Synopsis
In a distant future, a new life form called Hōseki (gems, mineral stone) has appeared to protect the world from Tsukijin (moon people). The Hōseki came from 28 mineral stones that transformed into a humanoid being. One of those Hōseki is Phosphophyllite or usually called Phos. As a Hōseki, Phos wants to fight the Tsukijin in the battlefront, but Phos’ body is too fragile to fight. Because of that, Kongo-sensei gave Phos a task to write an encyclopedia, which Phos reluctantly accepts because Phos wants to useful. Unfortunately, to complete the encyclopedia, Phos needs some help from Cinnabar or Cinsha, a knowledgeable Hōseki but isolated by others because of her poisonous body. Can Phos and Cinsha become a friend ?
Comments
Dany Muhammad (The Indonesia Anime Times)
CG animation in anime is often criticized for looking lifeless and rigid. Studio Orange, however, seems to have found the answer of that problem. While most of the animation use CG, the character faces in Land of the Lustrous use manual hand drawing. It makes the characters in Land of the Lustrous feel expressive despite being made from CG.
For a fantasy, Land of the Lustrous’s story feels quite interesting. It has solid world-building. Phos and Cinsha also happen to be quite symphatetic lead. Both of their conflict came from their own gems’ characteristic. They are fragile (Phosphophyllite’s hardness is 3.5 in mohs scale, while Cinnabar is only 2 – 2.5) which means they are useless in battle. For Cinsha, their poisonous nature made them considered dangerous by other gems (Cinnabar is made from mercury, which is considered poisonous). It will be interesting to see them interact while at the same time finding their own place in Hōseki community.
Other than the gemstone references, the enemies of the Hōseki, the Tsukijin, are heavily influenced by religious symbol. It makes the story feel more misterious. Who are they? Why do they attack the Hōseki? Land of the Lustrous is a fantasy anime with solid world-building, mystery, and symphatetic leads. Looking for a fantasy anime? This anime could be your hidden gem.
Facts and Figures
| Alternate Title | Hōseki no Kuni |
| Source material | Manga by Haruto Ichikawa |
| Casts | Ai Kayano as Diamond (Dia) Ari Ozawa as Benitoite Atsumi Tanezaki as Neptunite Ayahi Takagaki as Jade Ayane Sakura as Bort Himika Akaneya as Zircon Hitomi Nabatame as Sphene Houko Kuwashima as Peridot Jouji Nakata as Kongō-sensei Junko Minagawa as Yellow Diamond Kanae Itō as Amethyst Maaya Uchida as Red Beryl Mamiko Noto as Euclace Mikako Komatsu as Cinnabar (Cinsha) Mutsumi Tamura as Morganite Reina Ueda as Hemimorphite Rie Kugimiya as Alexandrite Ryou Hirohashi as Obsidian Saori Hayami as Goshenite Sayaka Harada as Watermelon Tourmaline Tomoyo Kurosawa as Phosphophyllite (Phos) Yumi Uchiyama as Rutile |
| Director | Takahiko Kyōgoku (Love Live!) |
| Scenario | Toshiya Oono (Gatchaman Crowds) |
| Character Design | Asako Nishida (Love Live!) |
| Opening Song | “Kyoumen no Nami” by YURiKA |
| Ending Song | |
| Studio | Orange |
| Official Site | http://land-of-the-lustrous.com/ |
| @houseki_anime | |
| Broadcast Date | 7 October 2017 (1230 GMT, 1930 WIT, 2130 JST) |
Screenshots and Trailer
