Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Gwyndolyn35
Land of the Lustrous was recommended to me because it is one of the animes that someone I cared about a lot and if you ask me, I have watch their entire favorite films list, played the games that they like and well? I’m starting with the anime they love as well and this is one of them and I love it, I love how expressive the gems are, how beautiful the anime is and the colors and the way the lore of the world genuinely had me immersed into the anime and overall I love it. Phos is so cute and the way he changed throughout the anime is heartbreaking as if it’s letting go of his innocence and maturing to finding the truth of everything and I may as well read the manga because I really love it
Read at the sourceKranst
The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment about whether an object is the same object after having all of its original components replaced with others over time. Land of the Lustrous explores identity and other philosophical concepts, such as eternity, purpose, and existence, through a character-driven narrative about anthropomorphic feminine gemstones. This mysterious and thought-provoking storytelling focuses heavily on these ideas and the wider cast over plot advancements. From a production standpoint, this stands as a testament to what well-crafted 3D animation can accomplish through dynamic perspectives and fluid movement. This will likely remain one season, so be prepared to read the source material.
Read at the sourceSleef16
Haruko Ichikawa is a genius. Absolutely insane worldbuilding and characters. The characters are actually lively and realistic, they have interactions that makes them look like real people. The anime does the manga a lot of justice, the CG fits the anime really well and the cinematography is perfect (Literally the best I've seen in any anime). The soundtrack and ambience sounds is also top tier. It's a shame that they decided against doing a season 2 to focus on beastars. If the season had the same effort put into it as season 1, with the current CG tech it could become a masterpiece.
Read at the sourceRemdagoat
The anime was fine for a minor part… however im not a fan of cgi but this one did it exceptionally well compared to others. The characters looked visually appealing which is another plus, however the anime ends very abruptly in my opinion compared to the manga. They didnt give much enough about phos for me to critique the character, apart from that everything was fine from the middle id say. It probably gets better from there in the manga which ill be reading after this review and i have higher expectations for it. I still wouldnt recommend watching it but if you are definetely go in with low expectations and high expectations when you continue from the manga, the anime ends at around chapter 29 (Volume 5).
Overall: 4.1/10
Read at the sourceOlorin666
A very strange and unique anime with a completely original setting. The main characters are girls who are gems/minerals and survive in a post-apocalyptic world where they have to fight a race that lives on the moon. It sounds crazy, but everything works perfectly. There are a lot of 3D elements in the animation, but it doesn't interfere with the viewing experience at all, due to the design of the characters. There is a small portion of fan service, but in general it's a pretty violent/adult anime. The only downside is that it is not complete, if you want to know what happened next, you need to read the manga.
Read at the sourceuyuryazar
Houseki no Kuni has more charm than flaws and stands out as a truly unique work that is difficult to compare to anything else. From the very beginning, it never loses its sense of mystery and consistently keeps the viewer engaged with the feeling that something meaningful is unfolding beneath the surface.
The CGI shows its age at times, as expected from a 2017 production, but it still looks good overall. Camera work is strong. The soundtrack fits the tone perfectly and helps build a calm yet unsettling atmosphere. Visually and audibly, the world feels consistent and well designed.
Combat can look repetitive, but action is not the main focus. This series is not about flashy fights or power systems. Instead, it explores deeper themes such as identity, change, and purpose. The narrative is…
Read at the sourceDebru_
I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but Houseki no Kuni introduced me to a completely new and unexpected experience: being genuinely fascinated by minerals in a way I had never felt before. Not in a geological or academic sense, but on a purely aesthetic and emotional level.
The series follows anthropomorphic gemstones fighting for survival in a quiet, melancholic world filled with existential questions. Studio Orange delivers an outstanding production — the 3D animation is smooth, radiant, and hypnotic. Every character literally shines with their own personality, and the way light reflects off cracks, surfaces, and edges is mesmerizing.
What surprised me most was how emotionally engaging these non-human characters are. Their fragility, immortality, and the constant loss…
Read at the sourceAeroGunz
“Land of the Lustrous” is what happens when the writer hates it’s own creation so they rewrite them half way through.
You know, when I saw that a lot of people compare this show to “Haibane Renmei” I was expecting the same level of heavy handed writing with passive characters that only gain motivation towards the end of the series. Well… I was half right. This show also has heavy handed writing with mediocre world building and more questions than answers and not in a good way. Surprisingly I think I like this show more than “Haibane”. This time at least we have a pretty solid story and the plot (at least in the beginning) isn’t that bad.
Before we start I would like to explain something. I will be talking about “plot” and “story”. Many people use those terms interchangeably. I’m not one…
Read at the source50Fiftillididee
✒ 💎Bling Dream °8.1° °excellent ° 💯%🔍
LotL feels more like one is dreaming than watching the 📺. It's so mesmerizing that it's nearly soporific. It doesn't seem to be anything else quite like it, so its sheer originality is refreshing as well. It's written, drawn, and acted with striking beauty, and it is well worth the time.
This land is populated by people who are made of jewels. "Country of Jewels" is, apparently, a more direct translation of the title. They are the Lustrous, the embodiments of gemstones. As long as they're not destroyed or smashed to bits, they are immortal. They carry the qualities of the gemstones that they are named after. From that perspective, this story is educational as well as beautiful. There's even a nifty science-like explanation for life on their plane…
Read at the source_Overlady
This anime is both beautiful and complex, reaching its true potential only when the viewer manages to connect the story to personal experiences. The plot isn’t exactly predictable, but even in moments where you can sense what’s coming, it still delivers a strong emotional impact.
The art style fits perfectly with the atmosphere, polished, expressive, and carefully crafted to highlight both the intensity of action and the quiet, emotional moments. Characters feel well-rounded: they have strengths and flaws that make them believable, and their reactions to events feel natural rather than forced.
Because of this, I believe many viewers will find something to relate to here. Some might be drawn to the emotional depth, while others may appreciate the worldbuilding or the striking visuals. It’…
Read at the sourceSupersonic_Pain
When I first started this, I was ready to give it, like, a 5 because there was genuinely nothing I had to say about it. It was just Very Boring.
That's still true but I do have a bit more to say.
First, positives.
I feel bad for shitting on this show not for the mangaka but for Orange. This show looks pretty good and considering I also hated Beastars, it just looks like I'm an Orange denier and yeah, not true, it's not like it being boring is Orange's fault. It looks very fluid and there is a good amount of stuff I don't think would work as well in 2D like the alloys or the gems breaking apart.
The soundtrack is pretty good.
All these characters are kind of caked up? They've got a hell of a curve in the back. Good for you, Studio Orange.
...if one of my three positives is that the ch…
Read at the sourcevpnburneraccount
This was an absolutely unique Anime. Honestly, I would have given it a much higher score, but the fact that the story looks to be unfinished outside of reading the Manga is a huge letdown.
I hope that one day, this show gets a 2nd or even 3rd season as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I still don't know why Animation companies pick up masterpieces and then fail to follow through on completing the story.
Props again to Kurosawa Tomoyo - I love her VA work, she could read me an instruction manual on assembling an IKEA desk and I would be happy.
Read at the sourcebuenokumenomi
I usually turn my head and run when I see fully CGI shows, and this show was no different. I had put it off for about 7 years since initially seeing a preview for it back in 2017 or so. while the story was very much, not as coherent as I would've liked it to be, the characters and their designs made me feel giddy whenever they were talking to each other. There is some good wit in the dialogue between the gems and it makes up for the lack there of, of a story. I truly wish there was a second season of the anime itself, because for anime only people, it truly does not end well. I had to pick up the manga because I couldn't just end there. (which I suppose is a good thing). I know whyyyyy they chose CGI (the hair looks nice in CGI don't get me wrong) but when they had brought in 2d animation…
Read at the sourceshiratori90
The characters are cool and have charisma.
The visual effects and design are great too!
The visuals are certainly one of the many striking elements! It's simply beautiful!
Compatible soundtrack, and I particularly liked the ending.
The story progresses slowly, but that's one of its strengths! Because it's a bit slow, it's not very noticeable, but from a certain point onwards things start to move faster, but still keeping everything together, with no gaps in the story.
The beginning was slow, but that's good. It was well presented, and as the episodes go by, it gets better and better.
The more I watch, the more I like Phos! This is the first time that's happened to me while watching something.
The events unfold slowly too, so that's probably why, but the feeling of gradually getting t…
Read at the sourceN0T3LI_
The most beautiful anime that will probably never receive a second season.
Don't let the fact that this anime primarily uses CGI fool you- it is likely the BEST that CGI has ever looked in an anime- and the world that Houseki no Kuni resides in is equally as beautiful. Sprawling fields of green, the glistening ocean that surrounds a singular continent- and most of all the wondrous cast of characters all attributed to different kinds of "Gems".
Set sometime in the distant future, Earth has been ravaged by 6 meteorites. Humanity was able to survive the hits of the first 5, but the 6th destroyed most of everything- causing the race that ruled to flee into the ocean. Over time, in the deepest recesses of this new world, a new race emerged... An old myth describes ancient Humans who split to s…
Read at the sourceRamun_Flame
Stunning, mysterious, and original. The characters, environments, music, all beautifully crafted. After all that, the story doesn't disappoint either. The world of Land of the Lustrous is full of mystery, and the farther you get in the more questions you'll have.
It has some of the best fights I've seen, with presentation only achievable with this type of animation. Each character was likeable in their own way.
The downside is that unfortunately the story is unfinished. Despite that, I'm hopeful of a new season someday, but even if it never comes what is covered here it's still a masterpiece. You won't find anything else like it.
Read at the sourcechobits_brain
Absolutely amazing anime.
The chara designs are gorgeous and the cgi used is weirdly fitting for the hair of these gems.
Although sometimes we can see that there are some slight problems with the 3d and how some things should've been animated frame per frame for a better result, it doesn't make this anime any less enjoyeable.
The music is excellent and so immersive as well. It really fits the atmosphere and the vibes.
The voice acting is very good too and I really enjoy Phos and the others's voices, though I wish there had been more male voice actors on this.
Also, there is sometimes a little bit of fan service which is, not really necessary ? It's not needed for the plot but it honestly just made me laugh. There are some funny bits in this anime as well, even if not the main focus!…
Read at the sourceDigiCat
Visually, this is some of the best CGI i've ever seen in anime, the characters are expressive, with their movements feeling very natural and character designs that compliment the animation style
Worldbuilding is simple but effective, allowing a lot of freedom to play around with the psychedelic vibe the show has
However, this is a very clear case of style over substence
The gems personalities are quite stereotypical with little developement to them, this along with the weak storyline make the moments of darkness and psychological torment feel more like shock factor and melodrama
I feel like there was some wasted potential, the stunning visuals that could've been used to accentuate a story come off more as an art gallery showcasing new animation techniques
Overall something to watch if y…
Read at the sourcexDean_
Houseki no Kuni is undeniably a stunning anime. Its unique concept of using jewels as characters is quite uncommon, and the way each character's traits mirror the characteristics of the gem they represent adds depth to the narrative.
In the initial seven episodes, particularly the first half of each, there's a sense of monotony and repetition that might leave some viewers feeling bored. However, the allure of the series lies in its captivating fight scenes. The animation during these battles is breathtaking, with each character's movements and the way light reflects off their hair being particularly striking. Additionally, the sound design, such as the noises made when the characters walk or interact, effectively reinforces the idea that they are gems rather than merely humans with gemsto…
Read at the sourceAIDZBOY
Dude, I just finished watching 'Land of the Lustrous' and gotta say, it's unlike anything I've seen before. The whole concept with characters made out of gems fighting these moon creatures? Wild. And the animation is just mind-blowing – the way they've done the characters and the battles is super slick and pretty much eye candy. The story dives deep into themes like identity and purpose, which is pretty heavy but in a good way. It's cool seeing how each character, or gem, has their own vibe and struggles, making you actually care about what happens to them.
But here's the thing, while the story's deep and the visuals are top-notch, I felt like it could've used more action scenes. Sometimes, it gets so caught up in the emotional and philosophical stuff that it forgets to keep the adrenalin…
Read at the source
