Mushishi - Reviews

I didn't expect to like Mushishi, as it's WAY different than my normal viewing choice.. But whew, have I been glad I decided to watch it!

The episodes are episodic and there is no overarching storyline, which some have been complaining about, and the animation has its derpy and blank moments, but Mushishe more than makes up for it in theme.

Summary: A meditation on humanity and nature. And how Mushishi became my favorite anime.

When I started watching anime again in 2014 after a long hiatus, I saw fans of a series called Mushishi praising how it was “beautiful” and a “masterpiece.” In these same discussion threads, there were also critics arguing that Mushishi was actually “pretentious” and “boring.” Seeing such strong and opposing opinions, I opted to see for myself how good—or bad—Mushishi truly was.

About a quarter way through the first episode, I was already siding with the critics. The central character, Ginko, who appeared to be a kind of paranormal investigator, is seen traveling deep into an unusually vibrant forest. He’s headed to the home of a child living there to investigate a strange ability that he’s said to have. When they meet, perplexing conversations ensue, which, at the time, I found difficult to follow, and not particularly interesting.

The second episode frustrated me even more. For most of the first half, I grudgingly stared at these two kids sitting in a dark room discussing something pertaining to eyelids; keeping my own eyelids open was a struggle. Before I could get to the second half, I stopped the episode, and concluded that this series just wasn’t for me.

As I befriended more people in the anime community, I noticed that many of those who shared my interests also thought highly of Mushishi. I wondered, “Why do these people with such excellent taste (lol) love such a dull series? Maybe I missed something?”

I attempted to give the second episode another try, this time approaching it as I would a meditation—or a tedious assignment. I turned down the lights, cleared my mind, relaxed my face and shoulders, took a deep breath, and gave it my undivided attention.

In such a relaxed state, I usually feel a peaceful indifference. Watching the second episode again, I wasn't as impatient during the first half, but I wasn't quite enjoying it either. However, I was more receptive. I initially took notice of how ubiquitous the environment was. A scene would often open with or cut to an intricately detailed—and admittedly beautiful—slice of nature. It was around this time that it dawned on me—nature itself is actually a character in this story. There’s Ginko, the various people he meets, and nature. Nature is sometimes the protagonist; other times it’s the antagonist; but it’s not an entity that acts with bias. Nature, and the “Mushi”, which are a supranormal extension of nature, just are. In this context, everything started to make more sense.

When I finally saw the unexpectedly creepy second half of the second episode, my attention was firmly hooked. As I progressed to the next episodes, another thing that became apparent was how the problems and concerns of the characters mirrored our own, providing an opening for us to relate and emotionally connect. Each story guides us through the mental, physical, or sometimes moral process of trying to solve a particular issue. But people’s plights aren't sensationalized. Mushishi doesn't seek to make you feel angry or depressed. While there are moments that could make you feel that way, it doesn't indulge in negativity or drama.

I was later impressed by how much ground Mushishi could cover in just 23-minute episodic intervals. The directors, under Hiroshi Nagahama’s supervision, did well in balancing the elements of Yuki Urushibara’s award-winning manga. The studio, Artland, didn't cut corners on the production either. The art and animation quality exceeded that of a typical television series, sometimes reaching the levels you’d expect from a feature film. A traditional and occasionally haunting soundtrack underpins the visuals.

Mushishi is infused with subtle, and easily overlooked, commentary on the ways in which we’re connected with each other and the world around us. Thinking back, it’s amazing the difference eased expectations and a little patience can make. With that said, such an approach can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to like anything. Sometimes you’re just not compatible with something, and that’s perfectly fine, too. In my personal case, I was more compatible with Mushishi than I’d expected as it has since become my favorite anime.

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...

Mushishi is an anime that doesn't force you to keep watching. If you stop, you lose nothing because there is really no plot. You can watch the first episode and then skip to the last and understand everything just fine. There is no main goal in the series, and every episode is its own individual story that goes from start to finish in the 20 minutes it's given. However, some things are the same in each episode: The main character, Ginko, and the Mushi.

The Mushi are defined by Ginko as the most basic life forms. They come in all shapes and sizes and some people can see them, while some can't. These Mushi tend to cause problems, the most common being invading the human body and impairing things such as sight and hearing. One of the most important themes in the series is that the Mushi are not malevolent or evil, they're simply living their lives out just as we do.

Ginko is a travelling Mushi master who deals with the aforementioned problems and tries to free people from the Mushi that are causing problems. In each episode he travels to a different location and works with the people there to try and remove the Mushi. I say try because Ginko is not able to save the human host in some situations, keeping a nice bittersweet touch to the whole series.

Oh my, the atmposphere of this show. Mushishi keeps a mood of peace and calm throughout, with rather few violent situations arising. That's not to say that it's not dark at times. Mushishi can get very dark, and just the concept of the parasitic Mushi invading the human body can be an overall disturbing thing. The environments are gorgeous, with lush forests and snow covered mountains covering the screen; the amount of the natural world shown is extremely pleasing. The characters, however, are not so impressive, with many of them looking too similar. This was probably the main problem I had with the show; lacking character design.

The only other place the series falls short on is the characters themselves. Ginko is the only consistant character, as most other characters are only present in a single episode. Some characters may appear a couple of time, such as the doctor of the fishing village in the moving swamp episode and the old woman that was swallowed by darkness. Most of the people shown however are never seen again after their one episode spotlight, leading to poor connections felt towards these characters.

The music in the series is incredible. The opening theme is a slow relaxing song that fits the mood perfectly, and the ending song compliments it well. As for the background music, different themes will play when the different Mushi are present, and one particularly memorable song plays whenever Ginko is talking about the Mushi. The voice acting is good, and the sound effects, especially the ethereal noises the Mushi make, are very fitting.

Overall, this series is still one of the most enjoyable anime I've ever seen. It is meant to be thought of and viewed as an episodic series, so you really have to like that kind of anime in order to enjoy this. The new season, Zoku Shou looks very promising, and could even be better than the first season. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Mushishi captivated me from he first episode. It was gloriously animated with a score that not only was matched perfectly to the scenes played out before you but leave the watcher with a profound sense of the poignancy being given across. From the first episode I was enthralled, the second takes me by storm. Then the third. Unfortunately after that, I must write that it seems to trend steadily downhill.

The concept is wonderous, the animation style and characters compliment the fantastic and alien creations that are the "mushi", another well thought out idea on how to present an alternate example of how life may develop. Each installment is indeed a tale of heartfelt human interaction when faced with a form of existence interacting with their own to which some perceive, others don't.
However, my problem, though some may regard it slight, that i take hold with Mushishi, and indeed Mushishi Zoku Shou, is that it leaves me with the strange sensation of not having finished a particularly sumptious drink, let the tears flow like Young Renzu-san's.
By this i mean that, while the concept, storyline, animation and score are all idyllically set together, the story ITSELF, seems to waft aimlessly between encounters that our main character, Ginko, has.
I don't call him a protaganist as it doesnt seem that he, as a main character, develops in anyway. Indeed following this same vein I waited on tenterhooks for some diversity to appear in the handling of the mushi, the adventure had or even the true face of danger that the mushi pose(innadvertently) which we caught but a glimpse of in episode 2.

I enjoyed watching Mushishi. That is undeniable and I wouldn't wish to give that impression across. But like a cup of watered down sake, I was waiting for the bite to take me and shake me about a bit. My point in its most simplified form can be construed as this; this anime may leave in tears but they will undoubtedly dry up after the twentieth child is saved from the beasties that dwell within/without. I wished for more out of this anime but was sadly left wanting.

Please take the time to experience the series as well as this review and make your own opinion upon the matter, particularly if you disagree with what is written above.

Many Thanks,
Thuringwethil.