5. Mushishi
Anime is a very specific medium, if you think about it. When anime fans get together to talk shop, words like “shounen” and “bishoujo” fill our conversations. We have exact descriptions for most anything. It’s all compartmentalized.
Because of this, it’s easy to find the things we like. Like angsty mecha shows? I’ve got this season’s Gundam clone right here, my friend! Like bishoujo game adaptations? Check this month’s issue of Megami! Looking for a psychological thriller? Let’s see what Satoshi Kon is up to!
And it’s just as easy to avoid the things we don’t like. “Super Ninja Fighter Revolution Zwei? Screw that!” There’s convenience in knowing one’s preferences, of course, but should we become prisoner to our preferences…
I almost missed out on Mushishi. From the very beginning, I at least recognized it as a show worth watching. But fantasy? Not my bag, really. Artsy? I appreciate anime as art, but I’m plenty happy watching pedestrian dreck. Period piece? Sorry, but I don’t have a fetish for that sort of thing.
Of course, Mushishi is none of these. Or perhaps it is. Fantasy? In it’s own way. Artsy? In it’s own way. Period piece? In it’s own way. And it’s because Mushishi does things in its “own way” that it’s such a fascinating piece of work. It really only takes one episode to discover this. But you still have to sit down and watch that episode. Dismiss the show out of hand, and you might miss out on something wonderful. Dismiss any show out of hand, and you might miss out on something wonderful.
Mushishi clearly belongs in the “something wonderful” category.
Yeah, I nearly missed out on this myself. I just started watching it, and I’m stuck in a loop watching the first episode twice already. Looks like I’ll be watching it a third time. I just want to savior this series slowly over time, taking in every second of it.
And it only took the first episode to do this to me!
I was really glad my club screened Mushishi because I probably never would have gotten around to watching it on my own. I kept thinking “this is the sort of thing that usually puts me to sleep,” but it kept managing to hold my attention, which I thought was pretty impressive.
I only got around to watching Mushishi recently (a month or so ago) and loved every minute of it, it was a wonderful show and like Jeff said it was wonderful in its own way so it was really refreshing. I had always intended to watch it but other things kept me occupied and nearly missed out, so I’m glad I was able to watch this.
I’ve only seen one episode of the show. Mushishi is definitely an exception even in that one episode, but it’s an exception missing one important ingredient for exceptions to be compelling–there is no hook. I’m not certain how many people like exceptions just because they are exceptions, but I guess I’m not one of those people.
Alas, there’s a steady pool of fans for this all-in-all excellent piece. I’d also heartily recommend it.
I loved this series ever since the first episode and I’m so glad I’m one of the few that didn’t miss out on Mushishi. Every episode of this series relaxed me and calmed my spirit. I would say this series is more of a fantasy with a slice-of-life in each episode.
I remember when I was looking at series descriptions for anime about to come out, and Mushishi was one of them. But I was not interested at all. I was thinking how I didn’t want to watch some older than the usual lead guy in a world of bugs. Then a few weeks after Mushishi began… episode 3 or 4 I believe….
I watched the first episode and fell in love. Mushishi is truly one of those rare series that differ from the norm. It’s also the type you may not watch initially. But now it’s in my top list, especially for 2006.