where (and how) to watch
mushi-shi subbed

The anime Mushi-shi consists of 46 episodes and three double-length OVAs. I generally recommend that newcomers watch the series in order of release date. However, Mushi-shi is an anthology, so feel free to watch it out of order.March 2026 Update
Mushi-shi has unfortunately been removed from a number of streaming sites in recent years. For those living in the US, there is currently no legal streaming option for the entire second season (Next Passage) or the final two OVAs (Path of Thorns and Bell Droplets). Some countries do offer Next Passage and Path of Thorns on Crunchyroll; see this Reddit post for a non-exhaustive list.

MUSHI-SHI
one season, 26 episodes
aired 10/2005 - 6/2006

  • 1. The Green Throne

  • 2. The Light in the Eyelids

  • 3. Soft Horns

  • 4. The Alley Through the Pillow

  • 5. The Traveling Swamp

  • 6. The Dew Consuming Swarm

  • 7. Raindrops and Rainbows

  • 8. Where Beyond the Sea

  • 9. Heavy Fruit

  • 10. The Whiteness in the Ink Stone

  • 11. To Sleep in the Mountains

  • 12. One-Eyed Fish

  • 13. The One-Night Bridge

  • 14. Inside the Cage

  • 15. Pretense of Spring

  • 16. Dawn Snake

  • 17. Picking Empty Cocoons

  • 18. The Mountain Bearing Robe

  • 19. A String in the Sky

  • 20. A Sea of Ink

  • 21. Cotton Spores

  • 22. The Sea Shrine

  • 23. Chorus of Rust

  • 24. The Journey to the Field of Fire

  • 25. Pleasant Sights, Woeful Sights

  • 26. The Sound of Footsteps on the Grass

The Shadow That Devours the Sun (Hi hamu kage)
ova number 1 of 3
aired 1/2014

Mushi-shi: Next Passage (Zoku Shou)
first half, 10 episodes
aired 4/2014 - 6/2014

Only available on Crunchyroll for certain countries (not including the US).

  • 1. Banquet at the Forest’s Edge

  • 2. The Warbling Sea Shell

  • 3. Beneath the Snow

  • 4. The Hand That Caresses the Night

  • 5. Mirror Lake

  • 6. Floral Delusion

  • 7. Cloudless Rain

  • 8. Wind Raiser

  • 9. Valley of the Welling Tides

  • 10. Depths of Winter

path of thorns (odoro no michi)
ova number 2 of 3
aired 8/2014

Only available on Crunchyroll for certain countries (not including the US).

Mushi-shi: Next Passage (Zoku Shou)
second half, 10 episodes
aired 10/2014 - 12/2014

Only available on Crunchyroll for certain countries (not including the US).

  • 11. Cushion of Grass

  • 12. Fragrant Darkness

  • 13. Lingering Crimson

  • 14. Hidden Cove

  • 15. Thread of Light

  • 16. Sea of Otherworldly Stars

  • 17. Azure Waters

  • 18. Lightning’s End

  • 19. Mud Grass

  • 20. Tree of Eternity

bell droplets (suzu no shizuku)
ova number 3 of 3
aired 5/2015

No legal stream or purchase option is currently available.