Mushishi: a realistic anime that will make you doubt the border between legends and reality

Last updated August 22, 2023 at 01:45 AM

Explore the magic of Mushishi, theanime which mixes fantasy, ecology and Japanese tradition. A captivating dive into legends and ancestral customs with poignant stories.

On one of the anime streaming sites that I love so much, I have kept a long list of favorite anime that I haven't watched yet.

Among these favorites, some really don't appeal to me because of the genre and category they belong to.

So why am I saving them to watch later?

The greatest animes that I have liked, are the ones that didn't appeal to me at all at first sight.

There are many anime that I have read a lot of positive reviews about but ultimately didn't like. With each episode of these kind of anime, I wonder if I will continue or not.

I know the otaku community doesn't like wasting time on anime so they apply the known rule of 3 episodes.

I call it the rule of 3!! <lol>

The principle is that after the first 3 episodes, if you're still not interested, you can drop it and move on.

You have the otaku at the rule of 3 and then you have another type of otaku. Those who watch and let themselves be tortured just to know how it will end.

I admit that I have known anime that were boring at first, but which gradually became very interesting and even incredibly intense.

I think I'm part of the latter type of otaku because right now I'm watching an anime that a lot of people are enjoying but I'm just continuing out of curiosity.

I assure you, it is real torture. I think I'm paying a price for my incurable inquiring mind.

To return to our topic!

I really didn't want to watch Mushishi, but from the first episode, then the second, then the 3rd…. you understand, the anime had all the ingredients to hook me.

I regretted having been so hesitant to watch Mushishi, a masterpiece that will probably never get old.

You can even recommend it to those who are not at all attracted to anime, it would be a good introduction for them into our world.

Mushishi: a realistic anime that will make you doubt the border between legends and reality

The anime immerses you in the legends, forests, ancestral laws and customs that you may recognize in some episodes of the series.

At the end I came to wonder if what I watched weren't true stories, the level of realism is so high.

Before we go in-depth, here is Mushishi's summary.

Synopsis

Combining fantasy, ecology and traditional Japan, Mushishi is a series of stories or tales around mushi, a primitive form of life and more elementary than all other forms of life.

These stories tell the adventures of Ginko, a mushi specialist, one of the few people who can see them.

Anime Reviews

You certainly felt it in my words in the following sections, I enjoyed the anime a lot.

Don't expect rational or calculated criticism because that's not my forte although I will (maybe try hard).

Mushishi is an anime each story is enough in one episode. The only arcs are included in special episodes and movies. We will come back!

What I love about anime!

What I liked a lot in the anime is first of all the stories. Each of them makes me pause and meditate on life…. serious !

The quality of the animation and the soundtrack of the Mushishi anime subconsciously immerse you in the forest and riverside universe of the anime.

There may be some special effects, but you may not notice them.

Other things that I liked even more, and that you probably won't like, is that not every story always has a happy ending.

It's really random and it really portrays the human being as he is. He does not always listen when warned.

The worst facet of being human is in anime Overlord, but that is not the subject of this post.

If you don't like sad stories, I can guarantee you that this anime is very bearable because I don't like tragedies either, but this one didn't make me shed a drop of tears.

Mushishi doesn't attach you too much to the characters and at the same time, attaches you enough to empathize with them.

Did I mention the music? I'll talk about it anyway!!

The musical tone of the anime is very relaxing and calm.

Mushishi favors the sound of the forest, rivers and animals much more than the others.

The soundtrack is in perfect harmony with the environment and the scenes in which the events take place.

Anime mushishi makes you sit back, relax, and relax as it tells you its stories.

What I did not like

Anime can be disgusting at times!! Not all the episodes, but some parts like the manifestation of diseases on humans, the mushis intertwined with each other etc etc…

If you are “too modern”, anime probably wouldn't have the same positive effect as with me who often heard mystical tales in the villages of my country.

I find this universe a lot with Mushishi and I find some tales and legends from home in the anime.

I highly recommend the Mushishi anime and especially to watch it with family or with grandparents.

They will thank you.

There are several orders by which to view the anime, I elaborate in the next section.

In what order to see Mushishi

There are several series, special episodes and even some anime movies (if I can call it that. ).

What's good is that they are all canon (original scenario).

It's important to see them in order because I'm a fan of chronological order and also, some references to people appear here and there.

If you don't know them, you will miss a few things.

Here is the chronological order of the Mushishi anime.

• Mushishi (26 eps)
• Mushishi Special: Hihamukage
• Mushishi Zoku Shou (or Mushishi The Next Passage, 10 eps)
• Mushishi Zoku Shou Special (2 eps)
• Mushishi Zoku Shou 2nd Season. (10 eps)
• Mushishi Special: Suzu no Shizuku.

Detailed Info about Mushishi Anime

Genres: Adventure Story, Iyashikei, Supernatural Fiction, Slice of Life

Manga

Editorial target: seinen

Author: Yuki Urushibara

Initial release date: 1999 – 2008

volumes: 10

japanese anime

Director: Hiroshi Nagahama

Animation studio: Artland

1st broadcast: October 22, 2005 – June 18, 2006

Episodes: 26