MUSHISHI Returns In January With New Hour Long Special

Put all thoughts of Otomo Katsuhiro's live action adaptation of Urushibara Yuki's manga Mushishi out your head. It's not very good. We know. But the Nagahama Hiroshi directed anime series? That's an entirely different matter and Nagahama is returning to direct a new hour long Mushishi special titled Mushishi: Sun Eating Shade to air in Japan on January 4th.

The 'mushi' of the title are a sort of primordial life form, something pre-plant or animal. They're so basic, in fact, that they often exhibit abilities that appear to be magical and the series follows a young man - the titular Mushishi - who is expert in such matters and intervenes when mushi somehow impact on human affairs. It's a surprisingly contemplative series with episodes often playing out more like classy mysteries (laced with a hint of the supernatural) than you may imagine from the description and its return is very welcome.