The story is simplistic to the extreme. Ginko is actually never the true protagonist of the story. Despite being a very mysterious and somewhat intriguing character, replacing him each episode with anybody else wouldn't change the anime in any way because the true center of the story are the mysterious, vibrant, various, and occasionally vicious Mushi. The tiny creatures and their various effects on humanity are the central arc of the story. As humans continue to spread their influence, they encounter more and more of these weird creatures and their experiences with these beings is the totality of each episode. Rather than watching a show, the feeling comes across that we are witnessing the birth of folklore which is something I have not seen done often.
The narrative simply flows from the start of the episode to the end, very much like the flow of a metaphorical river, indicative of the stream that is life. It is very real, the temptation to dump on our heads the lessons of environmentalism and the dangers of industrialization and the destruction of life etc etc. Yet this anime never takes that path and simply presents the events as they are. As the Mushi themselves, each episode just... is. Beautiful yet haunting.
The art is outstanding (as is my rating). With an anime as slow and gentle as this, the art also reflects this tone. Characters are rounded, drawn with soft strokes, their hair straight, their clothing coloured softly with no loud colours and Ginko himself an oddity among them as the one who stands out. The environments are beautiful with dense forests painted lush greens, the waters a sparkling grey even rocks painted as unassuming objects with dull, short strokes. The Mushi, being the star of the show, are multicoloured, varied and lively. Each have their own characteristics and are hence drawn to reflect such characteristics. If you're looking for a lovely anime, this should surely be under consideration.
The sound, as is the show, is also gentle with very little percussion or woodwind instruments. Strings and bells are the crux of most of the music driving further the impression that you are watching the birth of folk tales which begin in houses and small gatherings where such gentle instruments would accompany the tales they would narrate. Though they suffice, none of them are memorable and you wouldn't want to listen to them out of context of the anime itself.
If it weren't for the characters themselves, this show would have fallen completely apart at the seams which is why it is remarkable how wonderfully relatable and memorable almost every single one of them are. All the people are real and simple characters with their own lives and problems. If they are suffering, we feel for them and want them to get better. We feel their sadness in their times of trouble, their joy in being helped out of their situations and their peace when they continue to live their lives or otherwise. I would have expected Ginko to be the aloof, mysterious, dark but helpful character we see so much, eg Black Jack. But the truth is he is merely another person, helpful, simple, blunt and without many layers to peel. He has only the simplest but sweetest of reasons to continue travelling and he does so with few complaints and has very little interest in his own mysterious past for, as a traveller, he has learned to look ahead and revel in the present and hope for the future.
The Mushi too are characters in their own right. We are always told that they are merely simple creatures only wishing to survive, who only inflict harm because of their nature, not their intentions. However harmful, ambiguous, or terrifying they may be, they too, like the humans, wish to live on and we are able to empathise with that.
IF my review didn't give you the impressios that I IMMENSELY enjoyed this anime, then again I tell you that I absolutely did and will surely return to any episode of this anime in times when I am in sorrow or doubt to calm myself down or to simply enjoy the beauty of this show again.
This is definitely an anime you need to experience at least once in your life and you will be all the better for it.
