sma22 swa1 sma23

HELLO SMA22 AWARD WINNER, Haanz!

SMA Editorial Dept. SMA Editorial Dept. 07/07/2025 11 min read

PROFILE
Pen Name / Name: Haanz 
Country: Vietnam
Age: 20
Social media: Instagram: seekiecreates X: seekiecreates
Favorite manga: Chainsaw Man
Favorite movie: Pulp Fiction, Everywhere Everything All At Once, Look Back, Parasite, Whiplash
Favorite quote: “Happiness is coming, you can’t escape.” – Someone on the internet 

Entry title: “Play With Me”
Round: SMA22: “Seized With Rage”
Award: Excellence Award

“A story doesn’t need to be grand or extremely elaborate to be good!”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
Really amazing! I’ve learned so much from past entries, and seeing how I’ve evolved and grown in each new entry is the greatest reward. It brings me joy to know that the theme was effectively conveyed to readers in just 17 pages! I put a lot of effort into carefully crafting those pages.

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
When I first read the theme, it immediately piqued my interest. I wanted to write a story about subconscious rage – a feeling we aren’t aware of, but surfaces when triggered, like a ticking time-bomb. Then, I did some brainstorming on what rage looks like. Everyone has something they find distasteful, but I wanted to dig deeper and understand what causes that anger. Rage usually stems from deeper insecurities and trauma that we often avoid. In a way, rage and fear are closely related. I find it interesting that our past wounds can form many of our future coping mechanisms, and those coping mechanisms seem normal at first glance, or even encouraged. Things like accumulating material wealth, looking for love, or striving for excellence can all be bandaids for our fear that we are lacking. Thus, I wanted to explore a young girl whose possessive tendencies are manifestations of her fear of losing, which stems from her childhood. Losing anything she owns, or losing to anyone, is related to a lack of control.



What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was effectively communicating the plot within 17 pages, while also constructing the panels interestingly. A clear plot is one thing, but delivering it in the best possible way is another thing entirely. I still need to work on diversifying my paneling, but I’ve managed to fit in a clear, substantial story with proper momentum throughout the pages, and, to me, that is success. I think what helped me to overcome these issues was choosing a clear character with an easy-to-follow motivation, while also adding twists near the end, or revealing something new that tied the whole story together. Then, I was able to use the character’s emotions to decide what the paneling would look like.

READ Haanz’s SMA22 ENTRY HERE!


About Your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga?
I started creating comics for fun occasionally in high school, but it was only last year that I started joining SMA and making more manga. I would advise beginners to analyze their favorite mangaka’s works and take note of the paneling, how they direct the eye, and the line quality, as well as to identify the overall story structure (exposition, rising action, climax, resolution, etc…)!

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I draw digitally! I usually use Procreate, but I’m planning to learn Clip Studio Paint soon!



What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live?
The first manga I picked up was probably Land of the Lustrous back in middle school! That was when I properly read a manga fully, and it has stuck with me since. I really love the author’s unique style and aura. Manga is quite accessible in Vietnam! I can go to bookstores anywhere and it’s guaranteed that I will find manga, although there’s not a diverse range of manga, like in some other places.

Which manga changed your life?
Chainsaw Man all the way… I just love how raw it is. It really made me understand that manga can make you feel this deeply through simple actions. I want to capture the same experience in my works!

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
I would say Reigen, for random reasons. I really like him as a character, and his goofy, yet caring nature really resonated with me.

What kind of manga do you want to make next?
I want to keep making one-shots! And perhaps a longer series, if I have the chance. I want to keep exploring what interesting ideas I can go the distance as a complete story. As a manga creator in Vietnam, it’s not easy to gain a stable foundation for your career, and even harder to publish. I’d say Vietnamese comics are on the rise, but generally, it’s all up to you to make it successful.

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
Music! Or having a drink… Or doodling… I relax with more drawing… and games….

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
I’m currently an animation student, so I plan to work in the animation industry. I’m also a freelance illustrator.


Where do you see your manga career in five years time?
I want to be able to publish more manga and reach as many people as possible! I will continue making manga and posting them on websites, submitting them to contests, and publishing my own online series.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Start making manga now! I’d definitely tell myself not to overthink it and just go for it. A story doesn’t need to be grand or extremely elaborate to be good!

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Try to keep the idea simple! Convey the emotions clearly, and try to make the theme central to your work. Have fun – you’ve got this!

Thank you, Haanz! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!

The deadline to join SMA23 is October 1st. Enter for a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! 


RELATED ARTICLES :

SMA Editorial Dept.

SMA Editorial Dept.

VIEW ALL POSTS
HELLO SMA22 AWARD WINNER, Obosobo!

Recent Posts

SMA23
Enter the Audition!