Mushishi: Hihamukage

Nearly a decade later, the anime industry has seen a sequel to the beloved Mushishi adaptation. It's rare enough for any anime to receive a sequel, but after eight long years? Did anyone expect there to ever be more Ginko on-screen? I certainly did not. But it seems Ginko's absence has not made him any more weary than before.

Mushishi: Hihamukage, the first instalment in a larger second season, details Ginko's experience in a village approaching disaster. The sun in the surrounding area has been been blocked by a Mushi, creating eternal darkness and a scarcity of food. With the winter around the corner, total ... annihilation seems inevitable.

Making matters worse, one of the village's children has run away from home. As her disease makes any source of sunlight hazardous to her skin, she is kept inside by her father for protection. Always. She is not allowed to leave the house-- not even to interact with other villagers. She resents her father for keeping her locked in a personal hell, and she resents her sister, too, for living the life she could not have. When the sun is mysteriously blocked, she takes the opportunity to finally see the outside world. She does not care if her family is worried. She simply wants to live.

Hihamukage is immediately recognisable for its tense and melancholic atmosphere. It is not the story itself that stands out (although it's just fine), but the mood. Mushishi has always been a series about mood. It is less about making you ponder and more about making you feel. It achieves this through subtlety rather than through ghosts and monsters and long walks through abandoned hospitals. Ginko and those he meets behave rationally. They are flawed people, certainly, but their motives are always justified. It does not need axe-wielding murderers and sharp, piercing sounds to unsettle you. Mushishi holds itself to a higher standard than that.

If there is anything to take issue with, it might be the stubbornness of the run-away girl. She is not a likeable character in the least. She treats her father like garbage without ever trying to understand his motives (what else could he do in this situation?) and throws insults upon her sister merely out of childish jealousy. But isn't that how it should be? She's a young, broken child who is afraid of the world around her. She doesn't know how to behave like a normal girl because she was never raised as one. She can't pretend to be happy when she is clearly hurting inside. The characters in Mushishi are designed as humans rather than as plot-devices. If there is any character to be given more than a moment of screen-time, they will become fully developed, three-dimensional characters by the end of the episode. Mushishi does not add anything without meaning. It is focused in its simplicity.

What about Ginko, then? He is as he's always been. He tells people directly when they are being foolish and states the facts without regard for the listener's emotions. He is kind-hearted but not motivated solely out of a kind-heartedness. Dealing with Mushi is Ginko's job-- not an altruistic desire to better the lives of everyone he meets. There is a lot of maturity to Ginko's character, especially when the majority of anime protagonists fall into the dichotomy of either 'selfless saint' or 'anti-hero'.

Hihamukage is visually appealing. It may not have the budget of a big film, but it never really needed such a thing in the first place. The background artwork is beautiful even in the apocalyptic darkness and the eclipse looks absolutely terrifying. The only major problem with the visuals is that there many scenes with the characters' faces drawn blank. It seems very out-of-place for an anime that pays so much attention to detail. There is also a lack of animation, with regular panning shots and still-frames, but perhaps that is simply a way to intensify the mood.

Mushishi is known for its stellar soundtrack, and Hihamukage does not disappoint in that regard. There's a very mystical, perhaps even dream-like quality to the music. It is also only used during the important scenes (with ambient sound or silence occupying the rest), which serves well to make each track effective and meaningful. Many times an anime will have either no noticeable music or too much of it, with loud, turgid orchestral pieces stealing the audience's attention (Shingeki no Kyojin, I'm looking at you). Mushishi strikes a nice balance. It is confident with itself but never pompous.

Any fan of Mushishi will find plenty to enjoy with Hihamukage. But how does it compare to the main series? Is it better? Is it worse? ... Does it even really matter? There's enough satisfaction in simply seeing Ginko's adventures once again. A protagonist so well-written could make even the mediocre seem brilliant. If Hihamukage is any indication, Ginko's return looks to be a strong one.

Do not take anything for granted, not even life itself. This simple yet profound message is splendidly conveyed by another episode of the calming drug called "Mushishi". What an adventure this series has been; watching Ginko investigating various mushi species in a clever but always comprehensible way, not only curing every human in need of help whatever their origin, but also depicting the essence of life.

An anime not for everyone, to say the least, but certainly for anyone who wants to shed light on human mysteries. Ginko as our protagonist, being the most sincere and suave guy you could probably imagine, doesn't miss a chance ... to research the nature of the mushi. In this special "Hihamukage", he comes into a village which suffers from an unnatural darkness caused by an eternal eclipse. How is this possible and are there any mushi involved in this perilous situation caused by the missing sunlight? Ginko knows that you can't take anything for granted, therefore he has to do two things: convince the people of his earnest actions and restore the state being thought of as granted, where there's enough sunlight for life to flourish. The story is as innovative as it has been the whole series along, and the mystery stays on a level for itself.
It's also a delight to see that the side characters aren't only there for being treated, but in the case of two quite different sisters also illustrate the correlation between humans and mushi and therefore nature itself.

Mushishi takes place inside lush landscapes full of life and bizarre sounds. Upon entering a calm state, the viewer will find themselves immersing right into this vast universe where humans live an uncomplicated yet fierce life. The smooth soundtrack expresses everything it is supposed to and invigorates the general mood in a positive way.

If you are a fan of the series, there's no reason to miss this beautiful special. Ginko hasn't lost anything of his awesomeness and the world is shown as mysterious as ever. Definitely a pleasure for the senses and a formidable way to promote the upcoming sequel.

2006 marks the last airing of Mushishi, a small journey within a rural Shinto-inspired Japan. It is, in essence, about harmony—emanating the struggle for humans to find balance in their lives and to attain kiyome ("purity") among the cycles of nature. Prospects of a sequel have been teased for a while now, and as time passed, hopeful fans were beginning to lose faith. Now, 8 years later, studio Artland and director Hiroshi Nagahama relaunch the series with a one hour-long Mushishi episode, entitled "Hihamukage" ("Sun-Eating Shade").

Hihamukage is in tone with the original season, with a spiritual phenomenon kindling discord, followed by a diagnosis by the ... mushishi Ginko, and then character-driven drama bringing about resolution. In this case, the mushi "hihamukage" is cosmic in scale, blocking all sunlight and causing crops to wither and die. Hiyori, a young albino girl unable to stay under sunlight, must come to terms with her condition in order to save the village. The format is a consistent model that heaves a rhythm to Mushishi's plot: we can recognize and predict the story's end, but we always treasure the means by which Mushishi arrives there.

Mushishi is based all on naturality; there is nothing malicious, nothing violent or overtly sinister, nothing but the link between humans and nature as they coalesce and work in tandem to solve conflicts. Villagers are depicted to be unperturbed by all this (at first), routinely harvesting farmlands and going about their daily lives. It is by a change's subtle effect that these activities come undone, having a much larger impact than if it were spurred spontaneously. The eerie yet serene aura of the hihamukage awes both character and viewer. Characters from previous episodes witness the eclipse as well, making a discreet cameo which will not fail to please the fans.

As the sun is blocked by the hihamukage, Hiyori realizes her newfound freedom to waltz around the village without a worry for her condition. Simply walking around, crossing the river, and splashing water as fish pass is exciting for Hiyori. There is something to be said about the joy of freedoms we take for granted. However, she too realizes this about the sun; it is vital to the well-being of the villagers and her family despite her protest for others to feel her suffering. Hiyori must learn to accept this fact, and the drama while she confronts it is nothing short of exemplary.

Part of what lends to this is the atmosphere, ranging from its lagging camera, its setting, its sounds, and its colors. Void silence assaults key moments in order to render them more impactful. Strings, loosely structured "clinks" and "clanks", place emphasis not on the sound or the visuals, but the moment of the scene, to immerse you into Mushishi's rich world and observe it in the eyes of the characters. The landscapes are resplendent in sea-green grasses, but they are laid bare onto the blander browns of the farmlands and villages when the hihamukage ruins the land. The lighting is suggestive; visual actions such as Hiyori lying in darkness remain symbolic of an inner turmoil. Florescent white flowers make the climax all that more meaningful when the villagers destroy them, shoveling their way to the hihamukage's root. Its exposure to the sun removes the darkness once again.

The manner in which Mushishi explicates its lush universe is also in tune with its storytelling: calm, unhurried inspection of the initial surroundings, followed by an omen that marks misfortune. Mystical and strange-looking, the mushi are inscrutable creatures bearing a likeness to folkloristic legends. Part of what makes the mushi so intriguing are all the diverse habitats that they live in. There is something familiar about every legend and every story, but they are different in such a way that they shock you; they confound you, and most of all, they inspire you.

Among other purposes, Hihamukage is an excellent addition to garner excitement for the new season. Artland and Nagahama have preserved the essential aspects of the series, and fans—whether old or new—will be astonished by the work's subtleties. Mushishi's relaunch will not be one to forget.

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This review is written by members of the club Quiet Discourse. We thank the writers nil- and Stellio, as well as the editors lpf and RMNDolphy.

Watching Mushishi is not just a mystifying experience but one that you will remember by for its atmosphere of exquisite presentation. Through understanding, Mushishi presents problems but also solutions in which main protagonist Ginko solves throughout his journey. As a journeyman, Ginko takes on the road once again in this special OVA that chronicles his expedition.

Mushishi Special: Hihamukage is a special OVA that adapts a two-chapter manga released in the Afternoon magazine. The OVA itself runs for about 45 minutes and once again takes on that mystifying theme with an elegant atmosphere. If memory serves correctly, the last time Mushishi aired on TV was over ... 7 years ago. There was no mention of a possible sequel or continuation of the series in any way or form. However, now fans have hope for what’s to come. Mushishi OVA returns to remind fans of the manga and anime just why the show holds itself together and earned praise among its community.

The storytelling format of Mushishi is similar to its original. Most episodes stands out as standalone but often incorporates a variety of themes to tie itself together. These blends in both humanity and supernatural to fuse them together as a presentation of rarity. By rarity, I mean it as a tales involving ‘mushi’, supernatural beings as physical manifestations that causes issues in its perspective world. While most folktales involving such a style of storytelling focuses on defeating them through violence or warfare, Mushishi executes it in a way that is unique with its style.

Ginko returns as a main male protagonist and a driving force of each story from the original series. He may look normal but he possesses the abnormal ability to see mushi. Their presence remains invisible to humans but Ginko is able to not only see them but understand them on a deeper level. And rather than trying to directly engage them in a form of combat or meaningless violence, Ginko often solves them with his own intellect. By understanding the problem Ginko is able to form solutions to achieve the best results. The problem in this OVA involves an eclipse taking place in a village that threatens to cover its land in darkness. It’s a problem that Ginko and its inhabitants must solve. And unsurprisingly enough, mushi is involved as the core of its conflict. As conflicts in Mushishi often includes supernatural themes, it’s interesting to see how humans deal with the otherworldly. Characters collaborate with unity and deals with this in a style that is naturalistic and refreshing.

As natural as the show itself can be, it can be dragged in some ways with its dialogues. The tone itself still retains its natural elegance however. On another note, it’s also refreshing to see a reoccurrence of other characters from the original season. It brings back that feeling of nostalgia from over half a decade ago when the show was on air. It’s not just that however but also the fact that Ginko’s character blends a line between fiction and reality that forms a connection with its viewers. The problem itself seems otherworldly but can also feel so real with the humans being part of the story. Narratives aren’t easy to tell with elegance but Mushishi has proved that otherwise with its feelings expressed in human ways. These include but are not limited to frustration, angry, envy, sorrow, and relief. It ties the foundation of its franchise together and formulates an experience like no other.

The artwork is majestic with a natural feeling to its presentation. The landscape is lavish with rich details to express nature in both a real and fictional way with the coloring. There’s a sense of style that also brings Mushishi to life with the way character moves and feels. Ginko himself is designed to look like how he was before from the original series with his trademark silver hair and indifferent outlook. The eclipse itself symbolizes a feeling of despair but also also hope as prospered by its rays of light.

Music and soundtrack wise, Mushishi retains its melodramatic tone. The OST is smooth and maintains its posture in a structure of beauty. Personification is well symbolized thanks to its presentation with the soundtrack as well because of its nature. The feelings of various characters and their dialogues spoken also gives off a variety of feelings. Ginko’s voice retains his calm nature and indifferent manner.

What Mushishi brings is not just a narrative of dealing with problems but reflecting its imagery with its unique style. It lusters with feelings but also connects human and supernatural problems together in a sense of appreciation. I appreciated this OVA as a way of reminding fans that Mushishi is still holding itself strong. With the upcoming new sequel announced to air in the Spring of 2014, Mushishi will show the world once again why it deserves its recognition.

There's a perpetual sense of wisdom that can be attributed to the series called Mushishi. Each story is unique and offers a diverse spectrum of intricate stories. These stories often portray something similar to life lessons and are beautiful representations of teaching tolerance through a creative medium of animation. Despite this feeling of attaining an essence of enlightenment and understanding, it's also quite difficult to express what the actual lessons are that you've learned. That's the beauty of Mushishi.

The story of Mushishi Special: Hihamukage holds an almost identical feeling to that of the first season of the series. It's calm, likeably strange, intelligent, and intriguing. ... It holds a lot of ambiguity and showcases what a mysterious, yet creative species Mushi are. The episode progresses at a fairly slow pace, but it's hard to notice if you're like me and captivated by how serene this series is. Basically, this special simply feels like a longer than usual episode. One thing I will say is that this particular special didn't really wow me. What do I mean by that? I mean that based on the nature of an episodic series, some episodes will be more enjoyable than others and this one wasn't the best nor worst. There were episodes in season one of Mushishi that left a lasting impression and I didn't quite feel that here. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the special very much and I'm excited for the second season, but I didn't think this was the best story that Mushishi has had to offer thus far. Just my two cents.

The art and animation of Mushishi is still as wonderful as its preceding season. Artland has a unique sense of animation style and there's a certain beauty in its distinctiveness. The conjoined world of Mushi and Humans make the setting interesting in itself. The backdrops and environment in general were vibrant and colorful. Everything had detail and seemed full of life, which was great. I really enjoy the sound criteria of Mushishi. It's very tame and somewhat mysterious which compliments the vibe of the series. Art, animation, and sound were spot on and I can't think of anything negative to say.

The main character, and only real consistent appearance in Mushishi, is Ginko. Since you're reading this review and have watched the first season presumably, I can assume you know what kind of character Ginko is. With that being said, I'd like to touch upon the supporting characters of the special. The characters in this particular story were fair and do their part in presenting the theme of the episode well. There's also cameos (notably Adashino and Tanyuu) from the side characters of the first season which was a very sweet, nostalgic touch.

If you enjoyed Mushishi, you'll likely enjoy the special as well.

Let me first remind you what I thought of the TV series. I adored it. The subtle storyline, the calming feeling, the idea of small creatures that are mostly misunderstood taking roles in peoples lives. I love everything about it. It doesn’t go as surprising then that I really love this special then, right? It just felt like a long episode from the TV series. The storyline and soft music was a perfect match to it.

The story followed what happened when an eclipse happened in this strange world of Mushi. Of course the Mushi are misunderstood so when one ends up cutting off the sun ... for three or four days, it makes life hell for everyone in the town that can’t get crops to grow. Well, I could say everyone but there was one person that was happy just to go outside finally. She had a condition similar to what is called Solar Urticaria, being allergic to the sun. It’s a very rare condition that actually does exsit but in this case, she can’t because of a Mushi. I know right, shocking that it’s because of a mushi in a show all about mushi. Ok I’m kidding but the story of her does become a rather good life lesson about taking things for granted. And I think that’s what I love about this show. It’s about little life lessons that we wouldn’t learn about until someone shows us. In this case, a fictional setting with real life troubles. Whether you want to blame mushi, god, or even your pet, the main question is how do you deal with it? Since you can’t do anything about god or mushi, are you just going to sit and whine about it? If you blame your pet, what has the animal done to deserve the blame? And what will you do about it? These things are stuff I notice while watching such a thoughtful anime like this.

The art style was beautiful, the same as the original. It was a bit different to normal anime out there with their large eyes and comical bright colors. They went more for soft colors. The only thing vibrant was the lush colors of the forest, the soft glows of some almost magical plants and of course the Mushi.

Now this wasn’t dubbed so I had to go for subtitles but I didn’t really care. The way they spoke reminded me much of the Dub. It was soft voices and I was so engrossed in the story that it didn’t bother me non that it was a different language then my own. In fact, I didn’t really have to stop the show to read the subtitles because I could get the basic just of what they were saying. Not saying I didn’t read them but when they went to fast for me, I could get the basics.

The new special was a shock to us all. Mushishi is, well let’s be blunt, an older series – and being “old” (returning after almost nine years have passed) it has all the charms of seeing an old friend after a long time. Or falling into your bed after being away from home a long time. The world is nebulous, the time frame uncertain, but it is unquestionable blend of Japanese folktales, pre-industrialization Japan and modern world technology. Like the word itself, viewers can suspend belief when it comes to the supernatural mushi. And that belief has a kind of subtle magic. For fans, the ... re-visitation of the series was good one, a nice segaway for the new season coming out in 2014. Additionally, there are some "Easter eggs" to please return watchers.

The plot, like the episodes before it, can be described simplistically. Ginko has to save the day, and he ends up doing so. The “deep-ness” of the plot though has never been what Mushishi was about. Rather it was always the characters and the focus that, though the Mushi initially appear as harbingers of doom, their relationship with humans is symbiotic. They are merely a mirror reflecting back at us. To classify them as monsters misses the entire point. The show never takes a accusatory tone for the havoc that mushi can wreck, and the same point is articulated beautifully in this special. There is one particularly lovely scene where Ginko, in his understated way, talks to a young girl about she is similar to the mushi. It’s not to be missed – it’s touching, emotional and thought provoking. At moments like this, the special really shines.

The length is somewhat of a detriment to the show because of additional subplots which weaken the air of relative simplicity that the anime had, and undermined the potential for melancholic feelings. The studio crammed too much in to allow the creativity of previous episodes, and the lingering camera shots of scenery that developed the mood in the anime. Unlike other storylines that were thought provoking, the message of this special was less subtle – more like being hit in the face with a sledge hammer. It wasn't the strongest writing for certain.

The characters and their seiyuu are what make this. The use of child actors gave authenticity. Ginko is as enigmatic as ever, and undisputedly the star of the show though he never dominates screen time; not much development is done on his character in the special. But he seems like a man without a particular time and place, calm and helpful, slow paced. He has a type of quiet charisma, just like the show itself. There are no gimmicks, no flashy action sequences, but rather characterization and relationships that bloom with the passing of time. The special has impact because of the emotions it evokes, not the plot or the characters in their own right.

The animation is, in particular, a tad bit disappointing. It appears almost identical to the show even though it’s nine years later and suffers consistently from quality issues throughout. There are some very noticeable “animation bumps,” unnatural movements made by humans, lip-synching issues and plainly noticeable CGI. It also suffers from a lack of variation in character design; at times, characters are indistinguishable from each other. Some scenes can be incredible beautiful and painterly with subdued, watercolor-esque colors.

It has some absolutely stunning songs that help express the feel and the tone of the story. Traditional instruments are used to great effect, and frequent repetition of a few songs over and over help unite the story. The music is haunting, beautiful and eerie – everything it needed to be. I can’t imagine the story having a similar effect without it.

This "special" is hard to review - why? Because there are many issues, but it's very charming. It hearkens back to the "golden age" of anime where studio's took risks and were inventive. It was about pushing boundaries and not all about the money. Having Mushishi back is like a return of those ideals - just let the music, animation and atmosphere flow - it's as one reviewer put it "a calming drug." It may not be prefect but is relaxing and simplistic. It's the type of thing that anime and viewers occasionally need. It's nothing new but enjoyable, a feeling to bask in long after it's over.

Now I loved mushishi.I thought it was clever,emotional,beautiful and philosophical all at the same time. This series came out in 2005 and now that in 2014 a special and a second season were announced I was very excited. It took me a while to get to but I am finally starting my crusade to watch all of the fairly new mushishi content we have been presented with.But enough of my rambling now onto the review.Mushishi Special: Hihamukage is a 45 minute special and is the kickstart to the slew of mushishi content to grace us in 2014. So what makes this special so amazing? Well ... it starts with what made mushishi amazing and is condensed into a 45 minute special. The story is great with Ginko up to his same antics, the side characters are still well developed despite there short appearance, the plot still has good depth and intrigue, the themes are smartly intergrated to make the show more special, and the art and music are both great. There isn't much more to say, if you loved mushishi like I did watch it. It's 45 minutes there's no reason not to. And now I'm very excited to watch both seasons of zoku shou and the movie. But for real in conclusion if you loved mushishi and want to get into all of the new content like I do,I recommend starting with this one,because it truly captures the same atmosphere and wonder as it did almost a decade ago.

Mushishi Special: Hihamukage is the continuation of the the original series of Mushishi, serving as an interlude between the original and later seasons.
It follows Ginko as he tries to solve a disastrous event where a mushi blocks the sun. It came out several years after the original, surprising many.
The art style remains true to the original and the soundtrack is as astoundingly beautiful as ever.
As the original show followed a very episodic structure you can watch this without much trouble, even if you didn't watch the original series, but some of the characters lose some background and introduction.
I would say that anyone who ... liked the show will most likely like this as well.
Enjoy!

A special masterpiece. A special episode of a masterpiece.

Almost a decade after the last episode of Mushishi season 1 back in 2006, this special episode relieved the thirst of Mushishi's fans. Luckily for me, I didn't have to wait long for this special episode, because I just finished binge watching Mushishi season 1 yesterday.

What makes this special episode special is the appearance of supporting characters from the season 1. Besides Ginko, Adashino, and Tenyuu, all supporting characters from almost each episode made brief appearance during the solar eclipse.

Yes, this story is taking place during solar eclipse. I assume this special episode happened few years after ... season 1. Although I'm not sure, but it seems like a brief moment had passed from the hint of the supporting characters.

Hihami, a mushi that appears during solar eclipse phenomenon. Solar eclipse itself can trigger the mushi activity. Therefore, in this special episode Ginko, with the help of Tanyuu's prediction, trying to prevent any unwanted tragedy caused by Hihami. Ginko told Adashino about the possibility mushi incident that happened during the solar eclipse, while Ginko was visiting certain village where Hihami might appear.

As Tanyuu predicted, the Hihami appeared on the village that Ginko visited. But the main focus of the special episode is actually about twin sisters and their father. Hinata and Hiyori, twins that were born with different appearances caused by Tsukihami, mushi that appeared during lunar eclipse.

Due to Tsukihami, Hiyori was affected by the Hihami as well. While Ginko was trying to find a way to solve the Hihami, the family of three had to struggle with the side effect Hihami made on their family. They had to help Ginko with Hihami, before they might lose a family member forever.

The moral value from this movie is "don't take anything for granted". Because some thing can be taken away from you without prior notice. Some thing or some one that you think might be there forever, could be disappear whenever.

Thinking back of Mushishi season 1, I thought this anime could never get any better.. But alas, even a masterpiece can get even better. The story, the art, the sound, the character, and the enjoyment--it's 10 out of 10.

In my opinion, this movie can be stand alone or even prequel of season 1. It doesn't effecting or related to season 1 in certain way, except the hint of supporting characters during the solar eclipse, which makes me want to watch season 1 all over again.

Alright, here we go. This'll be a short one, but let's talk about this special episode of Mushishi.

Visually, this special has the same charm as the main series: simple yet enchanting. The music, while not something I paid much attention to this go-round, only enhanced the feeling of grandeur that's always been in Mushishi.

This particular installment brought with it some fascinating Mushishi and equally fascinating characters. The story here was crafted beautifully as the story stood on its own while also bringing all the past Mushishi stories together. As always, this individually story was written with such uniqueness and vitality that it allowed for ... it to stand out amongst the rest of the Mushishi franchise. I will say that this story didn't appeal to me personally as much as some others have, and that's more than likely because the characters that were used, while interesting, didn't spark a lot empathy in me. I'm used to communicating with these characters through their experiences with the mushi, but this specific episode didn't quite match that expectation as well as it could have.

However, the important thing is that Ginko's journey with the mushi and those around him still makes me see magic in the world, and I can't wait to see where he'll go next.

I'd break this one up, but honestly, my reviews of each season/OVA are pretty consistent.

It's the story of a mushi master named Ginko who goes around investigating and solving mushi-related incidents. Mushi are a class of life that is entirely distinct from others, only visible to a select few and yet capable of interacting with the world in various ways. I'd say "often to the detriment of humans," but that's really just what we see: the places and ways things go out of whack, often due to changes in how humans interact with their environment. But it's not an environmentalist message, either. Humans, like the ... mushi themselves, are just trying to survive and thrive. They often simply don't know about the mushi they're dealing with, or even if they do, they don't understand it well enough to deal with the problem.

As for the series, the episodes are largely independent of one another (that becomes less true as the series goes on, but it's still mostly accurate even for some episodes towards the end) and, much as there's some building of knowledge for the MC over the course of the series, there's no real order to the events. Every village he goes to is a unique experience with a unique mushi and distinct people. That limits the amount of depth they can give the characters he meets and the circumstances he faces, since they're all only 20+ minutes long. That being said, for a series that does this, it's truly incredible. The worldbuilding is fantastic, the transient nature of its protagonist lending itself to highly varied adventures that build it out, and while each mushi may only get a bit of explanation, you could accurately build out a volume of materials on the ones Ginko sees throughout the series.

There are few recurring characters, for whom we do get some more character building, but that's not really a problem, nor is the relatively weak character designs (they get better as the series progresses, but I wouldn't say that the character models have a lot of contrast from one another for the most part) that make everyone look pretty similar. It's not about them, at least not chiefly. It's about the mushi, how they interact with the world around them, and how the various mushi masters we meet along the way interact with them. Ginko is distinct in this regard, seeing them as natural forces that aren't running contrary to human desires, requiring substantial intervention or even killing, but rather entities to be respected and cherished in their own way. His ways to work with them are almost solely naturalistic, and its through his unique perspective that he can sometimes run circles around other mushi masters who seek to control the mushi through more human-derived interventions.

It's not a perfect series to be sure - doing this kind of episodic structure means that each episode stands largely on its own and is limited in its build and payoff - but it's a vibe in a way that other series I've seen just can't match. The whole direction of the series really matches its MC in a way that I've rarely seen from others. He's still enigmatic in many ways, but despite having only limited peeks into his background, Ginko's context clues give us a great understanding of who we follow throughout. And despite my issues with the pacing of some episodes, I think it's incredible how well the series manages to encapsulate whole arcs into roughly 22 minutes of screen time, often saving its more complex stories for the longer OVAs. That's impressive. I can think of few series that pull that off quite so well.

For me, this series evokes similar feelings to Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, and despite being very different, it gets a similar score.

Season 1 of Mushishi was beyond fantastic and going by the release order
You will watch this next like I just did

This special just like season 1 delivers greatly in storytelling, music, animation and atmosphere
but The Shadow that Devours the Sun improves on the first season in terms of scale
and when compared to the first season this special improves not only on the animation but most importantly character design which was kind of lackluster in season 1

I can't talk about much else because it really is best to see for yourself
Mushishi:The Shadow that Devours the Sun is in my book a masterpiece

Mushishi: Hihamukage

Contrary to my expectations, this season of Mushishi surprised me considerably.

Despite everything, the Ova possessed one of the more interesting approaches in this story. With equally one of the more interesting Mushi.

Honestly, this episode didn't feel like 40 minutes, it flew by relatively quickly. Whereas some normal episodes feel like half a day.


The plot about the eclipse and the two sisters had a certain charm, especially with the allegorical representation of the event. This was also narratively one of the smarter episodes, in terms of morality and depth as well.
...

Predominantly, however, nothing happened in this Ova, it was only character-driven and the Mushi was already almost trivial. Even if the plot had to do with his influence, this was mostly character drama.

Enjoyment 6