HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Samuel Anugrah Andre!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: Samuel Anugrah Andre
Age:26Country: IndonesiaFavorite Manga:Dragon Ball, Vagabond, A Girl On The ShoreFavorite Movie:Taxi Driver (1976), Princess Mononoke, Mirror (1975)Favorite Quote: “Until they get to know the real you, people’s stereotypes don’t mean much.” -Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza Kiwami 2)Entry Title:“Witch Hunt”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Honorable Mention
“Be friends with blank pages! Know yourself better!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?Surreal! I participated in SMA in its first competitions years ago. I didn’t know a lot back then so my entries sucked, but now to win one of the awards feels surreal. I’ll be making better works from now on!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
Dark fantasy RPG games in general (for example: The Witcher 3) and Dark Souls’ gloomy vibe. But the manga Berserk probably would have inspired me even though I haven’t read a lot of it yet.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
Being overwhelmed by a blank page. When I am completely stuck on creating the pages, I just do hobbies like gaming or watching YouTube to ease my mind, or just take a shower.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
Professionally only 2-3 years ago for my freelance work but I did amateur Naruto dōjinshi work when I was in middle school for fun. I don’t know if this counts as advice, but making good works takes years of practice, for sure.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
Digitally; I use Clip Studio Paint and Adobe Photoshop.
What was the first manga you picked up?
Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama-sensei.
Which manga changed your life?
A Girl on The Shore by Inio Asano-sensei. It evokes raw emotions throughout the pages, and is heartbreaking and honest. Plus, it doesn’t shy away from taboo topics. It’s the one manga that changed my perspective so much.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Miyamoto Musashi from Vagabond. I always have the urge to strive for the best, to be better than I was before, and sometimes I forget the people around me and how nice it is to smell the roses along the way.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
Something simple and relatable to people in their 20s. Yet, I also want to make a vampire gothic manga, lol.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
Gaming. I enjoy games a lot. My favorites are the Yakuza series (Ryu Ga Gotoku), Deus Ex, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
Right now I’m in animation, currently doing 2D character and VFX animations but I did (and still do now) western comic works.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
Debut with my own manga, hopefully. Or just being satisfied with the quality of my work.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Be friends with blank pages! Know yourself better!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Just DO IT! Lol.
Thank you, Samuel Anugrah Andre! We can’t wait to see what inspiration you will find for your next entry!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Cherry!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: CherryAge:27Country: El SalvadorFavorite Manga: Probably Vagabond but I have many that I like so it’s hard to just choose one.Favorite Movie:The Lion KingEntry Title:“Don’t rush my love!!”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Honorable Mention
“Don’t be afraid; just go for it and draw. The more you do it the less scary it gets, and the more you draw the more you learn.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?It feels great! It has given me more confidence in my skills and inspired me to keep trying and draw more manga.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
I had bought a pair of rollerskates recently and I really wanted to draw them, so I decided to create a simple story that would allow me to feature them.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
Definitely drawing backgrounds! I had to research a lot and draw them again several times until I got something I was satisfied with. I still have yet to overcome this, but I’m doing my best so that little by little my backgrounds can get better.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
I was maybe 12 years old drawing my own magical girl stories. My advice would be to not be afraid and just go for it and draw. The more you do it the less scary it gets, and the more you draw the more you learn.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I use an art tablet (GAOMON PD2200) and Clip Studio Paint EX.
What was the first manga you picked up?
D.Gray-man by Katsura Hoshino-sensei.
Which manga changed your life?
Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey by Akiko Higashimura-sensei.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Definitely with Akiko Hayashi; her story is one which I can relate to and I have found myself in the same position as her.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
So far I have made lighthearted and silly stories, but I want to make something more serious next time and challenge myself more.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I usually play video games, read manga, or work on other art projects.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
I work as a phone interpreter.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
I would like to be able to create manga more seriously and work on longer manga projects.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
To not listen to what others say and to keep drawing the things you enjoy.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
To have fun while creating manga and continue practicing.
Thank you, Cherry! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Behind!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: Renata Brasil (Behind)Age:25Country: Brazil
Favorite Manga: Do I really have to choose only one? (laughs). It changes a lot as I discover new titles, but one that I never get tired of reading for sure would be Monster by Naoki Urasawa.Favorite Movie:Silent Hill and Shaun of the Dead.I love horror movies, they always make me feel alive and relaxed but I guess that only happens to me (laughs).Favorite Quote:“If you only do what you can do, you’ll never be better than what you are.” -Master ShifuoEntry Title:“Memories”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Honorable Mention
“The important thing is to convey what you want to the readers; your drawing will evolve with time and practice.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?It was a big surprise! When I saw that I was one of the winners I just couldn’t believe it, I was in shock and cried with happiness.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
Well, my SMA16 work that received the SMA Editorial Award was inspired by my fear of dentists. For me it is simply terrifying to go to that doctor, so I wanted to represent my feelings on the pages.
My SMA17 awarded work was basically inspired by a movie I watched on a Saturday night. I cried so much in the movie that I decided to try to transmit a little of what I felt through the manga.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
You know the expression “No pain, no gain”? (laughs). It is the expression that sums up my whole journey to complete the work. I have college in the morning and an internship in the afternoon, so I spent several nights planning the pages and trying to schedule myself to deliver on time. But many things happened along the way like my cat got sick and the deadline for my college assignment got shorter, so I had to call my sister to help me to deliver it on time. She also always accompanies me during the whole creation process, giving me opinions about the story, drawings, etc. If it wasn’t for her supporting me all the time, maybe I wouldn’t have been able to deliver anything.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
I have been drawing since I was a little girl, but when I was 8 years old I focused on learning the manga style and learning Japanese. At first it was because I wanted to read Japanese manga, but now I have fallen in love with it so much that I want to work with it in the future. From today it has been 17 years since I started.
My advice is for everything you want to draw, look for a reference for when drawing it. You will never draw something well if you have never seen or observed it carefully.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
Both. Usually I plan the characters and the story on paper because I find it easier and more enjoyable to draw on paper, then I pass the drawings to my tablet and finish all the outlines and effects to make it easier to send to the contest. At the moment I use the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 and the program I use is Clip Studio Paint.
What was the first manga you picked up?
It was Naruto, Vol 10. I remember I bought it because of the cover and when I read it I thought “Why is everything in black and white!? Where are the colors!? did they forget to color it by any chance!?” or something like that and then I started to get to know the world of manga. (laughs)
Which manga changed your life?
Also Naruto (laughs). I was a solitary child who was going through difficult problems and he rescued me from my loneliness and taught me to never give up and always believe that my future could be whatever I dreamt it to be.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
I think I am a perfect mixture of Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler and Sanji from ONE PIECE. Like Ciel I can be a bit rebellious, bossy, the person who always solves other people’s problems, my left eye has a cornea deficiency that makes me use eye patches many times a month, and I like afternoon tea and chocolate cake made by someone who is not me (in my case my sister, love you sis (laughs)). Like Sanji, my hands are very important to me so I do as many tasks as I can using only my feet.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
I would like to draw something related to horror because I really like this genre and I haven’t done anything like this yet, which is a shame.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
When I am not drawing manga I am working on 2D animation, so basically I am always drawing because I am an animation major in college (laughs). But when I am not drawing I am studying Japanese to pass the JLPT N1. I’ve already got the N2 and I also play PS4 games a lot, especially shooting games and zombie games; I don’t know why but they relax me like horror movies.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
After college I would definitely be in an animation studio because it is something I love to do as well.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
For sure in Japan already publishing or starting to publish a work of mine. I know that I am not at the level of the professionals who have been doing this for years and that I still have a lot to learn yet, but I have a lot of willpower and a great focus when it comes to drawing for hours on end.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Don’t be such a perfectionist with your own work. The important thing is to convey what you want to the readers; your drawing will evolve with time and practice.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Sometimes the secret to getting a story to work is to see it from another angle.Doing what you are not used to will transform your stories and make you evolve faster.
Thank you, Behind! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Rizqiaf!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: RizqiafAge:21Country:IndonesiaFavorite manga:Dragon Ball ZFavorite series:Game of ThronesFavorite Quote: “I don’t know how to achieve peace yet. But, some day, I’ll break this curse. If there is such a thing as peace, I’ll seize it!” – Uzumaki NagatoEntry title:“The Precious One”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Excellence Award Runner-Up
“Don’t be afraid to start making manga, and start from the things closest to you, yourself, friends, family, or your pets.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?Honestly I didn’t expect to get an award, but when I saw my manga was on the nomination list I was so happy!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
For my story, I was inspired by many films that I have watched, especially in the drama genre. The films that make me the most sad are the ones that tell the story of family, so I tried to bring the idea about family themes into my manga.For the artwork, I really like Takeshi Obata-sensei’s and Yusuke Murata-sensei’s works. My artwork is inspired by them a lot, and I try to combine their style with my own.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
When I was working on the manga for SILENT MANGA AUDITION®, the most challenging problem for me was how to make the paneling fit with my story. Actually, there are some small parts and transition scenes that I shortened because of the panels.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
I first made a manga when I was in 6th grade. At that time I made an adventure-themed manga with the main characters as myself and my friend. At first, it was very difficult and I needed a lot of patience, but after a few pages the story took its own shape, and it started to feel fun and satisfying.My advice for beginners would be “Don’t be afraid to start making manga, and start from the things closest to you, yourself, friends, family, or your pets.”
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
Both! Sometimes I draw the “Name” by hand, and then I create the manuscript digitally.
What was the first manga you picked up?
Naruto is the first manga I read. My friend brought it to school when I was in 5th grade of elementary school.
Which manga changed your life?
Dragon Ball. I remember drawing Gohan SSJ2 when I was in 3rd grade of elementary school, and after I got praised by my older brother, it kept me making artwork until now.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Goku! Mainly because of his hairstyle, hahaha….
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
If I join SMA once again, I want to make a musical manga, but if I have a chance to submit long stories or a one-shot, I’ll go with an action psychological genre like Tokyo Ghoul, Evangelion, Psycho Pass, and those kinds of stories.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
When I’m not making manga or work, I usually play video games. I like to play FPS games like Valorant and CS GO, or hang out with my friends, fishing, and catching crabs at the beach.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
Manga isn’t my primary job; I’m working in the game industry doing VFX animation frame by frame, and sometimes I take illustration jobs.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
I don’t really have a goal related to manga in a few years because in my country publishing manga is not too popular and isn’t too financially stable. Maybe if I continue to make manga, I’ll go with a webcomic; for now that’s maybe the best choice that I can do.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
To my younger self I would say, I know you’ve tried hard, but I want you to try even harder! It also applies to the present me, so maybe my future self will also say the same thing.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Listen more carefully to the rules, requirements, and themes of SMA! My last mistake was to mistake “or” with “and” in the theme, and that made my story full of too many elements (hahaha that was so stupid). And in the previous audition as well, I actually already made a “Name” but I didn’t finish it because I just realized that the regulations prohibit killing characters, while my rough story requires my character to die. I’ve tried to make another “Name” but I think the deadline was too close to finish it.
Thank you, Rizqiaf! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Italo Eiji!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: Italo EijiAge:22Country: Brazil
Favorite manga:BakumanFavorite movie:The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingFavorite Quote:“It is true that I will regret it if I keep to my dreams and failures, but I will regret it much more if I don’t even try.” -Takagi Akito (Bakuman)Entry title:“Butterfly Eye”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Excellence Award Runner-Up
“Believe in yourself, and make a fun manga. Entertaining the reader is the most important.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
I’m very happy, I took the first step as a manga artist.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
I was in my room thinking about what to draw to send to SMA, and then a butterfly came through the window and I had an idea to create the “Butterfly Eye.”
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
I had never done manga before, and I had a lot of doubts at first. The first page is the hardest to draw, but then it becomes easy when you get into a rhythm. I overcame my doubts by reading and studying manga.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
I always liked to create characters, but I never did any manga chapters, because I always thought that my art was not good, and that I needed to practice. The tip I have for those starting out is “Just do it!” Sometimes we need to believe in ourselves. I really regret having waited so long to draw a manga.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I draw digitally and also draw on paper the traditional way.
What was the first manga you picked up?
Death Note.
Which manga changed your life?
Bakuman.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Niizuma Eiji from Bakuman. I like this character because he is very charismatic. Even though he is a fictional character, he encouraged me to learn to draw. Because of this character I will become a mangaka.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
Romantic comedy.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I read manga and watch anime.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
I work in a metal parts factory.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
All I want is to work with manga. I hope to be able to accomplish this in 5 years.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Just do it!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Believe in yourself, and make a fun manga. Entertaining the reader is the most important.
Thank you, Italo Eiji! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Dương Đức!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: Dương Đức
Age:28Country:VietnamFavorite manga:Doraemon, Dragon Ball, HxH, GTO, Hikaru no Go, BakumanFavorite movie:Spirited AwayFavorite Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” -Nelson Mandela
Entry title:“Don’t worry, Noa!”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Excellence Award Runner-Up
“Be open minded to learn from everything around you, and keep high standards to yourself but don’t be too strict.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
To be really honest, I was a little disappointed since I was the Excellence Award Runner-Up; I expected to receive the Excellence Award. But oh well, more motivation for me to try better!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
I’m kinda obsessed with snow. The melancholic scenery, the cold, the atmosphere, all of it is so beautiful. It’s funny though because there is no snow in my country, so I wish to experience it someday. So basically it was my inspiration, and I wanted to create a story that feels like each snowflake falling is slowly burying the hope or something like that haha.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
Oh, it was the landscape! I wanted to make a mountainous scene so that the girl runs down the slope. And the architecture and outfits should be somewhat appropriate for a cold climate too, so I chose Russia. It was quite difficult to draw all that, actually! How did I overcome that? I just did it bit by bit, one small thing at a time, that’s all.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
I have loved manga since I was 3. When did I start making one? I don’t remember, but I remember I finished a oneshot when I was a first year university student. And as for the advice? Be open minded to learn from everything around you, and keep high standards to yourself but don’t be too strict. Keep telling yourself you are the best ^^, that self assurance will keep you away from doubt.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I draw with my feet actually ^^. Joking aside, I draw digitally. But I was drawing traditionally with ink and a G-pen for a while back. My best tools now? A good graphic tablet (most preferable Wacom) and Clip Studio Paint, which is the most streamlined manga-making software out there.
What was the first manga you picked up?
It was Dragon Ball or Doraemon, I don’t remember. I was 3 years old I believe.
Which manga changed your life?
Bakuman. It gave me courage to pursue this career back in high school.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Nobita from Doraemon. No matter how clumsy, lazy, and hopeless he is at times, deep down inside, he is always willing to become a better self. I’m also like that.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
Something entertaining, captivating, and emotional.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I play video games. I’m addicted to games. How do I relax? By sleeping and stretching my body.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
I’m a freelance storyboard artist.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
I want to finish at least a volume or two each year, so in 5 years it should be about 10 volumes. All I want to do is to entertain people with my craft.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
If I could, rather than talk, I would bring my works from the present time to my younger self.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Well, just do what you want to do, as long as it is relevant to the theme. That’s all.
Thank you, Dương Đức! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, PSI Team!
PROFILEName/Pen Name: PSI Team (artist: Rogério Hanata “RHanata”) (writer: Walacy Machado “WMachado”)
Age: RHanata: 42, WMachado: 44
Country: Brazil
Favorite manga: RHanata: Blade of the Immortal, WMachado: Kimagure Orange RoadFavorite movie: RHanata: The Crow, WMachado: Schindler’s ListFavorite Quote: RHanata: “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” WMachado: “Done is better than perfect.”
Entry title:“When the smiles fell like feathers”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Excellence Award
“If you have any cool ideas, don’t be afraid to show them, but also remember that your story needs to be as satisfying for the reader as it is for you.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?WMachado: I felt like a piano had been taken off my back! I had a sense of relief as soon as I saw the results. I remember taking a deep breath and trying to contain my excitement because it was still the middle of the night here in Brazil.
RHanata: Getting an Excellence Award for the first time was amazing. The feeling of having your work rewarded in this way is very good.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
WMachado: To be honest, Hanata and I spent days on end going after the best plot and message for the story. We had a very long brainstorm that was fueled by all sorts of references and memories that we believed to be useful.
RHanata: I don’t know if there was anything specific. Inspiration comes from the things I watch, read, observe… But I tried using a little of Studio Ghibli for the atmosphere of the story.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
WMachado: To conciliate the deadline with our other works and activities. But I confess that all the tension and adrenaline surrounding the final submission is exciting and part of the process, and after the final submission was made I realized how much fun it was.
RHanata: The most challenging thing is to do something with a minimum of realism. It’s not entirely realistic, since I’ll never be able to do that. But something that comes from my imagination, albeit with a little built-in reality. To overcome this challenge, I try to do as much research as necessary, but it doesn’t always work.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
WMachado: I don’t know if I have anything to teach newcomers, since I can’t be considered a professional for not being able to live and support my family with my works, but if I can give some advice I imagine it to be perseverance, insistence, and to prepare for many “no’s” that you will surely hear throughout your journey. The literary market here in Brazil — with rare exceptions — does not allow an author to live exclusively from his writing without having to focus or have another “main” profession, so imagine what it’s like to make comics or manga around here, with the aggravating factor that I’m not a good sketch artist. When I put in my heart the desire to make manga it was very difficult, since at the time there was no internet as we know it today, and the information and the foreign market was closed to us.
Throughout my life, I have had to prioritize my “official” profession, but during this journey I have never stopped practicing, believing, studying, observing, and especially — insisting in every way on the means necessary to show my work. After so long, I’m only now reaping some results, many of my friends (much more talented than I am) who started with me back there, gave up or were forced to give up, but precisely because I never stopped believing — always keeping my eyes fixed on the prize — I can say that I’m closer to it than ever before. It is no secret that my dream has always been to be able to live from producing manga and, as utopian and naïve as it always seemed, I continued and continue to believe even with all the adversities. The idea here is to maintain the absolute conviction that this will come true. How? I don’t know, but — just like me — if that’s what you really want to do, then never fade, persevere. I imagine regretting not having tried to get to your limit should be a horrible feeling that I’m definitely not interested in experiencing.
RHanata: As a teenager, I did some fanzines with my friends, that’s how I started creating stories. My advice is to always believe in yourself.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
RHanata: I used to draw my stories in the traditional way, but the last ones I’ve been doing were all digital. It is more practical and enables several things that if you draw handmade are very laborious.
What was the first manga you picked up?
WMachado:Akira.
RHanata: I don’t remember. As a child, I kept seeing my cousins’ shoujo manga, but I do not know the Japanese language so I just saw the illustrations and found everything very beautiful. There were also some shonen, but I don’t remember any of them in particular.
Which manga changed your life?
WMachado:Barefoot Gen.
RHanata: I don’t think any of them have had that much of an impact on my life. But as an artist, I think I was really impressed the first time I saw Akira.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
WMachado: Akito Takagi from Bakuman; his dream is to write good stories. He could go on with a literary career, but his love for manga is greater and that’s why he surrenders to this art. However, because he has no talent for art, he needs to partner with a talented artist, but not just any artist; one who will be his friend and companion on his journey. I believe I have a lot in common with this character, since our motivations are the same.
RHanata: I don’t think any one in particular.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
WMachado: A drama. A story of overcoming something.
RHanata: I do not know. But I always try to do something meaningful, not only for myself as an artist, but also for the reader.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
WMachado: I play with my son and get involved in family activities.
RHanata: I play the guitar, listen to music, and watch movies.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
WMachado: I am a UX Designer. I help develop apps.
RHanata: I’ve been trying to move on as a freelance artist for a few years. I’ve done some work for TV commercials and even a movie storyboard.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
WMachado: I believe that I will be producing manga and supporting my family with this work. Anything beyond that is profit.
RHanata: I don’t know. In a good place, I hope.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
WMachado: I don’t know how “he” would do it, but I would tell my younger self to try to study the Japanese language and dedicate himself even more to studying the English language.
RHanata: Study harder.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
WMachado: Don’t leave uploading the pages to the last minute.
RHanata: I think SMA, despite having its rules, allows everyone to express themselves in the way they want. So if you have any cool ideas, don’t be afraid to show them, but also remember that your story needs to be as satisfying for the reader as it is for you.
Thank you, PSI Team! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, King Shu!
PROFILEName/Pen Name:King ShuAge: 26
Country:MalaysiaFavorite manga:Slam Dunk, Berserk, GantzFavorite movie:The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Reservoir DogsFavorite Quote:“It is my personal belief that human beings are naturally meant to persevere.” – Hungry BoxEntry title:“Mom… please don’t kill me!”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Excellence Award
“Don’t ‘just’ create a manga with a message; entertainment value is always the priority of crafting good manga.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
Happy is probably the most cliche thing I would say, but other than that I feel relieved. I always thought that I had what it takes to create a good manga, but sometimes the confidence would fade for a long time. Receiving an award in SMA is an eye opener for my future manga career and also eases my anxiety. Sugoku Yokatta. :)))
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
It’s gotta be my surroundings. I have 3 nephews and recently a niece whom I’m not exaggerating when I say I would die for them haha. There’s a lot of subtleness and nuance in the way kids act when playing or crying that just piques my interest. I was like “Bro this is manga material yo!”
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
Creating a storyboard is definitely the hardest part of the manga making process, and also to incorporate the theme while making it as entertaining as possible is very challenging. When facing things like this I always take a step back for a few hours and try to “knot” the beginning scene and the final scene. A little bit of foreshadowing is always good to deliver the outcome. Other than that, just git good eh?
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
At the age of 9, the reason I started drawing manga is because I had a weird habit of drawing and crafting stories to the things I was currently obsessed with at the time. From Dragon Ball to Kingdom Hearts to The Fairly OddParents to Harvest Moon and even WWE! Yes, I have drawn a manga about John Cena. If there’s one piece of advice I could give for beginners, it is always “having fun” when creating your manga. Please, please be as “edgy” as you want when creating your first manga, don’t be scared to be as immature as you can! Express everything that you obsess and love and translate it in the manga. Don’t worry, you will mature as you go on to your next work. I’ve been drawing manga for more than 10 years, and the last thing I want to lose is having fun.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
Digitally! If you’re a beginner or semi pro, I highly recommend Clip Studio. It’s just that good and keeps getting better and better.
What was the first manga you picked up?
Dragon Ball Volume 1. This is the manga that made me realize how much of a genius Akira Toriyama-sensei is. Imagine this: I’m a 9 years old brat who has never ever read a manga in his entire life. No one taught me how to read a manga, but Akira Toriyama Sensei’s paneling and composition was incredible! The way he leads the eye of the reader from the top right to the bottom left is so clean, like a hot knife through butter. I still vividly remember how powerful that moment was when I realized that. What a GOAT.
Which manga changed your life?
Slam Dunk, this one is a classic. If you love manga, you “must” read this! The way Inoue Takehiko-sensei matured and came to his own as an artist throughout the Slam Dunk series was phenomenal. The manga changed from a fairly good to a magnum opus of sports manga. If you have read the last couple chapters of Slam Dunk, you know how legendary that final scene is. I also think this is the manga that solidified my conviction in becoming a professional manga artist.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Okay this is kinda weird, I love Berserk! It’s one of my favorite manga of all time. But the character that I identify the most to is not Guts, but Griffith. Even though he’s pure evil in every sense, I kinda understand and relate to him when he speaks about his ambition. It resonates within me whether I like it or not.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
I’m currently working on a personal manga called “Half Blind Heart” (previously known as “Blind Sport” in my group of friends and my community). It’s a sports manga about ping pong/table tennis. I’ve been working on it for quite a long time and I hope it comes to fruition in the future.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I usually play video games to release some stress. But lately I’ve been really into watching documentary and complex movies. Sometimes reality can be more fascinating than fiction.
What industry would you want to work in (if not related to manga-making)?
Honestly I don’t know, manga is everything for me. It’s crazy to think that I bet all my future into making manga without ever looking back. Here’s a little story from me, when I was 17 back in high school. There’s this one time that I didn’t go to school for a month, not because I was being bullied or didn’t have any friends, but because I was busy making manga for a competition. My conviction and immature self was so strong that the whole school and my mother was worried about me. I still regret doing that till this day, but at least I understood what really matters to me. Go to school kids!
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
Becoming the number 1 manga artist in Malaysia. Probably… probably.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Always use references when you’re drawing! That is the fastest way to improve. You can’t draw something good if you never see anything good. And one more thing Shu, stop being too pretentious damnit!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Don’t ‘just’ create a manga with a message; entertainment value is always the priority of crafting good manga. After all, that’s the reason why we love manga, right?
Thank you, King Shu! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Rimui!
PROFILEName/Pen Name:RimuiAge: 35
Country: Taiwan
Favorite manga:Yowamushi PedalFavorite movie:JokerFavorite Quote: “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”-Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Entry title:“BONES”Round:SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES”Award: Grand Prix Runner-Up
“Make something you are really interested in and make it simple!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
Japan is a fantasy country of manga, so I am very happy to win this award.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
My younger brother is an amateur taxidermist, so he used to pick up dead animals, and there were lots of bones in his room.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
The hardest part is putting dramatic tension in the normal process. I imagine that people misunderstand when they only see snippets.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
After being in the workforce for two years, I started making manga. At first, I imitated my favorite works. By repeatedly creating manga, you will find the best way to make it. It is important to continue to absorb good works.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
Digitally, with Clip Studio.
What was the first manga you picked up?
Doraemon when I was in Elementary School.
Which manga changed your life?
Yamada Tarō Monogatari by Ai Morinaga-sensei. I learned the tempo of humor from this work.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Ippo Makunouchi from Hajime no Ippo. He has integrity and works hard, and bravely takes on challenges.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
About sports or a different profession.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I watch Japanese dramas. I have actually just finished watching the drama Old Fashioned Cupcake. There are many types of manga and dramas in Japan; there is no limit and it is very interesting.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
I’m sure I will make more interesting manga in the next five years.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Start early and make more!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
Make something you are really interested in and make it simple!
Thank you, Rimui! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Get some inspiration by checking out the other AMAZING awarded works from SMA17!
Finnish MasterClass Enewald Receives Prestigious Manga Award!
Finnish MasterClass member Enewald has been featured in the August 2022 issue of Monthly Comic ZENON after receiving an award in the prestigious “Kyushu International Manga Award!”
Enewald’s 39 page emotional entry for COAMIX’s 7th Kyushu International Manga Award, “Fragments of the Soul,” marks their 2nd award in Comic ZENON’s manga contests after their manga“The Sunflower Theorem” received the top award in Monthly Comic ZENON’s 23rd Manga Taisho manga contest.
“Thanks to the skilled drawings that were filled with expressiveness, Enewald’s vision was conveyed well. The production quality was extremely high for a one-shot manga, but I felt there could have been more originality could have been included. Always think about how to make your manga most enjoyable for the reader!” – Mamare Arai-sensei
“Fragments of the Soul” is a one-shot manga that tells the story of a troubled boy named Oliver who’s supported by his loving Grandfather. When he’s suddenly transported to a strange world beyond his wildest dreams, he’ll have to look deep within himself and face his hidden emotions!
A special illustration and comment from Enewald were featured in the in the August 2022 issue of Monthly Comic ZENON, which we have translated!
“I’m incredibly grateful that I received another award from Comic ZENON and COAMIX! I have always wanted to a draw manga with “shapes” as a motif, so I feel honored for this manga to have been evaluated by the judges.” –Enewald
Enewald’s work is just one of the manga created by the SMA MasterClass that has won an award in Monthly Comic ZENON’s manga contests! With the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members are showing year after year their potential to Japanese readers.
