30 Days of Anime – #29 the Anime That I Wish Was Real

The anime that I wish was real, or the fictional world that I would most like to step inside of and immerse myself in, would have to be Mushishi. Mushishi is a lesser-known masterpiece that first aired during 2005. The show is about a man named Ginko who travels the world studying these strange creatures known as mushi. Mushi are, ordinarily, invisible to the eye, but are, nevertheless, responsible for various phenomena, some natural, like rainbows, others, supernatural, like immortality, the ability to sense impending disaster, and the ability to communicate with animals.

Ty’s Hidden Gem Series – Gankutsuou

Gankutsuou, or The Count of Monte Cristo, is the 14-year-old (I’m striking while the iron is red-hot here, people!) anime adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ novel of the same name. It follows the titular Count as he exacts his revenge on the trio of men, all of whom belong to the upper class society of Paris, responsible for framing him for a crime he didn’t commit and young Albert, the naive son of one of these men, as he tries to unravel the mystery behind the bizarre goings-on that begin to take place shortly after their chance(?) encounter. Gankutsuou is a beautiful blend of timeless themes, including revenge and man’s capacity for evil, a futuristic setting, and supernatural elements that, instead of contrasting with each other, as you might expect, compliment one another and distinguish it from Dumas’ classic novel. Nevertheless, it is both criminally underrated and rarely discussed, so it is my aim, in reviewing it, to inspire those of you who have yet to see it to give it a go! Enjoy!