So if you have 20 minutes, pull up the first chapter of Houseki no Kuni . Pay attention to the backgrounds. Watch the hands. And when a character shatters, don’t look away. That’s the whole point.
Phosphophyllite (Phos), the protagonist, starts as a brittle, useless gem. Over the series, they lose parts—legs, arms, a head—and gain new, foreign materials. Chikui doesn’t shy away from the horror of that. She renders it beautifully. fumiko chikui
But look closer. That simplicity is a trap. So if you have 20 minutes, pull up