History YMMV / Mushishi

* TearJerker: Quite a few stories. Check the page.

* NightmareFuel: This show practically runs on this, especially in later episodes.
** Any episode where BodyHorror is involved... especially the second episode. Dude... her ''eyes!''
*** This is even worse in the episode "Eye Of Fortune, Eye Of Misfortune", which is basically the evolution of that episode.
** Same with purple squicky stuff coming out of the forehead, or pink clouds from the ears and mouth.
** Or rainbows that make you hallucinate and attach to your body. That's right, even rainbows are terrifying in this story.
** Also strings that float in the sky, [[spoiler: that are actually fishing lines for huge flying ''mushi'' to grab food with. Oh, and the "food" can be just about anything, by the way. Including humans.]]
** Then there was the story about the guy [[spoiler: whose dreams become reality.]] ''Especially'' the part [[spoiler: where he dreams of a plague that turns the rest of the villagers to dust.]] ''Shudder''...
** The "dog" that the boy draws in the first episode. It comes to life, still appearing as a poorly made child's drawing. To say the least, the thought of seeing something like that actually walking around gives me the willies.

** Also strings that float in the sky, [[spoiler: that are actually fishing lines for huge flying ''mushi'' to grab food with.]]

->"I stole ten-thousand pounds, ten thousand pounds to see you.
->I robbed convenience stores because I thought they'd make it easier.
->I fought off giant bears and I killed them too"

* AwesomeAnachronisticApparel: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]], as Ginko wears modern clothes in a feudal setting.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero[=/=]IDidWhatIHadToDo: It's up to the viewer to decide which of these applies to Yahagi in "Journey to Bonfire Field" [[spoiler: Ginko is 100% correct that burning the mountainside wouldn't get rid of the ''mushi'', but there is nothing but his own confidence to suggest that he could have come up with the correct solution in time to avoid all of the vegetation in the area being poisoned (including the rice fields, which would have caused a localized famine). Worse, instead of thinking clearly, he's so upset that he berates the villagers in an insulting way, which predictably does not make them want to listen to him. On the other hand, it was colossally stupid of Yahagi not to admit right away that she'd swallowed one of the Hidene that resulted from the fires, and several villagers ended up dying from exposure to Hidene ''mushi'' as well. If she'd swallowed her pride and asked for his help, they probably would have worked out that the larval "weed" form could be killed by the false Hidene fire sooner. Still, she wasn't wrong to point out to Ginko that the Hidene were more manageable than the previously unknown larval stage that they'd burned and if the villagers had been diligent about listening to her warnings, no one but Yahagi would have been harmed.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero/IDidWhatIHadToDo: It's up to the viewer to decide which of these applies to Yahagi in "Journey to Bonfire Field" [[spoiler: Ginko is 100% correct that burning the mountainside wouldn't get rid of the ''mushi'', but there is nothing but his own confidence to suggest that he could have come up with the correct solution in time to avoid all of the vegetation in the area being poisoned (including the rice fields, which would have caused a localized famine). Worse, instead of thinking clearly, he's so upset that he berates the villagers in an insulting way, which predictably does not make them want to listen to him. On the other hand, it was colossally stupid of Yahagi not to admit right away that she'd swallowed one of the Hidene that resulted from the fires, and several villagers ended up dying from exposure to Hidene ''mushi'' as well. If she'd swallowed her pride and asked for his help, they probably would have worked out that the larval "weed" form could be killed by the false Hidene fire sooner. Still, she wasn't wrong to point out to Ginko that the Hidene were more manageable than the previously unknown larval stage that they'd burned and if the villagers had been diligent about listening to her warnings, no one but Yahagi would have been harmed.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero=/=IDidWhatIHadToDo: It's up to the viewer to decide which of these applies to Yahagi in "Journey to Bonfire Field" [[spoiler: Ginko is 100% correct that burning the mountainside wouldn't get rid of the ''mushi'', but there is nothing but his own confidence to suggest that he could have come up with the correct solution in time to avoid all of the vegetation in the area being poisoned (including the rice fields, which would have caused a localized famine). Worse, instead of thinking clearly, he's so upset that he berates the villagers in an insulting way, which predictably does not make them want to listen to him. On the other hand, it was colossally stupid of Yahagi not to admit right away that she'd swallowed one of the Hidene that resulted from the fires, and several villagers ended up dying from exposure to Hidene ''mushi'' as well. If she'd swallowed her pride and asked for his help, they probably would have worked out that the larval "weed" form could be killed by the false Hidene fire sooner. Still, she wasn't wrong to point out to Ginko that the Hidene were more manageable than the previously unknown larval stage that they'd burned and if the villagers had been diligent about listening to her warnings, no one but Yahagi would have been harmed.]]

** This is mostly because the Mushi and their effects seem to be based on everyday weirdness, generally stuff that in reality has perfectly reasonable explanations, but here are caused by ''mushi''. [[FridgeBrilliance The mushi themselves are reminiscent of the weird dust specs (often called 'floaters') that get stuck on your pupils and float about.]]
* StoicWoobie: Ginko -- but this depends on how much you hate the idea of being a wandering exorcist of sorts for the rest of your life.

* FridgeBrilliance: Ginko's remarks in Episode 20 about being unsure how much longer he'll survive seem reasonable enough given his line of work, but take on a whole new level of meaning when you remember that [[spoiler: he is most likely fated to turn into a Tokoyami one day like Nui.]]

** Also strings that float in the sky, [[spoiler: that are actually fishing lines for huge flying Mushi to grab food with.]]

* ParanoiaFuel: ''So'' much. Two examples being Episode 4 ([[spoiler:Had a nightmare recently? ''It may become reality'']]) and Episode 17 ([[spoiler:Don't. ''Ever.'' Close. Any. Door. Or be in any completely closed place. Not even for a second.]])
** This is mostly because the Mushi and their effects seem to be based on everyday weirdness, generally stuff that in reality has perfectly reasonable explanations, but here are caused by Mushi. [[FridgeBrilliance The mushi themselves are reminiscent of the weird dust specs (often called 'floaters') that get stuck on your pupils and float about.]]

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: This show practically runs on this, especially in later episodes.

* TearJerker: Quite a few stories.
* TheWoobie: Most of [[WoobieOfTheWeek the side characters]] qualify.

** Or rainbows that make you hallucinate and attach to your body. That's right, [[BeyondTheImpossible even rainbows are terrifying in this story.]]

* TearJerker: Quite a few stories actually.
* StoicWoobie: Ginko, but this depends on how much you hate the idea of being a wandering exorcist of sorts.

* FanNickname: Ginko is sometimes referred to as "Pimp-ko" for his seemingly [[ChickMagnet supernatural ability to attract women.]]

* FanNickname: Ginko is sometimes referred to as "Pimp-ko" for his seemingly supernatural ability to attract women to him.
** Maybe [[LadyLand all Mushi are female]], and that's the source of his difficulties...
* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Not exactly "Funny", but the tsunami in Episode 4 following the 2011 Sendai Earthquake.

** How about the one about the guy [[spoiler: whosr dreams become reality?]] Especially the part [[spoiler: where he dreams of a plague that turns the rest of the villagers to dust.]] ''Shudder''...

** This is mostly because the Mushi and their effects seem to be based on everyday weirdness, generally stuff that in reality has perfectly reasonable explanations, but here are caused by Mushi. Hell, the mushi themselves look reminiscent of the weird dust specs (often called 'floaters') that get stuck on your pupils and float about.
** [[FridgeBrilliance Didn't think of the floaters before]], to me they always looked like plankton and jellyfish.

* TheWoobie: Ginko and [[WoobieOfTheWeek most of the side characters]] usually qualify.

** How about the one about the guy [[spoiler: who's dreams become reality?]] Especially the part [[spoiler: where he dreams of a plague that turns the rest of the villagers to dust.]] ''shudder''...

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Audushino.

** [[FridgeBrilliance Didn't think of the floaters before]], to me they always looked like plankton and jellyfish.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: Any episode where BodyHorror is involved... especially the second episode. Dude... her ''eyes!''
** Same with purple squicky stuff coming out of the forehead, or pink clouds from the ears and mouth.

** [[FridgeBrilliance Didn't think of the floaters before]], to me they always looked like plankton and jellyfish.
* TrueNeutral: Whilst if episode 20 is anything to go by most ''mushishi'' are concerned simply with exterminating whatever ''mushi'' come into contact with humans, Ginko (and to be fair a few of other ''mushishi'' met in the series, such as Nui) seems to possess a distinctly Druidic view of the balance of nature. He's also not beyond misleading people on occasion if he thinks it's for the best. Or if it's for a relatively harmless thing like selling a genuine Mushi artifact to a rich collector, but letting him think Mushi still live in it.
** I agree with the character interpretation, but wouldn't that make him more NeutralGood?

** Maybe [[Ladyland all Mushi are female]], and that's the source of his difficulties...

* TrueNeutral: Whilst if episode 20 is anything to go by most ''mushishi'' are concerned simply with exterminating whatever ''mushi'' come into contact with humans, Ginko (and to be fair a few of other ''mushishi'' met in the series, such as Nui) seems to possess a distinctly Druidic view of the balance of nature. He's also not beyond misleading people on occasion if he thinks it's for the best.