Mushishi Zoku Shou – 03
Meanwhile, in Canada.
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Okay, so it’s not not actually that cold here in Canada. It’s definitely not Spring though. A week ago it actually snowed. In April. I suppose I can’t complain since we don’t have snow mushi infesting the precipitation itself. I already survived an ice storm, please don’t let a sentient snowball crash into me as well… |
I may be longing for Spring, but I still can’t deny how beautiful it is to see the world blanketed in snow. There’s just something magical about how everything becomes quiet and muffled during the Winter. It’s the perfect setting for a Mushishi episode. I took many, many screencaps because there was a lot of attention and love given to the snow-capped mountains, icy lakes, and small houses almost buried in thick, white snow. There’s nothing better than watching the snow from the comfort of your warm couch. I also really enjoyed the snowy episode from season 1 about going deaf, so I was really excited to see the Mushishi touch in another wintery environment.
Scenery porn aside, this was another strong episode about a mushi that seems rather harmless…but isn’t. When Tae uncovers Ginko’s drawings, she seems pretty amused instead of afraid. I wouldn’t be very intimidated either if I was told a tiny creature that looks like a wispy snowflake was lurking around. It’s not exactly a fearsome beast that strikes terror into your heart. Plus, they do pretty dumb things like chill out in snow or roll snowballs around and bonk into trees every now and then. Their goal isn’t to mess up humans. They’re not an evil race of demons or spirits that are trying to overthrow mankind by draining our blood and devouring our souls. They’re simply doing what they need to do to survive. Even so, Ginko warns her that even though they’re just silly-looking scribbles that may not intend to harm humans, their indirect actions can be quite devastating.
Toki becomes the victim of one of one such mushi. It saps the warmth from him, following him and causing snow to fall wherever he goes. It’s not enough to outright kill the host, but it does make them cold. So cold, in fact, that they don’t even realize they are cold. Any attempts to get them close to a heat source results in them flinching away in pain. So although Toki does not perceive himself to be in any danger, I think we all know that going out in the snow with sandals on is going to result in frostbite. This may be the only situation where socks with sandals might be slightly more helpful. Anyways…much like getting actual frostbite, when your body becomes cold enough – you stop feeling cold anymore. It’s too cold for any sensory input. Although this may sound great because you’re no longer it pain, it’s actually signaling that you’re about to lose some fingers or toes.
The general theme appears to be denial. Toki denies that he needs help because he can’t feel the cold, so he assumes he’s fine. Likewise, he denies that his little sister is dead so he won’t have to feel the pain of losing her. The message here is that numbing the pain doesn’t make the underlying damage go away. Toki may not feel the bitter chill of winter, but that doesn’t mean going out in blizzards and falling to the bottom of lakes isn’t hurting him. Just as forgetting his sister died in his arms won’t erase the fact that she died and that he will eventually have to get over it. Denial gets you nowhere, because the main issue remains at the heart of it all. It continues to hurt you unless you address it. By facing the truth, Toki becomes warm again. It’s excruciating for him as he regains his senses, but in the end he becomes comfortable sitting by the fire. Admitting that your sister is, indeed, not just sleeping at the bottom of the lake is difficult and painful. But once you get over that, it gets better. Not magical and perfect…but better. Toki should be thankful that he ONLY lost some toes and fingers.
It’s a nice message that ties the mushi with human affairs together very neatly. I also like that Ginko, once again, is there only for providing an explanation and giving us a familiar face to recognize. Who solves the problem? Not him. Toki crawls out of the lake by himself and he regains his feelings after saving Tae. It’s Tae’s dedication to helping him that give him the big wake up call to want to change…along with her physical body heat that warms him up and helps him feel normal again. Ginko escorts them back and simply assists in matters, providing his expert advice. Despite this, it’s not weird at all for him to take the back seat. Ginko is really good at shining, even in an auxiliary role. That’s what makes him one of my favourite characters of the season – he’s a perfect main character for the show’s goals and can flexibly switch from being important to…less so. He has the know-how and magic herbs in his box to exorcise these mushi, but sometimes the solution is a simple one. Sometimes things can be solved by the commonfolk. Really, mushi may not be all that complex when you think about it.
So cold, your tears might freeze
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About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, goodness, you really are making this show a peach to watch. I watched it just reeling in the themes of isolation and the dread of having to come back into human contact.
And even Ginko’s description of the mushi and how pedistrian they are, “living in the snow tracks”, or “causing avalanches”. This world has to have the mushi and the natural walking side by side.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Aww, thanks. It’s a little intimidating to blog since I hold it in such high regard (as I’m sure others do) so I’m doing the best I can each week.
They make mushi sound more like bacteria or insects than mysterious creatures not everyone can see. And I like that! They’re almost indistinguishable from forces of nature sometimes.
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 60 comments
We were on the same path when it came to the snow. Been dealing with depression myself. So this epsidoe was really perfect and helped me make some realization. Mushishi is such a great series.
Now give me another season of Mononoke. <—yes I'll be saying this the whole entire time watching a new season of Mushishi
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Ah, I know what you mean. I was feeling really sick before watching it, but I felt a little less wretched after watching it. It’s not the most “uplifting” anime at first glance, but it somehow makes me feel better every time.
Mushishi reminds me more of Kino no Tabi than Mononoke but I’d gladly take another season of both~
POWUH: Occasional (51-75) with 60 comments
It isn’t that Mononoke and Mushishi are the same show. But they are the shows that influenced my insane love for weird and unorthodox animes.
I like to think the Medicine seller is the son of the human samurai and the female demon in the very first series he appeared in like episode 13 and I was like wtf.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 20 comments
I really enjoyed the visuals of this one – the snow is the icing on the cake for a setting that’s already beautiful and timeless (the timeless-ness is what I loved about it).
For some reason though, the storyline didn’t ‘click’ with me like they usually do – my brain must’ve been tired from watching it so late at night – but your last two paragraphs helped pull it into focus for me, so thanks. I might go watch this episode again now!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
It was gorgeous. There were so many beautiful shots to highlight how lovely everything looked covered in snow. Snow really does make everything look better!
It’s easy to miss things in Mushishi. I doubt I’m even catching everything here. Although, I do try to watch this in the morning since I’m west-rested and alert then.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Ugh, at least you have snow. I envy you guys for such a privilege. I’m from the Caribbean and all my life, I haven’t seen so much as a snowflake. It’s sun, sun and more sun. If there’s any difference, it’s that the nights during Fall and Winter seasons get a bit cooler.
This week’s story was pretty sad since the one who lost their life was a little girl and a bitter ending having Toki lose some important digits. A personal loss like his… it’s only natural he wouldn’t want to accept the reality of his sister’s death. The pain is too much to handle.
These mushi seem to like the sneak attack approach with their effects. Their victims don’t know what hit them until it’s too late and the results aren’t nice. Toki looked more dead than alive because of his pale skin. If not for the threat of frostbite, I would have found the ability to walk freely in the cold without reprisal to be cool (no pun intended). The thing with cold is that it slows the body and its senses. If reached to a certain point, I think it could even make someone believe a person has no pulse.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Haha, I feel ya. My grandfather is from the Caribbean and when I visited him in Winter it felt like our summer. But I haven’t lived there all my life so I know what both sides are like :B
A lot of the commonfolk can’t see mushi so they don’t know that they’re sick. Toki’s denial didn’t help matters. But in general, it’s interesting to see how no one knows what’s going on until Ginko tells them “yeah…that’s a mushi alright.”
And his ability to walk in the snow actually does sound really cool…until you realize he still isn’t invincible =A= On a side note, people who are born without the ability to feel pain (a rare occurrence, of course) almost always die quite young because they don’t learn NOT to hurt themselves.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I miss the snow already~~~ bring back the snowstorms!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
If it snows again here, I’ll try and send it your way through sheer willpower >.<
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
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