Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1 - Region 1 DVD

Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. Vulgar and strange, they have inspired fear in humans since the dawn of time and have, over the ages, come to be known as "mushi." The stories of the Mushi and the people they effect are all linked together by a traveling Mushi-shi or "Mushi Master" who seeks rare Mushi sightings and uses his shaman like knowlede of Mushi to help the effected people . What are the Mushi and what do they want?


Lyrically rendered backgrounds, original character designs, and imaginative stories make Mushi-shi (2005) a standout series. Mushi are mysterious creatures that resemble plankton drawn in lines of light. They take many guises and represent "life in its purest form," according to Ginko, the Mushi-Shi or Mushi Master. Ginko wanders through Japan, studying Mushi and the ways they relate to humans. Some Mushi appear benevolent: they bring the drawings of the boy-artist Shinra to life, and save Io, a woman who was thrown into a raging river as a sacrifice to the water-gods. Others can cause blindness and deafness. But Mushi are neither good nor evil: they simply are. Based on a manga by Yuki Urushibara, Mushi-shi reflects the influence of Hayao Miyazaki, especially Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke. But it stands out as an intriguing work at a time when much of Japanese animation feels stuck in familiar ruts. (Rated TV 14: grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon