Sorry to say it again guys, but there won’t be a podcast this week. Jade is off doing all kinds of awesome stuff at GDC and this close to the end of Mushishi, we felt it would be better to have the whole team on board for the shows. Luckily, that means you will have an extra week to vote on the next show we watch. So in place of the podcast, I’d like to start an open discussion post about your thoughts on Mushishi. I should be around for most of the night, so let’s talk! If you have questions, complaints, favorite episodes, spill it all now.
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Comments (13)
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Kuni Nino posted March 2, 2011 at 8:43 pmReply
Sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to your thoughts on Episode 20 since I found it to be one of the most interesting episodes of the series.
The romantic subtext to the episode was a nice touch but I also like how the episode was about a Mushi that had no real effect on the lives of people. The episode was more about the girl and how she coped with the curse on her body. We also got to see another facet of a Mushi master’s life in that library of scrolls. The episode was really strong and definitely one of my favorites.
I particularly like the visuals in this episode too. The way the room filled up with Kanji Mushi and how it glided around the girl’s body. I still don’t think the visuals get enough credit in this series.
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Carlo posted March 2, 2011 at 8:46 pmReply
I only started watching anime series very recently, so I still don’t have much context when watching new series. I don’t know if a series is well liked by anime fans or if it’s based on a manga. So I started watching this series with no expectations. After finishing a few episodes I found that I rather like this show. It is exactly my speed.
The pacing and imagery of Mushi-Shi is so relaxing. And the self contained plots are great, it means I can watch one quick episode when I have time without getting caught by cliffhangers. Another thing I like about this show is the limited amount of characters. Contrary to Mushi-Shi, in the few anime series I have seen, so far, I still don’t remember all the characters’ names by the end of it.
After finishing Musi-Shi I did some research online about it (I do that after watching any TV show) and discovered that a live action movie was made. I found it on Amazon for 10$ so decided to check it out. Mushi-Shi the movie is actually pretty good. It recreates a few episodes quite faithfully, though the ending departs from the show and is sort of confusing. I watched the movie dubbed (it does include the original version) and was surprised to find the same voices as the anime dub. It’s a bit startling at first, since it makes everyone have american accents, but I got used to it. One more thing about the movie; the box says “From Katsuhiro Otomo. the visionary director of the ground breaking classics: AKIRA and STEAMBOY”, which I found funny because I fell asleep watching both of those movies and ended up not enjoying them that much.
Anyway, I feel like I wrote too much probably. So to sum things up:
Mushi-Shi is in my top five anime series and my favourite episode is “A Sea of Scrolls”.
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Carlo posted March 2, 2011 at 8:50 pmReply
Wow I did write a lot. also during the time I was writing someone else posted about my favourite episode.
@Kuni Nino
I agree with everything you said and would like to add that I loved the fact that Ginko is different than other Mushi-Shi because he doesn’t always try to kill the Mushi. Also this episode is recreated live action in the movie. -
Derek Lavigne posted March 2, 2011 at 8:59 pmReply
@Kuni/Carlo Episode 20 is definitely one of my favorite as well and I can’t wait to discuss is next week on the show with Ken and Jade. Everyone seems to be pretty down on the live action movie, so I’m wondering if it is really even worth my time to watch it. This is my second time watching through Mushishi and I’m finding that I appreciate some episodes more the second time around.
What has your least favorite episode been?
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Carlo posted March 2, 2011 at 9:29 pmReply
My least favourite episodes are episode 6 “Those who inhale the dew” and episode 1 “The green seat”. Both of which I didn’t think used the Mushi’s mischief making abilities to the fullest. I don’t know if I explained that well, but all I know is that there is just something that makes those two episodes not as good as the rest.
@ Derek
In regards to the movie, I personally always enjoy to see alternate takes on properties I like. Be they good takes or bad. I really liked the way the movie looked old, but with modern effects and the little Mushi floating and crawling everywhere like in the show. But I agree that not everyone would like the movie. -
Derek Lavigne posted March 2, 2011 at 9:59 pmReply
@Carlo I was actually a fan of the first episode. I think it did well to set up Ginko’s mindset of not all mushi being bad.
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Ghostman posted March 2, 2011 at 10:39 pmReply
NO PODCAST???? NO!!!!!!!! That means I have to spend the first 30mins at the job actually working tomorrow…sad face.
I finished Mushi-shi a few weeks ago- I was snowed in and had nothing else to do. From reading the other comments, I think episode 20 was the one where you understand how Ginko has so much knowledge about Mushi- that was a great episode. The whole time I watched the show I kept thinking, ‘how in the world does this guy retain all this knowledge? He’s young, and it doesn’t look like he’s lugging around tons of books.’ That episode was like a relief for me. It was my second favorite episode. My favorite was the one with the kid that had horns.
My least favorites were 11-13. They were so annoying! A guy decides to let a god eater just eat him- maybe he explained why, but I just couldn’t his rationale. Then the Nui lady bites the dust for some reason I couldn’t really understand either. Then a guy claims he’s gonna roll with Ginko, but changes his mind at the last second despite being warned he couldn’t turn back, and he’s a goner. I wanted to feel sad for them, but I couldn’t because their deaths either seemed pointless or kinda silly to me.
The Mushi-Shi world is very odd to me, which is why it was hard to feel anything for the people in the show. If things get so tough that you can’t take it, I guess I can understand a person giving up. But I didn’t feel like that was well expressed in certain episodes of this show. So when people died, well, it was kind of like watching a comedy during a not so funny scene. Overall, I don’t think I’ll be going back to watch it again any time soon. At the same time I’m glad I did watch the whole series and was able to form a solid opinion of it.
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Derek Lavigne posted March 2, 2011 at 11:07 pmReply
Ghostman As soon as you made the comment a while ago about not understanding how Ginko always had all the answers, I couldn’t wait for you to watch Ep. 20. I knew it wouldn’t exactly turn the whole series around for you, but at least it could answer some of your questions.
Speaking of questions, did you ever go back and figure out why Ginko is constantly smoking? What he’s smoking is actually the same Mushi repellent that he is seen lighting in a few different episodes. I think this was mentioned early on, as well as alluded to when Nui blows smoke on the group of Mushi causing them to scatter.
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Ghostman posted March 3, 2011 at 11:08 amReply
Episode 20 was so great. I never thought I’d have felt so happy to watch a character studying on screen, but I really was in hog heaven during that show.
Now I want to know where he gets his not so traditional clothes…did they explain that and I missed it (it’s been awhile now since I watched it so mayabe I’m just forgetting an episode)? You know, usually I’m not so interested in these minute details of a show, but it was the subtle things about Mushi-shi that interested and frustrated me the most.
SAY WHAT?!?!? That’s why he’s smoking??? That’s awesome! I’m so mad I missed that, but the fact that I missed it makes it 10times more interesting. I didn’t go back and watch it again, but I will be watching that espisode on my lunch break today.
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Derek Lavigne posted March 3, 2011 at 12:57 pmReply
@Ghostman I mentioned it on one of the podcasts, but the modern clothes are a design relic that the creators decided to leave in as the story was originally slated to take place in modern times. In my opinion, I think they may have decided to leave it to give him more character definition
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Kuni Nino posted March 3, 2011 at 3:32 pmReply
My least favorite episode? That’s a hard one since I like all of them. I guess it would have to be “The Traveling Swamp.” I can’t get specific with it but that would be the one that I could probably without. Emphasis on probably because I am in love with this series.
I wish more anime would attempt stuff like this.
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Ghostman posted March 3, 2011 at 5:18 pmReply
Just watched One-eyed Fish again- thanks Derek! That was pretty cool, and I’m so glad to know that the smoking thing wasn’t just about looking cool.
After looking at the episode library once more I’ll hold off on my last big question/issue till you guys discuss episode 24. I now recall that I hated that episode more than 11-13…
I recall you guys discussing One-night bridge, and Jade REALLY surprised me when she talked about understanding how a mother in that time could see marriage as so much of a priority that it might merit risking her daughter’s life. I heard the words, but I just can’t buy that. And I have the same basic problem with episode 24. Ok, I’ll quit bugging you with posts- for now.
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Kuni Nino posted March 4, 2011 at 5:53 pmReply
Well marriage is still seen as a sort of business transaction in some parts of the world, especially in impoverished societies so I can buy into the story that the Bridge episode was based on. I’m sure arranged marriages were a part of Japan’s history just like all the others.
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