Anime/Manga Rec -Mushi-shi-
This series needs more love! It is, without a doubt, one of the best series I have had the pleasure of experiencing. And let me just say that the anime is definitely something to experience. The series follows a very episodic flow, meaning that a definitive timeline is never established. The story follows Ginko, a mushi-shi (mushi master) on his travels dispelling various infestations of mushi.
What are mushi, you ask?
Well, the series describes them as beings--masses of energy that linger in the space between life and death. They are neither living, nor dead...they simply exist. They can take on various forms, and interact with the living to some joyous and disastrous effects. At times, it is even possible for humans to become mushi, which is where I begin the discussion of the first episode.
Titled, "The Green Seat", the first episode of Mushi-shi is an absolute masterpiece of an introduction to this series. It is sombre and subtle, and it isn't until later episodes that the magnitude of what takes place in the first episode is fully recognized.
The episode begins with its introduction into the world of Mushi, narrated by a character named Nui, whom viewers will meet in episode 12 (it's a really good one!). It then, immediately shoots to the perspective of the mushi of the day. Ginko travels deep into the mountains, hoping to study a boy with the remarkable ability to create life through art. Literally, the images he draws with his left hand come to life. While staying on the estate, Ginko encounters a mushi in the form of a young girl. Once the grandmother (or at least a part of) of the young boy Ginko wishes to study, her spirit was split in half after a mushi ritual failed to complete.
What I loved about this particular beginning, is that right from the start, the series shows Ginko's place in the series. He is an outsider (and there is a reason for it too) and has been for most of his life. Even among fellow mushi-shi, Ginko is a bit of an anomaly. In actuality, there are very few glimpses into his past (there is also a reason for this), but the series carries its weight with the strange encounters that Ginko must deal with. Every mushi is fascinating in how it effects the living world. The first episode is also a good introduction because it is rather...happy...compared to most of the other episodes in the series. It offers a nice transition into the ones that follow.
Admittedly, the series takes a rather depressing turn in nearly every episode but it is still worth checking out at least once. For those interested, here's a link to the first episode. If anything, check it out for the music. The anime comes with an amazing soundtrack.
The Green Seat
The manga also contains more stories than the anime does, and more of Ginko's backstory to boot. I'd check it out just for that reason.
What are mushi, you ask?
Well, the series describes them as beings--masses of energy that linger in the space between life and death. They are neither living, nor dead...they simply exist. They can take on various forms, and interact with the living to some joyous and disastrous effects. At times, it is even possible for humans to become mushi, which is where I begin the discussion of the first episode.
Titled, "The Green Seat", the first episode of Mushi-shi is an absolute masterpiece of an introduction to this series. It is sombre and subtle, and it isn't until later episodes that the magnitude of what takes place in the first episode is fully recognized.
The episode begins with its introduction into the world of Mushi, narrated by a character named Nui, whom viewers will meet in episode 12 (it's a really good one!). It then, immediately shoots to the perspective of the mushi of the day. Ginko travels deep into the mountains, hoping to study a boy with the remarkable ability to create life through art. Literally, the images he draws with his left hand come to life. While staying on the estate, Ginko encounters a mushi in the form of a young girl. Once the grandmother (or at least a part of) of the young boy Ginko wishes to study, her spirit was split in half after a mushi ritual failed to complete.
What I loved about this particular beginning, is that right from the start, the series shows Ginko's place in the series. He is an outsider (and there is a reason for it too) and has been for most of his life. Even among fellow mushi-shi, Ginko is a bit of an anomaly. In actuality, there are very few glimpses into his past (there is also a reason for this), but the series carries its weight with the strange encounters that Ginko must deal with. Every mushi is fascinating in how it effects the living world. The first episode is also a good introduction because it is rather...happy...compared to most of the other episodes in the series. It offers a nice transition into the ones that follow.
Admittedly, the series takes a rather depressing turn in nearly every episode but it is still worth checking out at least once. For those interested, here's a link to the first episode. If anything, check it out for the music. The anime comes with an amazing soundtrack.
The Green Seat
The manga also contains more stories than the anime does, and more of Ginko's backstory to boot. I'd check it out just for that reason.