Mushi are creatures that are born of darkness and inhabit the world, looming in the realm between light and darkness. Though most humans cannot see them, they interact with the world in strange and mysterious ways and can affect people in peculiar and even dangerous ways. Most are harmless, but some can even devastate whole villages or alter the terrain on a grand scale.
This is where Mushi masters come in. These experts can not only see Mushi, they dedicate their lives to researching and understanding them, helping people who have been affected by them, and exterminating the Mushi when necessary. Our story revolves around one such master, named Ginko, who travels the world, interacting with these creatures and helping people as best he can. Ginko was taught that all things, Mushi included, play a part in the life cycle, and as such he aims for understanding and cohabitation in every instance, resorting to extermination only when absolutely necessary.
Mushi-Shi is a very unique anime. I mentioned earlier that the story revolves around Ginko, but that's true only in the basest sense. The true star of the show is the world itself: the different Mushi, the people he visits in his travels, and the environment itself. Ginko mainly serves as the connecting thread, there to realize the truth of the phenomenons around him and address it before wandering off again. That said, he is a very interesting character: he's serious while not being stoic, caring while remaining at a distance, he can lose his cool at times when things fall apart, and he gets off a few chuckle moments too. Also, Travis Willingham excelled at giving Ginko a great air of calming seriousness that was just what the show asked for.
The plot is the most episodic thing I've ever seen. There is quite literally no connection between the episodes and nothing would be lost drawing the viewing order from a hat. The show is truly about nothing more than experiencing Ginko's travels and like his travels it has no true destination, with even the ending feeling like just another chapter. I think it aids the premise however. Letting each incident stand alone and tell its own tale without the need to tie into an overarching plot seems to me the perfect way to tell the assorted tales of a wanderer, though this may be a matter of taste.
All this means that, despite an overarching theme about cohabitation with nature and an overall calm feeling, the episodes are unique entities and therefore more subject to being hit or miss. For example, I felt the best episodes were the ones with more focus on the Mushi and their fantastic natures and abilities, with the more human element-based episodes feeling a bit weaker, and I'm sure there are people who feel the opposite. And when I say calm feeling, I REALLY mean it. Aside from some creepy or sad moments and a handful of more fast-paced ones, this show really is slow, soothing, and calm as a real nature walk. At times this leads to episodes dragging a bit with a slow pace, but more often it puts your mind at ease and really helps you to feel like a part of the world, drawing you into it so you're just as eager as the other characters to learn about the new Mushi of the episode.
The animation is pretty good for the most part, putting the attention where it needs to be and setting the right mood. It's a simple style with soft and subdued colors, very fitting for the calm and natural setting of the show. Most of the detail goes to the backgrounds, environments, and the creatures to the point where the characters can seem a bit basic, but this all seems to draw the focus where it should: to the world that's at the center of it all. The music fits the mood very well, most of the tracks being subdued to the point where you don't notice them most of the time, with only one or two tunes really standing out. The opening is catchy and seems like a perfect traveling song, bringing to mind the image of Ginko as he wanders through fields and forests to his next temporary destination.
All in all, this really is an enjoyable watch and a unique experience. I heartily recommend this to anyone looking for something new or anyone looking for a simple, peaceful trip to another world. It probably won't satisfy anyone looking for conventional genres and the highly episodic plot and single recurring character (there is one other, though he's only in like 3-4 episodes) may turn people away, but if you let yourself get drawn into the world, you'll find yourself like a child, fascinated by the stories of wonderful travels.
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