PROFILE

Pen Name / Name: citro
Country: Germany
Social media profiles: X: @kotoriiyo Instagram: @citrus.orchard
Age: 32
Favorite manga: Witch Hat Atelier, ARIA, Delicious in Dungeon, My Dress-Up Darling
Favorite movie: Cosmic Princess Kaguya, Pride & Prejudice, Uptown Girls
Favorite quote: “Talent is something you make bloom. Instinct is something you polish.” – Oikawa Tooru from Haikyuu!!
Entry title: “A Single Spark”
Round: SMA23 “My Dream”
Award: Excellence Award Runner-up

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“Be confident! Mistakes are okay, you can learn from them!”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
Very exciting and unexpected!

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
I’ve always loved idols, dancing, and singing. This was mainly inspired by personal experience. I started dancing with a friend with whom I shared similar interests.

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
The pacing and paneling was the toughest part for me. I was also on a tight schedule, as I decided to enter the contest late.

READ citro’s Awarded Work 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 started drawing back when I was around 8-9, but I only drew my first original manga in 2016, which was self-published and ended up being unfinished. In 2017 I drew a fan comic of a series I really liked.

Personally, I think that I should’ve started earlier (and been more confident) with drawing manga. There’s an endless amount of things you can learn, even with just a little experience. I think someone just starting out should first focus on what they like when reading manga and read a lot of it!

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I draw exclusively digitally, as it’s what I like the most. As someone who tends to work a bit messily, it’s much easier to manage and organize.



What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live?
The first manga I ever read was Sailor Moon (a classic). Back then (I was 7 years old), the only manga available to me were the ones in the local library. When I first discovered there were shops that exclusively sell manga, my whole life changed. Nowadays, Germany has a pretty big manga/anime market, so books are accessible pretty much everywhere.

Which manga changed your life?
Sailor Moon, Inuyasha and Naruto were the ones I grew up with and made me love manga. The one with the biggest impact on my life is definitely ARIA by Kozue Amano.

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
I don’t think there’s any specific character I identify with. Usually, I like passionate characters.

What kind of manga do you want to make next?
I would love to create a fantasy manga next! Something with magic and witches. The biggest challenge in Germany is probably getting people to look at your work specifically, as the market is huge.

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
Usually I watch something on Netflix or play gacha games on my tablet.

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
I work as a judicial employee.

Where do you see your manga career in five years time?
Hopefully with at least one more completed story! Maybe working together with a publisher.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Be confident! Mistakes are okay, you can learn from them!

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
The SILENT MANGA AUDITION® is a great opportunity to try to challenge yourself. Even if you don’t place, it’s a great experience to create and finish a story!

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

The deadline to join SMA24 is May 10th. Enter for a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!