Land of the Lustrous

Land of the Lustrous (Japanese: 宝石の国, Hepburn: Hōseki no Kuni, lit. "Country of Jewels") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruko Ichikawa. It is published by Kodansha in Monthly Afternoon magazine since October 2012, with its chapters collected in eleven tankōbon volumes as of July 2020. Set in a world inhabited by "jewel people", it chronicles their efforts to find the place where they belong and defend their way of life. A 3D anime television series adaptation by Orange aired between October and December 2017.

Plot
Land of the Lustrous is set in a far, distant future where the Earth had been struck six times by meteorites, ravaging it in the process. All of the remaining land was reduced to a single coast, whereas nearly all life was destroyed. Over vast stretches of time, a new race of sentient lifeforms emerged; immortal jewels that take the form of people. Phosphophyllite (Phos) is weak (with one of the lowest hardnesses) and considered useless by their peers. Phos asks their aloof but wise colleague Cinnabar for help after they receive an assignment to create a natural history encyclopedia, thus beginning their friendship and personal growth. Meanwhile, the "jewel people" are at war with the Lunarians (Moon people) who want to take advantage of their luxury value.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) The art style is downright amazing. Given the setting of the series, the art style blends shockingly well with it and makes every little detail on the characters, events, and backgrounds alike.
 * 2) The premise of the series is very creative and original. Given how it's about genderless crystal-people fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world. It's almost like a darker and more mature version of mh:besttvshows:Steven Universe.
 * 3) Amazing action sequences, especially (and particularly) the ones that have the gems fighting off the Lunarians.
 * 4) The characters are all likable and complex.
 * 5) * Phosphophyllite, the protagonist, starts the story as a vain and weak gem that brings trouble for everyone, until the moment they get the job of writing a Natural Encyclopedia. After witnessing Antarcticite being abducted by Lunarians, Phos changes to become more mature and protect those around them. They also begins showing signs of PTSD and questioning the world around them.
 * 6) * Kongou-sensei (金剛先生 Kongou-sensei, lit. Adamant Teacher) is the Mentor and Leader of the Lustrous who serves as a father figure to them. He is a very old and very mysterious man.
 * 7) * Cinnabar is a gem that constantly produces a poison (mercury) that damages and ruins its surroundings. Because of this, they are set apart from other gems, a fact that saddens them greatly. They are in charge of the futile task of patrolling during the night. In spite of their dismissive behavior towards Phos, they actually deeply desire to be the latter's partner.
 * 8) * Diamond is an upbeat and cheerful gem who serves as a model and idol for the Lustrous, and Bort's partner (who they actually have a very strained relationship with). Later partners up with Yellow Diamond.
 * 9) * Bort is the strongest of all gems (not counting Kongou-Sensei). Partnered with Dia and later with Zircon; was also briefly Phos' partner during the time when Sensei was asleep. Possesses the ability to not let damage spread to the rest of their body, which makes Bort near impossible to shatter. They are very stoic and serious.
 * 10) The series, in spite of starting off as a relatively light-hearted tale about an outcast learning to become more mature and independent, it soon takes a much darker tone when the Secrets Arc rolls around. As it introduces Lapis Lazuli, a gem with a sociopathic streak due to their complete lack of concern for anyone other than themself. And after Phos loses their head and has it replaced with Lapis', the former begins having conversations with Lapis that go a long way towards making Phos suspect something more is wrong with Sensei. Phos also begins acting more secretive and manipulative thanks to Lapis' influence. And it eventually leades to them leaving for the Moon, and things only get worse from there. As there, they discover than captured gems that are brought there are grinded into powder and turned into jewelry. And not only that, but at the moon, Phos even goes as far as to make a deal with the Lunarians, then manipulating other gems to come the moon with them, eventually asking Sensei to pray for them alone once Sensei admits he cannot pray for all the Lunarians, then desiring to break all the earth gems when even Sensei praying just for Phos has failed. Which is demonstrated after they go on a rampage shattering all the gems they can get their hands on.
 * 11) It's kinda amazing how much research Haruko, the author, did when it comes to gems in the series, due to how many remarkable similarities the characters share with their mineral counterparts.
 * 12) * Cinnabar is an ore of mercury, the same metal that floats around the gem (which resulted in them becoming isolated from the other gems).
 * 13) * Watermelon Tourmaline has electrokinetic powers and their gem is piezoelectric.
 * 14) * Antarcticite is a mineral that only forms in Antarctica when it gets cold enough. The character itself is only solid during the winter.
 * 15) * Alexandrite changes color based the amount of sunlight it gets and in the manga the character changes color too (albeit only when their alternate personality that is brought out upon them seeing a lunarian).
 * 16) * The Amethyst Twins are called sometimes called 84 and 33. Why? Because the Japan Law Twinning, a crystal formation law, requires the two gems to meet at an angle of 84*33'.
 * 17) * Ghost Quartz forms over already created gems. And the character themself another gem inside of them.
 * 18) * Obsidian is a stone used by blacksmiths in the production of weaponry.
 * 19) The anime series it spawned, despite the fact that it cut many of the best arcs in the series and only focuses on the first one, was still pretty good due to how faithful it was to the first one and the fact that it's home to some of the absolute best CGI to ever be included in anime to date.

The Only Bad Quality

 * 1) Although it was to be expected that resolving the Lunarian conflict wouldn't be easy, the fact that the later arcs have Phos continuously trying and failing to reach their goals, the increasing tight moralities of the Lustrous and the Lunarians, and especially the fact that Phos has very few allies on any side, with even that number decreasing as the conflict rolls on make it seem like an endless suffering festival at Phos' expense.