This Boy Suffers from Crystallization

This Boy Suffers from Crystallization, known in Japan as Kono Danshi, Sekika ni Nayandemasu, was released in 2014 as the fifth installment in the Kono Danshi series of independent anime shorts. Produced by CoMix Wave Films, the project was conceptualized, written, and directed by Soubi Yamamoto, an artist who gained prominence for her distinct, painterly aesthetic and her exploration of themes related to loneliness and emotional identity. The short film was produced to further the studio's interest in avant-garde, creator-led storytelling, moving away from conventional commercial tropes toward a more intimate, character-driven experience.

The film's visual design relies heavily on Yamamoto's signature style, which emphasizes vibrant, almost psychedelic color palettes and fluid, surreal movement to represent the internal psychological states of its protagonists. The story follows a high school student named Ayumu who, overwhelmed by stress, finds his body literally turning into crystal, a metaphor for emotional repression. Upon its release, the work was noted for its experimental approach to the shonen-ai genre, receiving praise for its evocative animation and its willingness to treat the supernatural premise as a serious reflection on the experience of alienation during adolescence.