Review of Mushi-shi: The Shadow that Devours the Sun
The new special was a shock to us all. Mushishi is, well let’s be blunt, an older series – and being “old” (returning after almost nine years have passed) it has all the charms of seeing an old friend after a long time. Or falling into your bed after being away from home a long time. The world is nebulous, the time frame uncertain, but it is unquestionable blend of Japanese folktales, pre-industrialization Japan and modern world technology. Like the word itself, viewers can suspend belief when it comes to the supernatural mushi. And that belief has a kind of subtle magic. For fans, there-visitation of the series was good one, a nice segaway for the new season coming out in 2014. Additionally, there are some "Easter eggs" to please return watchers.
The plot, like the episodes before it, can be described simplistically. Ginko has to save the day, and he ends up doing so. The “deep-ness” of the plot though has never been what Mushishi was about. Rather it was always the characters and the focus that, though the Mushi initially appear as harbingers of doom, their relationship with humans is symbiotic. They are merely a mirror reflecting back at us. To classify them as monsters misses the entire point. The show never takes a accusatory tone for the havoc that mushi can wreck, and the same point is articulated beautifully in this special. There is one particularly lovely scene where Ginko, in his understated way, talks to a young girl about she is similar to the mushi. It’s not to be missed – it’s touching, emotional and thought provoking. At moments like this, the special really shines.
The length is somewhat of a detriment to the show because of additional subplots which weaken the air of relative simplicity that the anime had, and undermined the potential for melancholic feelings. The studio crammed too much in to allow the creativity of previous episodes, and the lingering camera shots of scenery that developed the mood in the anime. Unlike other storylines that were thought provoking, the message of this special was less subtle – more like being hit in the face with a sledge hammer. It wasn't the strongest writing for certain.
The characters and their seiyuu are what make this. The use of child actors gave authenticity. Ginko is as enigmatic as ever, and undisputedly the star of the show though he never dominates screen time; not much development is done on his character in the special. But he seems like a man without a particular time and place, calm and helpful, slow paced. He has a type of quiet charisma, just like the show itself. There are no gimmicks, no flashy action sequences, but rather characterization and relationships that bloom with the passing of time. The special has impact because of the emotions it evokes, not the plot or the characters in their own right.
The animation is, in particular, a tad bit disappointing. It appears almost identical to the show even though it’s nine years later and suffers consistently from quality issues throughout. There are some very noticeable “animation bumps,” unnatural movements made by humans, lip-synching issues and plainly noticeable CGI. It also suffers from a lack of variation in character design; at times, characters are indistinguishable from each other. Some scenes can be incredible beautiful and painterly with subdued, watercolor-esque colors.
It has some absolutely stunning songs that help express the feel and the tone of the story. Traditional instruments are used to great effect, and frequent repetition of a few songs over and over help unite the story. The music is haunting, beautiful and eerie – everything it needed to be. I can’t imagine the story having a similar effect without it.
This "special" is hard to review - why? Because there are many issues, but it's very charming. It hearkens back to the "golden age" of anime where studio's took risks and were inventive. It was about pushing boundaries and not all about the money. Having Mushishi back is like a return of those ideals - just let the music, animation and atmosphere flow - it's as one reviewer put it "a calming drug." It may not be prefect but is relaxing and simplistic. It's the type of thing that anime and viewers occasionally need. It's nothing new but enjoyable, a feeling to bask in long after it's over.