(L) Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous)

[blakstealth]

started watching this. wow, I'm digging it. Pretty interesting premise and a very fun and likeable main character.

"HEY! MY DIAMOND!"

[LG-MAX 2.o]

it is because of this anime (and some others) that I do not hate CG anime or I have prejudice.

[Akito Kinomoto]

I'm five episodes into this show and I've just been captivated by what I've seen so far. Bizarre, engaging, intelligent, and fun, how I wish I found this series sooner. The character interactions are dynamic, entertaining, and believable, the dips into philosophy and self-worth never feel like lectures, and the gimmick to the extent it is one blends seamlessly into each character to where one forgets they're talking about precious rock properties. I know not the worth of phosphorous, but this has been a real gem

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Akuma Kousaka

I'm five episodes into this show and I've just been captivated by what I've seen so far. Bizarre, engaging, intelligent, and fun, how I wish I found this series sooner. The character interactions are dynamic, entertaining, and believable, the dips into philosophy and self-worth never feel like lectures.

Houseki no Kuni was easily my favourite TV anime series from last year, topping Made in Abyss, which was also fantastic. The innovative blend of 3D and 2D art, and the highly skilled use of 3D animation — especially in action sequences — made HnK truly groundbreaking, even more so than MiA.

And the story's extensive allusion to Buddhist philosophy and symbols only made it that much more fascinating and insightful. I've since learnt that the mangaka had actually studied at a Buddhist high school, and is genuinely well-informed about the deeper implications of Buddhist thought. That made the anime all the more interesting for me!

[Akito Kinomoto]

Bizarre, enthralling, intelligent, poignant, and fun, I need a 2nd season of this show yesterday

-Gold, heavy and malleable. There's something appropriate about Phos' body becoming such. And in many ways our lead is ahead of everyone else, with the capacity to bend but never break carrying the weight of something they all suspect

-And not just with Adamantine, but needless to say the Lunarians aren't all..."bad"

-It ends right as Phos and Cinnabar are about to team up. It didn't go the way either of them intended, and the bright-eyed idealism is long gone. But after everything that's happened, a rough-edged conclusion such as this is quite appropriate

[Lukes YGO & WS on YT]

Spoiler for Episode 1:

That was rather interesting to watch and I found it surprisingly good too.

The animation is a very different style to me but I liked it.

Tough job that doctor has, she has to constantly keep putting these gem girls back together, looks like a lot of fighting to continue in the next episode.

Spoiler for Episode 2:

Even as a gem it hurts being put in a Boston Crab.

Diamond was pretty cool, not sure what is fully going on with her and that injury.

bort is very strong and cool to watch in battle.

A giant snail that can melt them all away, quite the tough situation they are all in.

I wonder if Cinnabar will actually be the one to save Phos.

Spoiler for Episode 3:

Not much action in this episode but it's good that they managed to get Phos back together, and they have a new pet which Phos can communicate with by the looks of it.

I want to see more interactions between Phos and Cinnabar in the upcoming episodes, Cinnabar seems to by pretty lonely out there.

Spoiler for Episode 4:

Ah so the snail have a voice now when it communicates with Phos.

That was funny watching it hit on the master.

Wow it transformed into some kind of woman jellyfish.

Oh no it was a double cross in order to save her brother, I really hope Phos can find a way out of this predicament.

Spoiler for Episode 5:

I was fearing the worst for both snails when the Lunarians were attacking them both but that brother is very strong.

We also nice to him to get that material that would later become new legs for Phos.

Cinnabar will probably join forces with Phos eventually.

What an upgrade those new legs are for Phos.

Now to wait until next episode to see how they operate in that battle if Phos actually has to do anything, the master might wipe them all out and Bort looks ready to rumble as always.

Spoiler for Episode 6:

It's hard being the doc, spends all night repairing Phos then wakes up to Zircon needing her head reattached.

Those twins were very impressive, and then all of a sudden that happened, I want them to be alright but I am fearing the worst.

Phos got a hard dose of expectation VS reality in this episode.

As expected of Sensei, he wiped the rest of them out easily.

Spoiler for Episode 7:

I am glad those 2 are alright, would have taken quite a bit of work to put them back together.

Diamond definitely looked the best in that dress.

While Phos has good legs now the rest of her body isn't very good.

Free hugs with Sensei.

That surprised me when the ice was talking.

Oh no Phos in trouble again, Antarcticite was really worried about the arms, hopefully they can be repaired, or maybe new material will go on them and make them better just like the legs.

Spoiler for Episode 8:

Well that was a rather depression episode losing Antarcticite after trying so hard.

I really hope these new arms for Phos make a difference in the upcoming episodes.

At the moment Phos is kind of a useless character who brings nothing but misfortune to others so I hope Phos can become a badass character who can make a real difference over time instead of being someone who cannot contribute and always suffers.

Ah looks like everyone else is back next time and with new clothes, Sensei hits the wall again.

Spoiler for Episode 9:

When they say what a difference a week make just, just watch episode 8 & 9 for this show.

Well Phos is definitely different, can take care of the enemies going solo but now has absolutely no personality, and who's mind is in a complete mess.

I kinda miss the old Phos, at least that version had personality and was fun to watch.

Spoiler for Episode 10:

That is one giant scary Lunarian.

I like that Bort wants to team up and help Phos fight better.

Diamond needs to work on hiding better, usually keeping quite and not moving helps.

Oh, I thought Diamond actually defeated it, but splitting it in half made it split into 2 different beings.

Spoiler for Episode 11:

That was rather surprising seeing that Lunarian become harmless puppies, and then Sensei making it dog like obedient.

That was funny watching Alex's other personality.

It's only natural that Sensei knows more about the Lunarians than anyone else, who knows just how long he has been around for.

Even Antarcticite doesn't want Phos to get involved, maybe it's one of those situations where it's better off not knowing, just fight them instead.

Rather funny seeing them all asleep in that fur.

So it died then when it found peace?

Bort was very well praised by Phos, Bort does seem to be the best fighter from what I have seen so far this series.

Quite the name Padparadscha, needed to google search it, it's a type of Sapphire. It awoke though.

More Phos & Cinnabar interactions next time.

Spoiler for Episode 12 & Series Score:

I was excited by the awakening of Padparadscha, didn't last for long though, oit went back to sleep pretty quickly.

That was funny seeing Alex in sensei's clothes.

Wow Cinnabar wiped them out so quickly.

Phos did make some progress, that lunarian does have eyes and and tried to speak.

That was funny watching Cinnabar running away from Phos.

Looks like Cinnabar has decided to finally open up a bit to Phos though, hope to see more of those 2.

Interesting looking island they are on.

Defintely one of the best animes this season for me 9/10.

Really hope there is a 2nd season sometime.

[Kanon]

I've been working on my backlog for the past couple years lately, and this series has really stood out among the rest.

The setting is just fascinating, the characters' interactions feel very natural, Phos is an incredibly engaging and tragic character, and the animation looks beautiful. This is by far the best looking 3D anime I've ever seen, and this type of animation fits the setting perfectly, to the point I wouldn't have had it another way. The studio did a brilliant job. I immediately looked up what they've done since, and sadly, nothing. I can only hope their next work will come out soon, and that it'll be a second season of this!

I should also mention the voice cast was top tier. So many great names here, and the performance of Tomoyo Kurosawa as Phos was marvelous.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Kanon

I've been working on my backlog for the past couple years lately, and this series has really stood out among the rest.

The setting is just fascinating, the characters' interactions feel very natural, Phos is an incredibly engaging and tragic character, and the animation looks beautiful. This is by far the best looking 3D anime I've ever seen, and this type of animation fits the setting perfectly, to the point I wouldn't have had it another way. The studio did a brilliant job. I immediately looked up what they've done since, and sadly, nothing. I can only hope their next work will come out soon, and that it'll be a second season of this!

One can only pray. Glad to know you enjoyed this. I was also massively impressed by the CG as well. Probably the only anime I've seen where I can definitively say that I prefer it over hand drawn. I feel like other studios just use CG as a cheap stand in for hand drawn animation but Orange know how to bring out the advantages of CG by making use of fluid "camera work" to make you feel involved and immersed. They also pulled no punches on the backgrounds. They were absolutely gorgeous to look at.

And yes, Tomoyo Kurosawa's performance was great as well. I particularly thought she did amazingly well in bringing out the tortured emotions Phos would experience in its adventures.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Haak

And yes, Tomoyo Kurosawa's performance was great as well. I particularly thought she did amazingly well in bringing out the tortured emotions Phos would experience in its adventures.

I learned she won the award for Best Lead Actress for this role last year. It's completely deserved.