[ Story 10/10 ]
Mushishi is an episodic anime. Each episode sees the main character Ginko dealing with a different person, a different mushi, and a different conflict. There are as many different types of mushi as there are people, so each supernatural phenomena is as interesting as the last. The various characters introduced throughout the anime are just normal everyday people who's lives have been affected in some way by the mushi.
Despite the fact the mushi can cause grief and illness to many people, Ginko stresses that the mushi aren't inherently evil. They're just trying to get by in life, much like humans are, and shouldn't be hated for it. Little comments like these could possibly be interpreted as having a deeper meaning.
But like I stated above, Mushishi doesn't try way too hard to be deep. The story is simple yet interesting. Its very easy to keep up with and follow. There's always a new and interesting case waiting to greet both Ginko and the viewers in each episode.
[ Characters 10/10]
Ginko, the main character, is the only character that appears in every episode. Over the course of the anime, aspects of his character as well as his past are slowly revealed. Ginko is very calm, slow to anger or panic, and displays a knowledge and outlook on life that betrays his young appearance. A bit of his past is revealed later in the anime, explaining how he became a mushi master and how he attained his odd, otherworldly appearance. As a main character, he's pretty likeable. The anime focuses more on the individual cases he takes on, rather than Ginko himself.
A new batch of characters is introduced every episode. None of these character's growths or personalities are formulaic. Of course, with each episode being 30 minutes, its difficult to fit in significant character development for each character. But its interesting to see how each person changes once the episode is over. Its also interesting to see how each person reacts to the mushi they are confronted with.
[ Art and Sound 10/10 ]
The opening theme is a peaceful little number that perfectly suits the atmosphere of the anime. The insert songs were great as well. The animation is top notch considering its age. I found it hard to believe I was watching an anime that was a little over seven years old. Care was put into the lush and beautiful backgrounds. There isn't that much variety in the character designs, aside from Ginko. But they are far from bad, and it goes hand in hand with Mushishi's whole air of simplicity that I mentioned earlier.
Probably the most interesting to look at are the mushi. The way the transparent, colorful little guys dance around the screen is a real treat to watch. From the cute little ones from the first episode to the creepy swamp mushi, they've all got some interesting and quirky design. The voice acting for Mushishi is another well done addition to the series many good points. Having watched the dub, I can safely assure you that its a quality one. Travis Willingham's performance as Ginko is definitely worth praise. Several voice actors appear for the different characters in each episode and they all do a great job as well. The script is devoid of any awkwardly worded translations that plague some anime. There's no over the top screaming, gratuitous cursing, or the inevitable "EHHHH?" (or in English "WHAAAAAT?") being thrown around at the drop of a hat.
Thanks to that (and probably a good voice director), the dialogue never comes off as forced or awkward.
[ Enjoyment 10/10 ]
As you can tell, I enjoyed this anime a lot. It was a real treat to watch. I appreciate and praise its ability to keep my short attention span glued to the screen without any cheap gimmicks. Its a very peaceful and chill anime that I particularly enjoyed while drinking green tea after a long day at school.
[ Overall 10/10 ]
Overall, this is one rare gem of an anime that no one should pass up. Its very hard to find a flaw in this anime. Although I think people who want a series with a lot of action, explosions, hot chicks, and an overarching plot may not find what they are looking for in Mushishi. Mushishi just isn't that kind of anime, but its still easy to get in to and enjoy. Perhaps try watching Mushishi after you're done watching that crazy, over the top, adrenaline pumping anime like I did. You might be able to appreciate it simple yet interesting plot a lot more.
+ Superb art and animation (for its time)
+ Splendid English Dub
+ Interesting story, characters, and world
+ Original, creative, and easy to follow
