Mushi-Shi, Vols. 2-3

Distributed by FUNimation

Mushi, beings said to be life’s purest form, continue to haunt the beautiful forest-world of Mushi-Shi in the latest two volumes of this impossibly pretty anime series. And that, my friends, is a very good thing indeed.

The mandate has not changed at all since volume one. Ginko the vagrant Mushi Master continues his travels, helping everyday folks out with Mushi-related problems. As before, he seeks to impart knowledge, to ensure that human beings understand and coexist with the Mushi. And, again, his journey uncovers profound joy and deep sorrow, as he delves into the lives of the families affected by the Mushi. Misplaced loyalty, unconditional love, ghosts of the past; in the people he meets and attempts to help–and not always successfully–Ginko sees the best and worst sides of humanity.

Mushi-Shi is a series of individual short stories, each the focus of one episode. There is no overarching storyline, no build-up to some huge revelation, none of that. As with volume one, the order of most of the episodes in volumes two and three doesn’t really matter; so disconnected is each episode from the last that it’s difficult to tell just how much time passes between each story, or even if we’re seeing events in chronological order at all.

One episode does break the norm somewhat by presenting a flashback to Ginko’s more youthful days, and what precipitated his vagabond lifestyle. Interestingly, this is the only episode of the series thus far to actually feature Ginko as the protagonist, instead of simply a major character alongside someone else’s main. Though almost every episode is well-crafted, the flashback episode is especially enjoyable.

Mushi-Shi is an ironic anime. Through both Ginko and the Mushi, the show’s titular elements, we are shown the real subject of the series: families. It’s a clever method of storytelling: ultimately, the Mushi represents the unknown that we frail humans are so very afraid of, and Ginko’s wisdom is not always enough to fend off that fear or even prove it unfounded. The Mushi and the man who studies them are almost red herrings, a test to see if you, the viewer, can see what is really being told here. Every story is about family in some way, and, as most of you know, families are often the cause of much of life’s happiness and strife. It’s brilliant.

The only blemish in this otherwise masterfully written, animated, and scored cartoon is the occasional dip in animation quality present in some of the recent episodes. It is a very slight dip, but noticeable to the observant eye. But it is not enough to really matter. As I said in my review of volume one, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if more money went into a single episode of Mushi-Shi than into the majority of most other series you can think of. A slight decline in quality here and there does little to damage what is easily one of the most visually enticing animated series I have seen in the last five years.

Mushi-Shi is, and will likely remain, a very impressive series. Take some time out of your busy days to dedicate to this remarkable and genuinely emotional show. Unless you don’t give a lick about real storytelling, you shan’t regret it, I guarantee.