Review of Land of the Lustrous
Story: 6 Art: 10 Sound: 10 Character: 10 Enjoyment: 8 Overall: 9 Watching this anime felt like floating along in a dream. At first, I thought it would be nothing special, but before I knew it, I'd already been sucked in. There's no way to describe it with words, so I'll keep it short. The music was haunting and beautifully accented the themes presented, as well as the situations depicted. The soundtrack that played every time the Lunarians appeared was, in the words of another viewer, nothingshort of "haunting". Everything fit just right and was truly spectacular. Speaking of themes: this show did an incredible job at balancing serious moments with more humorous ones; though at its core, "Houseki no Kuni" deals with a serious topic (the struggle of the gems with the Lunarians), it still felt light and digestible. I guess that because of that, when the series occasionally took a turn for the darker, the contrast made it hit all the harder.
The CGI was so fluid that at times I forgot that I was watching something that wasn't actually animated in the traditional sense, and I really have nothing to complain about there. The camera shots, though dynamic mostly only during fight scenes, were fresh and interesting from angle to angle and did a wonderful job at helping convey the message of each scene. Speaking of the fight scenes: wow. The "camerawork" there was excellent and complex. That's all I'll say. The background choices as well were very well made. The world of the gems came across as almost idyllic, but still dangerous. Every backdrop was a feast for the eyes.
The character designs were all very unique and carefully constructed, even though not all of them were exactly to my taste. I appreciated them, nonetheless.
Also, when it comes to the characters: I don't even know what to say. First of all, Phos' character development, in my opinion, despite coming with its benefits, was ultimately tragic (but in a good way). However, it was well-thought-out, and I appreciate that. The other characters were also very lovable and unique in their own ways, and I enjoyed getting to know them through the screen. I loved every one of them, but I guess that, if I had to pick a few favorites, I would go with Cinnabar, Antarctictite, Padparadscha, and Phos, of course. Antarctictite though... man, that hurt.
Even though the anime didn't follow a direct storyline - it was more centered around Phos and their character development rather than events that catalyzed said development, if that makes sense - it was still a pleasure to watch. The only reason why I gave the story a 6 is because it ends on such a massive cliffhanger.
Anyway, I hope this review is helpful. As upset as I am at the ending, I think I made a good choice in watching this.