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Reviews for Ruri Rocks

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MisterSirCode

5 months ago

9

As a fine mineral collector and gemological / geological enthusiast, just from the initial three episodes, I can speak with certainty that this show has great potential. They touch on important topics and portray very accurate geology.. From publishing and rockhounding, to displaying accurate mineral habits and realistic portrayals of actual mineral formations.. The art and aesthetic of the show were all anyone could really ask for, and it helps highlight the focus of the show: The crystals. Its worth mentioning that the luck and mineral quality depicted is a bit skewed compared to real world experiences, but it makes sense given the purpose ofthe show and the need to make rockhounding look fun and concise in a form the average viewer can actually enjoy.

Hopefully this show will bring some more interest to the mineral hobby, and I think its a great expression of the hobby in the form of a traditional anime. Its unexpectedly entertaining, though I may be biased since I find the technical and geological aspects very interesting, while others may not.

So far my only real pet peeve with the show was the promiscuous angles and near-fan-service camera work on a few scenes, particularly for Nagi, but its honestly not as intrusive and distracting as it can be in many other shows. I guess well see if it gets worse / better as episodes release.

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Marinate1016

3 months ago

9

Isn’t it amazing how fun learning about even the most seemingly mundane things can be thanks to cute anime girls? Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure mineralogy is a riveting subject, but for the average person there’s few things that sound less fun than learning about rocks. Yet, ruri rocks takes a seemingly uninteresting subject matter and turns it into one of the most enjoyable and fun experiences of the season. I came into this knowing next to nothing about mineralogy and left feeling like I have a PhD in the field. Studio Bind might have been created to adapt Mushoku Tensei, but if they’reout to diversify their portfolio, CGDCT is clearly their calling. First with Onimai and now Ruri Rocks, they’ve shown they’re able to take ordinary slice of life stories with cute girls and make them into visual spectacles that stay with you for many years. That’s not to say those manga were not good from the start, but no reasonable viewer could look at the manga and then this anime and not think of it as anything but an overhaul of epic proportions. While it definitely has Bind’s patented fanservice bits, they don’t overshadow or detract from what’s a very heartwarming and endearing story. An amazing cast, educational and some of the best animated sequences of the year made this one of my favorite shows of the season.

Ruri rocks is cool for two main reasons and I’m not talking about Nagi’s chest. 1: Learning the basics of mineralogy and how studying rocks can teach us about the world and ourselves. 2:Ruri’s development and coming into her own as a scientist. It’s such a nice watch because you can tell the author genuinely loves this subject matter and wants to share the field with others who most likely have never heard of it. Ruri is a reflection of the general audience in many ways. She goes from just finding rocks cool to learning proper scientific methodology and analysis. Her growth from amateur to actually wanting to become a scientist is something the author clearly wants people reading this series to do and if it works on only one person, I think that’s a beautiful thing. So many people don’t have access to certain hobbies or interests so they’d never have a way to know if it’s for them if not for experiencing it through media so hats off to this author for showing people the day to day life of a mineralogy from actually hunting for rocks to analysing them for data. The show also does a great job of showing how relevant this is for present day. Rocks are one of the best windows into the past of the planet and humanity in general and can help us predict patterns in the future. While it’s admittedly still not my favorite subject, I have so much respect for anyone working in this field thanks to this show. The educational bits are so well done and don’t feel like they’re overwhelming you. I appreciated the pop ups that would come on screen teaching you about a substance, explaining its chemistry, practical use, where it could be found and other fun trivia. Having Nagi basically act as the instructor for the audience/Ruri made following along very easy and engaging. It’s like that one favorite teacher you had in school that made every day a joy to go to class.

Ruri’s development also was great. In a one cour show, you love to see your MC actually change and evolve by the end. Ruri is frankly very immature and silly at the start of the show and doesn’t approach hunting for rocks the way she should. Thanks to Nagi’s guidance and the respect she develops for Nagi, coming to see her as a big sister, she starts to take on a the traits you’d want from a scientist. She becomes much more measured and thoughtful in her actions and even ends up being a mentor to the girls from her school who end the group! It’s a nice full circle moment where Nagi passes her love of mineralogy onto ruri and she passes it only Seto/Aoi and then onto us. The characters and their interactions really made every episode so special. It’s like watching a family take shape as this show goes on! I also enjoyed seeing Imari come into her own as a leader as well, she played second fiddle to Nagi for most of the series and was sort of in her amen corner up until the last few episodes where she starts using her unique perspective to each the girls new things.

You can’t talk about this show without talking about the amazing production quality. Every episode is a work of art oozing passion and love from BIND. I mean a show about girls finding rocks has no business having some of the best animated scenes of the year and yet here we are. The scene of Ruri finding gems underwater will always be rent free in my mind. Every single episode is gorgeous and almost every scene could be paused and screenshotted. This is a beautiful piece of animation and it takes what’s already a really sweet story to the next level.

I’m hoping Bind see the success they’ve had with this and Onimai now and continue to seek out these lesser known stories and bring them to life with the quality only they can. I love shows like this that remind you of the magic and wonder anime can bring.

Ruri Rocks gets 9 gems out of 10

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Malorak7

4 months ago

9

I genuinely think this will be regarded as a hidden gem in 3-5 Years. Pun fully intended. Ruri Rocks is very much a feel good Slice of Life show with a central gimmick, but you can really tell how much heart was poured into it. The author must REALLY love mineralogy and scientific research, and the adaptation keeps this alive - no I'd actually say it elevates it. Honestly, the first episode especially is one of the best looking Seasonal Anime episodes I've seen. It's beautiful, the music is gorgeous, the voice acting is great, and I LOVE the Opening and Ending, both for their visuals aswell as their music choice.

It may be seen by some as "just another slice of life cute girls doing X" show by some, but I genuinely appreciate this show a whole lot. If I could, I would give it an 8.5/10 as the topic of minerals is not something I resonated with heavily as I went into it, but I do love me a show that creates a new interest for me, and Ruri Rocks is on its way to do so at least a little bit.

I highly recommend you give it a shot if you want something fun, laid back and informative to watch. I can't really fault it at all, it's just very well produced and the love of the author for the subject is more than just apparent, the topics just aren't my favorite is the only reason this scores a tad lower.

I'll definetly watch all of it.

8.5/10

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lycoping

3 months ago

8

Oh, I have much to say about this one, and I think I've seen enough to review it well. This anime is to rocks what Yuru Camp is to camping, Sweetness and Lightning is to food, Do it Yourself is to DIY, and Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid is to hypersexualized immense breasted dragon people. I have truly mixed feelings about this anime, so... we'll start with what I like about it. This anime is clearly made by someone who loves mineralogy and is very knowledgeable about it. It's an educational anime about mineralogy. I'm not a mineralogist, but I've watched Dan Hurd on YouTube,and I got Dan Hurd vibes. A lot of the stuff they do and talk about in anime you'll find there as well. So if you want to learn about mineralogy, this is your anime.

And truly, there's nothing wrong with that. It is what it is, and for what it is, it's very good. I could see how some could find it boring, but I mostly didn't. It's about a teenage girl named Ruri who wants to find pretty stones. That's all it's about, but as she learns about stones with her graduate researcher friends Imari and Nagi, she learns far more about, well, pretty stones.

The art is very good... even spectacular in some places. The education is accurate. There is a small amount of entertainment and humor. And that's what you get. (and the OP end ED are beautiful and relaxing)

But now let's get into the reasons why my feelings are mixed.

This anime has the same deficiencies as all of the other educational anime. You don't get to know anything about any character except when they're collecting stones. Ruri is bright and bubbly and cheerful, which is fine, but she's mostly just an annoying barnacle on the life of the extremely patient Nagi and Imari. She ends up coming into her own, but even towards the end she's still just looking for pretty stones. What even is she going to *do* with those pretty stones? Maybe we'll find out. Somehow I doubt it. There are more mines to explore.

Nagi (and to a smaller degree Imari) unsettled me a little. It's their body design. Nagi has large breasts with clothing designed to accentuate them. They're like big, round torpedoes. There's something about the way they drew her that made me think they wanted to add a little ecchi but couldn't figure out how, so they just settled for giving most (but not all) of the female characters large breasts. Don't get me wrong, the design is attractive, but it's... excessive. Especially for a Japanese woman, who are not known for... that. They also somehow figured out how to add cosplay into it, which is kind of an amazing accomplishment when you consider that this anime is laser focused on finding rocks. The fact that they somehow shoved Nagi into a maid uniform just underscored that - they're trying to force a little ecchi where it just doesn't fit.

To their credit, though, such as it is, Ruri is a pretty normally sized teenage girl and there are zero of those moments with her or similarly aged friends. Even when they were wearing swimsuits, they were just ordinary swimsuits. That's okay. I'm not complaining about that, just the obvious fact that they were shoving ecchi in where it didn't belong - even if tame ecchi.

Also... and here's the thing I didn't like the most. What those girls/women are doing is *dangerous*. They could have gotten seriously hurt. In fact, in a few places, they almost did. At one point they were walking along abandoned railroad tracks. There's nothing wrong with what they did per se, but what I didn't like is that the anime made zero attempt to actually show "this is DANGEROUS". No disclaimers, no signs, nothing at all that I could see. Not even a "don't try this at home". I understand that Japanese society tends to be a little more independent that way, but still. There's normal, everyday walk-to-the-konbini dangerous, and there's fall-off-a-cliff or have-rocks-fall-on-you dangerous, and this was very much the latter. I wonder how many Japanese people (or even non-Japanese people) will try to do what these girls do, and end up hurt, or worse, disappointed. Because they had pretty much unnatural success. Fields of opals? Fields of sapphires? A huge nugget of placer gold? You have any idea how many videos Dan Hurd has to make before he finds a piece of gold even one tenth that size?

It's the same problem most of these anime have. They lead to warped expectations in favor of promoting whatever it is they're trying to promote. And I really don't think they even quite understand what they're doing. To them, it's just making good anime. Maybe it is. But someone's gonna get hurt.

So, for that reason, it's mixed feelings. Is it a nice anime? Yes. Is it beautiful? Yes. Does Nagi have big, bodacious breasts and a full bottom? Yes. Is Ruri a cute, bubbly girl who makes everyone's day brighter? Yes. Is someone going to get hurt someday because of this anime? Probably. So... that's my opinion. Watch it, enjoy it if you want, you might find it boring or you might not, but before you get a hammer and chisel and start going out into the wilderness to break rocks and fall of cliffs, please, for the love of all that's good and holy, FIND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

Okay, that's all. Mixed feelings from me. I'll rewrite if my opinion changes over the last two episodes. I don't think it will.

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NTruths

2 months ago

4

The good: This is an anime about geology and collecting rocks, woot! We haven't had one of those before and it's a fun topic to learn about. The bits of actual science all seem accurate and worth learning. The okay: The art and animation, and sound design are all fine for your average seasonal anime. I do wish they hadn't gone with the "ecchi" style of character design - it's fine in actual ecchi anime, but here it just felt pointlessly distracting. The bad: The writing, the characters and plot were all two dimensional. Unfortunately, this show lacks any real depth or conflict.The characters all get along in every situation, the problems they encounter are quickly resolved without any real thought or effort, and the over-arcing story is extremely basic. Essentially, this is a story in which the characters never face any real chance of "failure" and thus their "success" feels worthless and maybe even unearned.

Overall, this is a 4/10 show - boring and lazy writing created a show not worth watching, out of a reasonably good and interesting topic.

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continue344

3 months ago

10

Ruri Rocks – A Calm and Beautiful Anime Ruri Rocks is a beautiful anime for those who are not looking for action. There are many reasons to enjoy it, but the most notable are its atmospheric music and its stunning visual presentation. While anime is often criticized for having poor or low-quality visuals, Ruri Rocks proves otherwise by showcasing the beauty of nature through the medium of animation. Another strength of the series lies in its characters. They are well-written and feel authentic, each contributing to the show’s gentle but captivating atmosphere. Ruri herself undergoes meaningful character development throughout the story, gradually becoming wiser and more mature asthe episodes progress. This growth feels natural and rewarding to watch, adding emotional depth to the calm setting.

Personally, I enjoy this series very much, especially because it is quiet, soothing, and relaxing — a refreshing change from louder, action-packed titles.

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Lakyan

5 months ago

10

This is undoubtedly my favorite anime of the season. It manages to be lighthearted, engaging, and educational all at once. What I find most captivating is how it sparks curiosity about the world around us—especially the parts we typically ignore, like the science hidden in plain sight. Through its episodes, the anime offers a unique perspective on mineralogy, encouraging viewers to learn more about stones, crystals, and geological phenomena in a fun and accessible way. It's not just an entertaining show; it's also a subtle educational experience. Oh, and one more thing: the animation and design are absolutely gorgeous. I read the manga, and I mustsay, the anime adaptation elevated the story in a way I didn't expect. The colors, movement, and visual effects bring everything to life with such charm and precision that I'm genuinely impressed. It's a beautiful transformation that adds even more value to an already great story.

As for the more sensual scenes, I personally don't find them bothersome. In fact, I'm fine with it, understanding that this type of content is often included to appeal to certain audiences, especially men. That said, I know not everyone feels the same way. If you're usually bothered by fanservice, don't worry—it's present, but it's not overwhelming. The real focus here is the fascinating knowledge it shares, making it worth watching for anyone curious about the natural world.

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mugi_sama

2 months ago

10

My opinion of this anime is extremely biased due to my personal hyperfixation with geology, so take this with a grain of salt. That said, I can recommend this show to anyone who enjoys science, those with curious minds, and for anyone with the heart of an adventurer. As someone who knows a bit about geology already, the information the show presents is rather basic and surface-level, but that did not diminish my enjoyment whatsoever. The combination of likeable characters, beautiful animation, and evocative music makes for a wonderful viewing experience. The story is also quite good. At the beginning of the show, Ruri is rather impatientand naïve, but with guidance from university students Nagi and Imari, she learns a lot of valuable lessons about herself.

I don't want to say too much more in fear of accidentally spoiling anything, so I'll conclude by simply saying this: if you like science, and are moved by inspiring stories of discovery and learning, you will greatly enjoy this show.

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bellestorie2023

about 2 months ago

9

[Ruri no Houseki] is a cool anime that keeps things simple and easy to follow, mainly focusing on geology. The story moves straight ahead without complicated subplots, making it super relaxing to watch. The characters are really cute and grow on you as the episodes go by, developing in a natural way. It also sneaks in some educational stuff without feeling heavy, making it fun and interesting. It’s the perfect mix of entertainment and learning — chill, enjoyable, and kinda educational. Definitely recommend [Ruri no Houseki] if you’re into anime that’s light and soothing but still teaches you something. ------------------------------------------ Italian version "Ruri no Houseki" è un anime chesi distingue per la sua narrazione lineare e accessibile, incentrata sulla geologia. La storia procede senza sottotrame complesse, rendendo la visione piacevole e facile da seguire. I personaggi sono adorabili e mostrano una crescita graduale e coinvolgente nel corso delle puntate, cosa che rafforza il legame emotivo con lo spettatore.

L’anime riesce a inserire momenti educativi senza risultare pesante, presentandoli invece in modo interessante e stimolante. Questo equilibrio fa sì che sia un prodotto che diverte, rilassa e allo stesso tempo insegna, perfetto per chi cerca un intrattenimento leggero ma anche arricchente.

Consiglio vivamente "Ruri no Houseki" a chi ama gli anime con un tocco educativo e un’atmosfera calma e piacevole.

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TheXsaber

3 months ago

10

10/10 Masterpiece New Gen Studio Bind is cooking again, Ruri Rocks is one of the best anime of the season. Grafik:It's so beautiful! 9/10 The science of rocks that are fresh and appetizing in this season, and the effort to find, research and appreciate them.For each episode it was pretty good, I hope there is a Season 2, really hope so. I hope that Bind studio continues to be consistent, even though the MUSHOKU TENSEI S3 project is good. As for the storyline, it is very interesting, because you enjoy the beauty of nature and research it! I don't know the haters who give stupid reviews, that'sirrelevant guys. This is one of the underrated masterpieces of the season to be fair.

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SanaeK10

3 months ago

9

I never expected an edutainment show (the manga was written by an actual teacher) to be this good, but Bind (more specifically the Onimai team) pulled it off flawlessly. Hobbyist shows are dime a dozen, and Ruri no Houseki isn't even the only mineralogy show in the past few years. But, while something like Koisuru Asteroid put me to sleep, Ruri no Houseki had me glued to the screen, and it's not because of Nagi (but she helps too). First things first, the presentation is sublime, the music may seem unnecessarily grand; sweeping orchestras swell even when all Ruri did was find a bunch ofrocks, but it is key to setting the mood and tone to every scene in this show. It's very much a core component to the series, and makes even the most mundane scene feel extraordinarily important. Scored by one of the composers to the Atelier series, so another series in the "Grand Soundtracks to Listen to while picking up rocks" genre. Animation is smooth and cinematography always keeps you engaged, another one of Bind's specialties. Really, the show is just astounding to experience on a weekly basis, and every episode just feels like it should be screened on an IMAX.

For a CGDCT show, you usual archetypes are there, just with a more educational bent to them. Ruri is really childish to the point that I forgot she's a JK and not a JS. Listening to Nagi's (sometimes Imari's) lectures never gets boring though, and I always took the time to read the eyecatches. I never had an interest in geology or minerals, but this show really goes all out into making them seem like the most important thing in the world.

I wish Bind would branch out and do more stuff like these. It goes to show that even for a show with little action, they could still mine gold from it.

9/10

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DanielFraga

5 months ago

8

This is a charming slice of life. The art is beautiful, delicate, and well-animated. There's a certain eroticism in the characters, but I think it goes unnoticed by more mature viewers. In a way, it even has a certain charm. My wife noticed the eroticism when she saw me watching LoL, but she ended up enjoying it, finding the characters beautiful and their bodies more realistic. The protagonist's development goes beyond falling in love with a new hobby; she matures as a person, learning the true value of knowledge and dedication. For those who enjoy the genre, I certainly recommend it.

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whiteflame55

3 months ago

8

So, I’m a science nerd. Been like this pretty much my whole life, swapping between passions at various stages. Fascinations would turn into hobbies, and hobbies would be replaced by new fascinations. What solidified my choice to go into my current field was getting my hands dirty. Sure, in my case, that was mainly in a pretty sterile lab, but no amount of reading into a given subject could tell me whether I wanted to work in it. Ruri Rocks is the kind of show that takes that concept - of turning a personal passion into something more through active participation in it - and showcasesit with some impressive animation and a pretty heartfelt set of stories. It’s not exactly breaking the mold when it comes to scientific series that inform an audience of how things work (Dr. Stone was airing at the same time this was), but it is the only series I’ve seen that delves down into a much more realistic experience of becoming invested in a field and learning you actually want to work in it.

At the center of that is the titular Ruri, a girl with a passion for crystals as things of beauty in the abstract who needs the guidance of Nagi, a graduate researcher in geology to understand why crystals be like that. This sends her down a rabbit hole as she learns about a wide range of minerals and goes exploring for them, performing actual geological experiments to find veins of specific minerals and hypothesize about their origins. They even bust out the lab notebook. It’s a pleasure to watch her attitude towards minerals mature into something more than aesthetic and to see her dedicate herself to each individual task. She struggles (perhaps a bit more than she should, given how invested in this she is) with what to do going forward, though thankfully Nagi is there to give her subtle pushes. Her family largely ends up just serving as supporters for what she’s doing, not spending much time on camera past the first couple of episodes.

That contrasts well with Shouko, a girl whose passion for minerals predates Ruri and, like me, came with an inborn fascination for researching them. Unfortunately for her, her family didn’t nurture that fascination. There’s obviously no future in minerals, right? So maybe find something else to do with your life and treat this like a hobby. I can’t say I had this problem growing up, but I felt Shouko’s pain in these scenes: she had all the drive and interest to pursue mineralogy, but the support in her life just wasn’t there. There’s a reason episode 7 is my favorite in this season, as she finally finds in Ruri, Nagi and especially Youko the kind of support for her passion that she’s been desperately wanting for so long.

And the two senpais of Nagi and Youko complement them well, absurd character proportions aside. Nagi is the kind of researcher who focuses on getting her hands dirty, always seeking new discoveries and trying to understand them. She’s perfectly paired with Ruri by giving her opportunities to discover minerals that can bolster her imagination. She doesn’t let the other girl sit still for long, which is just what Ruri needs. By contrast, Youko and Shouko share a more book-based fascination with minerals. They both have interests in the field, but more to test a theory than develop one.

This season is very much character-driven, hence the above. The pretty minerals, and information about them are nice flavor enhancers that keep both the audience and characters engaged. Every now and then, the series will dip into some light drama as it explores some of the history behind a given site, which can be interesting. This is very much a journey over destination type of show, and while I wish we got a little insight into how Nagi and Youko got invested in mineralogy themselves and got a little more insight into their research/paths ahead, this was a vibe to watch week after week. It’s a beautiful watch with some pretty great music to boot, and yes, I see what they were doing with that last shot.

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Snowy1234

about 2 months ago

10

Incredible anime, 10/10. Even Dr. Stone wasn’t able to make science look so alluring, so intertwined with our daily lives. If, before this season, someone had told me I would become interested and passionate about science, I would have laughed. But here I am - reading books I would have never picked up, watching videos, and subscribing to channels I never knew existed. I’ll never look at the mountains the same way again; even the dust beneath my feet feels somehow different. I can count on one hand how many anime have affected the real me behind the screen, and Ruri is one of them. Ifthat’s not a sign of a masterpiece, I don't know what is.

The highlights for me are the last two episodes. I knew, in theory, that modern technology is, at the end of the day, just the utilization of rocks. But to see it - to see a WORKING RADIO made from rocks - is unforgettable. It makes you realize that the devices we hold are just a fancy mix of rocks, chemistry, and physics.

And the last episode was even more incredible. We all know about the water cycle, and this anime opened our eyes to the rock cycle. But the fact that Earth integrates rocks from SPACE blew my mind. It really makes you think about our planet’s place in the universe.

Moving away from the science and onto the usual anime aspects, the anime has beautiful animation, allowing you to feel amazed together with the characters. Another strong point is character development: Ruri is a completely different person by the end of the season, and Nagi and others also gain depth. The relaxing atmosphere and music were exactly what I needed to avoid overwhelming myself with information.

This anime made me think that everyone on Earth should have at least some interest in science - and I certainly do now. Give this anime a try to learn more about the world we live in, and to fall in love with it even more.

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d2rkest

3 months ago

10

Finding one’s calling– a purpose to chase and a dream to shape– doesn’t always emerge from moments of grandeur; sometimes, it begins with the simple joy of living life. Ruri Rocks follows the life of the high-school girl Ruri Rocks– wait– Ruri Tanigawa as she embarks on a quest to find some rocks that she can use as jewelry. In doing so, she meets Nagi Arato, a graduate student passionate about mineralogy, and together they explore to find some rocks. There are more main characters that appear in Youko Imari and Shouko Seto as the story develops, but this is the basic premise of the show:find interest in a rock, and set out to find said rock, yet you cannot stop watching. Not to be cliché, but it is the journey that makes this show stand above others in the Slice of Life genre. Mundane research scenes become captivating because of the overwhelming passion the characters bring to even the smallest discoveries. I have no interest in mineralogy, but it draws you in by seeing their unbridled excitement over something as seemingly simple as a rock.

Ruri, too, is no stranger to this phenomenon. Starting the show as a little snobbish (for lack of a better word), like us viewers, as she is dragged around from rock to rock, and mountain to river, she too begins to develop a budding interest in mineralogy. Ruri shows that it’s never too late to find an interest in something. What may have started as a superficial fascination with jewelry has grown into a deep appreciation for gemstones and rocks in all their forms.

Beyond the story, another lustrous aspect of Ruri Rocks which makes it shine is the amazing production quality that has become an expectation when watching a Bind show. As you watch the show, you can just feel the passion. It’s hard to put into words. Breath-taking visuals and pretty character design are the first things you notice, but there is just so much more. Every shot, every angle, every character interaction has been created with so much love. There is always something moving in the background, and it is always fun to watch the characters (who aren’t the main focus) just mess around. Even the clothes have thought put behind them. Is this necessary? No, but it does make the group feel so much more alive, human, and fun. Everything in this show has intention behind it, which makes watching these girls explore their passions through the visual medium that Bind Studios has created with so much love and care, all the more believable. This isn’t even to mention the sound design, which is great as well. It just oozes a desire to produce the best possible version of a show, which seems rare these days.

This same theme has been done time and time again, but that goes to speak about the importance of finding yourself– finding what you love to do. For Ruri, her dream wasn’t something that she stumbled upon; it was something that she found through her curiosity about the unknown. I hope that everyone who watches and finishes this show feels a little more inspired to chase that goal they’ve had, or to finally take the first step toward exploring a passion they’ve been curious about.

Thank you, Bind, for making such an amazing viewing experience. 10/10, would rock again.

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Necrozz

3 months ago

9

One of the most beautiful, contemplative, and informative anime of the season. At first, I had some prejudice about watching this anime. I thought, “Why would I want to see cute, busty girls studying rocks?” And I was completely wrong, because the anime is so much deeper than that — and of course, I also watched it because of Nagi. This anime was so good it actually made me want to go out looking for rocks, figuring out where they came from and everything, that’s how contagious it was. If only I had a Nagi-san in my life, I’d sleep so peacefully.

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KoheiOnii-Chann

about 2 months ago

10

Not only the stones and minerals, but every element in this anime is truly beautiful. The graphics are incredible, the artwork is very detailed, the character designs are great, and most importantly, the story itself. I never expected that learning about stones and minerals could be this interesting and enjoyable. One season is definitely not enough — I really hope there will be a second season, and even more if possible, I’ll keep watching. I want to see whether Ruri will go to college and choose the same major as Nagi and Imari. I also want to see the journey and research that Ruri will conduct in the future. Seto hasalready decided on her future to study in the field of mineralogy, and I hope Ruri will do the same.

I have no hesitation in giving this anime a solid 10 out of 10.

I hope more anime fans will pay attention to works like this — those that not only have amazing storytelling and visuals, but also offer real knowledge and insight.

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HERMIT_PAIMON

2 months ago

9

One of best anime made on nature theme These kind of shows are highly educational , I just confirmed that og author used to be a minerealogy student or explorer . I think it's more like a revolution in sol society , usually we think farming , slow dramas , countryside as sol elements but mineral hunting is a new one for me . Studio bind did a wonderful job , pretty dope and effective . They already gave a lot bangers in recent years , more coming next year . The quality of animation and music itself is also beautiful enough to makeaudiences to lock on to the beauty and wonder of stones and jewels among nature. However the most striking point of the story is that it is weaven to open up the eyes of audiences to think and see things as the entity having a long history and backdrops, which is quite important for students to learn and facilitate not only STEM but also humanities. The story proceeds to instill such a way of behavior, quite naturally. So impressive and exciting. Don't miss it.

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kekekeKaj

about 2 months ago

6

Ruri Rocks has an alternative title "Introduction to Mineralogy". With a drab title like that, the show likely filters for its own audience, namely those who are into hobby-focused slice-of-lifes and, perhaps less commonly, those who are actually rock enthusiasts. The show begins with Ruri (whose name literally translates as Lapis Lazuli), going on a search for crystals after hearing that they could be found in the mountains. During her expedition, she runs into Nagi, a grad student in mineralogy, who she ropes in to help her in her quest for gems and stuff. The two soon starts going on regular expeditions together, and over timeNagi helps Ruri gain a deep appreciation for rocks that goes beyond the latter's initial motivation of greed.

While the title and premise clearly indicate show's focus on mineralogy, the first episode actually threw me off, as the humongous breast sizes of some of the characters and the numerous breast and ass shots made me wonder whether the "rocks" in the title is meant as a lewd joke rather than actual rocks. I was also distracted by the body shapes of the characters which, possibly distorted by the breast sizes, has such an unanime-like stoutness to them that I wondered whether I needed to adjust my TV's aspect ratio.

What's undeniable though, is the show's enthusiasm for its subject matter. The characters are practically reaching rockgasms while geeking out over lumps of stones, and that enthusiasm counts for a lot in this kind of genre. The show often succeeds in invoking a sense of wonder about rocks, aided by the strong visuals when showcasing a particularly pretty piece of stone or a breathtaking discovery. It's a show that uses CGI effectively, leaning into the colours, contrasts and sparkles that CGI can be so good at rendering.

At times though, I wish the show could have channelled across its enthusiasm in a more accessible manner: some scenes resembles little more than audio info dumps aided by a cartoony power point presentation, and the fun graphics just isn't enough to save those scenes from being a bit dry. In addition, the hunt for gems and minerals can often feel too easy. There's not so much of a sense that the anime is able to make you appreciate the ordinary and the mundane as it is trying to wow you with truly extraordinary finds that seem to happen in almost every episode. Regardless of the rarity of precious stones the characters are looking for, they'll hit the motherload to the extent that they could all realistically become multi-millionaires by the end of the series. There're only so many such events a show can have before its believability tanks, especially when the show in question is meant to be a slice of life.

The better episodes of Ruri Rocks often mingles the minerology lessons with human elements, and this is epitomised by the emotional apex of the series in the penultimate episode. The series often returns to the theme of the rocks being threads to the past, and the penultimate episode really drives home that point by tying it to Ruri's connection with her grandfather.

Character growth is often a key component of these sorts of shows, and on this front Ruri Rocks duly delivers. The protagonist Ruri is one of those energetic genki architypes, and initially her energy is often disruptive: she's impatient and susceptible to fierce tantrums when things don't go her way. But gradually, like a rock whose rough edges were polished smooth by a gentle stream, Ruri learns to channel her wild energy into focused, dogged, investigative effort thanks to the tutelage of Nagi and her massive rocks. Sorry, I meant massive store of knowledge about rocks.

Unlike its subject matter, Ruri Rocks is never going to be eye-catching. You don't really come for the spectacle, plot twists or intellectual challenge. But if you're looking for a laid back exploration on a topic off the beaten track, then Ruri Rocks will be probably scratch that itch.

As long as you don't mind pausing now and then to read an on-screen essay about the formation of sandstone or something.

Personal rating: +0.5 (decent)

3
Mixed Feelings
f
fh1478

2 months ago

5

Mineralogy With Rocking Jeans Ruri Rocks Is a show, where curvy women talk about rocks and how they are made, and how amazing Japan is because of geography. What make me watch it, was the very pretty and sexy character design, But sadly the meat of the show is about the rocks, the focus is on the rocks, and maybe you can become interested in it, but I could not. It is very hard in the area of slice of life, but that kind of slice of life where the conflicts is barely there, and it's mostly about relaxing and listening to the little girl, getting upset allthe time.

But even if the plot isn't there, the backgrounds look natural and detailed, it makes Japan look so beautiful, and the character design is just so sexy.

the character interactions are cute, and I hope you will get more out of it than I did, maybe you will become a true rock enjoyer.

1
Mixed Feelings