Tsubaki Nekoi

Tsubaki Nekoi (猫井 椿, Nekoi Tsubaki; born January 21, 1969), is a member of the all-female manga-creating team Clamp.^[1] She is the co-director and her duties in the team include applying screentones and correcting manga illustrations.^[2] She was also the lead artist (a role that normally falls to Mokona) on Legal Drug, The One I Love, Wish, Suki and xxxHolic. As the lead artist in xxxHolic, she is in charge of drawing the male characters while Mokona is responsible for the female characters.^[3]

Tsubaki Nekoi 猫井 椿
Nekoi at Anime Expo 2006
Born	(1969-01-21) January 21, 1969 (age 56) Kyoto, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Area(s)	Drawing characters, assists in character design, applying screentones, correcting manga illustrations
Pseudonym(s)	Mick Nekoi (猫井 みっく)
Collaborators	Clamp

For Clamp's 15th Anniversary in 2004, she and the other three members of Clamp changed their names because they reportedly wished to try new monikers.^[4]

Life

Nekoi was born in Kyoto, Japan. As an artist, she was first known by her pen name Mick Nekoi, before adopting her current name during Clamp's 15th anniversary in 2004.^[5] Not much is known about Nekoi's private life, as Clamp prefers to keep personal affairs out of the public eye.^[2]

Career

The four women that make up Clamp - Satsuki Igarashi, Apapa Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Ageha Ohkawa - are among the most popular manga creators in Japan and the United States.^[6] From 1989 to 2006, they have created 22 manga series, some of which have been animated to visual manga.^[6] One of their manga, "Tsubasa", has been sold over one million times in the USA.^[6] Clamp's work is known for its rich diversity in style, ranging from sci-fi comedy, horror, fantasy to romance.^[6]

Artistry

Nekoi's artistic style is characterized by its delicate linework and expressive character designs, contributing significantly to the distinctive aesthetic that Clamp is renowned for.^[2] Her expertise lies in applying screentones and refining illustrations, which add to the visual appeal of Clamp's portfolio.^[2]

In the 2006 manga xxxHolic, Nekoi was responsible for drawing the male characters, the yokai, and any non-human spirits.^[3] Together with Mokona, she also created the covers and color pages as well as taking over other steps in the creation process.^[3] She emphasized the importance of incorporating research into her drawing.^[3]

Legacy

Tsubaki Nekoi's contributions have been vital to Clamp's success and influence in the manga industry. Her artistic talents and collaborative efforts have helped create stories and characters that have captivated readers worldwide, solidifying Clamp's reputation as a leading creative force in manga.^[7]