posts tagged “Mushishi”
[Anime Reviews]
07 Oct 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
With the final episode being out on fansub any day now I was a little surprised to see that at least one subbing group has ceased work on it. Unfortunately this means I won't be reviewing that last episode so my following of this series on fansub ends here.
HOWEVER
The reason given is that Funimation sent out advance notice outlining their request for the fansubs to stop. The likely explanation is that Funi have acquired the licence - no official statement has yet been made and this is only one of several series that have been given the 'cease and desist' treatment (I'll post details as soon as I hear of it) but the way it looks now is that we may be be seeing Mushishi on DVD in the near future. That more than makes up for the bad news concerning the fansubs, eh? :D So, what else do we have to look forward to?
The manga
Del Ray are intending to release the original manga series. What particularly interests me is that in Japan it's still ongoing: could this mean there will be a second season of the anime...? More speculation!
The live action film
The feature film, Bug Master, directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (yep, the Katsuhiro Otomo) premiered in Japan this year and has been met with generally positive reviews. At least, the screenshots look bloody fantastic.
In summary one of my favourite fansub shows is now off the fansub circuit, probably for good. The good news is, it will soon be one of my favourite licenced shows instead, along with a genuine DVD release. Now would be a good time to thank the fansub groups who have brought this excellent series. Their hard work has not gone unnoticed!
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[Anime Reviews]
04 Sep 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
It's turned out to be something of a Studio Artland double bill today but in all honesty I was so eager to see the penultimate instalment of Mushishi that I couldn't help but download it ASAP. It's yet another visually stunning and bittersweet tale of sacrifice and loss that leaves the viewer deep in thought for a long time afterwards.
In this episode Ginko meets a travelling musician who knows a thing or two about mushi and those who study them. As she recounts the story of her childhood Ginko hears a story of how a certain mushi has affected her life and those of the people she was closest to.
Her father was another mushishi who was studying a certain type that gave its host improved sight: an exciting prospect to a blind girl such as young Amane. Through almost sheer chance (or were her father's studies partly to blame?) she herself attained this fabled mushi-enhanced vision, only to find, in true
Mushishi style, that it is as much a curse as a blessing.
Early on Amane is overjoyed at the fact that she can see: a number of scenes featuring gorgeous watercolour backgrounds that have become this series' trademark effectively convey the wonder of her new-found ability. As time goes on she begins to experience the full extent of the mushi's power: she becomes able to see further and further ahead, to the point at which she can predict the future. As much as this sounds like a true gift it becomes a burden to Amane, particularly when even her abilities cannot avert tragedy that she is able to see in painful clarity.
Fortune Eye, Misfortune Eye is a typically-themed episode but even when the show gets (by its own standards) formulaic, the plight of the individual protagonist is still enough to make it a memorable experience. The mushi in question is a little-known variety so it takes Ginko a while to realise the full implications; that is, the stark choice that Amane has to make after years of being to see it all yet feeling that she can solve nothing. I can't bring myself to call this a weak episode since it is so full of sincere, heartfelt emotion at the cruelty of nature; nevertheless it doesn't quite match the greatest heights that this series has reached in the past.
While this episode eloquently conveys the joy and suffering brought about by mushi on a personal level it lacks the more hard-hitting moral questioning that some of the other outings have shown. All the same, even an 'average'
Mushishi story is still a superb piece of supernatural drama: my only main complaint? There's just one more episode to go before our journey with Ginko draws to a close.
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[Anime Reviews]
05 Aug 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
The next eagerly-awaited OAV episode of Mushishi, entitled Bound for Bonfire Field, isn't quite up to the standards of other recent outings but highlights some unfortunate aspects of the human condition. The visuals, possibly because they are free from the constraints of a TV budget, are of a very high standard and the bleak, dystopian view of an entire field set ablaze is a sight that will linger long in the memory.
A village is the victim of a mushi that has taken the form of a grass that spreads and kills all plant life in its path. Yahagi, the resident mushishi, decides that the only option is that of burning the entire field: a drastic and destructive course of action that the villagers accept without question. Despite Ginko's more well-informed and objective viewpoint, the villagers choose to follow Yahagi's advice and set about burning the field, with devastating results.
The strength of this episode lies in the questions posed by this turn of events. Are the villagers ignorant? Is Yahagi arrogant and narrow-minded in ignoring Ginko's advice? It would be understandable to think so, especially knowing what Ginko does about the mushi they are up against. However I can still understand Yahagi's ill-informed and flawed course of action because she has gone to so much trouble in researching the subject (even Ginko admits he's impressed with what she's published), not to mention being able to see the pressure she is under to do the right thing for her village. Her people know her and trust her; she is their only source of advice and guidance. As foolhardy as they are in ignoring Ginko's wise words I can forgive them for listening to Hayagi over an outsider in such a crisis.
For all this I still didn't find this episode to be particularly outstanding. There were a few inconsistencies in the explanations and the story lacks the complexity that I've come to expect from this series. This is all relative of course: even an episode such as this looks amazing and will have you deep in thought afterwards. The only real disappointment is the prospect of only two more to go!
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[Anime Reviews]
15 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
The idea that individuals can suffer immeasurably through a combination of human ignorance and the harsh laws of nature is one that is recurrent in Mushishi. For this reason The Sound of Rust is quite formulaic by this series' standards but is no less moving and dramatically powerful.
A girl named Shige is an outcast in her village because she is blamed for a terrible affliction that has struck the inhabitants: they lose the ability to move normally and their skin is covered in a rusty substance that only Shige can see. Fate has dealt Shige a bad deal as her parents live in fear of being driven away and Shige herself cannot bring herself to speak to anyone.
Ginko reveals that Shige has been unkowingly drawing a mushi towards her fellow villagers, and that it is not through any fault of hers; sadly the villagers, who have been suffering from the illness for years, are not as understanding. Ginko also realises that it is her voice that causes the problem but the problem can be solved - this could save the health of the villagers but what about Shige and her family?
The setup is typical
Mushishi but the ending is surprising and uplifting enough to make it equally as recommended as earlier instalments. Furthermore Shige's selfless acts of withdrawal from the village, not to mention her humility and the inspirational kindess that is shown by her friend Tetsu, make this a piece of human drama of the highest order. Because of this
Mushishi is still the most impressive release on the fansub circuit right now.
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[Anime Reviews]
09 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
After being dragged through the emotional wringer by the heart-rending tale in the previous episode this instalment, The Offshore Shrine, is a more uplifting affair. Unusually it portrays the effects of a mushi as having a positive effect on human lives; at least that's how it appears initially.
Imagine you can bring back a dying loved one, just by taking them to a sacred spot a short boat journey out to sea, and later they can be literally reborn. That is the situation at a certain island village, the home of the mythical Uminaoshi. Isana is the reborn Mana, given a new lease of life through her daughter Mio. It is a common occurence in this village: many inhabitants have found happiness by this method.
In situations like this (especially considering how no
Mushishi story is ever simple and straightforward!), I couldn't help but wonder where the catch was. Sure, the family are happy to see Mana return, even if she is now a child and did not resemble her old self straightaway. On the other hand, it is obviously a mushi-related phenomenon and it interferes with the natural order of things. If you are raising a reborn relative as your own child, it will inevitably bring about some mixed feelings. Furthermore, the person is in a literal sense the same but what about the spiritual and less tangible aspects of individuality that come from life experiences rather than genetics and physical appearances?
Ginko realises that despite the potential misgivings the likes of Mio and Isana may have, it is an arrangement that works out well for both humans and mushi who are involved so sees no reason to interfere. As much as it seems to me at least to be an escape from the harsh realities of death and loss, the overall result is a happy one from their own point of view. Once again, the ethical and moral questions are posed without the answers being made too obvious, all wrapped up in beautifully subtle music and animation. Fantastic stuff.
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[Anime Reviews]
28 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
After the fairly uplifting and inspirational episode #20 it's quite a shock to see Mushishi take a sharp darker turn as it resumes its broadcast run. The Cotton Spore is possibly the most depressing episode to date - chilling and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Imagine the pain and anguish when you find out that your child is a mushi, and what's worse, he is doomed to die. This is the cold truth that Ginko must explain to a distraught couple whose eldest son has taken ill with a mysterious disease. The recurring theme of mushi and human life interfering is something that fellow fans of this show will be familiar with, but rarely is it so heart-rending and tragic as it is here.
In order to prevent the fate of the couple in this episode happening to others, Ginko adds that they must kill the creatures who they have raised as their own children. It is, not surprisingly, a little too much to take in for the mother, especially with her unfortunate past and slim chance of ever having children again. What is also quite telling (in a more general way) is the exchange between Ginko and the mushi, as our hero very pragmatically explains the harsh reality of two separate species trying to survive.
What he says is harsh but the most painful thing is that what he says is the truth: I was torn between the pain of the choice the parents felt while being very much aware of the fact that there was not much of an alternative. No doubt it is painful for Ginko too, as the mushishi who, in the previous episode, tried to find balance and give both humans and mushis the chance to survive. Despite this he chooses reason over emotion this time around with a detached and matter-of-fact approach.
Mushishi delivers some real tragedy when the situation requires it, and in addition the oppressive, moody atmosphere and occasionally shocking visuals of
The Cotton Spore would do any horror film proud. The human and mushi relationship, with all its complications and upsets, is still the focus, and right up to the closing scenes its complexity is shown to great effect. This is one of the most downbeat yet thought-provoking episodes to date.
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[Anime Reviews]
25 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
And so the initial run of Mushishi finally draws to a close. This episode is an understated and insightful (temporary) conclusion to a series that has, without exception, been one of my all-time favourites.
A Sea of Brushes concerns itself with a young woman who, because of a mushi-related curse that has left her with a birthmark and a physical disability, chronicles the stories from visiting mushishi and stores her writings in a vast library; needless to say that the library and its dedicated author are of immense interest to Ginko.
This is another moving tale of how mushi can have a detrimental effect on human life and at the same time how people can come to terms with these problems and make the best of what life has handed to them. In terms of heavy drama this is not the strongest episode but it is one of those rare ones in which Ginko's more caring side shows through; he gets on very well with the writer Tanyu and the exchanges between them are a fantastic portrayal of old friends trading stories, hopes and feelings.
Tanyu's story is, as you might expect, a rather sad tale of a curse handed down the generations, a particularly unpleasant mushi and the inspirational way in which she goes about her work while still finding time to enjoy life. We also hear the stories from other mushishi, who seem to have a more confrontational and unsympathetic attitude towards the mushi.
It is probably this reason that makes Tanyu so comfortable around Ginko: his adventures are more varied affairs in which he seeks to understand the mushi and strive to live alongside them, not kill them. Tanyu has grown tired of the tales of mushi killing from the others so Ginko's more open-minded outlook compliments her own.
This was a great episode as always - there's no end to the overall storyline, of course. Ginko will continue to seek out mushi while Tanyu will continue to record the exploits of he and the other mushishi. It doesn't stop here - I'm now looking to see Ginko's endless journey resume and show some more of the strange and beautiful world of this spectacular series.
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[Anime Reviews]
21 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
It never ceases to amaze me how, despite being different every time, Mushishi is consistently brilliant. This episode, String to the Heavens, is another strange but wondrous portrayal of perseverance versus ignorance, with the stranger forces of nature in the midst of it all.
Thanks to an encounter with a powerful mushi, a young woman named Fuki disappears from the village where she works as a nanny to the daughter of one of its inhabitants. Ginko manages to return her safely but she is far from well and settling down to a normal life does not come easily to her, or the star-gazing Seijiro who tries to help her.
Lately I've found myself looking past the visual and literal side of things and looking at the underlying themes as well; it's not that I don't appreciate the animation or inventive storytelling, but I end up analysing the meanings and metaphors behind the episodes - perhaps a little too much at times! Fuki (who reminds me a little of Rakka from
Haibane Renmei) is treated as something of an outcast because of her ability to see mushi and it is only Seijiro who tries to rectify the situation; on a more abstract level it is Seijiro's devotion that is ultimately the only thing that can save her from the effects of the mushi. Once again it is the narrow-mindedness and fear of anyone or anything out of the ordinary shown by those around them who compound the problems that the mushi caused. Of course, the mushi is going about its normal existence until a hapless human crosses paths with it.
For all this,
String From the Heavens is an uplifting and inspirational tale of romance that can brighten the worst of days. As Fuki and Seijiro find out, sometimes it's just nice to see love overcome adversity.
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[Anime Reviews]
19 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
Packing slightly less of an emotional punch than recent offerings but compensating in a more inventive narrative, Clothes to Embrace the Mountain is a touching tale of a tortured artist who loses what matters to him but tries to overcome adversity to seek redemption. He leaves his village and family behind to learn the trade of a professional painter at a distant town; he eventually learns that everything he once held dear has been irretrievably lost and he must work hard to bring some good out of the misfortunate that he finds upon his return.
This episode jumps around in time a bit and the mushi itself hardly appears at all. Even Ginko is something of a background character as the journey of the artist Kai becomes the focus of the story. Ginko's craftier and shrewd side is more in evidence too as he haggles for the coat that introduces us to Kai's tale. Long-term viewers may also spot another appearance of Ginko's old acquaintance Adashino, who is as mushi-obsessed as ever.
As is so often the case, the story is a bittersweet one and in the space of only twenty-five minutes we are shown over a decade of one man's life and the troubles he must face. Once again it is laden with subtle symbolism and gorgeous rural visuals; the backgrounds and landscapes look every bit as captivating and spectacular as one of Kai's paintings.
It is possibly the first time we see a mushi that is benign rather than troublesome, which adds to the altered story structure to make this quite an unusual episode. Although it lacks the tragedy of some other episodes this instalment is still a great portrayal of loss, regret and the strength of the human spirit.
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[Anime Reviews]
17 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Mushishi]
My Mushishi catch-up continues as Ginko visits an old acquaintance who has lost her sister through the complex interactions that sometimes exist between the human and mushi worlds. I've learned that watching this show after drinking is probably not the best idea when trying to understand the finer points of what's going on but this is still an uplifting tale of loss and hope.
Aya and her sister Ito were selected to help an old man near their home in working with mushi to help with the communications that the mushishi use. Through an unfortunate accident Ito is snatched away and Aya is left awaiting her return.
There are a few details dropped into this episode, such as the ingenious (and, as we come to realise, risky) method by which mushishi and the people they help can communicate: using the mushi themselves. It's surreal, at times hard to follow but nevertheless fascinating.
This was yet another stunning example of how ordinary people come to terms with difficult aspects of their lives and how hard it is to let some things go. The circumstances surrounding Ito's disappearance are not the fault of her, her sister or anyone else; they are not exactly the fault of the mushi either but whichever way you look at it, Ito is a victim and so is Aya. What is most touching is that, even when Ginko explains to Aya how unlikely it is that she will never see her sister again, Aya refuses to give up hope. The ending is yet another superb piece of storytelling and for the upteenth time I find myself saying that this is another one of my favourite episodes so far.
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