Line #4 Creator/ImitationCrystal


1	[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/imitationcrystal.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:225:How lonely can it get?]]
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4	Imitation Crystal (模造クリスタル, real name unknown), also known as Mozou Crystal or Mozocry, is a independent Japanese manga artist. A rather obscure name in the manga world since his start in the 2000s, he is best known for his melancholic stories that incorporate the themes of self-doubt and loneliness with philosophical interactions and a rather cartoonish Main/{{Moe}} art style.
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6	His works include:
7	* ''Manga/MissionchanNoDaibouken'' (2006)
8	* ''Manga/EndOfGoldfishKingdom'' (2008)
9	* ''Manga/TheTragicallySadStoryOfHopelessnessAboutFriendship'' (2012)
10	* ''Manga/GameClub'' (2012)
11	* ''Manga/BeankAndRosa'' (2013)
12	* ''Manga/StarEater'' (2014)
13	** ''Star Eater: Mozou Crystal Sakuhinshuu'' (2022) - An anthology collection headlined with new material.
14	* ''Manga/SpectralWizard'' (2014)
15	** ''Spectral Wizard: Adventure Surrounding the Most Powerful Spell'' (2017) - A direct sequel.
16	* ''Manga/KraunessaTheBlackStagne'' (2016)
17	* ''Manga/SausageCosplayer'' (2017) - Featured in the 2017 edition of ''Rakugaki Gakugeikai'', a collection of nine original stories from nine authors. Organized by Toshiya Wakabayashi and also featuring Creator/{{Katsuwo}}, the artist behind ''Manga/HitoribocchiNoOOSeikatsu'' and ''Manga/MitsuboshiColors''. Crystal would later return for the 2019 version to continue the same story in another collection, this time with eleven original short stories from eleven authors.
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19	So far, none of his manga have been translated into anime. [[http://www.mozocry.com He has a website you can check out.]]
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21	Check out Creator/{{Tsukumizu}} for an artist with a similar style.
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23	----
24	!!Tropes associated with Imitation Crystal:
25	* AmbiguousEnding: Most of the time, he never says if a story is over or not, leaving the door for a possible continuation if he decides to do it.
26	* {{Angst}}: His stories commonly feature leads with tons of it. For example, his most notable work, ''Spectral Wizard'' features the main character living in it and having to deal with the consequences of having it.
27	* BittersweetEnding: Given the style he aims for, his works typically end this way.
28	* CentralTheme: Exploring the themes of self-doubt and loneliness from a philosophical eye.
29	* CerebusSyndrome: Another trope integrated in his works. ''Game Club'' is a prime example, as the manga quickly becomes this once [[spoiler: its assumed one of the main characters drowned trying to get a rubber duck and the main character blames herself for being responsible the following chapter, though its reveal the person survived death.]]
30	* {{Dramedy}}: All his works are this, especially ''Game Club'' and ''Spectral Wizard''.
31	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: His 2000s works look more like living watercolor illustrations while also dealing with more tragic storylines. Its around ''Game Club'' which his signature style starts to properly form.
32	* {{Jerkass}}: Similar to the below, a lot of his characters can be seen as this. ''Spectral Wizard'' is full of them.
33	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Again, his characters fit this to a T.
34	* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: It isn't uncommon to find his characters to be jerks that have the heart of one.
35	* LackOfEmpathy: A good majority of his protagonists are cold-hearted girls surrounded in loneliness or sadness.

Context Creator / ImitationCrystal