PROFILE
Pen Name / Name: Kal or TAGASAING
Country: The Philippines
Age: 25
Social media: Bluesky: @tagasa.ing Tumblr: @tagasaing X: @tagasaing 
Favorite manga: Land of the Lustrous, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, Emanon
Favorite movie: Mulholland Drive
Favorite quote: “Everything I learned in my life, I learned because I decided to try something new.” David Lynch
Entry title: “Catharsis”
Round: SMA22: “Seized With Rage”
Award: Excellence Award Runner-up

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“While a great art style is a major contributing factor to your chance of winning, people tend to value pacing, ‘camera’ work, and the quality of the story just as much or even more.”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
I’ll admit, I wished my work placed a bit higher at first, but it eventually sunk in that I placed in the top 10 out of 1101 entries. There were people with really high quality art that didn’t even place, so I’ll take it as a win. The editorial department told me that I was “almost there”, so I’ll keep that in mind.

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
Growing up, I had a bit of a temper problem. Sometimes I wished there was a place where I could let it all out. I’m a lot calmer now, but this story was based on the feelings I had in the past.


What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
I found out about the contest really late, so I had less than 20 days to work on it. I also had a hard time deciding on the path to take my story in, but, fortunately, I had my friends act as editors.

READ TAGASAING’s SMA22 ENTRY HERE!

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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’ve been drawing manga ever since I was a kid. I would take printer paper, staple it into a book, and then draw on it. When I was in high school, I used to have a popular Facebook page where I posted art and manga I made. Looking back now, the manga I posted was a bit stagnant – there were too many bust-up shots, I avoided drawing backgrounds, etc., so I’m fixing that now. While practice makes perfect, you should also practice with purpose. Improve your writing skills at the same rate you improve your art, too.

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I drew Catharsis digitally in Clip Studio Paint EX, but it inspired me to buy analogue tools to practice with after. I’m addicted to buying screen tones now, haha.


What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live?
I’m not entirely sure what exactly, but the earliest manga I remember reading was Pokemon Adventures at my school library, specifically when Yellow was the main character for a while. Right now, manga can be found in bookstores everywhere, but that wasn’t the case growing up.

Which manga changed your life?
Tons of manga inspired me, but one that stands out is this obscure vintage manga called “Highteen Boogie”. It’s the only complete tankōbon set I own, and I won it in an online auction. The art is timeless and very stylish, and looking at it made me want to draw. It’s a special feeling to find manga that inspires you to make your own.

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
There’s this mascot character known in English as Joke Bear, whose creator posts short manga on Twitter. It’s mostly slice-of-life manga, so I find it very easy to relate to. “I’ve been tired since the morning~ I’m also tired in the afternoon~ but for some reason at night~ I’m wide awake!”

What kind of manga do you want to make next?
I’m hoping to make more one-shots to iron out the kinks in my creation process, but my ultimate goal is to successfully pitch a manga to a big publisher. It’s a coming-of-age drama about two neurodivergent kids in a rural mountain town setting. Anyway, Komiks as an industry is undervalued, despite having an abundance of talent. They’re badly marketed, they don’t get the fanbase they deserve, and plenty of creators seek opportunities abroad because of this. I hope this will change one day and that the local industry will follow Japan’s footsteps in cultivating their talent.


About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I cycle through a variety of hobbies. I’ve picked up sewing character dolls, making 3D models, painting 3D printed models, building diorama sets and a lot more. Right now, I’m coding my portfolio site.

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
I’m a freelancer. In the past, I’ve worked on storyboards for commercials, manga for textbooks, and even yonkoma ads. I’m quite unhappy with the quality of my ‘corporate’ work, so lately I’ve been trying to do art for myself to improve.


Where do you see your manga career in five years time?
A serialization or a multi-book deal would be great. I hope to have my own studio in the future.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
I wish he had started submitting to contests earlier, honestly. Start developing your stories already!

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
While a great art style is a major contributing factor to your chance of winning, people tend to value pacing, ‘camera’ work, and the quality of the story just as much or even more.

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Thank you, TAGASAING! 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!