Rating: 7.5/10 & 7.7/10

Impressions:

Between episode 8 (the one with action) and 9 (the one with development), I think I’d have to choose the latter. The action is hardly intense, although the development leads to Rina finally discovering the truth between Shiika’s relationship and Daisuke’s. The way I see it now, they could go in several directions: Rina could go homicidal against Shiika and try to ‘capture’ Daisuke; or she could be totally cool with it, support it, then discover Daisuke’s her enemy and go emo; OR she could find out about Daisuke and the two join sides. I personally want to see Daisuke convert to the Mushibane, since he’s definitely out of place where he is. Plus, he needs more time with Rina.

Rating: 7/10 & 7.5/10

Impressions:

The pace slows down quite a bit in episode 6, though it does build on Shiika’s character. Overall, it’s a nice little episode where she meets some other minor characters, enhancing the show’s overall character-character relationship matrix. The requests Shiika makes, and the fact that they are accepted, seem pretty strange to me. It seems that visiting schools is a big thing in many anime, though I guess if I had never been to one before, I’d be interested as well. Anyway though, hopefully Shiika’s visit to the school will mean Rina’s friends develop a more important role in the future, although I believe it to be fairly unlikely.

Episode 7 returns the thrill value of the show to normal, with some more action. This time, Asami has become a host, and I have a feeling she won’t make it to the end of the series. It seems that this show doesn’t hesitate to have people’s mushi killed. Kasuo will be problematic as well, though I find her sudden placement into the series to be rather hasty and unnatural. Luckily though, along with her, several other characters come into the light as well. I especially like the little girl who accompanies Kasuo when she appears. The guy with her doesn’t interest me much though…

Rating: 7.5/10 & 8/10

Impressions:

Episode 4 left me quite surprised due to the sudden face-off between the two main characters of the show—I had thought they would discover each other’s identities, but thankfully, they didn’t. It ended rather abruptly, but I guess it wouldn’t be very fitting to have some ‘boss battle’ at this stage of the show. Even so, Daisuke’s power disappoints me a little, as he fails to show how good his rank dictates. Rina’s mushi is a lot more impressive, though I guess Daisuke’s has that feeling of uniqueness around it. Oh and speaking of the two, apparently Rina is focused more on Centi than Daisuke…ahh how disappointing. xD

The next episode’s pacing decreases somewhat, though it provides interesting information regarding Daisuke’s past (as well as Shiika’s). I ended up liking that episode more than the previous one. Seeing the bond Daisuke and Shiika shared when they were younger makes it clear why the two became so attracted to each other the moment they made eye contact. I don’t believe it to be a romantic attraction at all. Anyway, apart from a bit character development and background information, this episode also places Shiika and Rina on the same side, and their relationship will make for an even more interesting episode when everyone’s identities are revealed!

Rating: 7.8/10

Impressions:

The change Daisuke undergoes after donning his uniform is extraordinary, affecting even his voice. He seems to be absolutely ruthless in this form, which is probably why he did not hesitate in shooting Shiika all those years ago. The normal Daisuke is a completely different person, but I find both likeable. When he’s normal, he’s actually really normal. He’s not a wimp when it comes to girls, he’s not a pervert like some helpless anime leads are; he’s pretty much your average student, which I find surprisingly. Of course, his ruthless state is just plain interesting, as I wonder how he would act towards someone like Rina if they meet in the next episode.

Well we learn that Shiika is also the one knows as Fuyuhotaru, a Fallen who broke out of GARDEN. The thing is, she and the Mushibane, no matter how I look at it, seem to be the protagonists. They’re fighting for the people, not policing them, which I find pretty cruel even if there is nothing else to be done when someone is identified as a host. This makes it highly interesting to see how things turn out, especially the relationships between Daisuke and the two girls, Shiika and Rina. I wonder how Rina would react if she finds out that Daisuke is her enemy, and someone who shot the little girl’s mushi…

Rating: 7.5/10

Impressions:

Although this episode isn’t as impacting as the first one, it does present us with some interesting background information, handed to us in a very melancholic manner—something which I love watching. Sadness, angst, fury etc, all bring out characters far more efficiently than happier moods, which are usually forgotten as unimportant side information. We learn a bit about Shiika, someone who Daisuke apparently captures back in the flashback in episode 1. I don’t think it’s known from where she’s escaped from yet, though reading off of ANN, you get a much better picture.

I’m really curious about the obvious notions of love already apparent. Rina seems to have an obvious crush on Daisuke, and it’s most likely that she is completely clueless as to who Daisuke really is. He and Shiika seem to have gotten off pretty well, but the connection between them probably runs much deeper than what we see on the surface. I wonder if the two really can’t remember each other, or they’re hiding for whatever mysterious cause. The girl who spies on Daisuke and Shiika this episode seems to be trouble, as there’s a chance she knows the true identity of Shiika. Actually, I wonder if Shiika was actually set free, rather than escaped.

The quality drops somewhat this episode, and doesn’t impress as much as the last one. However, hopefully the quality will stay at a minimum of the level we see here for the rest of the series, as it is only 12 episodes. I know I’m already behind on this series, seeing as how episode 4 has already been released, but I should be able to catch up pretty soon. Aside from character and relational development, I’m hoping for some more action, which is pretty striking in the first episode. Of course, I’m eagerly awaiting the confrontation between Daisuke and Rina once their identities are revealed; something that’s bound to happen sooner or later.

Rating: 8/10

Japanese Title: ムシウタ
Genre(s): Fantasy
Episodes: 12
OP: “Mushi-Uta�? by Akatsuki
ED: “Sayonara�? by Hiromi Sato
Producer(s): Beat Frog
Official Site: http://www.wowow.co.jp/anime/mushi-uta/

Impressions:

Beginning with good quality and an interesting story, Mushi-Uta has captured my interest at once. I had been interested in it since I researched it, but I had learned not to make high expectations for anything I haven’t seen before, so I kept my anticipation low. But I found myself loving this episode as I watched it. It has the appeal of action and blood from the mysterious battle between the Preservation Bureau and the Mushibane, as well as the nice and squishy feeling that you I get from the school life scenes. I just need to watch the next episode to be sure of this…Mushi-Uta is only 12 episodes as well…

Already, it looks like there’s something going on between Daisuke of the Preservation Bureau and Rina of the Mushibane. And of course, the mysterious green haired girl who Daisuke leads us to believe had been shot by him, comes back in the end. I have no idea where this show will go, but the mysteriousness alone is enough to make me keep watching. Daisuke changes an awful lot when he switches to becoming a normal guy as well, which is both useful and creepy. In any case, I just hope that the subs keep up as well. So far, there seem to be two subbers which are doing a reliable job, and I hope they don’t stop.