[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Mushishi episodes 1-4: Adventures with one man and supernatural creatures
Ginko is a mushishi - a man who studies a mysterious type of creature known as mushis. Supernatural and invisible to many, mushis represent the most primeval form of life but sometimes interfere with the lives of humans. Mushishi charts the day-to-day life of Ginko as he journeys the length and breadth of Japan, helping people whose lives are affected by the mushis. In one episode, he attempts to cure a girl whose blindness has been caused by mushis inside her body; in another, a man is given the ability to predict future events through mushi intervention in his dreams, which proves to be as much a curse as it is a blessing.
Mushishi is a strongly episodic series in which Ginko, who appears to be a mixture of curious naturalist and benevolant witch doctor, meets a different person each episode who he tries to help with their mushi-related problems using the knowledge he has acquired on his endless journey. The artistic style and feel of the series is beautiful but most unusual, vaguely resembling Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke and ABe’s Haibane Renmei with its serene rural settings and folklore-inspired themes. The music is suitably traditional and haunting, with a thoroughly relaxing opening theme called The Sore Feet Song by Scottish singer/songwriter Ally Kerr.
It is too early in the series for the ‘case of the week’ format to be repetitive, but Ginko is a rather ‘distant’ character. He is friendly, helpful and likeable enough for it, but we are far from learning much about his life or past. Right now his character is not so much the focus of the story as the lens that we see it all through but I can’t wait to see what this lonely traveller shows us next.
Leave a Reply