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Lore & Background

Migi is a Parasite, one of the mysterious aliens that suddenly begin their invasion by infecting humans through the brain. Migi's attempt to enter Shinichi's brain is thwarted by Shinichi's headphones, forcing Migi to infect his right hand instead. This unique entry allows Shinichi to keep his human consciousness, unlike other victims. After initial shock, Shinichi befriends Migi and names him "Migi" (Japanese for "right"). Migi later saves Shinichi's life after Shinichi's mother, possessed by a different parasite (not Mr. A), mortally injures him: Migi uses his essence to renew Shinichi's heart, essentially infecting Shinichi's entire body with Migi's particles. This causes Shinichi's personality to start merging with Migi's, making him apathetic to emotions and leading to estrangement from his girlfriend Satomi Murano. Migi and Shinichi work together to fend off other parasites who are disgusted by Shinichi's two consciousnesses. Migi is voiced by Sadao Abe in the film.

In Their Own Story

Migi first appears when it attempts to enter Shinichi Izumi's brain but is blocked by his headphones, forcing it to infect his right hand. Shinichi initially panics but eventually befriends the parasite, naming him Migi. Together they face other parasites who find Shinichi's dual consciousness disgusting. When Mr. A, a parasite possessing Shinichi's teacher Ryoko Tamiya's partner, attacks Shinichi and fails, Mr. A transfers his consciousness to Shinichi's mother Nobuko. Nobuko returns home and mortally injures Shinichi. Migi saves Shinichi by using his essence to renew his heart, infecting Shinichi's entire body with Migi's particles. This causes Shinichi's personality to merge with Migi's, making him apathetic and estranging him from Satomi Murano. Later, Shinichi kills the parasite Hideo Shimada after Shimada massacres students at school. Tamiya gives Shinichi the location of the Mr. A-possessed Nobuko, and at their meeting Nobuko overcomes her parasite's consciousness long enough for Shinichi to safely kill her. The epilogue shows an unknown individual recording Shinichi talking with Migi at the hospital.

Reader's Guide

Migi is a Parasite that infects Shinichi Izumi's right hand after failing to enter his brain. Unlike other parasites that fully control their human hosts, Migi shares Shinichi's body while Shinichi retains his human consciousness. This makes them a unique pair that other parasites find disgusting. Migi's voice is provided by Sadao Abe in the film. Key moments include: the initial failed brain invasion due to Shinichi's headphones; the friendship that develops after Shinichi names him Migi; the mortal injury to Shinichi by his possessed mother Nobuko; Migi using his essence to renew Shinichi's heart, infecting his entire body; the resulting personality merge making Shinichi apathetic; and the final hospital scene where an unknown individual records Shinichi talking with Migi. Migi's presence causes Shinichi to become estranged from his girlfriend Satomi Murano due to his emotional detachment.

Did You Know?

• Migi's name means 'right' in Japanese, reflecting that it inhabits Shinichi's right hand.
• Migi failed to enter Shinichi's brain because Shinichi was wearing headphones.
• Migi saved Shinichi's life by using his essence to renew Shinichi's heart after a mortal injury inflicted by Shinichi's mother, who was possessed by a parasite other than Mr. A.
• After Migi's essence spread through Shinichi's body, Shinichi's personality started merging with Migi's, making him apathetic to emotions.
• Migi is voiced by Sadao Abe in the 2014 film Parasyte: Part 1.