This isn’t a new video or anything like that, but I wanted to evangelize my favorite anime, Mushishi, just a bit. Plus, there are all of a half dozen posts in this community, so one more won’t clog up anybody’s feed.
As for a quick synopsis, the main character, Ginko, is a traveling Mushishi. In this world, Mushishi are tasked with helping others with problems that are caused by lifeforms that are invisible to most people called Mushi. Each episode sees our protagonist travel to a different rural Japanese town and try to help solve Mushi-caused problems for the people residing there.
I think this video review best captures the aspects that I like the most in the series. There is no other show that I have come across that has emulated the feel of Mushishi. It is calm, slow-paced, sad, hopeful, touching, and threatening all at the same time. The linked video suggests against bingeing this show and I completely agree. This is the kind of show that you should take some time between episodes. Let the episode sink in and process it before moving on. If you take the time to appreciate this show, it will reward you with complex moral dilemmas, subtle character interactions, and a satisfying trickle of world building.
Mushishi is one of those truly special shows that I have only grown to love more as I have watched more media and gotten older. Back in the day when I was in grad school, Mushishi was one of the first anime that I watched while getting into the hobby and I have been chasing that high ever since. I cannot recommend it enough and hope that you take your time and enjoy it.
I really never watched a whole lot of anime, so as well-known as I’ve been told it apparently is, I would never have had the pleasure of watching this had a buddy of mine not turned me onto it. And I’ve never seen anything so singularly calming before or since. They’ve hit the nail on the head, that it’s pensive somehow, and while there are one or two especially sad episodes that have stuck with me, they don’t make me feel sad. I’m not really sure why.
The only bad part is I loved it so much that I’ve never actually finished watching it. I could. I have all the episodes. But if I did that, I’d have to set it down.
Same here, I didn’t want to set it down, so I never fished the last few episodes, at least I don’t remember watching them or how the series ended. Perhaps it’s time for me to do a rewatch, and experience the show for a second time, and yet the series finale for the first time!
Go ahead and finish it.
My wife is the type of person that will watch the same TV show or movie over and over and over again. She’s seen gravity falls in its entirety 8 or 9 times (that I’m aware of) , I am the exact opposite. Once I am done with something I rarely if ever go back to it. With only three exceptions so far. Master and Commander, Gladiator, and mushishi.
I watch the whole series at least once a year and it is still just as good as the first time. I also frequently listen to the soundtrack. The sore feet song is my jam.
man, Mushishi is what got me to start accepting episodic content. Also introduced me to Lucy Rose! Easily one of my top favorites
Mushishi is one of my favorite series. Truly beautiful, calm, interesting storytelling and imagery. It’s been quite a while since I watched any of it.
/edit: Damn that essay intro is exceptional. Brought me to tears.
