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ファイト／ステイナイト 
December 20, 2006 | 
13 Comments
Wow, one year later and I finally completed this series. I'm sorry for the long delay but I'm kind of reluctant to watch this because I know that once I watch it, there'd be no more episode left. I suppose there is always the manga but seeing the series animated feels different. I think this is one of those shows which benefits from colors and movements. It's also rare to see a series which can produce interesting discussions after each episode but Mushishi manages to do this on a consistent basis despite its episodic nature. I really hope that there will be a second season somewhere down the line but unfortunately the majority of the stories from the manga have been re-told in the anime. I'm just glad that the anime has been well-produced right through the end. I really should buy the rest of the special edition DVD before they're sold out.
December 19, 2006 | 32 Comments
It's nice to see another powerful episode after some rather lacklustre ones that preceeded this one. Although I enjoyed all episodes in the series, I find that my favourite episodes are always the ones where the Mushi's creep factor is quite high. This includes episode 4 (Imenonoawai), 12 (Tokogami), 17 (Uro-san), 21 (Watahaki), and this one (Ganpuku). This episode also contains a much richer color pallette for some reason. Normally a Mushishi episode is heavy on one principal color (ie. Green for Spring, White in Winter, etc). In this one, however, the animators use various colours to illustrate the difference between those with normal sight and those without one. Come to think of it, have we seen how the world looks through Ginko's eyes? Especially considering the fact that one of his eyes was eaten by Tokogami.
October 28, 2006 | 13 Comments
If you haven't seen it before, there is actually a trailer for the live-action Mushishi available at the official website. You can find this by clicking on the blue button on the right hand side of the screen and choosing the desired size. Unfortunately the quality is not that great but at least you can see a few snipets from the film, which includes the boy with the horn and Ginko facing off against the sound Mushi. I took a few screenshots from the trailer and put them at the end of this post if you're interested to see them. I've read some mixed reviews about the film and not too surprised about it since I don't think a live-action series can replicate the feeling that the manga and the anime managed to capture thus far. It's unfortunate since I was really excited about the live-action film. I'm just hoping the story is not radically changed.
September 7, 2006 | 8 Comments
Visually, this is one impressive episode. The shot of the village covered in snow and rust looks breathtaking. Although if I think about it, it's kind of creepy as well since it reminds me of Silent Hill's alternate dimension. In fact, the theme of 'rust' presents in almost every single element in the episode from the voice of a character to the effect that the Mushi has on a living creature. Unfortunately, the story feels a bit weak this time around. This is probably the 3rd story to use the theme of alienation of someone who is different. I probably wouldn't mind seeing the same theme again if there is a twist to it. Unfortunately, the story doesn't offer any surprising revelation. There is, however, one thematic repetition that I like and that is the remainder that in most cases, Mushi and humans can't live together in symbiotic manner.
Cinempire, a French-based movie site has posted several shots of Mushishi Live Action movie. The first thing that surprised me is the revelation that Aoi Yuu, the actress who plays live action Hanamoto Hagumi in Honey and Clover movie, gets to play the role of Tanyuu, the girl with the Mushi inside her body. The rest of the cast include Joe Odagiri, who plays Ginko, and Esumi Makiko, who I assume will play the role of Nui. At a first glance, Joe Odagiri looks quite strange as Ginko. I think the white hair doesn't suit him that well. Oh well, I hope he'll look a bit better on screen and can act well. The rest of the cast don't look too bad, I suppose. Although I thought Kourou (the guy who wants to find rainbow serpent) is supposed to be younger-looking than the guy they end up casting for the film. Anyway, for more stills, go to Cinempire's site. Mushishi Live Action is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) premiere this September at the Venice Film Festival.
Source: Cinempire, Twitch Film
I am so tired. I foolishly went all the way from Tokyo to Osaka even though I knew that tourist places would have been closed by the time I arrived, which was around 4.30 (it took a good 3 hours to go from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka using the "Hikari Super Express" and another 3-4 minutes from Shin-Osaka to Osaka). Thankfully I brought my laptop and the thing actually had enough battery power to watch this episode and write the majority of this entry while on the train. Oh well, now I can understand why Ginko pouts when he found out that no one in the destination is willing to help him. It sucks when you travel far and you don't get to do what you want to do. But at least he's got girls offering a place to stay.
It's nice to see this creepy episode after the rather tame episode 20. It helps that the Mushi looks rather disgusting this time around thanks to its green colour and slug-like movement. This episode also drives down the fact that some Mushi are actually parasites that feed on its host and can pose a threat to those that are in its way. Animation-wise, this is still as good as the rest of the series. With only 5 more episodes to go, however, I'll really miss this series once it's over. It's rare to find a series that has a combination of good script, acting, and animation. It's even harder to find one that can actually maintain these qualities over the course of the season. So far, Mushishi writers and animators have done a good job on the series that I hope they'll be working on another interesting series after they wrapped up the production of this one.
This episode highlights some of the differences that set this series apart from other anime series that are currently on air. This is particularly true of the voice actresses, who have the tendency to use adult voice while lending said voice to a character. This is quite a rarity in anime, where voice actresses often project a little girl's voice even when the character is supposed to be an adult. In Mushishi, however, the only time a character sounds like a child is when the character is of that age as well. As a result, it's quite easy to distinguish which character is supposed to be younger or older just by listening to the voice track. Anyway, it's nice to know that after this episode there are still 6 more to go. It would be nice, however, if the series is granted a second season. Currently there are at least 7 volumes of the manga and out of those 7, only around 4 have been adapted for the anime. That means there are sufficient material to make 12 new anime episodes.
This particular story actually shares a lot of similarity with episode 14. Unlike the other episode, however, this one feels a bit more lighthearted and not as sinister in terms of mood. This, however, means that the storyline is not as ambiguous as the other one. It's quite easy to know which side to root for this time around. There is also an unintentionally funny scene here, one which gave the literal impression of Gone with the Wind. In general, the episode doesn't have the same impact as the others that preceeded it. On the upside, this is one of those rare episodes that actually ends on a happy note. So this will be a pleasant change for those who's been waiting for a happy ending. Anyway, this week marks the return of the series on television. I'll try to finish episode 20 as soon as possible so I can move on to the new weekly episodes.
To be honest, in comparison to other episodes, this seems like a relatively weak episode. It does not help that the main character is not a particularly sympathetic one. The subject at hand also involves little interference from the Mushi to the point that at first I was wondering when the Mushi will make an appearance. On the upside, the emotional pay-off halfway through the episode is quite good. It's also nice to see the Ginko's manipulative personality in this episode. Even though in general the guy is a nice person, he has to support his travelling in one way or another. Selling Mushi-related items, however, is his main source of income. As a result, more often than not, he can come off as someone who'll do anything to sell something including lying to the potential seller or buyer.
It never ceases to amaze me as to how interesting and re-watchable every episode in this series has been so far. I think this is because the basic idea of the Mushi world is rich and can be explored in many different ways. This time around, the focus is not so much on delivering thinly veiled sociological message but more on showcasing the way Mushishi communicates with other people while they are on the road. This seemingly simple idea is then mixed with a paranormal storyline that resembles an X-Files episode. The result is a rather terrifying folklore that focuses on the concept of 'thread'. This concept ends up appearing in every single element within the episode from the thread that comes out of the cocoon to the invisible emotional bond that exists between two twin sisters.
One of Mushishi's strength is its ability as a series to present a one-off story and characters that are easy to identify. Despite all of the paranormal trappings that the series used, at its core the problem that the characters face, usually is similar to what normal people face on a daily basis. Part of the series' charm also relies on Ginko and his limited ability to solve a particular case. This gives the series a slightly 'realistic' feel to the series, in the sense that not everything in this universe will fall neatly into place. Just like real life, problems sometimes persist despite what the characters do to overcome the odds. As a result, the series often ends on a bittersweet note, which makes it far more interesting to analyse than if it just ends on a happy or a sad note. As a side note, I just encoded the opening theme into a PSP format. So if you're interested in it, feel free to grab it while it's still up on the server.
Mushishi OP Theme - The Sore Feet Song (11.1MB, for PSP/Quicktime)
I love this series!! I remember this chapter quite clearly from the manga due to its highly striking Winter vs. Spring contrast of the snow and the live vegetation. Back then, however, I never thought the anime could replicate the watercolour look of the manga. Suffice to say, I was wrong because when I saw the first few frame from this episode, I can't help but thinking how the background painting reminds me a lot of Ukiyo-e. The background painting for this series is probably one of the most beautiful I've seen in anime series. I also like the fact that just like Honey and Clover, this series has some of the best super deformed faces for its characters. Miharu's facial expression when he said "I don't remember" is a good example for this. I just love the fact that he looks like he's just awake from a sleep and is grumpy because of it. The same thing can be said for Ginko and his angry reaction.
This episode is a good example as to why this show is a stand above the rest. The combination of creepy folklore and tragic drama in this story somehow manages to create a simple yet effective analogy about the fear of the unknown. A lot of praise must also go to the animation and background design which look stunning as usual. The light green palette of the bamboo forest looks striking and gives the episode the feel of isolation that the characters experienced while inside the forest. Characterisation-wise, it's nice to see Ginko showing a lot of emotion here from looking sarcastic to calm and thoughtful. Another side to Ginko's personality is also revealed here when he shows a slight impatience for the idle gossip of two old women. I think this side of his personality matches well with his profession, which more often than not, requires him to gravitate towards facts and knowledge instead of superstition created by the society around him.
February 28, 2006 | 9 Comments
At this point in time, it doesn't look like I can play catch up with Mushishi since I'm way behind the latest episode. I will, however, continue to cover the series at a slower pace. Anyway, this episode, despite its slightly worse animation quality, still manages to tell an interesting storyline. I am particularly interested with the way Ginko manages to dispell a myth or legend from a particular village using his knowledge as Mushishi. I supposed in a way Ginko is similar to early researchers and scientists. For example, people used to believe that people whose skin starts to bleed after entering an Egyptian tomb have been cursed by the Mummy. Nowadays, however, that 'curse' turns out to be nothing more than a virus that has been carried over by the mosquitos inside the tomb. I actually was quite disappointed when I found about it as a kid. It pretty much ruined my childhood imagination, which I thought was far more exciting than the reality.
January 15, 2006 | 18 Comments
I actually went to see this one with the thought that it will be some kind of animation spectacle that outdoes episode 11. Much to my disappointment, however, the episode wasn't like that at all. If anything the episode uses minimal colours and the mood in this one is really bleak and depressing. But if I think about it, it was probably a good decision on the part of the animator to give as little color to this episode until the episode's last few minutes. By doing this, the animators succeeded in conveying the oppression feeling that the Mushi brings to other living creatures. It's not until the Mushi disappears that the bright colours that usually populate this series return. The result turned out to be quite powerful because so far I've been taking the bright colours in this series for granted.
January 10, 2006 | 12 Comments
This turns out to be a very good episode that is not only beautiful to look at but also interesting story-wise. I finally understand why the animators decided to place this particular story as the 11th episode instead of earlier in the beginning. This is because the story contains a little bit of revelation about Ginko, which actually will be fully explored in next week's episode. I supposed the animators simply trying to make it easier for the viewers to keep up with the information by putting the two episodes within closer time frame. I have to say that I'm rather surprised to see this episode being so entertaining because I remember the original manga chapter feels a bit dull when I first read it. I think a lot of it can be attributed to the beautiful animation, which is definitely a lot better in comparison to the last 3-4 episodes. The episode is also a return of the many faces of Ginko, which I find to be rather amusing.
This is another interesting storyline from the series. The episode also marks the second appearance of Adashino-sensei, Ginko's colleague who previously appeared in episode 5. This time around, however, he seems to be portrayed in a less flattering light. Although in general, he is still a good guy who works together with Ginko to solve the problem. This, however, makes me wish that we'll get to see an evil Mushishi who uses his knowledge to hurt others. I just think it'll provide a variety from the usual Ginko saving another person story. Although I supposed that kind of story would not suit the slow-paced nature of this series. Anyway, for those who have been following the series from the start and was hoping for more, it seems the wiki entry for the series has now been updated to include 26 episodes.
December 18, 2005 | 2 Comments
I get the impression that one of the reasons this particular story was selected was because it allowed the animators to save some money since the majority of the storyline takes place inside a house. On top of this, little to no animation is required in those scenes because they mostly involves Ginko talking about various things to the character of the week, which is a head priest with no name. Despite this, the creep effect is still present in this episode and in my opinion, is actually more noticeable in comparison to the last few episodes. Anyway, according to various Japanese magazines like Newtype and Animedia, there won't be a screening of Mushishi next week. At least not on Fuji TV since the listing for Newtype and Animedia only use Fuji TV schedule.
December 11, 2005 | 17 Comments
I think this episode is far more exciting than the one that goes before it purely because it feels more science-fiction like. I also prefer the mist animation in this episode instead of the rainbow from last week's episode. I just think that in general, the appearance of a mist creates that forebodding effect that I like in horror series. Anyway, I'm not sure if this is correct or not but I just found out from this site that Mushishi will only run for 13 episodes. I am quite disappointed to know about this because I was hoping that the series will run for at least 24 episodes. Now I know why the anime has been skipping some of the manga chapters because the animators probably attempt to include different stories from the manga. I do hope that they will at least include Ginko's background story which is included in the last chapter of the third volume.
I feel that animation-wise, this episode is not as attractive as the ones that came before it. Some static shots, for example, are notably used in this episode in longer exposure than is necessary. In general, however, the quality of the animation is still quite high in comparison to other series aired this season. This episode, just like the others before it, also demonstrates a proper use of CGI that actually blends seamlessly with the 2D drawings instead of standing out like a sore thumb. Theme-wise, this episode places a focus on rainbow. This means there area lot of rainbow-related references from that little treasure you can find at the end of its tip, down to the correct color sequences, which I can't seem to remember anymore, featured within this episode.
November 27, 2005 | 5 Comments
This is a good episode that utilises its island setting very well. The episode also has this purple hue infused into almost every single scene from the colour of the flower to the sparkling seawater during sunrise. I also like how the episode showcases another side of Ginko in this episode. In the previous episodes, the series showed that Ginko is not infallible. He tries to do his best but there are times when he makes mistake. This episode basically re-emphasises the idea that Ginko is not all-powerful. The only reason he manages to survive thus far is because he's careful, knowledgeable, and knows when he has to run for his life. I find the last part of his characterisation to be amusing and yet realistic. After all, it's rare to see a hero in an anime series who actually flees for his life in the middle of danger.
November 20, 2005 | 12 Comments
It's not until this episode that I realised how apart from Ginko, who sports a grey/white hair due to a reason that has yet to be addressed, the other characters usually have black hair instead of those strange purple/pink hair colour that is prevalent in other anime series. The only exception to this so far is the girl found within this episode. But even then, the green hair colour used on the girl actually serves the storyline a purpose and not just a method to distinguish her from other characters. I really like this because it means the animators have to ensure that each character in Mushishi is drawn distinctly enough so that one can easily recognises a character from another even if they have similar hair colour. As a side note, Honey and Clover fans will be happy to know that Adashino-sensei is played by Ueda Yuuji (Morita Shinobu).
November 13, 2005 | 13 Comments
Well, this is actually not as gory as I had hoped it to be. However, it is indeed slightly more graphic than usual. I hope people will still watch the episode though, because I think the storyline is the most creative out of the episodes that have been aired thus far. I am also glad to see the series still maintain its high-quality style from previous episodes. This is a relief to me because the quality of an anime series usually goes down around either the third or fourth episode. As a side note, according to Amazon Japan, the first DVD of Mushishi will go on sale in January. The first pressed edition will include 2 episodes, a bonus disc with interviews, making of footage, 20 page booklet, six postcards, and a deluxe case. I think my credit card just went into a cardiac arrest because it knows that I'm going to get this DVD for sure.
November 6, 2005 | 15 Comments
This episode is simply breathtaking. I was actually a bit concerned as to how the animators are going to portray the cold winter scenes in some of the chapters. As far as painting goes, I find that it's usually far easier to depict lush greeneries of spring and summer than the white snow of cold winter. In order to effectively use white to portray winter, other colors need to be mixed in with white so that the white will actually stand out instead of making the image looks flat. The blue/grey-ish tinted snow in this episode is a good example of how to draw the snow correctly. The colors perfectly capture the cold weather that surrounds the village to the point that I feel sorry for Ginko for having to walk so far into the village in such a heavy snow storm.
October 30, 2005 | 17 Comments
I'm sorry that this comes a lot later than usual but I'm really tired at the moment. I am completely wasted this week after having to work on 2 jobs (one full time, the other part time) while studying for the upcoming JLPT and still maintaining this blog. I am trying to get my act together but sometimes it's hard to juggle everything all at once. Anyway, this episode convinces me that the first one wasn't a fluke. It's a shame about the opening and ending theme though. I am still hoping that the opening and ending will have some kind of traditional Japanese folk song along with some nice animation. Oh yeah, before I forget, I have to remind some people that this series is actually a horror series and not a slice-of-life one. So please be aware that there are some disturbing images ahead.
October 23, 2005 | 23 Comments
Opening Theme: The Sore Feet Song by Ally Kerr
Ending Theme: 「蟲宴」 - Mushi-Utage by Masuda Toshio
This turns out to be a rather nice adaptation of the manga. The background looks really lush and has that surreal Ukiyo-e paintings that the manga captures quite successfully. There are, however, two things that I dislike about this adaptation. The first one is the opening sequence of this series, which is non-existent at this point in time. The so-called 'opening' only shows water-painting leafy motifs accompanied by The Sore Feet Song, which I'm not too fond of. The other thing that I dislike is the character design of Ginko himself. He kind of lost his youthful appearance from the manga. In addition to this, his hair looks rather badly designed to the point that often it looks like a mop. Other than that, however, this is a solid adaptation of the manga with excellent production values.
