Ruri Rocks Episode 3 gave us fluorite, dingy university labs, a new character, and showed us the dangers of rummaging through old minds. But most importantly, it gave us the most beautiful depiction of exploration I’ve seen in anime.
The anime industry is notorious for its low wages and excessive workloads. So, when I watch a badly animated show (looking at you, Futari Solo Camp), I try not to dwell on it too long since there’s a chance the staff is at their breaking point. However, when a show amazes me, I can’t help but hope that they’re not being treated harshly. I hope Studio Bind is taking care of the people behind Ruri no Hoseki, that staff deserves all the joy in the world. Weekly praise aside, let’s review what happened and talk about shiny rocks!
Ruri Rocks, Episode 3 — Fluorite and Grad Students
Besides being the resident geologist and fan service girl of the series, Nagi-chan is actually quite the studious lass. Her excitement about the pyrite discovery last week turned into a published paper, and that meant Ruri got dragged to Nagi’s university to take a peek at it. At first, that was something the kawaii Ruri-chan wasn’t thrilled about. I can relate to that. I’ve felt safer in cartel-controlled regions along the Guatemalan/Mexican border than I have in some university labs.
But Ruri-chan’s day trip gave her more than just an unpleasant memory of the future; it also brought her the joy of seeing her name credited in a research paper! She also learned about bismuth crystals and met a future rockhounding friend, Yoko Imari (CV Yume Miyamoto). That meeting led the geo-trio to discover an old mine and stumble upon a fluorite vein.
Why Studio Bind Is the New Voice of Outdoor Anime
If truck-kun could isekai an entire anime studio and give them OP abilities, you’d get Studio Bind. Their work in Ruri Rocks Episode 3 was mesmerizing.
Before I get to the beauty that was the mine exploration scene, let me gush over a truly ingenious aspect of the anime—how it depicted Imari’s fall.
Even when exploring old and abandoned mines in a group, it’s inherently dangerous. You might think that if you’re exploring a mine with friends and someone falls into a nearby shaft, you’d hear it… but that’s not always the case. Depending on the type of substrate where the person fell, the construction of the mine shaft, and the surrounding environment, sound may not travel very far. But by far, the most gush-worthy part of Ruri Rocks Episode 3 was the scene where the geo-trio discovered the fluorite ore vein.
In his River Monsters book, Jeremy Wade mentions that fishing shows don’t capture the beauty of fishing—and how it and nature impacts you. Honestly, that’s a sentiment that applies to all outdoors-related 3D media. Some experiences are beyond words; certain feelings can’t be explained, they can only be lived.
But here’s where anime shines. Anime can present a character’s feeling in a multitude of ways. Unlike 3D shows, which only show you what the protagonist is seeing or include a voiceover, anime can adequately depict the entire experience. Yet, that’s something very few outdoor shows have been able to accomplish. Much like certain feelings can’t be explained, they can’t be constructed on demand. Because of that, properly depicting a character be emotionally overwhelmed is a rarity.
Yet, despite the insurmountable hurdle of properly depicting the feeling of being enraptured by nature presents to a studio, Studio Bind flawless executed that experience. Anyone who’s felt what Imari felt in that mine would struggle to put their experience into words. But I’m confident that anyone who’s experienced tht got teary-eyed during that scene. The most important moment of any outdoor junkie’s life has finally been captured. I’ve enjoyed tens of thousands of outdoor content in my life, none truly capture the experience like Studio Bind did. Whether they realize it or not, they captured the white whale of outdoor content.
The Mineralogy Corner
Say that Ruri Rocks Episode 3 made you want to explore mines. Where do you start? I’d advise that the most important thing is to let a few people know where you’ll be. Mines are dangerous; people die exploring them. You’ll encounter everything from hypoxic environments, hazardous/deadly gases, and waste, and there’s always the chance you can get trapped because you fall down a hole or there’s a cave-in. Drowning in mines is also a danger. You’d think that water hazards don’t exist in mines; they do. Functional mines pump air and water out of them to keep workers safe; abandoned ones don’t.
All those hazards mean that you need to stock up on some possibly life-saving gear. Helmets, various light sources, first aid kits, and gas detectors are a must. There are odorless gases that will kill you, and you won’t realize something is off until you’re already dizzy and struggling. Newbies should never rappel into mines; even short descents are a horrible idea if you’re not being instructed by professionals.
It’s easy to become disoriented in mines. Do you remember that Goblin Slayer episode when GS tells Priestess they missed the holes in the cave? Mine exploration is like that. The well-constructed passages that most people associate with mines aren’t present in derelict mines. The older a mine is, the more likely it is that there are collapsed passages and hidden offshoots. You also have to contend with wooden support beams crumbling and the ground beneath you giving way. In that scenario, you can fall way deeper than you’d expect. Always head into a mine with a lot of caution; better safe than dead under tons of rubble. Until next week, ja ne!
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
©Keiichiro Shibuya/KADOKAWA/”Ruri’s Jewels” Production Committee
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