If Stephen King and Steven Spielberg had a baby, this is EXACTLY what it would look it.
Just a spectacular, beautiful and mesmerizing anime. I was initially hesitant to start this because it seemed like it wouldn't be too exciting and able to hold my interest well but I instantly became addicted. It's a very easy show to watch as each episode is a story contained within itself, has its own theme, and you really don't encounter the same thing twice. Also, not all the stories end up happily and some are just heartbreaking which lend to keeping everything fresh. The creators masterfully created this world filled and thriving with mushi that just immerses you completely. Ginko is the perfect MC for the tone and themes of Mushi-shi with his calm, gentle and understanding nature. The only complaint I had was that literally every main male and female character looks the same (I honestly couldn't tell anyone apart between 75% of the different episodes). This is definitely up there on my list and a very relaxing and magical journey that is a very easy watch.
Having finally finished my slow burn of this series all I can do is agree with other comments here. This series offers a sense of tranquillity when watching that I have rarely seen anywhere else. You just get absorbed into sometimes dreamlike atmosphere of it all. Each episode is somewhat self-contained and you really never know how it will end. Some end on a happy note, some on a sorrowful one, some are more ambiguous or bitersweet.
The message throughout is very much that Mushi are not malevolent or evil, they are just like forces of nature, and can be harmful or helpful to humans. Each story is more about how people deal with these things, with Ginko travelling around and helping where he can.
With a second season just around the corner all I can really do is repeat other people's recommendations - if you haven't already, watch this series.
Scifi gets to do this crap and Ascension doesn't even get a second season? WTF? This was awful. Terrible. I need to be commited to suicide watch over this, that kind of terrible. Charles f*ing Dance is in this show, how did anyone sell this to him? I mean, I should be hiring that genius to my mkt team. Obviously.
this better not end up being another "Ascension"
Edit: well it didn't end up being another "Ascension"
Praise be to the Lord/Allah/Buddha/Tom Cruise/Oprah!! Mushi-shi is getting a 2nd season (a full 2 cour) that is starting this coming April. Ginko be doin' work again in 2014 and it will be glorious.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-04/mushishi-anime-gets-2nd-season-in-april
http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=720487
I've just finished to watch the four episodes, and I've to say, It's been a long time - too long - since I've been thrilled and amazed with SF serie. And yes: this is from SyFy...
If you love Politics, Space Opera and Riots about "Corporation"... You should definitely watch it or at least, give it a try...
PS: I just hope it will continue as it started, I have great expectations with this show.
