Mushi-shi

Mushi-shi (adapted from the Manga and also turned into a video game on the DS [released only in Japan] it has gained much recognition over the years)

The dub is available on Netflix's instant que (Funimation) and most likely on Youtube as sub and dub. There are 26 episodes in all.

This has to be one of my favorite anime's of all of those I've seen. Though it is not action based, it captures the eye with brilliant art and stretches the imagination with the originality it possesses. It has unique shots and the most interesting way of portraying subjects and people. I believe every artist (including authors) should watch this anime.

The story features phantom-like creatures called Mushi that often display supernatural powers. They are portrayed as beings in touch with the essence of life, that essence often being portrayed as a river of light, and are far more basic and pure than normal living things. In my mind, a lot like microscopic organisms. Not everyone can see these creatures, so most people don't have a clue about their existence. The creatures can act as saviors or parasites, they care not about humans, but do not bear hostility toward them. Their only goal in life is to live and multiply... kinda like mushrooms. Now, since there are very few who can see them, there are obviously those who can. This is where the Mushi-masters come in, those who can see and have a vast knowledge of Mushi. Most Mushi-masters kill mushi instead of trying to understand them in order to solve problems when the human and mushi world collide. Ginko, however is not at all like them.

Now that I've mentioned him, Ginko is a Mushi-master and that would be him in the picture. Unlike the others, he tries to help people see that Mushi are not hostile. He is the main character of the series. Ginko travels from place to place in search for more knowledge on mushi and helping people who are having trouble with mushi. Ginko has a condition in which he attracts mushi, so in order to keep mushi from flocking to one place, he has to keep moving. Smoke also keeps mushi away, so as not to be eaten by them, he typically is seen with a cigarette in his mouth.

The series is an episodic anthology, therefore the only common elements among the episodes are Ginko and the various types of Mushi. There is no over-arching plotline (in otherwords, not your average build up to the climax, climax, and ending), but each episode introduces an incredibly unique plot with new characters and a new problem for Ginko to solve. Sometimes they involve Ginko's past, which was quite intriguing to learn about him and how he came to be. Because of the nature of this series, there's no actual order that you'd have to watch them in. I'll list a few of my personal favorite 'sodes at the bottom.

As far as swearing, the occasional "damn" is placed, but as far as I'm concerned, that's a lot less than most anime's. Violence is not an issue, but it is supernatural, so expect a lot of weirdness and other things that are strange.

Voice actors: For those of you who obsess about this kinda stuff, I'll give you a brief list of some of the voice actors who occur throughout this series. Because Ginko is one of the only reoccuring characters, there is a plethora of actors. I will focus only on the dub actors because well, I'm not going to go through the trouble finding all the voice actors, except of course, for Ginko and the other two reoccuring characters, the rest I'll list without names... but with the episodes they voice act in.

Ginko- Yuto Nakano [Jap], Travis Willingham [Dub] (Also voice acted for Katakura Kojuro from Sengoku Basara)
Adashino- Yuji Ueda [Jap], Chuck Huber [Dub]
Nui- Mika Doi [Jap], Jennifer Seman [Dub]

Episode 1: Luci Christian andCherami Leigh
Episode 2: Laura Baily, Brina Palencia, and Cynthia Cranz
Episode 3: Alison Viktori and Linda Young
Episode 4: Kent Williams, Stephanie Young, and Reilly Harrison
Episode 5: Kira Vincent-Davis and Linda Leonard
Episode 6: Carrie Savage, Todd Haberkorn, and Barry Yandell
Episode 7: Mike McFarland, Christopher Sabet, and Brina Palencia
Episode 8: John Burgmeier, Leah Clark, and Brina Palencia
Episode 9: John Swasey, Judy O'Laughlin, and Kate Oxley
Episode 10: Christine Auten, Kenny Green, and Phil Parsons
Episode 11: Grant James, Leah Clark, Cynthia Cranz, and Randy Tallman
Episode 12: Jeniffer Seman and Aaron Dismuke
Episode 13: Jason Liebrecht and Caitln Glass
Episode 14: Vic Mignogna and Colleen Clinkenbeard
Episode 15: Tiffany Grant and Carrie Savage
Episode 16: Greg Ayres and Gwendolyn Lau
Episode 17: Monica Rail, Britteny Karbowski, and Sean Henningan
Episode 18: Kevin M. Connolly, Amber Cotton, Monica Rial, and J. Paul Slavens
Episode 19: Jessica Boone, and Patrick Seitz
Episode 20: Stephanie Sheh, Charles Baker, and Juli Erickson
Episode 21: Trina Nishimura, Larissa Wolcott, Troy Baker
Episode 22: Luci Christian, R. Bruce Elliott, Alison Viktorin, and Wendy Powell
Episode 23: Brina Palencia and Duncan Brannan
Episode 24: Stephanie Young, Cherami Leigh, and Christine Auten
Episode 25: Laura Baily, Mark Stoddard, Maeghan Albach, and Mary Morgan
Episode 26: Orion Pitts, Greg Dulcie, Aaron Dismuke, J. Michael Tatum, and Michael Sinterniklaas (One of my personal faves, he voice acted for Sarutobi Sasuke from Sengoku Basara)

Alright, with that said and done, here are my personal favorite episodes (really I like them all)

6: Raindrops and Rainbows
12: One-eyed fish
13: One-night bridge
18: Clothes that Embrace the Mountain
20: A Sea of Writings
23: The Sound of Rust
24: Journey to the Field of Fire
26: The Sound of Footsteps on the Grass

The theme song is the Sore Feet Song by Alley Kerr (who's irish by the way...) I love the song. lol If you wanna hear it, go to this [link] and listen to track #44. I love this song... lol :3 It's kinda bizarre... but... in a good way.

Now, here's what I give Mushi-shi. Five out of five of those pretty golden stars! Of course, it has its quirks but I deem it's one of the best animes ever created! Get past the first two episodes, you'll be hooked, I garauntee it!


What other people have said:
It's manga won the Excellence Prize at the 7th Japan Media Arts Festival.
Jason Thompson's online appendix to Manga: The Complete Guide, he describes the series as "atmospheric, original and fascinating".
At the 10th Japan Media Arts Festival, both the manga and anime in the top 10 of their catagories.
The anime series won grand prizes in the categories of television series and best art direction (for Takashi Waki) at the 5th Tokyo Anime Award competition held at the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2006

References:

Funimation
Wikipedia
Mushi-shipedia
Various other places on the interent....
My mind

All in all, an excellent anime, especially if you're looking for something that doesn't revolve soully around violence but still has action. Mushi-shi is also an excellent anime for a first anime, for those of you who are still stuck on the younger kids' anime series.... (which I myself adore) Now, if you have watched it, or would like to watch it, please tell me what you thought of the anime and express whether or not you liked it after you've watched it (please... don't judge it by the first three episodes... no anime is THAT good and the second episode is slightly disturbing) Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this amazing anime! Later gators!