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My experience with Texhnolyze. This review covers my take on the story and why I like it so much.

Texhnolyze tells the story of the man-made city of Lux and the big parties of people vying for full control of it; but not in the traditional sense. The only people remaining in the run-down city of Lux are criminals and people near the end of their time. It ponders what will happen when human evolution can no longer go any further, and it's time for them to naturally die out. Many humans in Texhnolyze are now looking to artificially prolong their survival, which is also ... part of the power struggle between the parties controlling Lux. The main character is Ichise, who in my opinion really symbolises the city itself - he's dark, empty, and broken both physically and mentally. The city of Lux gives a very unique feel to it - it's almost like a character in itself, like a culmination of how everyone in the city is living and feeling; empty and used, seemingly waiting to die. Texhnolyze explores this theme and looks into the city, particularly the psychology of the city. This creates an immensely dreadful atmosphere of emptiness and loss. It's a mastery of storytelling that is so immersive that it makes you feel like you're really living in Lux.

Going back to the artificial evolution of the human race, we get what's quite common in sci-fi - robotics. Texhnolyze explores the merging of robots and humans, rather than the addition of robots to society. People are modifying their bodies with robotics because the normal human build is simply not strong enough to withstand the trial of time. However, it doesn't feel as though they're being upgraded, but rather replaced. It's difficult to talk about this without getting spoilers, but Texhnolyze handles this in a way I've never seen before.

Texhnolyze focuses more on how humans will be responsible for their own extinction and how we will handle this rather than how it happened. It's a realistic look into how grim our future might be. It's relentless, and doesn't have any light-hearted moments to lighten the mood. It's 22 episodes of dark and formidable storytelling. If you can stick it out to the end, you'll be rewarded with one of the best endings of all time, which is ironically not filled with nihilism and instead shows that there is always meaning to be found in life regardless of your circumstances. The message here is raw and beautiful, which is why I hold it in such high regard.

"Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. They are known as mushi—creatures that came into being shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze. They still exist parallel to our own lives and can only be seen by a select few."

The artwork really speaks for itself, and it's a style that's genuinely pleasing to the eye.

Mushishi exudes an atmosphere that makes you want to keep coming back to read more. Each story is like a separate meditation, expressing the importance behind the connection between humans and the nature around them in everyday ... life; how they can easily affect one another and the environment surrounding them. The dynamic between humans, nature, and life in Mushishi's world is shown beautifully through potent dialogue in every chapter.

"It’s not your fault. Nor was it the Mushi’s fault. You were both just trying to live. Nobody is guilty. Don’t die. You’ve done nothing wrong." - Ginko.

We follow Ginko, one of the few aware of their (mushi) existence, as he roams from place to place as a mediator between the mushi and those affected by them, learning more about them and their purpose in the world. Ginko's occupation as a mushishi is entirely out of self interest, and it's easy to see his excitement or frustration when dealing with a new type of mushi. Reading alongside the OST for the anime definitely enhanced my immersive experience with Mushishi.


Philosophical themes in Mushishi:

1. The colours white and green - So far, the colours white and green have played a major part in the series. Green is the colour of the mushi themselves, of life and of nature. White is Ginko's signature colour, the colour of death and the spirit world to the Japanese. But Ginko's eyes are green, making him the link between life and reality and the world of the mushi.

2. Dreams and Reality - In "The Pillow Pathway", the idea of a path between dreams and reality, between death and life is explored. By what mechanism do we wander the highways and byways of the universe when we sleep, and what happens when we have a stowaway on our journey?

3. The relationship between human beings and mushi - The fundamental basis for the series, and the point at which Ginko steps into the picture to have an adventure, is the point at which humans and mushi interact. This relationship is strange and complex, with humans and mushi both representing life in different forms, and each being destructive in different forms. Sometimes mushi and humans co-exist, sometimes they compete for the same resources, or engage in a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with one another.

4. Isolation and solitude - Isolation and solitude are the natural result of an interaction with mushi, but those things can also invite mushi into one's life. Learning how to deal with loneliness and isolation, or conversely, the love and pursuit of solitude, are threads that run throughout the series.

All in all, Mushishi is Yuki Urushibara's masterpiece that is deserving of all the praise it receives. It seamlessly pulls off high levels of character development and narrative in every short story without having much of an overarching plot. Being in an episodic style, you don't need to worry about pacing, with each conclusive story taking 10-20 minutes to read. I'd be quick to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a slice of life and drama with deep themes.