Summary: >

There are many things in this world that people do not understand. Phenomena are often explained by spirits, or other supernatural happenings, but quite often these are caused by things called mushi. Mushi are not plants, nor animals; they are another form of life at its most basic level. They exist on a plane where most humans cannot perceive them, but the mushi's actions can very much have consequences in our world.

Genko is a mushi master; an expert who deals with the mushi - yet even he doesn't know everything about them. This is the story of Genko's travels and the people he assists when the mysterious mushi effect the world of men.

Thoughts: >

Mushi Shi is an interesting anime in a catch 22, where its foundations are built into a plot element that's explained in the story. That makes it hard to describe what Mushi Shi is about. The mushi are like a primordial form of life that exist on a nearly spiritual level. Many aspects of this anime are similar to occult ghost type stories, however the mushi are living things and need to be handled as such. While their actions often cause people distress, it's not because the mushi are malicious. For example you wouldn't call a plant malicious for growing where you don't want it; the plant is only doing what is its nature. Likewise the mushi can cause people problems unintentionally, which is what Mushi Shi is about: mushi and the story of coexisting with them. This gives Mushi Shi an interesting feeling of dealing with life and living in harmony with natural things; even those we don't understand and can't normally perceive.

While anime is often said to be original, any long term anime viewer will tell you that's not really true. Anime is often different from things in the western mainstream, but anime has its strenths and doesn't deviate from those things often. Mushi Shi is however quite different. There is no action, romance, and hardly even drama - nor most of the other central themes of most anime. Instead it's like a nature story, with an added element of mystery. Like the zen master of anime, it accomplishes much, while saying little. It tells an engrossing tale with just enough of everything - no more no less.

You could stop watching, come back a month later and pick it right back up due to each episode being self contained. No, there isn't a bigger plot buildup. Each episode is intriguing and imaginative, with a few weak episodes but it's always interesting. The mushi master Genko is really the only reoccurring character, but it doesn't speak much of him. We get the impression that he's got a sense of wisdom, but doesn't have all the answers and sometimes questions himself. Many times Genko arrives on the scene where he can't fix the situation at all, only give some advice and help alleviate some parts of the bigger problem. Not every episode ends well and some of them just end weird. In only one episode, does it appear Genko grew close to a girl he was staying with, while helping her brother. Or perhaps they did have something going. It's subtle and ambiguous: the sort of thing Mushi Shi does well.

Animation wise it's done well enough, although the vibrant colors were something I noted more than the movement. The mushi design at times was quite imaginative, but often just appeared as a snake or worm. I wasn't big on the character design of Genko, but the rest of the characters look good... except that it highlights the bigger problem with anime, where characters look too similar when you don't give them exotic contrasting hair colors and styles. One last thing... the intro hippie music wasn't my thing, but strangely appropriate for a show like this.

I've seen a lot of anime in my time, and I can't think of another title quite like Mushi Shi. It does not offer you a mind blowing escape from reality in the sense of overwhelming sensation. Thinking about my average day of riding with ninja bikers as they battle mutated nazi aliens, every once in a while I like to sit by a lake during the evening and just enjoy the tranquility and think: "This is nice.". Mushi Shi is a lot like that. It can give you the feeling of having watched something fulfilling and interesting, but not in an overblown way we think of modern media. It is most certainly something you have to have an aptitude to like, and even then you have to be in the mood for it; but if you think this is the kind of experience you'd like, then Mushi Shi delivers like no other.