What are we watching: Land of the Lustrous
What’s it about: In the mysterious future, crystalline organisms called Gems inhabit a world that has been destroyed by six meteors. Each Gem is assigned a role in order to fight against the Lunarians, a species who attacks them in order to shatter their bodies and use them as decorations.
Phosphophyllite, also known as Phos, is a young and fragile Gem who dreams of helping their friends in the war effort. Instead, they are told to compile an encyclopedia because of their delicate condition. After begrudgingly embarking on this task, Phos meets Cinnabar, an intelligent gem who has been relegated to patrolling the isolated island at night because of the corrosive poison their body creates. After seeing how unhappy Cinnabar is, Phos decides to find a role that both of the rejected Gems can enjoy. Houseki no Kuni follows Phos’ efforts to be useful and protect their fellow Gems.
Studio: Orange
Director: Kyougoku, Takahiko
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYgPnSvnCE
Where can I watch it: https://twist.moe/a/houseki-no-kuni-tv/1 , https://nyaa.si/view/991627 , https://cytu.be/r/chapochat (At select times)
Spoilers beyond the current episode are :haram: . Please use the spoiler tag if you would like to discuss past the current episode. Everything in this episode and before are fair game.
This series really wants you to know that
spoiler
the eyeball is a separate and articulate part
I think this episode mostly just develops on a lot of the things that we all already discussed in the episode 2 thread. Many of the themes of Phos wanting to be reborn are repeated, issues with Cinnabar, issues with Dia and others. A continuation of character development while also providing ample action.
Notably the episode continues with its trend of doing amazing things with its 3d usage that are just completely and totally impossible in traditional art, some examples:
This reformation scene. A good example of how the show uses thing that don't actually happen to illustrate that the depictions are emotions. Phos is reforming as a liquid here but we know that the gems actually piece her back together in chunks. This is about the mental state of Phos. I think it also has some magical transformation influence? It might indicate that this is also a moment in time something within her biology (gemology?) is changed from the process of being eaten and reconstituted by the snail, this might be known to manga readers, I've avoided reading it until we know a new season isn't coming so I don't know.
This forest running scene. Nothing fancy to analyse about it, it's just gorgeous and you can't expect to replicate it within a hand-drawn medium. The cinematography is fantastic.
I would link the battle scene too but I can't find a source for it unfortunately.
There was a really nice scene right before they pull the snail up where we get a glimpse into Bort's secretly underlying deep care for the other gems (especially whatever pleases Dia except putting herself in danger) when Dia tells her, in the middle of the night, that she knows how to save Phos. Even though everyone seemingly dislikes Phos' attitude, behaviour or lack of contribution to this society they still all protect and care for her.
As for Phos being able to talk to the snail. Quite possibly the most useless thing to gain from the situation I can think of.
This forest running scene. Nothing fancy to analyse about it, it’s just gorgeous and you can’t expect to replicate it within a hand-drawn medium. The cinematography is fantastic.
My jaw literally dropped there. Just gorgeous, yeah.
What a unique show, I just watched the first three eps back-to-back to catch up, and I was all aboard within the first five minutes of ep 1. Not sure if it's been mentioned, but the voice acting is really enjoyable too. Looking forward to the rest of this for sure.
Phos' voice actor in particular is really good in this episode and generally yeah. Really good work.
Read the other threads they're really good! This episode is a quieter episode that feels like there's less interesting stuff to write about.
If you want to run a manga read-a-long, by all means go ahead.
I think this episode mostly just develops on a lot of the things that we all already discussed in the episode 2 thread. Many of the themes of Phos wanting to be reborn are repeated, issues with Cinnabar, issues with Dia and others. A continuation of character development while also providing ample action.
Notably the episode continues with its trend of doing amazing things with its 3d usage that are just completely and totally impossible in traditional art, some examples:
This reformation scene. A good example of how the show uses thing that don't actually happen to illustrate that the depictions are emotions. Phos is reforming as a liquid here but we know that the gems actually piece her back together in chunks. This is about the mental state of Phos. I think it also has some magical transformation influence? It might indicate that this is also a moment in time something within her biology (gemology?) is changed from the process of being eaten and reconstituted by the snail, this might be known to manga readers, I've avoided reading it until we know a new season isn't coming so I don't know.
This forest running scene. Nothing fancy to analyse about it, it's just gorgeous and you can't expect to replicate it within a hand-drawn medium. The cinematography is fantastic.
I would link the battle scene too but I can't find a source for it unfortunately.
There was a really nice scene right before they pull the snail up where we get a glimpse into Bort's secretly underlying deep care for the other gems (especially whatever pleases Dia except putting herself in danger) when Dia tells her, in the middle of the night, that she knows how to save Phos. Even though everyone seemingly dislikes Phos' attitude, behaviour or lack of contribution to this society they still all protect and care for her.
As for Phos being able to talk to the snail. Quite possibly the most useless thing to gain from the situation I can think of.
Oh my god you just made me realise I made this as a reply instead of a top level comment. Reposting it and removing this one as it got buried by the auto-collapse caused by whatever that user got a sitewide ban for.
I read I read. I just also like to get the going-in-blind experience with shows, you know what I mean. It will go on my list when I know no more content is coming, but it's definitely happening for this.
They absolutely do care that ohters are gone it was established in the first episode braindead take
Because they do not have the concept of death in their society but they still strongly feel for eachother and hold grudges and are jealous. “it might be sad that they aren’t here right now, but it’ll work out if we get them back” lol its pure cope
Nah, I'm just wrong on this one and bad at media comprehension, disregard what I said.
Also why do they patrol all day if they arent afraid of death or that others "get taken away"
