Mushi-shi Zoku-sho (蟲師 続章) is the 20 episode continuation of the
super natural drama Mushi-shi, both of which are based on the manga of
the same name by Urushibara Yuki. The original series aired in
2005-2006 and the second one aired over the course of 2014 in Japan.
As with the original series Mushi-shi Zoku-sho follows the episodic journeys of the main character, a mushi-shi names Ginko. Mushi-shi are specialists who are able to interact with the unseen world of mushi and help those around them to co-exist with them. Mushi are ethereal entities that inhibit all manner of things, living, dead and inanimate. Sometimes mushi cause adverse reactions in humans, through their nature not always meshing well with other things. This is where the mushi-shi come in, using their ability to sense them and the knowledge they have gained from other mushi-shi before them, to aid people afflicted by the mushi to undo the problems as best as possible. Ginko was forced into the world of the mushi-shi following an accident as a child and his inherent nature of attracting them. Since this nature causes trouble if he stays in one place too long, he has lived a life traveling across the land, lending his help to anyone along the way and helping to increase the general knowledge of the mushi.
I really feel that Mushi-shi, as a whole, is one of the greatest anime shows made. This second season seemed even better than the original. Some of the best stories were saved for the second have of season two as well. It isn't for everyone though. What it does is tell a number of short stories that are only related because of Ginko. Stories of the human condition and humanities relation with the natural world. The animation is incredibly beautiful, even if the character designs are simple. It takes place in a time removed from our own but hard to place. It is the story of average people, trying their best to live life as they know how and the struggles they can unintentionally run into. Sometimes though, those problems are brought onto themselves through unintended consequences or karmic like retribution for wrong doings. Ginko does his best to aid everyone, even those that are having problems due to poor decisions. To my memory there is only one episode where Ginko was ambivalent to the victims situation and felt it was the correct thing to happen to them. Generally he is sympathetic to the plights of the people he helps, given his own past problems due to his own foolishness. He is a caring and patient person who tries his best to help others.
The show presents allegories at every turn, like a modern day Aesophs fables in some respects. Derived in part from traditional Japanese animism, the show deals with super natural perceptions of the natural world. Ginko and the other mushi-shi are part witch doctor part physician. They offer esoteric knowledge and practices to help alleviate the average persons malaise. They exist in a place between two worlds. Ginko himself is someone who doesn't really fit into the world around him. He is the only character not dressed in classical Japanese clothing. Due to his exposure as a child to the the stream of life, the thing that transports living energy through out the world, his hair is stark white. He is missing his left eye due to the same incident. He is a stranger, the wandering man, who no one really knows and rarely see's again, almost a spirit in his own regards.
Don't expect something like an action packed onmyoji type series. This show is cerebral and atmospheric. The characters rarely show wide swinging emotions. There is almost no action. No super powers. Just ordinary peoples having unfortunate experiences with the unseen and Ginko trying to do what he can to help them, usually through medicine or esoteric practices. He doesn't construct magic circles and doesn't do anything resembling Shinto ritual. He just offers the knowledge he has gained and any medicinal remedies he has access to in order to help the people expel the mushi from them.
The second season aired simulcast on Crunchyroll. The original season is available of disc in North America as is the manga.
As with the original series Mushi-shi Zoku-sho follows the episodic journeys of the main character, a mushi-shi names Ginko. Mushi-shi are specialists who are able to interact with the unseen world of mushi and help those around them to co-exist with them. Mushi are ethereal entities that inhibit all manner of things, living, dead and inanimate. Sometimes mushi cause adverse reactions in humans, through their nature not always meshing well with other things. This is where the mushi-shi come in, using their ability to sense them and the knowledge they have gained from other mushi-shi before them, to aid people afflicted by the mushi to undo the problems as best as possible. Ginko was forced into the world of the mushi-shi following an accident as a child and his inherent nature of attracting them. Since this nature causes trouble if he stays in one place too long, he has lived a life traveling across the land, lending his help to anyone along the way and helping to increase the general knowledge of the mushi.
I really feel that Mushi-shi, as a whole, is one of the greatest anime shows made. This second season seemed even better than the original. Some of the best stories were saved for the second have of season two as well. It isn't for everyone though. What it does is tell a number of short stories that are only related because of Ginko. Stories of the human condition and humanities relation with the natural world. The animation is incredibly beautiful, even if the character designs are simple. It takes place in a time removed from our own but hard to place. It is the story of average people, trying their best to live life as they know how and the struggles they can unintentionally run into. Sometimes though, those problems are brought onto themselves through unintended consequences or karmic like retribution for wrong doings. Ginko does his best to aid everyone, even those that are having problems due to poor decisions. To my memory there is only one episode where Ginko was ambivalent to the victims situation and felt it was the correct thing to happen to them. Generally he is sympathetic to the plights of the people he helps, given his own past problems due to his own foolishness. He is a caring and patient person who tries his best to help others.
The show presents allegories at every turn, like a modern day Aesophs fables in some respects. Derived in part from traditional Japanese animism, the show deals with super natural perceptions of the natural world. Ginko and the other mushi-shi are part witch doctor part physician. They offer esoteric knowledge and practices to help alleviate the average persons malaise. They exist in a place between two worlds. Ginko himself is someone who doesn't really fit into the world around him. He is the only character not dressed in classical Japanese clothing. Due to his exposure as a child to the the stream of life, the thing that transports living energy through out the world, his hair is stark white. He is missing his left eye due to the same incident. He is a stranger, the wandering man, who no one really knows and rarely see's again, almost a spirit in his own regards.
Don't expect something like an action packed onmyoji type series. This show is cerebral and atmospheric. The characters rarely show wide swinging emotions. There is almost no action. No super powers. Just ordinary peoples having unfortunate experiences with the unseen and Ginko trying to do what he can to help them, usually through medicine or esoteric practices. He doesn't construct magic circles and doesn't do anything resembling Shinto ritual. He just offers the knowledge he has gained and any medicinal remedies he has access to in order to help the people expel the mushi from them.
The second season aired simulcast on Crunchyroll. The original season is available of disc in North America as is the manga.
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