the mushi to learn more about them. His calm, collected demeanor resonates with the audience, causing you to really root for him and support his campaign. The mushi themselves are enchanting in their own right. Whether possessing a human or a plant, they have a sentient nature about them that's enthralling. Each time I would sit down to watch Mushishi I found myself excited to see what new mushi would be revealed in the episode. Some of the imagery the mushi produced when being exercised were quite disturbing and in some cases even graphic, adding to the haunting setting. The amount of themes explored in Mushishi can seem overwhelming, since the mushi themselves are so unexplainable. Some say the series is illustrating the roots of mankind while others tend to draw more to a biblical demonry reference. Either way you slice it, Mushishi is one of those few shows that falls under the intellectually challenging category without being pretentious. Truly a remarkably interesting series. The art in Mushishi has a very dark tone to it. Although there are instances of vivid color schemes being explored, most of the scenes are washed out or almost opaque. Again, this aspect causes the languid nature of the series to be emphasized greatly. Most of the episode characters have indistinguishable faces, which doesn't help the empathizing point I made earlier, but helps bring out the other parts of the show more clearly. Animation is solid but not flashy in any way. I don't believe the series had an extreme budget, and it shows in some ways. The mid 2000’s was an experimentation period for animators after all, and Mushishi is thankful enough not to incorporate any sluggish CGI. The “Sore Feet Song” is one of the oddest anime OPs I can think of. Its slow acoustic rhythm is anything but exciting, but really sets the tone of the show. As much as I couldn't get into it originally, by the end of the series I began to sit through it instead of skipping over it. The full version of the song is also quite soothing. The ED is delicate and light, wrapping a nice bow on top of each episode, which is another reason why Mushishi is great to watch in small doses. Although the composer of the OST did work on shows like Excel Saga, Mushishi’s Soundtrack is impeccably relaxing. The soft strings and pianissimo beats draw out the best in each scene. Both the English and Japanese dubs are well done and don't detract from the atmosphere of the show. My large amount of enjoyment from Mushishi was mostly due to my ability to take it slow. I recognize that this show is not for everyone, but if watched in the right setting and with an open mind, it can truly be a delightful experience. It doesn't fall under a specific genre so it's hard to compare to other shows. Mushishi is just Mushishi. I would recommend this series to fans of shows like Haibane Renmei or Kino’s Journey due to their world building alone, and for the latter it's episodic approach. As always, thanks for reading!

Extensively exotic forest, covered with the lucidly enormous visage of the sun in the sky placing most of it’s gorgeous grace upon the ample grass everywhere you look. It’s hard to believe how intensely green is the local nature. The overwhelming echo of the wind makes you harder to stand still the higher you’re getting. The only sounds you recognize are familiar rings of crickets, sough of the crystal water nearby and the beautiful symphony of birds warbling everywhere above you. By the time you climbed up to the nearest hill, you were welcomed with the engrossing look of the vastness around you. Bright sky, enormous trees, treacherous mountains, peaceful ponds and the undoubtable feeling of a meaningful ensure that – this life, given birth unasked is a mystical miracle and you’re a part of the vicious, yet beautiful world’s life, which you live with all your might. Let us cast it’s brilliance past the rainbow and it’s colors. In the anime once in few years, there is a certain work that transcendents the medium, – while not necessairly revolutionizing it – pushing the envelope and reaching a pinnacle rarely seen, creating something completely unorthodox and creative. It lies down to personal prefferences which shows are especially deserving that title, however I do believe that “Mushishi” - without a doubt- places itself as one of those titles. Anime is an expressive form of art in its own way, telling a story by the exploitment of the audiovisuals and it’s script, which is what differenciates it from live-action works. Sometimes this "art" is utilized to produce poor, commercialized shows not worthy of mentioning, however sometimes it’s used to satisfy more demanding viewers. Studio ArtLand famous for creating the crème de la crème of anime – a legendary War Drama OVA from 90’s: Legend of the Galactic Heroes - once more in 2005 decides to produce something of sufficient quality – Mushishi, consisting of 26 episodes - yet 9 years later decides to release 2 more seasons consisting of 10 episodes each, which is very admirable, taking the fact, not many studios these days are willing to take the risk, instead of supporting commercial and unimaginative works created for the sole reason of merchandising, supporting the otaku culture, which is one of the reasons why anime is rarely taken serious by people not familiarized with it. Obviously, a big mistake. All anime despite of their quality, or the effort put from their creators can be called as “art”. As long as an individual finds something to be aesthetically appealing, whether that be a decent visual experience with plot or an universally hated work, that's all that really matters. But sometimes you'll stumble across works that take it a step further in order to invent something outstanding enough to put to awe most of it’s viewers in order to place itself as one of the biggest successes in the medium. And to many in the community, one such work that has reached the pleasure of being that outstanding title is, the anime Mushishi. Mushishi portrays an undominated by civilization world of feudal Japan during the Edo period, filled with it’s melancholic and tranquil tone, yet transcendental and mystic nature of what lives beyond it – Mushi – the most basic form of life in the world. Existing without any purposes and goals, Mushi are unorthodox spieces, seen in countless forms, such as diseases, animals, weather or unearthly forms of unsearchable phenomenas, while living next to a race not fully aware of their nature, nor their significance in their lives – the human race. The people gifted with the vast knowledge of them are called title Mushishi’s. As Mushi are neutral spieces, while can be seen as helpful, they can also be very dangerous. That’s when ordinary people not understanding the reason of their sorrow are placed before hope and the cathartic understanding, when the main protagonist – Ginko, while being one of the Mushishi, wanders through the villages to teach people not only how to deal with Mushi, but also how to deal with problems caused by them. Most of Mushishi’s emphasis is placed on the portrayal of it’s separated stories. The show is episodic, each one portraying separated story only connected by the Mushishi – Ginko and Mushi causing incomprehensible problems to people he meets along the way. Ginko is laidback, yet responsible and caring; intelligent and cunning, ready to help, yet never takes any side in conflict and also can get selfish. The character doesn’t get any real development throughout the story, yet feels very “alive”, which is the testimony of powerful characterization by it’s author. The show lacks any action, it’s slow and immensely captivating, yet this title’s prowess for crafting almost "healing" atmosphere is peerless. Each episode - even if not every of them is ending happily - leave the viewer with a bittersweet feeling of satisfaction, since the emotional crescendo doesn’t come until the end credits, hence the delightment carried out is the most powerful at this point. There is no way of predicting the outcome - as in nature itself – not every outcome is determined by whatever is the most favourable conclusion. So while you are watching things that are often tragic, in Mushishi what you’re really watching is a person watching a sad story, and then moving on. Tears are shed, but Ginko remains impartial in spite of all this, gaining little more than the experience itself, as do you. Considering that, Mushishi is a work not only about some mystical “things that does weird things”, but mostly about people and their problems. Is your sorrow only yours? The solitude you carry on your back, does it end with your life? Some of the Mushi portrayed are extremely bizarre, yet can get a symbolic meaning. Unconditional love, loss, empathy, loneliness, relieve... The themes portrayed can be seen as simplistic and universal, yet they are extremely relatable, being the things we all long for or experienced along our way, which only increases their meaning. If anime could ever been called an “art” in it’s own way, then Mushishi is master canvas brought to life; it’s art personified. The rich visuals, astonishing landscapes and the emphasis put into it’s sound effects, creating a friendly atmosphere is what makes that animated work “alive”. It doesn’t try to ostentatiously convince you into it’s cleverness, yet those willing to look beyond what is visible at the first glance will surely find something worthwile, as what you can receive through can be far more meaningful. There are very few works I will ever proclaim as a masterpiece, while giving them a 10/10 score and Mushishi is one of them. It’s a title, which pushed the envelope far beyond my expectations and has become something far more significant in result, as it can change at least a small part of us for better. And im conviced that anyone, trying to check it out will be at least entertained by it. Maybe they also won’t see any Mushi, Monsters, Ghosts or Ninjas hiding below their bed, but maybe they will try to look honestly into the eyes of a beloved one, sit down in silence to listen through the symphony of their own body, think about their happy memories, not as nostalgic transcience, but rather feel a gentle joy of creating the new ones, to look at the world from distance as a chess board of their infinite capabilities. Maybe they will value nature more and value people with indulgence, by the size of their heart, rather than their appearance, or perhaps they will finnaly try to trust someone and try to look up to the solutions of their problems through the ways they haven’t tried before. To discover some of the world once more.

It is on extremely rare cases in which I am able to give a rating of 10 to any piece of work. However, Mushishi deserves a perfect mark as it is a true master piece. Mushishi seeks to create a world full of wonderment. It draws the viewer in with beautiful visuals as well as beautiful sounds. The soundtrack is truly a marvel and everyone should own each and every song from the show. For fear of writing any spoilers, I will not delve into any part of the show. You must watch this show if you consider yourself an anime watcher at all. It will definitely enlighten you with the new possibilities of anime and set the bar much higher for any anime you should watch in the future. It is truly upsetting that there was not more. The series never received the following it deserved, as anime fans tend to flock to cheesy, loli, or purely action based series (the type of anime that Miyazaki despises).

Mushishi, tells the story of Ginko travels, he is a mushishi, a person who is traveling and solves problems caused by the mushi. Mushi are the most basic and pure form of life, sometimes they have strange powers, and some cause a lot of problems to people. This was the strangest of all the anime I've seen, and strange not mean it's bad, I quite liked the anime, is very different from any anime I've seen, is a more calm and peaceful genre, no wars or struggles, is simply gorgeous. What draws more attention in this anime is the beauty of forests and fields, and also the mysteries of mushi and Ginko. Ginko is a very mysterious person, rarely talk about his past, and he does not remember his past. But exist an episode in which described a little of his past, spoke of how he lost his eye, and stood with white hair. And it was there that he met the mushi yami (darkness), perhaps the worst mushi that exists in the anime. The story does not have a chronological, in each episode Ginko visit a different site and solves the problems caused by the mushi. He can not stay long in the same place, because he attract the mushi, which can be dangerous for the inhabitants. I really liked the anime for being different than I usually watch, the landscapes are beautiful and I love the calm with which everything happens, it is very good and everyone should watch. :)

You need help with mysterious ghost-like creatures getting in the way of your life? Ask Ginko for top-notch assistance. Mushishi: One of the most unique animes out there to say the least. An episodic series focusing on one character, Ginko, who is basically the only recurring character from start to finish. Knowing that to be the case, the series may be hard to get hooked on to. But in this review I will reveal why such a unique concept can be executed so greatly throughout the 26 episodes. In other words, I will show how Mushishi works as a whole. Ginko is, broadly speaking, a true genius and the hero of the series. Known as the Mushi Master, he is a credible source for any Mushi-related problem. Solving different cases episode after episode, you could label him a very dedicated man. With all the mysterious mushi dwelling in the dream-like setting of the series, Ginko can solve practically any problem that is related to mushi. And often times, the mushi are an invasive species. When that is the case, Ginko can exterminate the invasives and solve everyday people’s problems. I think of Ginko as the guy who just loves what he does, and solves cases very intelligently. That is what makes Ginko genuinely human. The setting is always very relaxing and dream-like. And this type of anime qualifies for that kind of setting, being a episodic series with one main character. I could tell that a lot of precious time was spent creating these great background settings. They were truly beautiful and unforgettable. The background, along with Ginko’s character, makes the anime so heartfelt. To have such a genuine main character, and also make the visuals just as strong, separates a good anime from a great anime. Mushishi accomplishes both of these aspects. I could easily tell that a lot of effort was put in for the episodes to make sense together as a whole, even while the anime did not have a continuous plot. The way Ginko solves the mushi-related mysteries is always very unpredictable and intellectual, and I thought it was great that it was consistent throughout all 26 episodes. The sound was the only weak point I could possibly point out. The music is absolutely beautiful, when present. But a lot of the time, the show remained silent in terms of music. It seemed slightly minimal in my opinion. I could have enjoyed the series even more with just a little bit more music in the background, especially at climactic parts. But that didn’t even come close to ruining the anime for me. I was amazed by other things such as what I mentioned in earlier paragraphs. Mushishi is a beautiful work of art. There had never been a show like Mushishi, and there never will be another show that expresses similar concepts. 26 perfectly paced stories, legitimate character Ginko, and crazy good visuals make this anime a must watch for all kinds of anime fans. Why do I say to all kinds of anime fans? Because its so vividly shows such a unique sensory experience to all viewers. Overall: a fantastic anime, 9.5 out of 10

Less of a show and more of a journey; a spiritual one. The way each episode is laid out is fairly simple, there is a problem where a Mushi is involved and as such a Mushishi is called upon (Ginko our main protagonist is one of the many Mushishi). Yet through those problems be it successfully solved or not, we experience nature, humanity and all the range of emotions it has to offer. - Depth and complexity through simplicity - Sometimes a simple meaningful conversation beats 1000 flashy sword strikes. Mushishi does not try to use cliffhangers, exaggerated mysterious protagonist, complicated vocabularies and other means capable of creating the illusion of depth. Mushishi's naturally brilliant writing and execution of storytelling speaks for itself. This also applies to the music present in Mushishi. It’s hard to describe the feeling unless you’ve watched the show. Instead of having the music just to support certain scenes, Mushishi’s music walks together with the show. It chimes melodies at all the right timing further enhancing the viewer’s experience. The music composition mirrors the show itself, all the different instruments complements each other, knowing when to play and to harmonize. - As real as life gets - Despite its fantasy setting due to the Mushi, the show Mushishi feels real. It doesn't try to paint life in a certain colour or gives you sudden plot twists just to somehow save the day. Mushishi instead presents you life with all its dilemma and unpredictability. There might be a time where even after Ginko and the characters involved had given all they've got, things simply doesn't go the way they wanted to. That is just how life rolls. Life itself can get quite contradictory and unpredictable: We can say "Look before you leap" but then again "He who hesitates is lost". Mushishi illustrates a lot of thought provoking realisations throughout the show. Life flows the same way as each character we met through the journey, slowly forgetting some as new ones are introduced with different problems. It personally made me realize how things comes and go. From the friends that I met and forget, the parents that will depart before their child, the problems that we face in each stage of our lives. We are all a side character to each other with our own stories to tell. Through the realization that live is inherently meaningless yet through our actions and the choices we made, we gave it meaning. - Travelling with the protagonist not watching over them – While a lot of shows had successfully made me empathize with the characters none made me feel as if I am there myself as much as Mushishi. Through each problem and each choices I feel like I was there questioning what I would do in such a situation. Ginko is not a master samurai, a magician or a boy overcoming his fear to chase his dream. He is just a normal guy, who happens to be well versed in all things related to Mushi be it through studies or personal experience. But most importantly he is your travel companion and as Ginko involves himself in a fraction of another individual/families’ life, so do we. - Like flowing on a gentle river - This might be my personal preference, but I feel so many anime tends to be overly hyperactive (it’s like a house packed with so much furniture that you don't have enough room to walk and breathe). Mushishi strikes the perfect balance in terms of speed. Things just flows so well between scenes and conversations. I don't need to keep up with the show nor slow down to be able to appreciate it, instead the show made me sync in and be immersed in it. In short, Mushishi is a one of a kind experience that might appeal to a narrow group of people. But if you are willing to watch it with an open mind and appreciate it, it might just be one of if not the best show you will ever watch.

Hello... this is my first review, so I apologize if many mistakes in there. Don't judge the story by its cover. It's my impression for this anime. I always looking for anime like this. Although I ever seen this anime on Top 50, but because the anime was not popular like Steins Gate, FMA Brotherhood or Clannad and Shigatsu, I mean it never became a topic of discussion in some Indonesian Anime Group, and I never heard the anime, so I not too interested with this anime. But, my friend told to me and recommended me to watch Mushishi, he says that the score of anime was high (of course it's on top 50) then suggestion me for watch it, he says it surely, so I watch the anime. When I watch first episode, I think this anime will make me bored. Bored anime bored anime, lol. But after I watch it, I feel relaxed and enjoy. I want to watch again! give me more! And now, lets see the anime This anime giving us the stories between Human and Nature around it. Like in the synopsis, Human was life with "Mushi". A "being" that can't be seen with all Human. some "Mushi" are capable of mimicking things from the natural world. They have an odd shape. This is the most Interesting point. The main character just one, he's Ginko. He was a "Mushi-shi". Mushi-shi are those who can see a "Mushi" and researching them, and because of that he had a journey. He wears a white plain clothes and jeans (he looks cool when the setting was in past period). I really like the story, very interesting. In every episode, we will given a different story. The conflict between Human and "Mushi" will remember us, that human are nothing without nature, and humans need nature. In each episode, Ginko will solve the problem of the conflict with his knowledge of Mushi. Seriously, I love this anime. Then, for the art and graphics, its very simply. The art seems "dark" and the graphics aren't stiff. I think it's suitable for Fantasy-Supernatural anime like Mushishi. And for the sound, really relaxing. For opening song, it's really fooled me in the first time. I think, becasue the opening is so "Romantic" then the anime will have a romantic story, but until end I did'nt find any romance story. "Every single night and day.... I searched for you.... Through sandstrorm and hazy dawns... I reached .... for you..." Very romantic lyrics. For ending theme is an instrumental song, and every ending have a different song. You will enjoyment the anime until the end of the song. Neither Opening Song, Ending Song nor Background song are so great. Very suitable for the anime. I'll give it 10 For the character, they're amazing. The depictions not rigid, and they follow the plot. Really natural. For me, I really enjoying the anime. Amazing story, beautiful "dark" art and soft graphics, relaxed song, and natural character are amazed me. This anime very recommended for who like soft and SOL anime with adventure, the slow plot will make you washed away when you watch.

-SPOILERS WILL BE AVOIDED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SO ANY MINOR SPOILERS ARE UNINTENTIONAL- (This is my first review on MAL, any criticism is appreciated) Mushishi is one the most unique anime ever created. The Drama and Adventure is second to none, and it is a overall beautiful series. There is a thin line between a good episodic anime, and a bad one. Mushishi is by far one of the best, and will be for eternity. Story-10: As previously mentioned, Mushishi is an episodic show, and each episode has a condensed story with a beginning, middle, and an end. Each story usually revolves around some sort of Mushi-a spiritual creature that simply lives, with no other purpose in life to fulfill; the most basic form of life-, and how it's affecting a certain character. The thing that sets Mushishi apart from other episode anime is that each episode is better than the last. For example, if you (hypothetically) thought that episode 12 was the best, as soon as you watch the next one, your mind will change, and using our example, your favorite episode would now be episode 13. And that's the beauty of Mushishi, although the formula never really changes, you will never, ever be bored. Art/Animation-9: So imagine that you were watching this in 2006 and seeing the animation of Mushishi. Your mind could potentially be blown. The animation is not necessarily fast, and the art isn't colorful. However visually, Mushishi is extremely realistic. The slow but particular animation, the beautiful landscapes, Mushishi is fantastic in the visual department. Each background is drawn to the utmost of detail, and the wind blowing the leaves all over the screen, the characters moving in a very human-like fashion, it`s just gives it the sense of realism that so little shows can achieve today. There is one problem however, and that is that all of the character models are drawn in almost exactly the same way. Ginko is one of the only recognizable characters, and even he looks very similar to everyone else. Now I`m not sure if it was a problem in the manga or if it was the anime producers but it can be somewhat distracting and difficult to distinguish between characters visually, which is sad because many of the characters have wonderful personality and development (which I will get into later). In short, it doesn't measure up to the art and animation of some newer shows, but it still is far above average. Sound-10: My feelings towards the soundtrack for Mushishi can be summed up in one word; beautiful. (I'll be using that word a lot, so be prepared) Each track of the OST is composed so wonderfully, adding atmosphere yet also directing your attention to the music. The Opening is slow paced yet pleasant, a very calming song to a very calming anime. The ending changes with each episode, yet they are all so outstanding, I sit through the credits every single time just to hear the outstanding tracks. The voice actors are outstanding, but more on that later. What more can I say? I listen to the Mushishi soundtrack every single day, it's just so incredibly calming. Character-10: In terms of character design, there is a issue, being that almost all of the characters aside from the main character, Ginko, look alike. However this is made up tenfold once the character's personality is revealed. The characters in many of the stories of Mushishi get more development in a single episode of screen time than many characters get in an entire series. As for the voice actors. Never has there been a show that I can say has better voice acting than Mushishi. There are many child characters in the series, and unlike many other franchises, the children are voiced by children, and it just sound so natural. Ginko's voice actor is also outstanding. Now on the topic of Ginko; he is one of the best male leads in anime history, or at least one of my favorites. His back story is wonderful, yet tragic. (without spoiling anything). And he has a very likable personality. The characters of Mushishi are among some of the best I've ever seen. Enjoyment and Recommendation-10: Based on this review, I think it's not hard to tell that I like Mushishi immensely. However, Mushishi is definitely NOT for everyone. If you like action-packed shows, or overarching (complex or not) plots, and slice of life, episode adventure do not, then I don't think that you'll like it. But, I still think that everyone should at least watch around 3 episodes before making a final decision. Who knows? you might just like it as much as I did. Overall-10: Mushishi is one of my all-time favorites, and what i consider to be one of the greatest shows of all time.

Note: This is my first review on the site. STORY: This is not as easy to review an episodic show since there is not really much of a story. It's basically about a man name Ginko who goes around and helps people with strange beings known as Mushi. What are Mushi? Well, allow me to tell you. Mushi are the most basic forms of life in the world. They exist without any goals or any purposes aside from just simply "being". They are beyond shackles of the "goods" and "evil". Mushi can exist in countless forms and are capable of mimicking things from the natural world such as plants, diseases, and even phenomena like rainbows, for example. Despite its episodic nature, I feel like it works well with it. The stories are well different and show us what has happened to the people who are contacted to the Mushi. Though my only problem with the episodic nature is that sometimes the stories feel a little rushed. I have nothing wrong with any of the endings of the episodes since they do seem fit well with the situation with that certain episode. The story gets a 9/10 Art: The art in this is one of the best points in the show. The atmosphere is breathtaking and did get you invested into its world. The character designs never bothered me to be honest. It takes awhile for you to get adjusted to them. The art gets a 9/10. Sound: I was not sure what to think of the sound at first but it is not that bad if you think about it. It might just be me but the opening reminds me of this song called "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (maybe because of the beat or that they are both catchy). The ending themes are all instrumental and really nice to listen to. The soundtrack is really outstanding and I liked all the pieces of music in the show and didn't hate a single one. The dub is really good. The voices seem to fit well with the characters and yeah they use the same actors sometimes, but there's nothing wrong with that. The most outstanding one is Ginko, played by Travis Willingham. I have nothing wrong the japanese version at all, it's just that I like the dub (though who knows when Aniplex will dub Mushishi Zoku Shou). The sound gets 10/10. Characters: Well to make it easier on myself, I will talk about Ginko, the Mushi Master. Come to think of it, the Mushi Master reminds me of Ghostbusters for some reason. In my opinion, he is one of the best characters I have seen in an anime. He has a certain charm to him. Since I watched this dubbed, I really liked his dub voice. I don't mind the japanese voice for him but I am just used to Travis Willingham as Ginko (though that would take a while for me if I wish to start Mushishi Zoku Shou since who knows when Aniplex will dub that). Ginko is an interesting character. He seems to know more about the Mushi than we do and sometimes he might not be who we expect him to be. The side characters had a purpose to be there and seem to be a purpose to be there. There are recurring characters but I shall not spoil them for you. The characters gets a 7/10. Enjoyment: I really enjoyed this show. Not at one point did I feel like I was bored. The stories kept me interested. There's not much I can say on my enjoyment. It gets an 8/10. Overall: This is one of the best anime I have ever seen. The atmosphere, Ginko, the soundtrack and the episodic nature is really good. Though I can understand if you don't like episodic-type shows. Overall, I give this show a 9/10. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys episodic-type shows.

Nowadays the anime industry is littered with violence, sex and for some reason moe shows. It is not like this is a bad thing, in fact, there are many shows that belong to these categories that are very entertaining to watch. However, just once in a while, animes like Mushishi emerge from a world full of chaos, bringing with them a different but very much needed change of pace. Story: 9/10 Mushishi records the journey of Ginko, a Mushi Master who travels across the country to help people in trouble with the Mushi. Mushi are supernatural creatures that seems to exist on a different plain entirely, and sometimes their lives would interfere with that of humans, causing us problems. What is different about Mushishi though, is it's episodic nature. Each episode of Mushishi contains a different plot line entirely separate from one another, and except for Ginko and a few others, all of the characters showed in a story will never be seen again. However don't be alarmed as this is exactly where the beauty of Mushishi lies. While other animes with overarching story lines just tell its single tale and then leaves you to find something else, Mushishi has many profound messages to deliver, and the audience will always have a variety of things to relate to. Furthermore, each episode is an exploration of an aspect of a certain theme in life, and as the audience join Ginko on his journeys, they also learn this and that, making the show very life like and memorable. Art: 9/10 The biggest problem Mushishi has due to its nature is that sometimes characters would look similar to one another. But the true focus of Mushishi is as I mentioned above, telling the story of life, and because of that, the characters only serve as mediums to deliver you the message. The best part of Mushishi's art is instead its scenery and the Mushi themselves. If you loved the look of Mizayaki's Princess Mononoke, then you are going to enjoy Mushishi's art very much as well. Sound: 9/10 The music in Mushishi is absolutely amazing and sets the mood very well. Just like the rest of the show, it is very calming and relaxing, and there are many tracks that could stand by themselves. Animes and other medias do not get me emotional very easily, but accompanied by its soundtrack Mushishi did manage to bring me to the verge of tears. Character: 9/10 Like I said before, many characters in Mushishi do not return after their story is over. The person that does stay with the audience however is Ginko, the Mushi Master. Despite Ginko not being the focus of the story in most of the episodes, through his journeys we learn about his nature and the type of person that he is. To me, that is very interesting because instead of being told who he is, we slowly interpret Ginko for ourselves. And in the end, each person who watched Mushishi might have a different opinion of Ginko. Just like how in life, different people will see you differently. Enjoyment: 10/10 I can't put in to words how much I enjoyed Mushishi. It's unique, it's beautiful, it's meaningful, it's memorable, it's everything I want in a good anime, no, a piece of art. Mushishi had proven to me that anime can serve as a medium to convey the profoundness of life. Overall: 9/10 Even if you're not a fan of soft, relaxing shows like Mushishi, you should at least give the show a watch some time before you kick the bucket. It is an experience that I believe that everyone should go through, and I guarantee that if you give it a chance, you will not regret watching it.

Story - An episodic masterpiece, a real delight. This was one of the most intriguing stories i have seen so far in my anime watching life. It made me want to watch it twice (once in english, once in Japanese. I can say that japanese is still always better, it just feels that much more authentic). Anyway, its about a travelling spiritual healer of sorts. The spiritual beings he deals with are called mushi and are essentially the essence of life itself. The healer travels from place to place for various reasons following various rumours. And ends up dealing with heaps of different kinds of Mushi and hearing the stories attached to them. It was a clear 10/10 for me though, the ending was a little bit of a buzz kill, i can't help but feel that way. Art - The Art was great and the landscapes were magnificent. the mushi and the 'light vein' were fantastic features in the Art which really brought the story to life. My main complaint is that to many of the extra characters in the different villages looked pretty much the same. Was that some kind of asian joke? Sound - Music was very well suited and had that traditional oriental feel about it. Nice effects etc. as well. Character - The main character was an enigmatic one i enjoyed very much. His charisma and general manerisms were interesting to watch. It was a particularly interesting factor that they leaked the main characters history bit-by-bit throughout the series. Extra characters all had interesting stories to tell about how they had been afflicted by mushi. Enjoyment - this anime is a very captivating one and i was always desperate to see the next episode which rates as well-enjoyed in my books. it definatly has some great re-watch value as well. Overall - Great anime, nothing more need be said.

**Minor Spoilers** This was one of the most challenging anime I've ever had to watch in a very long time. This series was recommended to me by one of my very close youtube friends because he felt there was a lot of similiarities between my personality and the personality of the main character in the series known as Ginko. This series has received a lot of critical acclaim but unfortunately reflecting on what I have watched and I say with regret that I did not enjoy this series as much as everyone else. Let's focus on what I liked about the series compared to what I didn't like. The Good. The anime in itself has some of the most beautiful tranquil music and beautiful natural scenery I seen in an anime period. The folk style storytelling is pretty solid but there is no sense of progression minus a scatter scene here and there from select episodes that builds upon the main character. Every episode is kind of a detective story with regards to the plot and the resolution for the plot for each episode. It's kind of fun to kind of guess throughout the episode how to fix the problems the mushi cause since the episodes are very self contained. You could start on episode 1 or episode 17 and you wouldn't feel lost because the storytelling aspect in each individual episode is incredibly strong. The Bad. Pacing is the number one problem with this anime. For the most part, a lot of the episodes are incredibly boring with no significant build up throughout the majority of the episodes. It was incredibly challenging to me to even get through one episode straight through because the majority of the episodes I had to pause around 10 to 15 minute mark because it felt so mentally exhausting to get through. The anime has a hard time deciding on what it wants to be because half the episodes have good endings while the other half of the episodes have dark depressing endings to them. I don't mind when animes want to have a depressing feel to them. I have watched vampire princess miyu after all. I just wish Mushishi could of been a bit more consistent with regards to its storytelling. This anime can be a very depressing anime to get through but in a way it deals with how harsh life can be and no matter what you do your fate can be to an extent uncontrollable. There is no humour in this anime (none) but it can teach some very valuable lessons about life in general. Overall, its really hard for me to recommend this anime because it is going to be different from a lot of other anime that people have seen before. I personally struggle with depression myself but I can admit that because I'm not perfect but this was an anime I would of been better off watching if depression did not have such a significant hold in my life since I work away from home quite a lot. If you want an anime with some solid storytelling, beautiful tranquil music and imagery than by all means watch it because in my eyes those are the strongest points in this anime. I will admit though my favorite episode in the series is the episode where we see how Ginko loses his eye and obtains his white hair. 6/10 (Not Recommended - but if your interested its worth checking out a few episodes to see if it pertains to your interests.)

Mushishi was such a great experience, so I'd like to take the time to write a review for it. Story: Even though each episode is stand-alone, the amount of content and the depth in each episode could inspire a whole series. The whole series is very slow, but it does not drag; it takes its time, really allowing you to enjoy each scenario and contemplate the message. Art: Beautiful background shots that look like they came out of a museum. The characters (besides the main) tend to look like each other, but that could be deliberate (people are more connected or alike than they think). The mushi all had clever designs, and were fun to watch. Sound: A really lovely opening song. I didn't mind sitting through it (and I normally skip the openers). The background music was simple, but conveyed the feeling each episode was meant to. I watched the dub, and I think Travis Willingham was a great choice for Ginko; he has a soft, soothing voice that isn't flat or monotone. Character: The main character, Ginko, was a great example of how a character can be subdued but not boring. His gentle actions really set the tone for the whole show. Every supporting character had distinct personalities, and made each episode lively. Overall: A great show for relaxing. I loved the show for its gentle nature, and lovely art. Such a beautiful show should be enjoyed by everyone. TL:DR 5 words/phrases to describe Mushishi: beautiful, calm, supernatural, moral choices, relaxing

Mushishi does not march toward some sort of conclusion or final purpose. Much like it's main character, Ginko, the anime merely drifts around, dispensing bits of wisdom and wonder. It is an almost zen-like meditation on the mystical unseen natural world and holds many parallels to our own lives, as it deals mainly in the unanswered and mysterious questions that we all find ourselves asking in life. It excels at acute observations on the state of humanity and revels in our lack of understanding. Most importantly, it romanticizes the things that we do not understand and creates a new language to describe it's nature. This language is the Mushi, an unseen force which holds great mystical power. This series plays out like a sort of collection of folk tales concerning the Mushi, centered around a sort of sage who helps people with their problems as he wanders the Japanese countryside. It is quite slow and is probably not for everyone, but if you have patience and a sense of wonder about the natural world, you will almost certainly gain something from this. This anime is beautifully drawn. Taking place mainly in the forest and small villages, the show contains an unfathomable amount of painstakingly painted backgrounds. You don't really notice how beautiful it is after a few episodes, but the fact that there is never a significant dip in quality to call your attention to it is impressive in itself. Characters are a bit more generic looking. Because this anime is meant to have an aesthetic quality similar to that of a restrained traditional Japanese painting, there is no overt craziness in the character's designs. They all have dark hair, wear traditional Japanese garb, and life in modest homes. What distant visual flare there is comes from the atmospheric and believable settings that the show dwells in. The caves of a tunneling Mushi, a foggy sea, a field set ablaze, and an inescapable bamboo forest are all brilliantly infused with personality and a sense of realness that is uncommon in animation. The Mushi themselves are also highly creative at times. The series score is done by Toshio Masuda, also the composer for Naruto. The music here is restrained and has an almost improvisational feel to it. Each episode has it's own piece of accompanying music, which is nice, however many of them sound the same. Repetition also sinks in when the few other pieces, like the one used when Ginko is describing a Mushi, are used EVERY episode. I will say though, the opening theme, "Sore Feet Song" is absolutely amazing. It conveys the feel of the show perfectly and for all 26 episodes, I never skipped through it. It prepares you perfectly for the quiet and contemplative experience you are about to have. Mushishi, as I said earlier, dispenses bits of wisdom about the age-old relationship between mankind and nature. The story, if you wish to call it that, is all about different people and their experiences with the unknown and the unexplainable. The show never really makes any assertions on good vs evil, right vs wrong, etc. Instead, it makes simple observations about the things that exist in nature and twists them into bizarre phenomena. For example, it details the experience of closing your eyelids vs truly not seeing or actually finding the end of a rainbow. Although there is peril in many of these stories, they are usually resolved through natural and logical means. If there is one overarching message, it is that things simply are. Trying to control what simply is is a futile exercise. In this way, the series draws similarities to the Zen Buddhist outlook on life and existence. This show is, in-fact, as close to a meditation as any piece of popular entertainment I have seen. So what is wrong with the show then? As I just said, this show succeeds brilliantly as a meditation. However, It fares less well in terms of entertainment. Despite the show being beautifully done, If you know what the conflict and resolution is going to be going into each episode, you kind of lose interest. In each episode, you know after a certain point that there will be a problem which at first seems unexplainable, it will be explained as being the work of Mushi, there will be some way to fix it, and everyone will go home. Although there are deviations from this outline, they are somewhat rare. The real reason to keep watching is not to see what happens so much as it is to see what there will be. The scenarios and settings are sufficiently interesting and beautiful to keep you wanting to return to this world. However, you may become fatigued, as I did, and take a break for some more straight-forward entertainment.

Mushi-shi. This isn't an anime series like many others, the closest to describe it would be a Studio Ghibli movie in serial form, perhaps. It is comparable there, in the ethereal and inventive and spiritual nature of the plot, which centers on the beings called mushi, and those who study them, more specifically, Ginko, a man that always seems out of place compared with everyone else. While every character in this series, other Mushi-Shi included, usually dresses in classic traditional japanese attire, he seems to wear western shirts and clothing. While the character designs of every other character is apparently made to look as down to earth and, well, realist, as possible - while definitely not lacking a certain charme and beauty, indeed , I found them an extremely nice change of pace from all those ridiculously colored punk hairdos you see so often in other anime that they totally lost any kind of rareness appeal to me - Ginko has green eyes and white hair. However, most of the time, Mushi-shi puts the humans into the center spot of the plot, even though everything is connected to the Mushi, it's all about human plights and people's reactions to them. Sometimes with rage and fear, sometimes more gently, but either way, the only one seemingly unaffected seems to be Ginko, altough even he is portrayed as a genuine human being with his faults and sometimes his emotions overpower him as well, although he seems like a serene wise most of the time. The art in Mushi-shi is barely comparable. And not just the visuals, it ties together with the sound, the chiming, eerie music that usually plays when mushi-shi appear, the long camera pans and scenes that simply showcase the silent landscape and nature, and the visual effects, especially, again, when the mushi appear. As previously mentioned the character designs seem simple, but each person is different enough not to be confused with any other, and although black hair and a certain look prevails, that's intended to showcase that yes, this is indeed ancient japan, not out of a lack of creativity. The individual episodic plots are quite nice, the only downside to it all is, of course, that you do not have an overarching story, except perhaps how you get a closer and more succinct picture of Ginko's character and heritage. The greatest part of it is definitely the multitude of different mushi, and especially the way they are presented: From the point of view of a society that studies them, it is never said: This is how it is, and those you saw are exactly all mushi that exist, on the contrary, it summons a vivid idea of billions and billions of mushi that exist in Mushi-Shi's world but simply have not appeared, and although the focus is on Ginko, it also showcases a few other Mushi-Shi, all seemingly weird, special and unique. It even has some interesting ideas about how an organisation like theirs could work, being without apparent hierarchy and all. But the most important thing - and the one that made me compare it to Studio Ghibli, besides the fun and amorphous spirits that oh so frequently feature there - is the fact that you really feel: Someone put all his love into this work. Every single scene seems to tell me this, the charming characters, who are all too human with their problems and their reactions, the ethereal mushi, the landscape: It all seems to be crafted with utmost care. The slow english intro theme is just as unique, and seems to express the mood of Mushi-Shi perfectly: Slightly melancholic, filled with love, speaking of long journeys and the small but very important moments of peace and happiness that make life worthwhile. I could probably write pages more of praise of this, in one way or ther other, but in brief: This is the stuff that makes me realise why I like to watch anime so much.