|
-
News
- Features
- Events
Calendar
- Editorials
- Monthly
Zine
- Offworld
Report
- Our Daily
RSS Feed
- Movie/TV
Reviews
> Recent movies
> Movies by year
> Movies by title
- Book
Reviews
> Recent books
> Books by year
> Books by title
- Home
- Worlds
- Biography
- Bibliography
- Appearances
- Reviews
- Blog
- Community
- Press
- Links
Become
an Advertiser
- Web
Site Directory
- Search
the Net
- StephenHunt.net
- WoodenRocket.com
- Check
your E-mail
- Non Sci-Fi
News
|
Mushi-Shi Vol. 1 episodes 1-5
02/02/2008 . Source: Phil Jones 
region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films. FUN72901. 1 DVD 165 minutes 5 episodes plus extras. Price: £15.99 (UK). Mushi-Shi Starter Pack 1 - this contains Vol. 1 and a box for all the volumes. (region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films. FUN72901. 1 DVD 165 minutes 5 episodes plus extras. Price: £21.99 (UK). Buy Mushi-Shi in the USA - or Buy Mushi-Shi in the UK  check out website: www.revfilms.com and www.funimation.com/mushishi
I think a lot of people who don't watch anime tend to have a narrow, stereotypical view of the whole genre. It's not all high impact fast-paced mech action. 'Mushi-Shi', for a start, demonstrates this very, very well. It doesn't really fall into any of the normal genres. It has very little in the way of structure or consistent characters only in the way of one main character. It starts of quietly. No grand openings or big bangs and follows the work and stories of a Mushi-shi master, Ginko. Each of the five episodes follows a different story with only Ginko really linking them along with the influence and interaction of Mushi on people.
What are Mushi? Well, a sort of life or life force, tiny creatures that inhabit the world somewhere between that of life and an object. Organic part of life that not all see or are even aware of. What the stories really demonstrate is people's hope, despair, loneliness and a whole host of human suffering and happiness, along with an appreciation of the world around us.
The first story is of a young boy who's drawings come to life. He is isolated by his mother in the forest in a quiet house and joined by Ginko who tries to help. This is re-visited in episode five where Ginko starts to discuss and question his choices. That's the wonderful thing about this series. There is no definite right or wrong. Ginko often struggles to solve Mushi-related problems. His knowledge is not complete and we often see him struggling to help. Sometimes all goes well but always he tries to respect life be it Human or Mushi.
Some Mushi are to all appearances parasitical - eating sound and making the host deaf or affecting dreams. Sometimes they help like the girl who is rescued by a travelling swamp. The quietness of the series is reflected by the low, haunting music that is used sparingly but also very effectively. The animation is good with beautifully drawn backgrounds with effects used just enough to heighten the experience. Keeping though the impact and emotion intact.
The series explores the physical, metaphysical and fantasy with nothing feeling out of place. Funmation's handling of the dubbing is on the whole a lot better than some of the other series they've done. They have definitely kept more in keeping with the feel and sentiment of the series for which they should be praised although they still do get it a bit off the mark with more in-depth material. It is really good to see series like this brought to a western audience and both Funmation, and Revelation films should be praised for taking the step.
The series I think is trying to make us see the world around us and not just take it all for granted. The director has tried to bring us a faithful but interesting version of the manga. As for extras, we've got a couple of interviews with the director, a studio tour and the usual text-less opener along with trailers. So all in all a very satisfying little package. Well worth exploring.
Phil Jones
|
|
