SynopsisAfter helping each other, jewelry store owner Richard Ranasinghe de Vulpian has decided to make Seigi Nakata, his assistant.
Story
This was not a BL anime. There, for those who were speculating if it's a shounen-ai or not, that's the answer. So for those who thought of skipping this one because there might be some physical contact you don't want to see between two guys, I'm telling you there's none. This was actually a very philosophical anime, and I encourage everyone to watch this.
But for Fujoshis out there, don't worry, there were a few scenes where you will totally ship our two protagonists. Here's a sample:
(Itta daro?)
What I loved about this anime was they discussed things that people should apply in this modern time. To quote what Richard said to Seigi: "You will exhibit no prejudice based on race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, nor any other criterion, and you will not speak in a discriminatory manner."
In episode two, they shared what it's like for an LGBTQ person to live in Japan. Basically, they were trying to say that their country needs to be more open about discussing issues relating to LGBTQ.
And as the season was ending, they showed how "blood is thicker than water" wasn't something a person should always believe in.
Our two main characters might give a vibe that they are a (romantic) couple, but to set the record, they're just in a platonic relationship. In fact, Richard has become a wingman to Seigi, when he totally gave up pursuing the person he likes.
Speaking of Richard, you can tell he's androgynous, but, he's someone who doesn't like being praised regarding his looks. And in terms of being a friend, he's your ideal mature guy you wanna hang out with.
Seigi on the other hand, a helpful and transparent guy, was a perfect match for him, as he's someone who still needs to learn a lot from the world he's living in.
In terms of storyboard, I particularly liked the scenes in episode 10. It was such a magnificent episode, I mistook it for the finale.
Regarding the script, I applaud the writers for being bold and discussing necessary matters that other anime neglect.
And since Richard can speak Japanese, French, Mandarin, Italian, German, etc, expect to see dialogues from these languages.
Other quotes which I found interesting:
"Everyone has their own world. It's a matter of whether we deny them, or choose to nurture them as our own."
"I can't stand growing a vegetable garden in a desert anymore."
"People regret the things they didn't do, more than the things they did."
The character designs were on point, it really fits the persona of each cast.
Animation-wise, it's pretty stale, only the people walking were animated in the background. Fortunately, the cinematography was done well, the angle and zoom shots were precise.
Music / SoundThe opening song "Houseki no Umareru Toki" (When Jewels are Born) by
Nagi Yanagi and the ending song "Only for you" by
Da-iCE, were both great ballads.
Episode Ratings- 1 - Seigi of the Pink Sapphire - 4.5
- 2 - The Ruby's Truth - 5
- 3 - Insight of the Cat's Eye - 3.5
- 4 - The Fighting Garnet - 4.5
- 5 - Opal of Encounters - 5
- 6 - Perilous Turquoise - 3.5
- 7 - The Jade of Succession - 4
- 8 - The Angel's Aquamarine - 4
- 9 - The Alexandrite's Secret - 4
- 10 - The Lapis Lazuli of Guidance - 5
- 11 - Peridot of Blessings - 5
- 12 - Tanzanite of Rebirth - 5
PS: Episode 10 has an after-credits scene.
