I can tell you that this is literally the gem of the fall season. (overused pun for this anime)
Oh boy. Seeing how cheesy, fake-looking, and plasticy 3D animation looked in other animes I watched before, I had really low expectations for this. I couldn't believe the >8 star rating here on MAL. My curiosity grew with each review, and the synopsis seemed rather original, so I took the dive into the first episode on a lonely Saturday nate.
Two days after, I watched the remaining 11 episodes of the season and took a deep breath at 3AM in the morning. This anime was really the biggest
...
surprise I had, and I enjoyed it.
Story: a fat 10/10
The first episode immediately captured me, even without the awesome opening that keeps me from skipping it in the later eps. For me, the pacing throughout each episode and through the whole anime was perfect, and there was never any "overflow" of information as I tried watching. It was quite easy to follow the story since there were never any moments that made no sense. The first few episodes create the world and setting, developing Phos and her childish character as well as other characters in the story. The amazing cliffhangers and twists that eventually got the story into the deeper and more solemn second-half of the season were very reasonable, and I didn't find myself screaming at my monitor as to why things were happening.
Art: highly, highly acceptable 9/10
As I said earlier, the CG COMPLETELY surprised me. The lush grass, the smooth animation, the amazing facial motions, hand motions, and LITERALLY EVERYTHING. However, there were some parts during the show were the camera panning seemed a bit "excessive," and in my opinion a simple cut and not a complicated pan from one character to another would fit better. Additionally, the animation in the show would get noticeably laggy, but not to the point of potato quality. It usually happens where the animators had to render multiple moving characters and objects, so I can't give them full criticism for that, but it was jarring when I noticed it.
The character design just simply aced my standards. The hair for each character is off-the-charts, with unique light refraction, textures, highlights, bumpiness, and colors for each of them. It's almost impossible to confuse one character with another by looking at their hair, since that's what the show wants you to look at. Relating to that, all the gems have similar body shapes and clothing, but in my opinion the fact that they're all similar fits their character better. They all are just gems, but with different properties and alloys.
The opening is beautiful as well. It's very clear a lot of time and effort was put into it, with extremely smooth animation, incredible small details, and amazing visuals that would please any eye. The beautifully rendered gems that are scattered throughout increase the colorfulness of the opening and overall does not look very cluttered and messy. Though, as it it should be, the opening song increases the enjoyment of the opening ten-ten-ten-ten-fold, and I will go over this part of the anime in the next section.
Sound: my ears have been graced 10/10
From the opening, to the background music, and to the ending, each track blessed my ears.
The opening is a chill, soothing track that perfectly fits the opening. Each instrument in the song is used in unique ways, from that sexy bass guitar to the sound of the drummer hitting the rim of his snare, the soft crescendo of cymbals between various parts of the song, the quiet piano, the catchy and simple lead and rhythm guitar, the deep and long violin notes, and finally the amazing singer that completes the relaxing and soothing experience of the opening. Without a doubt, I can rank this opening as one of the best or THE BEST opening I have seen with my own eyes.
During the episodes, orchestral music takes the role as the backing soundtrack. Each track is perfect for each scene, with the right amount of intensity in each note that adds the appropriate feeling to whatever's happening. Never was there a moment in the show were I felt like the music was off or didn't match the scene.
The endings for the anime were equally calming as well, and the ending for episode 8 fits the events that happen in the ep well. I don't like it as much as the opening, but I still find the openings enjoyable.
Character: a diverse 9/10
Phosphophyllite, the main character, is a very interesting character. The youngest and one of the more fragile characters on the Mohs hardness scales, their childish, reckless, and fighting-hungry personality was a personality that I immediately liked as soon as the show started. However, the stuff that happens and changes later on because of story-reasons is also nice to watch. I can't really discuss their character much without spoiling half the season, but they long for a proper place in their community of gems. But in my opinion, Phos's character got more and more amazing as the show progressed.
The other characters, except maybe for Cinnabar, aren't focused on that much and are just there to spice up the story or take part in a little arc. If the season was longer than 12 episodes, I'd appreciate if more character was developed for the side characters. Otherwise, the other characters are developed enough to have a basic understanding of who they are and what they are.
Similarly, Cinnabar, a mysterious, poisonous, gloomym and night-walking gem isn't developed much in the show, and thus their mysterious personality, but is a frequent part in the story and appears constantly. With Phos making a promise to Cinnabar in the beginning of the show, it soon serves as a goal for Phos to fulfill throughout the whole season.
Enjoyment: no regrets 10/10
Like I said before, many things in this anime are extremely enjoyable. The opening, the art, the sound, everything else; I don't want to go over it all again. 10/10.
Overall: rewatch rewatch rewatch 10/10
This is one of the best animes I've watched, seriously. I highly expect this to be a candidate for anime of the year, and I would want an award for the amazing CG in the anime. This is the first anime to put my in the edge of my seat for episodes straight, back aching and face inches away from my screen. I have no ounce of regret for this show, and I wish it a good future.
SECOND SEASON QUICK PLEASE
Jan 15, 2018
Houseki no Kuni
(Anime)
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I can tell you that this is literally the gem of the fall season. (overused pun for this anime)
Oh boy. Seeing how cheesy, fake-looking, and plasticy 3D animation looked in other animes I watched before, I had really low expectations for this. I couldn't believe the >8 star rating here on MAL. My curiosity grew with each review, and the synopsis seemed rather original, so I took the dive into the first episode on a lonely Saturday nate. Two days after, I watched the remaining 11 episodes of the season and took a deep breath at 3AM in the morning. This anime was really the biggest ... |