Land of the Lustrous

Land of the Lustrous (Japanese: 宝石の国, Hōseki no Kuni) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruko Ichikawa. Set in a distant future where Earth has been struck by six meteorites, leaving only a single coast, the story follows the lives of immortal, humanoid gemstones. These Gems must fight against the Lunarians, mysterious beings from the moon who seek to shatter them and use them as decorations. The protagonist, Phosphophyllite (Phos), is one of the weakest Gems, tasked with creating a natural history encyclopedia, which leads to their friendship with the isolated Gem, Cinnabar, and their subsequent growth. The manga was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine from October 2012 to April 2024. A 3D anime television series adaptation by Orange aired between October and December 2017, consisting of 12 episodes. The anime primarily adapted the first 36 chapters of the manga, skipping some events in chapters 33 to 35. The series is known for its unique world-building, beautiful visuals, and deep themes, exploring self-discovery, the meaning of existence, and the struggle in a constantly changing world. The anime utilizes 3D rendering techniques, giving the Gems a unique visual texture and the action scenes a high impact.