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Mushi-Shi Vol. 3 episodes 6-10
01/05/2008 . Source: Phil Jones 
region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films. FUN72903. 1 DVD 150 minutes 5 episodes plus extras. Price: £15.99 (UK). Buy Mushi-Shi in the USA - or Buy Mushi-Shi in the UK  check out website: www.revfilms.com and www.funimation.com/mushishi
These follow primarily the journeys and tales of Ginko, a Mushi-Shi or Mushi master. A Mushi-Shi studies Mushi, life-forms somewhere in-between life and death that only some can see. These episodes have a darker more laid-back feel to them than those previously. That's not to say they are depressing or overtly sombre, there is something to be learnt by each story. Something positive may emerge when least expected. There is general darkening tone of this series. His ability to intervene when Mushi interact with humans is often not straightforward and the desired outcome may not be always attained. Ginko, you feel, is learning as much as you the viewer is. The rareness and unusualness of the Mushi mean Ginko can be as helpless as the other people around. Clutching to small snippets of information and thinking on his feet to get by rather than a profound knowledge, his need to keep moving and search for knowledge and new experiences drives him on even in tragic circumstances.
The first story in episode eleven, 'The Sleeping Mountain'. Ginko spots a mountain that has a hole right through it and then the hole disappears. He decides to investigate this strange phenomenon suspecting Mushi are involved, coming across a village at the bottom of the mountain. More interestingly is the village's own Mushi-Shi, Mujika, who lives deep into the forest on the mountain side has gone missing. All attempts to find him end with the searchers going missing never to return. Ginko. being a Mushi-Shi himself. decided to brave the forest and find the lost Mushi master. He ends up with Mujika's apprentice in tow who says he is going to replace the Mushi-Shi one day but knows nothing about Mujika's whereabouts.
Episode twelve, 'One-Eyed Fish'. A young boy, Yoki, is travelling through a forest with his mother. There's a landslide which kills his mother. Yoki though can see strange living things around him, the Mushi. He wanders until he is taken in by a woman called Nui, who only one green eye. Yoki notices the fish in a nearby pool are the same only having one eye. Nui, a Mushi-Shi, explains to Yoki that Mushi known as Ginko living in the pond take the fishes' eyes and the same has happened to her because she has lived there for so long trying to find out what has happened to her family. Yoki wants to stay and learn from Nui but she insists he leaves. Yoki finally discovers the fate of the fish and the interaction of the dark Mushi but in doing so loses his memory of his true name, only remembering the name Ginko.
In episode thirteen, 'One-Night Bridge', Ginko travels to a remote village. He has to travel across an old bridge to get to the village. He goes to see Hanna, a girl who is still alive but just seems to be totally vacant after falling from the bridge a few years before. She appeared to sustain no injury but no longer talks or moves. The bridge collapses and Ginko is temporarily trapped. He discovers that Hana fell from the bridge while she and her boyfriend Zen were running away because Hana was to be wed in an arranged marriage into a high-ranking family. Hana's mother wants Ginko to cure her but is reticent as he suspects it is a Mushi keeping her alive. Her soul is gone so removing the Mushi would kill her. There's an old legend in the village that once every twenty or so years, a strange bridge forms across the ravine for just one night. It's roughly twenty years since the last appearance so Ginko thinks this Mushi bridge may be a quick way out of the village. The Mushi leaves Hana and she dies. With little left for Zen, Ginko persuades him to leave the village but things don't go quite to plan.
Episode Fourteen, 'Inside The Cage', finds Ginko in a bamboo forest. He comes across a man who says he's been trapped inside the bamboo forest along with his wife and child. Ginko is the first person he has seen in a good while and asks if he can accompany him out of the forest. Even following his compass, Ginko and the man seem to end up back in the same place, trapped inside the bamboo forest. When Ginko tries to leaves the forest alone and quizzes the locals about the forest and the family within, he decides to go back and see the family to find out more.
Although the tone is getting darker there's always something positive to be gained by each of the stories on this disc. In 'One-Eyed Fish', we get the first real chunk of backstory about Ginko. It's really good how the story unfolds and you realise whom it's really about. The other stories often present Ginko with little or no solutions to the problems he and others face. He learns that sometimes you just have to let events take their course and intervention is not the best way. Both for Ginko and the viewer, observation is the only option as these Mushi are too powerful, complex or deeply seated to intervene with.
On the surface, a lot of Mushi seem parasitical but I think taking that line is missing the point. Mushi are just a part and a more basal interaction of life. These interactions are what makes Mushi-Shi interesting. Some of these episodes are not the strongest in the series but none leaving you feeling like they're not worth watching. You always feel as though you've gained some sort of insight or learning experience even if the overall outcome is not the happiness.
This gentle series may not be for everyone but if you want something to make you think, observe human nature and have good stories to boot then this series is a good place to look. Everything about it has a particular style and pace. The music compliments the animation which fits perfectly with the tales being told. This is not one of the strongest batch of episodes, but none are 'bad' and all are worth watching. I have to confess this is one of my favourite series as it doesn't fit in with any of the usual pigeon holes or niches. It's well-produced and written with intelligence and a love for the source manga. Give it a try you may be surprised. Especially if you don't normally watch anime.
Phil Jones
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