Houseki no Kuni is probably what you came to Shinsekai Yori to see, but did not receive. Where the latter fails - characters, story (especially pacing), and art, the former is a preeminent example of the "new and bizarre world, slowly unraveled by the characters, for better or for worse" sub-sub-sub-category of shows.
Land of the Lustrous is a masterclass in weaving an intricate and believable world out of the highest quality threads of art, music, and storyboarding. The art is a bold step for the up-and-coming Studio Orange, and the soundtrack by Yoshiaki Fujisawa is a beautiful accompaniment to the gorgeous visuals. Not to be missed!read more
Both are about a cast of characters slowly unraveling unknown truths of their worlds. They both have a similar premise, where the main characters don't fully understand the worlds they live in, and most of the story focuses on this journey of discovery. They both focus not only on the main characters but the society that they live in (society being used very loosely in the case of Houseki no Kuni).
The mystery in both series works the same way. They both give extreme thrills as the main character goes through obstacles to discover the truth. There are lots of chase scenes that remind me of each other. Not only that, both series have similar style of art and music where it's very traditional/classic and revolves around myths and stories. They are both incredible mystery/sci-fi series.
While I was watching Houseki no Kuni, I kept thinking back to Shinsekai yori. They're both set in a unique futuristic world with a young protagonist that has to learn some dark truths about society and life. Houseki no Kuni has a little bit more comedy, but they give off a very similar feeling of loneliness.
Set in a very distant future, after human society as we know it has perished and other living organisms have evolved or undergone significant mutations to suit the new characteristics of their environment. What remains of the current human civilization and its exploits (if anything, really) is often shrouded in mystery or even legends.
The viewer’s presented with a vast, unexplored world full of mysteries which slowly unravel before our curious and (at least at the start) fairly inexperienced protagonists, as they grow stronger in both their physique and understanding of the world and as they struggle to accept many of its often unforgiving aspects.
Full of touching and sometimes even heartbreaking moments, both tales amaze the viewer with their elaborate storytelling as well as their stunning landscapes and memorable music. The somewhat desolate, yet beautiful setting full of lush greenery compliments these beautiful stories with all their intricate worldbuilding and eerie secrets hidden behind their fairly innocent beginnings. The incorporation of buddhist aesthetic is also something the two have in common. read more
Both follow a character who lives in a unique world full of mysteries they have yet to solve. The two shows give off some similar vibes and share a few similar ideas.
Both Series have a similar setting: They play in a time long after the present day, in the distant future, where most technological progress has been lost.
Another similarity is that they both have female leads trying to discover the secrets of their world and society.
There's also a lot of character development and suprises in Shinsekai Yori and Houseki no Kuni.
Very similar settings and utopias about completely new societies in the future. They have a similar atmosphere as well and both contain more depth and mysteries behind their utopian facade.
Both series take place in a dystopian world in which the world has not necessarily advanced technologically. They have a similar setup in the fact that you learn about these societies and the dark secrets that they hide.
Both shows follow similar concepts, with strange beings who are initially considered to be evil/the enemy shrouding the truth behind their existence, which the MC begins to discover as the story progresses
Both take place in the distant future, in a society that has changed dramatically with time, and slowly build on that foundation to tell the story of how the world came to be via fantastic world-building, and coming to terms with living in that world.
Shinsekai Yori and Houseki no Kuni both thrust the viewer into a mysterious and unknown world, slowly unveiling it's secrets through the experiences of the characters. There is a strong presence of philosophical exploration in both shows, each of which blends this seamlessly into their story and characters. This provides a rich and fulfilling experience where the deeper meanings and messages feel like part of the shows rather than the events being merely vessels to impart morals and ideologies.
Both series feature an enthralling and mysterious world where a catastrophic event occurred sometime in the past. Both have settings that are not all as they seem at first glance. Both feature strong protagonists that grow over the course of the story as they work to uncover the mysteries of their world. Both have characters with seemingly superhuman abilities. If you enjoyed one, you will most likely enjoy the other due to the numerous similarities.
The plot and scenery are reminiscent of each other, in a distant future where humans have drastically changed. They're both good, character driven stories that have a very similar vibe, and I enjoyed them both in a similar way.
-Female protagonist ( yes I prefer phos as a female )
-Both got a mysterious world atmosphere
-Both protagonist maturity depends on what they had experienced
-A hidden plot/story which unfolds in each episode
-Both anime got two different species which
protagonist trying to understand
Both protagonists live in a distant future of human society and learn more about the truth of their worlds as the story progresses, not only that but from beginning to end both protagonists drastically change from who they were at the beginning of the story. In short, the mystery presented in both of these shows is very similar, and there's significant character development in each.
both focus on the youngest/ newest person of a special type of people (winged people or gems) developing their identify in a world different from our own. both develop abilities throughout the show from understanding the world around them
Both have a similar calm air to them, as well as moving through the plot in a mellow way, and leave the viewer at a point where the end goal of the series is not predictable or clearly present.
Very similar in premise and progression. Both are supernatural slice-of-life series that focus heavily on character and world-building. Both feature a cast of characters who cannot fully explain their origin or purpose, who are subject to a mysterious and occasionally suspicious power structure. I reckon Haibane Renmei does it better - it's very nearly a masterpiece, even if it starts slow.
Both have:
- community of a different kind of humans, mostly girlish alike.
- the community is located in a mysterious isolated place.
- The show is sorta about the slice of life of the girls in this special world, their friendship, dramas, discoveries, tragedies etc.
- So much instigating.
They're made by the same studio. Studio Orange really knows how to use 3D with here and there some 2D animation with good camera angels. So if you're looking for a anime with similar animation then give this anime a try.
Both shows have a non-human species, which live in society, that is different from ours. Both shows use a CGI-style and have similar vibes and soundtracks. Also, it's same studio.
the atmosphere, world building and how it starts with a mysterious world that you learn more and more about as the story unfolds.
Houseki, has better character development and tackles some interesting themes such as what it means to be alive and what gives us meaning, what we have to sacrifice to gain something special and so on its real beep if you are willing to look deeper.
Fantasy settings with the main characters starting out naive and inexperienced, yet grow stronger alongside their friends. Although Made in Abyss does not have a central villain and Houseki no Kuni does, they both share a mystical atmosphere that leaves the viewer intrigued. Furthermore, there is a similar ranking system (Whistles in MiA and Hardness levels in HnK). They both have fantastic soundtracks that pull you into the show.
If you're looking for a similar manga, 7 seeds is a fantasy horror manga where a group of children wake up in a post-apocalyptic world, decimated by nature, where they must learn to survive. Both 7 seeds and MiA center around dark themes, although 7 seeds is more mature. read more
They both start with an adventurous and spirited girl in a mysterious world, of which she later discovers darker parts. Although they both have dark themes and can make you cry at some points, they also both have a lot of lighthearted cuteness and humour.
I would say that in Made in Abyss it is mainly the surroundings changing and secrets being uncovered that are the driving force behind the story, while in Houseki no Kuni it is mainly the character development that drives the story. Another big difference is that the style of the visuals is very different, but I personally think they both look beautiful in their own ways.read more
Both shows have a standout visual presentation and a dense world with a sense of mystery that is rare to find. Made in abyss is more straightforward with its story with more intense drama whereas Houseki no Kuni is more roundabout and intricate focusing more on cultivating mystery. Both shows are aimed more towards adults. As an oversimplification, HnK focuses more on world building while MiA tells a more conventional character driven story but both series have a similar mystery-drama foundation
both feel like peaceful cute animes til u get past a certain part and thats when all hell lets loose. both have protags that are trying to unveil the secrets behind their "world"
Both have:
- A community of a different kind of humans or humans with special abilities, wich is located in a mysterious isolated place.
- The show is sorta about the slice of life of this community, its rules, the division of work, also their friendship, dramas, discoveries, tragedies etc.
- There is a menace of an enemy invasor that compromise the balance of their lives in that community.
-different world setting - both are set on an island type land/ similar vibes/feels
-both have characters living in an isolated place
-both feature community members working together to survive and fight/have rivals with things outside their land
-both feature a writer/scribe in some form
-both are very unique in their designs and story- the animation from Houseki no Kuni is noticeably unique and differs from the style of Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau as it has a three dimensional style.
:))
Aside from the similarity in their narratives, where we see lots of religious symbolism strewn throughout a post-apocalyptic world, Evangelion and Lustrous share a love of evocative and atmospheric visual direction, especially in regards to the backgrounds, and they both regularly highlight emotional character notes throughout the series through this type of direction.
Phos also shares a lot of similarities with Shinji, including issues with self-worth, depression, loneliness, and resentment. In regards to other characters, both shows feature a large cast of well-developed and generally broken characters who all get explored on some level. Fans of existential entertainment, character studies, and great visual direction should check out both shows. read more
Both possess similar concept, setting on apocalyptic era, where Evangelion has tormented haunting angels, Houseki no kuni has moon dwellers in this stead.
Both explore physiological issues in the later episodes. By 'Change' underlies the themes, from transformation, resistance, and acceptance. Both deconstructed its issues through philosophical lens.
Both series begin with a calm tone and unexpected things happens. Characters also undergo series of events that completely changes them from their originals selfes.
If you like cute girls, dark tones, unexpected twists and beautiful animation packed nicely together both series are for you.
Both series' conflicts are centered on the characters fighting off Eldritch Abominations that can strike at any time, and pose a lethal (or rather, in both cases, the closest equivalent to lethality) threat to these fighters.
- Cast almost entirely consists of girls
- Raid-like behaviour of mostly generic enemies (they appear from time to time, they aren't personalised, fights are not the main focus of the show, but still have noticeable impact).
- Both have mystic atmosphere
- Both shows have unique artstyle (Madoka is generally beautifull, while "Gemland" has probably the best 3D style i saw after Disney)
- Actually, they both feel unique at story too
While watching Houseki no Kuni i definitely had "Madoka's vibes". I also felt it was executed better, (characters were more attractive on average). Anyway, i consider both shows a must watch
Both shows feature a cast mostly composed by women fighting "monsters"; on Claymore, women are ranked by power, on Land of the Lustrous by hardness and role; the main character seems to be the weakest one; the male figure is the leader. As the story progress, the main character starts to question the leader, and the purpose and reason behind fighting the monsters. Notice that the animation is different, Land of the Lustrous is CGI, and Claymore is way more violent. But I definitely recommend both.
Both animes are about a female lead who begins as the weakest among a class of fighters and evolves through constant hardships to become among the strongest. Boiling the plots down to once sentence, they are the same.
Both heavily feature revelations about the past, though Claymore has a greater focus on the backstory of the main character while Houseki has a greater focus on the backstory of the world.
Both take place in an alternative world, although Claymore is more medieval while Houseski is more fantasy/futuristic.
Both involve a motivating relationship between the main character and a supporting character who is not involved in most of the action but is always present on the main character's mind. In Claymore, the supporting character is a weak male while in Houseki it is a powerful girl.
Overall, if you enjoyed one of these, there's a high probability you will enjoy the other, though you might not see the similarities until halfway through the season.read more
Although they at first glance appear different, I feel the two shows have a very similar core narrative with two very similar protagonists. This, due to the fact they both go through this character arc that drastically changes their personalities. At first, they were very naive, innocent and childlike, however after a certain event they are forever changed into more emotionally cooled off characters. The two shows are also both fantasy and features lots of cool action and fight scenes.
They're both set in a distant future with naive main characters that simply want to know more about the world they live in. The overarching themes that come later in the series are similar too, at least in my opinion.
I would rather not spoil all of Attack on Titan but these shows can be strikingly similar when looked at closely. The enemies in Attack on Titan (the the titans) hold an unusual likeness to Houseki no Kuni's Lunarians. While at the same time both shows display similar themes of wanting to change, grow stronger, etc. Both protagonists seek out the truth of the unusual circumstances they live in.
These two are NOT similar. However if you like one then you will probably like the other, they have some parallel points in enjoyment; the atmospheric and half-minimalistic tone, light social commentary, professionally crafted and unanimelike shots and carefully constructed, immersive dialogue. Both look good too. If SSR is Slowdive, HnK is Sigur Ros.
They both feature settings of similar feelings. Houseki no Kuni has a much larger cast and different intentions, but if you enjoy worlds that exist far after the decline of humanity, that's a strong similarity. They're both mysterious and leave a lot of questions unanswered for a long time.
If you enjoy one, you'll likely enjoy the other.
Both feature unusual art and animation; Houseki no Kuni is an example of a full CGI anime done right, whereas Kaguya-hime resembles an animated traditional japanese painting, thanks to its watercolor backgrounds and minimalistic but aesthetic designs.
Also, the alien enemies of Houseki no Kuni insantly reminded me of a certain turning point in Kaguya-hime, not going to spoil anything. All in all, both anime use their given artstyle to birth life to a distinct setting that stands among other anime.
In both stories we follow a weak character who fails to keep up in the dangerous world they live in. Ultimately, both show the great change in the main character because of the difficulties they face and how they mature and gather the strength required to stand up to their circumstances.
Both are set in a world that feels very alien to the viewer, lives by strict rules and is under constant attack of alien entities (lunarians in Houseki no Kuni and bacteria in Hataraku Saibou). Both have a large cast of human-like, but not actually human characters, with different episodes focusing on different ones, and protagonists (Phos in Houseki no Kuni and Red Blood Cell in Hataraku Saibou) who are pretty incompetent and strive to become better at their job.
Land of the Lustrous and Cells at Work! are both adaptations of manga from a monthly magazine published by Kodansha. The characters in both series are humanoid versions of non-human things, cells in Cells at Work! and gems in Land of the Lustrous. Everyone in each society has a specific role that they are best at and must do. The society in each anime must fight of an invading species, Lunarians in Land of the Lustrous and Bacteria in Cells at Work!. The main character in both series aren't good at their job at first, but slowly improve over the show.
this is a must watch.
-amazing animation (best I have ever seen I think, episode 8 and 10 you will know what I mean)
-godlike music and voice actors
-mysterious and interesting story
-interesting characters and their interactions and how they evolve as the story progresses.
Similar looking enemies in both shows attack the world and the main characters are trying to find out what these enemies are and where they are coming from.
a fantasy world that is mysterious at first. but you learn more about the characters as the story unfolds. it deals with a lot of serious and dark themes such as the meaning of life mortality, what gives us meaning, sacrifice, death, trust and so on. its the type of show you can watch multiple times and you can still learn something new, now that you have knowledge of some things you did not before. the story only gets better and better. also the animation <3
Mahoutsukai no Yome and Houseki no Kuni both explore themes of guilt and existentialism. However, they explore them in different ways, which is ultimately why this recommendation is so consequential. If you enjoyed Houseki no Kuni, you likely won't enjoy something that treads the same ground, but instead you'd probably enjoy something that approaches it in a new way.
Phos and Otani are very similar characters: useless is best word to describe both of them.
In Houseki no Kuni we can see rapid development of Phos character as she has perfect environment to grow. Alien 9 depicts same type of person in imperfect environment. Along with environment Phos is more perfect and likable because she is useless but also cheerful. Otani is useless and a crybaby so you can find her annoying sometimes.
Set of characters differs in quantity but in both shows we've two types of characters (excluding protagonist): Sensei (caring in Houseki vs. exploitative in Alien 9) and friends (leading vs. replacing her in her duties).
Both shows are weird but each has different kind of weirdness. In short (lol wtf vs. wtf... WTF)read more
This may seem like a bizarre recommendation, but both of these anime are examples of how CG can be done right.
Houseki no Kuni, aka. Land of the Lustrous uses its 3D CG as a way of highlighting the crystalline aspect of the characters. Thus the CG becomes a piece of the character itself.
Chikan Shita is a hentai that uses its CG alongside 2D elements to present more fluid sex-dynamics in Doujinshi based adaptation without going so far as losing the entirety of a comic style. This allows the animation to far transcend the wiggling still frames that Queen Bee hentai is known for.
It is hard to recommend a follow-up for something like AoT that has no real parallel, certainly in regards to story quality. However, Land of the Lustrous is something of a ‘yin’ to the Attack on Titan ‘yang’.
While using a totally different colour palette and animation style, Houseki no Kuni similarly has a mysterious invading enemy, a host of meaningful characters and a strong sense of tragedy throughout. It also delivers some of the most dynamic fight scenes (sword based, I might add) that you will find!
this just reminded me of YuYuYu since ep 1, lunarians' design reminds me of Vertex in yuki yuna and they both have cute girls doing cute things... also they both slowly become more dark
I noticed that people who enjoy DMCB also enjoy Houseki no Kuni so I decided to draw similarities between the two:
-uses religious metaphors and irony to illustrate their themes (Houseki w/ Buddhism and Devilman w/ Christianity)
- lots of science, history, and astronomy to explain their world
- both main characters have Harmartia that they struggle to overcome
- themes about loss of innocence, duality of humanity, and makes you question morality;;
- avant garde animation styles that integrate both 2D and CG animation
Two of my favourite anime. When I watched land of the lustrous I was reminded of Simoun in some ways:
- Both are about essentially genderless young "people" trying to find their way in a militaristic society in which the warriors are encouraged to pair up with another
person to fight.
- Both animes have societies that have rigid roles and both, at least in part, are about the rejection of these roles. In land of the lustrous, the gems usefulness in battle is largely determined by their rating on the Mohs scale. The part of the story the anime covers follows Phos, who has a low score and is trying to carve out a place for themselves in this society. In the world of Simoun, everyone is essentially genderless until 17, at which point a permanent gender and rigid gender role must legally be chosen. Several of the characters try to reject this choice in various ways fitting to each of their personalities.
-The nature of the enemies they're fighting is the major intrigue of both stories.
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A flower wishes to be a big tree or a bird flying free but it can’t. No matter what, the flower will always bloom, always bud and always become a fruit for someone else to pluck. The flower cannot change what it is and yet, it is always undergoing change.
Both MCs try hard to change who they are, to save their friends, to improve, to fall in love - without realising that their metamorphosis has already begun.
Despite being anime of totally different genres with somewhat different tones, both Parasyte and Land of the Lustrous have one major thing in common; the use of body horror to bolster their horror aspects, world-building, and dramatic sequences.
Parasyte is horror through and through, but it comes, in my opinion, not just from both the actual horror of the monsters killing people, but even more so the general body horror plot device. Land of the Lustrous lacks the first by and large, but is plentiful in the latter, so if you find yourself drawn to a struggle in which the participants don't play by the rules of the human body, with a horror aspect to boot, Land of the Lustrous may be exactly the show you're looking for.read more
If you're looking for some sci-fi, then Houseki no Kuni and World Trigger will definitely inspire you with some of its imaginatively. Both series includes a theme of invasion from outside forces. And from that invasion, there is battles and wars that are fought. Both series has fantasy elements as well as bits of mystery especially in regards with the invaders.
Knights of Sidonia and Land of the Lustrous are both full 3D CGI adaptations of manga from Kodansha's monthly Afternoon magazine. Both shows are about a small society of people/gems who are under attack from light pink aliens (Gauna, Lunarians), and a select few people have to fight them off to defend society. At least one of the main characters is genderless in both shows, and some of the characters are basically immortal.
you get a similar FEEL when watching these anime. a distant feeling of melancholy and interset to learn more about the characters. it also makes you question what is right and what is wrong. who are the good guys really? really intriguing if you are looking for an anime that really makes you think and you have to pay attention to get the underlying themes of it this is a must watch.
Both have the MC join in their family / group's tradition of guarding their local spot from foreign invaders and growing over time to better combat them. Siege warfare with Buddhist influences.
Both shows personify object that are working under a master, the art styles are very different but both very beautiful with a verity of characters and personalities.
it seems bright and lovely at first but do not let the colors fool you the anime takes some really dark themes and you have to pay attention to every detail to understand it and you can watch it multiple times and still learn something new. the animation is one of the best I have ever seen, the sound/music /voice acting are also some of the best I have heard.
and the story truly is the best part of this anime. you just want to learn more and more about this world and the characters living in it.
both are relaxing most of the time but at times have some awesome action and at times makes you "FEEL". Houseki has more actions scenes but they are Biutiful to look at.
both have a mysterious world that you learn more and more about as you watch the show. similarly, the characters learn and grow as the story unfolds. truly a must watch.
Kemurikusa reminded me of Houseki no Kuni not only in the similar cg art style but also with a very similar feel or aesthetic. Both shows are sci-fi with action and constant mystery and natual curiosity of what their seemingly apocalyptic world has to offer. These shows don't rely on cliffhangs rather intigue the audiance with its diverse cast of characters and interesting world and character building. If you enjoyed the aesthetic of one show I would highly recommend the other.
- Themes of identity and immortality
- Unique but disparate art/animation
- Seemingly alien, yet relatable characters
- Set in the future
- Worldbuilding
- the characters are a kind of humans mixed with precious stones
- they are very esteemed, but despite this they face several difficulties because they are half jewel
The main characters of 3-gatsu no Lion and Houseki no Kuni try to find their place in the world. Rei was thrown into a situation he didn't choose (his dependency on shogi), and Phos starts off useless due to a condition (s)he didn't choose, in a society that requires a function from everyone. They experience how it's lonely at the top, and how much these at the top had to sacrifice in order to get there. As coming of age stories, they lay down the importance of these around you, and that yes, you have value.
This is a bit of an odd recommendation for me to make. The reason I'm making it is simple, I have only ever liked two anime for their plot. Steins;gate and Houseki no Kuni. That is the reason I'm making this recommendation, because they're the only two anime for which the plot is strong enough to hold them up (I also want to dethrone Shinsekai Yori from the top recommendations related to Houseki no Kuni)
BTW: These are two of the only three anime I'd recommend against dropping at all costs. Even if you're not particularly enjoying these, you can't get the full picture without finishing them.read more
They both have the same plot twist of how the world they knew was not what it turned out to be.
Phos from HNK and the 3 kiddos from YNN are quite similar after they start doubting their world.
HNK is a gem (pun very much intended) that should not be missed if you enjoy YNN. I also see Shinsekai Yori in the recommendation. All three are very similar.
Both Akko and Phos are high-strung, clumsy young female protagonists who desperately want to find a way to fit in despite their handicaps compared to their peers. Both Akko and Phos also have a potential to go against the advice of those who are older/wiser and do what they want to do, which can lead to trouble, but also leads to them growing stronger as characters.
Legs, swords, elegance, and a focus on interpersonal relationships. Similar character designs, competition between characters, artsy scenes. Both are fairly unique series but share many visual and thematic elements.
Land of the Lustrous and D.Gray-Man are both stories that center around tragic young heroes who have to sacrifice their very beings in order to fight some sort of evil. Both shows have cute elements while staying fairly dark overall. If you like tragedy and never-ending wars, these shows are for you.
