I thought about reccing some horrid anime as an April Fool's joke, but I'm not much of a prankster. Boring, huh? Anyways, here's Tuesday's recommendation for an awesome anime to watch:
2. Mushi-shi
Hopefully, I shouldn't even have to tell you this. It's not that Mushi-shi is particularly obscure. It's well-known enough in the right circles, and it's generally accepted in those circles that the show is amazing. But I'm allergic to making a list of my favorites without including Mushi-shi. And even when it comes to people who have watched it, the show is not given nearly enough credit, probably because it's so understated.
Mushi-shi is a series of stand-alone episodes, telling stories of mushi, creatures often referred to as the most basic elements of life. These creatures are often parasitic in nature, and sometimes attach themselves to humans; the series follows Ginko, an expert on mushi, as he travels from town to town, helping people afflicted by them.
Any other series might have turned Ginko into some sort of mushi-fighting superhero, working to save the innocent, but that's not the case at all. I've heard the criticism before that one of Mushi-shi's greatest flaws is that it doesn't explain whether the mushi are good or bad, and I want to hit those people with rocks, because they completely missed the point. The mushi aren't meant to be good or evil. It's as one character in episode 12 so eloquently put it: "Everything simply lives as it lives."
And speaking of episode 12, I should mention that it embodies everything I love about the series: tragic, haunting, touching, and ridiculously beautiful. And the writing is just amazing in this wonderful, subtle way. The dialogue was very economical. Other series might rely on dramatics to move their audiences. The emotional climax of episode 12 was quiet, but it totally punched me in the gut.
Though the series has very few recurring characters aside from Ginko, what a great character he is. Calm, subtly sarcastic, and he also has some of the best facial expressions ever drawn. And as the episodes progress, you start to notice the subtler aspects of his personality. He's distant without being cold, tragic without being angsty, and hopes for the best possible solution without being naive. And even characters that show up only briefly can make a huge impression: Adashino, Tanyuu, and Nui in particular.
You like this if: you like being enthralled by a really great folktale. Mushi-shi often has that feeling.
You won't like this if: you need something to happen every few minutes, or if you want answers given to you for the philosophical debates that arise within the episodes. Also, if you scare easily, a few of the mushi are nightmare-worthy. (Hello there, Tokoyami. I'm looking at you.)
And now, nihongo homework. Oh nihongo homework.
