Mushi-Shi

Okay, I know this is a long post but I highly encourage you to read it! PLEASE.

Mushi-Shi  is one of the most beautiful animated series ever. I personally don't watch or read a lot of anime and manga but I love Mushi-shi. The art is stunning and the story/concept is so unique that you can't help but be addicted to the characters and their individual stories. Moreover, it has great character designs, breathtaking landscapes, and smooth animation. Mushi-Shi is based off of a manga that was written and illustrated by Yuki Urushibara from 1999 to August 2008. The animated series was animated by Artland and directed by Hiroshi Nagahama and consisted of 26 episodes.

Mushi-shi has a unique set up and is different than your typical manga or anime. Instead of it having an overarching plot or story line, Ginko and the mushi are the only things that tie each episode together. Basically, Mushi-shi is about Ginko, a mushi master who constantly wanders around looking to help people and mushi alike. Mushi is life in its purest form, thus few people are able to see these curious forms of pure life and energy. They can take on a form of human, animal, plant, or a mix of other living creatures. Also, they have unique abilities and characteristics as well. Ginko’s unusual white hair and green eyes are a result of coming into contact with a certain type of mushi (but that is all explained in the anime/manga). Each episode in a way stands on its own because there is no main plot, which at times is weird but believe me it works. Ginko has a unique ability to attract dangerously high amounts of mushi so he is cursed to wander from place to place and in doing so helps people in need. 

The heart of Mushi-shi is its character development and unique world and features that Ginko comes into contact with on a daily basis. While not a action packed animated tv show, Mushi-shi keeps you on the edge of your seat because of its wonderful storytelling and plot. Not to mention, the english dubbed voice of Ginko is Travis Wellington who is a boss. Oh, and did I mention that the art is stunning? Yes? Okay good.

The manga and the animated series have received a lot of good reception and awards. The manga won an Excellence Prize at the 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival and the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award. While the animated adaption won grand prizes in the categories of television series and best art direction. Because of the success and recognition in both the manga and anime, a live action adaptation was made of Mushi-shi. 

The live action version of Mushi-shi stared Joe Odagiri and retold chapters 2, 7, 9, and 15 of the manga. I did in fact watch this adaptation (I think that it is somewhere on youtube)  and I thought that it was pretty good! I definitely recommend this live action version - it is a pretty good adaptation, which is quite surprising because most live action adaptations of animes or mangas are bad or just want to make you cringe because what should stay animated should remain animated if you know what I mean. For example, the acting is good, the special effects are decent, and the actors nail the characters pretty well. In addition, the live action version can also stand alone so you do not have to watch the anime or read the manga to get what the movie is all about which is nice. 

Oh, and I thought that I should add in some fan art that I sketched of the main character, Ginko. <3

I really hope that you guys will watch this show - even if it is one episode - just to see exactly what I am talking about. I am definitely getting the box set and live action movie on amazon soon! If you guys do watch it let me know and comment! I’d love to know what you think of it. :) Oh and sorry for the long post!