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, although as a still it doesn’t make justice to the animation going on, from the moving grass, the growing rorschach in the sky, to the subtle movements of their hair and sword, 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.
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!
