How lonely can it get?
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 Moe art style.
His works include:
- Missionchan No Daibouken (2006)
- End Of Goldfish Kingdom (2008)
- The Tragically Sad Story Of Hopelessness About Friendship (2012)
- Game Club (2012)
- Beank And Rosa (2013)
- Star Eater (2014)
- Star Eater: Mozou Crystal Sakuhinshuu (2022) - An anthology collection headlined with new material.
- Spectral Wizard (2014)
- Spectral Wizard: Adventure Surrounding the Most Powerful Spell (2017) - A direct sequel.
- Kraunessa The Black Stagne (2016)
- Sausage Cosplayer (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 Katsuwo, the artist behind Hitoribocchi no OO Seikatsu and Mitsuboshi Colors. 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.
So far, none of his manga have been translated into anime. He has a website you can check out.
Check out Tsukumizu for an artist with a similar style.
Tropes associated with Imitation Crystal:
- Ambiguous Ending: 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.
- 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.
- Bittersweet Ending: Given the style he aims for, his works typically end this way.
- Central Theme: Exploring the themes of self-doubt and loneliness from a philosophical eye.
- Cerebus Syndrome: Another trope integrated in his works. Game Club is a prime example, as the manga quickly becomes this once 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.
- Dramedy: All his works are this, especially Game Club and Spectral Wizard.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: 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.
- Jerkass: Similar to the below, a lot of his characters can be seen as this. Spectral Wizard is full of them.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Again, his characters fit this to a T.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: It isn't uncommon to find his characters to be jerks that have the heart of one.
- Lack of Empathy: A good majority of his protagonists are cold-hearted girls surrounded in loneliness or sadness.
- Signature Style: His art and character designs invoke the feeling they look more similar to the comics by Bryan Lee O'Malley then the manga from Kiyohiko Azuma. He has a tendency to use muted colors as well.
