I know I keep talking about it, but damn, I’m a sucker for great art direction and shot composition, and Land of the Lustrous in all of its forms excels at both, for example:
This is an early page from the manga, which takes full advantage of the black and white style, using negative space and a distorted background to convey distance, scale and the struggle the character is facing.
Here’s artwork made in preparation for production of the CGI series, which had to adapt itself to the use of colors and more detailed backgrounds, achieving both objectives marvelously.
And here’s the finished product, adding a ton of dynamism with the wind, the flowing grass, the sparkles of her hair, the growing rorschach in the sky, and even some slight sword adjustments, and if you check the art book of the show, there’s tons of examples:
Manga
Book
Series
And we’re not just talking about characters standing in negative space backgrounds, there’s also great examples of abstract processes, in this case, a PTSD-induced hallucination.
From excellent use of blacks.
Colors and scale
To a downright gorgeous CGI transition, taking full advantage of the 3D medium.
And here are some more!
A broken character hidden in the shadows, the protagonist Phosphophyllite, getting discovered.
Concept art, showing greater use of negative space to convey the solitude Phos is in.
And the mix between manga and concept art to reach the animation stage.
The character, Yellow Diamond, guiding the reader into the vast expanse of a death forest while in search for Phos.
The more detailed concept version, that emphasizes and gives more detail to the forest in which Yellow is looking towards.
And the finished product, that takes advantage of the animation medium to give dynamism to this static scene.
A desperate struggle to reach for the missing hand, with the darkness taking hold of the character, Antarcticite, while the light points us to the goal of the panel.
Negative space once again making it’s return, displaying the desperation of the situation.
The whole scene put into motion, once again showing the dynamism of the animated CGI medium.
I just cannot overstate how gorgeous this series is, a true love letter to art, and a display of what a project of passion can achieve.
And when you’re done with the anime, and inevitably move to the manga, just remember, change
Bears a heavy price.
This series is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever seen, and I hope someday you guys give it a chance too, you won’t regret it!
me w girls
Cartoon boys singing
Houseki no Kuni
Cartoon boys on the ground
“Library“ by Woshibai