PROFILE Name: Nalu Country: Philippines Favorite manga: I’m currently into “The Ancient Magus Bride” (Mahō Tsukai no Yome) and “The Girl from the Other Side” (Totsukuni no Shōjo). Favorite movie: I’m still being haunted by the anime movie “Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms” (Sayonara no Asa ni Yakusoku no Hana wo Kazarō). Favorite band/musician: I listen to any music I come across and enjoy. Entry title: “Childhood Railway” Round: SMA15 “Moments of CRYING, SMILING, or LOVE” Award: Grand Prix Runner-Up

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“…Do not just simply enter the audition, be prepared. Gather the necessary information and take the provided advice to heart.”

  About SMA

• How does it feel to win a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? It feels like a thousand needles have been plucked out from my chest at once and turned into flower petals. It feels like the moment during the unbearable dead-heat of summer, when your face is hit with the last cold breeze from the fridge during the power outage.

• What was the inspiration behind your winning work? Whenever I think of ideas, I stare unfocused at nothing in particular and try my best to concentrate. In the case of SMA15, I was waiting for the moment of inspiration to strike, and in that moment I heard the trickling sound of rain. As it grew louder, it caught my attention and I looked outside. I realized it was not a downpour nor a drizzle, just a gentle rain. I decided to take a coffee break to calm myself and embrace this blissful moment. But as I sat down on my chair, a ray of warm light came from the very same window. It was the afternoon sunshine slowly manifesting itself. For a brief time, silvery droplets through the sunlight could be seen. It was short and sudden, but I’m still glad I noticed it. Sipping my coffee, I was thinking about it, and then I started thinking of an idea about possible farewells.

 

READ NALU’S SMA15 ENTRY HERE!

• What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? The two challenges that I had to face were the disturbing noises and a lack of time. Because I am also busy with other projects, I was only able to work on my SMA entry merely a few days before the deadline. So that left me with no choice but to sacrifice my sleep. At that moment, I only had passion, madness, coffee, and 3 cans of Monster Energy drink.

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  About your Manga

• How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? If I remember correctly, I was in 6th grade when I started drawing manga on the back of my notebook. Back then, I wasn’t fully aware of the existence of “manga” itself yet, I only knew about comic strips in the newspaper. Ahhh, how innocent I was back then! The only advice that I can give to beginners is to gather experience, observe and feel. Only then you can create a story that may touch the hearts of many.

• What was the first manga you picked up? I can’t fully remember if it’s the first or not, but the manga that left a huge impression on me was “Gosick” by Sakuya Amano-sensei, adapted from the light novel series, written by Kazuki Sakuraba-sensei. I first watched the anime adaptation, but it didn’t leave me quite satisfied. Which is why I searched for the story’s origin and consequently discovered the manga version.

• Which manga changed your life? It’s “Gosick.” Thanks to it, I was able to discover many more works and it even encouraged me to create my own manga.

• Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I’m sorry, I can’t find a character that I can identify with.

• What kind of manga do you want to make next? A simple one but with an unexpected turn of events.

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  About Nalu

• What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I frequently draw illustrations, read, observe, and sometimes I go for a walk. But mostly my relaxing time is spent by peacefully drinking coffee during the full moon.

• What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job?) I’m currently helping my family by taking care of our farm.

• Where do you see your manga career in 5 years’ time? I hope to be working on my own published manga, to be happy, and in good health.

• What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Do not just enter, be prepared. Gather some information and take the provided advice to heart. Do not be afraid to fail; learn from it, so you can win the next round!

 

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Thank you Nalu for the interview and for your great advice! We’re eagerly expecting your future masterpieces and hope that someone’s SMILE inspires your entry for SMA17!

To our readers: take Nalu’s great advice to heart and don’t forget that you have until January 31st to WOW the judges and get the opportunity to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!