Having had watched many action and drama anime, I didn't really expect much out of a show that supposedly rivalled the calmness of shows like Yuru camp. I went in and watched the first episode and actually didn't realise what I was about to get myself into, it was a very unique experience watching the first episode and having no other shows on my planning at that time I went and watched the show that would go on to influence my life more than any other piece of media to this very day.
Plot
The plot of Mushi-Shi is very unorthodox for a show that's main story revolves around a singular character and is episodic at that, This uniqueness of the show already makes it really compelling especially for a show that doesn't have and fights at all and no real flashy animation. The real factor that is vital to the plot and the world is the existence of ethereal creatures called "Mushi". These beings are not your avarage animals but more like bacteria or amoeba if we want a vague comparison. They are explained to be the most basic forms of life, they have no goal, they are not good or evil. They just, exist.
Ginko
Ginko is our main protagonist and the only main character in the entire series. He is referred to as a "Mushi-Shi" or a "Mushi Master". Very chill in personality, Ginko is a born pacifist, he travels around Japan in a imaginary time between the Edo and Meiji Periods and helps various people with their problems regarding the Mushi.
He often speaks like a philosopher, he helps the people that are effected by the Mushi with his knowledge of herbal medicine and Mushi Nature, managing to solve all the problem which the humans might be suffering from. A very important aspect of his personality is that he does not "kill" the Mushi. He just helps the people effected get rid of them. He personally thinks that Mushi are just life exactly like we are, therefore killing them would be wrong.
Message and overall opinion
Ginko meets a lot of people on his travels, he cures them of their Mushi related issues but doesn't just leave afterwards, he stays, listens to the stories of the people and tries to help them with their problems even if they don't concern Mushi. With themes of self loathing, loneliness and self worth, Mushi-Shi does perfectly to convey the message I think the author tried to convey with the story.
To Teach
To teach everyone another way to live, to deal with your problems even if you think everything you are facing is going downhill, I think Mushi-Shi excels in just bringing across this exact message.
In truth everything is up to your own interpretation, "is the message I explained in the last paragraph really what the author wanted to say?" "Maybe Mushi-Shi is just trying to be eccentric and different." Yes all of that can very much be true, but its up to your own interpretation. Even if Mushi-Shi doesnt seem like your type of thing, I would highly recommend you try it out, at the very least it has amazing music and art
"There is no good and no evil, everything is what you make it out to be"
