Hulu was something I had heard of but was effectively ignoring as just another cyberwebtubes fad. However, this all changed when they started adding anime to their selection.
Mushi-shi was an anime I had never heard of, but quickly devoured once I started watching it. Each episode can stand on it’s own and there are very few recurring characters. The setting can be confusing at times as the main character Ginko wears modern clothing and yet appears to be wandering around pre-Meiji era Japan. The central plot theme involves “mushi” which are a kind of proto-life that exists concurrently but often invisibly with the rest of the world. Ginko researches the mushi and solves the problems that occur when the human existence and mushi existence cross sometimes to the detriment of one, the other, or both. The problems sometimes result in melancholic conclusions and the music is particularly good at playing off the emotion of the episode.
However, the net effect of all the elements of the anime is a show with poignancy and subtlety. Perhaps even poetic in some parts.
“Mushi” means “insect” in Japanese, The first kanji used in title is actually three “mushi” (虫) characters squished together. I’m not sure of the significance, though I suspect it is a bit like tree “ki”, 木, which when two are put together becomes wood “hayashi”, 林 and when three are combined become forest “mori”, 森. That is just speculation on my part though… and doesn’t actually tell me why they chose to use that particular Chinese character.
Either way, if you enjoy stories that are quiet and subtle then perhaps Mushi-shi is for you.
You can watch it on Hulu here: http://www.hulu.com/mushi-shi
