Brazilian Mangaka’s Japanese One-Shot DEBUT!!
Brazilian MasterClass member Laica Chrose and talented Webtoon creator was awarded in the 25th edition of the “Comic ZENON Manga Taisho” Japanese manga contest! Laica received the Excellence Award Runner-Up for her FIRST EVER Japanese one-shot manga entry! Manga Taisho is Comic ZENON’s oldest contest where new Japanese manga creators can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with an up to 39-page entry. It’s not only judged by manga legends such as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, but also by booksellers and the general public!
Laica Chrose’s entry “Ephemera” (Japanese title: Kagerou no Natsu) is her first entry to one of Comic ZENON and COAMIX’s Japanese manga contests after her SMA16 Grand Prix Runner-Up awarded manga “Lacrimosa.”
The following are the comments from Comic ZENON’s 25th Manga Taisho judge Tsukasa Hojo-sensei (City Hunter, SMA judge, etc.) and Ogaki Bookstore representative Itō-san regarding Laica Chrose’s entry:
In terms of production quality, I felt that this work was head and shoulders above the “manga competition” category. I think this creator has more than enough skill, so I hope they will move on to become active in the professional manga industry. – Tsukasa Hojo
The artwork was of a very high quality and matched well with the content of the story. The plot points of the manga were wrapped up together well with a happy ending, which left me with a great feeling after reading. In addition, this was a work that made me rethink the meaning of the title after I finished reading. – Ogaki Bookstore representative Itō-san
“Ephemera” follows Luca, who by all means seems like a normal young boy, but who actually ages incredibly slow. He lives a solitary life with his mother, away from society and other people, but yearns to make friends and see the outside world. One fateful summer day his world is turned upside down when he meets the adventurous and bold Towa, who shows him the joys of the outside world. Was their meeting chance…or fate? And how will time eventually tear these two souls apart? Laica Chrose’s work is just one of the manga masterpieces from the SMA MasterClassthat was awarded in Comic ZENON and COAMIX’s manga competitions; with the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members are showing year after year their potential to the Japanese audience and working towards their professional debut by joining SMA exclusive projects such as the “Artists Village Aso 096k!”
For your chance to change your manga career and come work with us in Japan, JOIN SMA19 TODAY!
Australian mangaka published AGAIN in Comic ZENON!
Talented and internationally acclaimed Australian MasterClass member monotone_inkreceived the TOP AWARD in the 25th edition of the “Comic ZENON Manga Taisho” Japanese manga contest!
monotone_ink won the Excellence Award (with a value of ￥300,000) which allowed the artist to be the very first international creator to be published TWO TIMES IN A ROW in the prestigious Monthly Comic ZENON manga magazine!!
Manga Taisho is Comic ZENON’s oldest contest where Japanese newcomers can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with an up to 39-page entry. It’s not only judged by manga legends such as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, but also by booksellers and the general public.
monotone_ink’s charming entry “The Witch of Petrovsky” received the top award for this round, allowing the Australian creator to have his work published AGAIN in the latest issue of Monthly Comic ZENON! The following are the comments from Comic ZENON’s 25th Manga Taisho special judge Eiji Hashimoto-sensei (creator of Chiruran, etc.) and Tetsuo Hara-sensei (Fist of the North Star, SMA Judge, etc.) regarding monotone’s entry:
This creator is amazingly good. I was struck by the strong sense of passion he’s able to convey with a world where witches exist and the soldiers’ uniforms. It’s as if he’s telling us “THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DRAW!” I’m expecting him to do his best to debut with a series as soon as possible. – Eiji Hashimoto
The art style, the paneling, and the camera work are of the highest level. Among all the entries, this creator’s work was the one that, more than anyone else’s, was able to entertain the readers from the very beginning, thanks to the originality of the setting and the impactful start of the story. – Tetsuo Hara
After being published in Monthly Comic ZENON with the manga“My Friend Mana”, monotone_ink once again won the hearts of both professionals and readers with the work“The Witch of Petrovsky,” which tells the story of Evelyn, a witch who at a young age witnessed the execution of her mother. Such an event left Evelyn with a strong hatred towards the whole human race and sworn revenge to wipe off the terrible smiles that the humans displayed when her mother was killed. However, to Evelyn’s great surprise, an atypical human enters the witch’s daily life and makes her discover the beauty of giving to others. The human’s name is Marya, a young woman who is able to bring pure smiles to the desperate faces of the citizens of Petrovsky. In the latest Monthly Comic ZENON, a special illustration and exclusive interview with monotone_ink was featured in the issue, which we have translated!
1. What are your feelings towards your award?
So shocked I was numb for a day! I’m very grateful to the judges that chose my work for this award, thank you so much!
2. What made you decide to enter Manga Taisho?
In the past, I had made an entry for the Kyushu International Manga Award on the behest of my editor, and after that he suggested I work on an entry for Manga Taisho next, so I did!
3. What was the inspiration behind your entry?
A book called Crime and Punishment: the whole idea of redemption really touched me when I read it long ago, so I wanted to write something along those lines. Besides that, I would credit my interest in witches to Dan Kim (@Clonemanga): he made these really strange and esoteric comics about witches a long time ago, and though this work doesn’t resemble the way he presented witches at all, it was something that stayed in the back of my mind.
4. What was the hardest part in drawing this entry?
The act of drawing in itself was very difficult haha – I naturally draw very messy, but my editor begged me to draw things cleaner and tighter, so I concentrated extra hard on the details. Additionally, I was approaching my process at angles I wasn’t familiar with and drawing things I wasn’t familiar with at all, so I was constantly messing up and learning things along the way; glad it paid off though!
5. What’s your favorite part of the manga?
As difficult as it was, drawing the architecture – it felt very satisfying to get things right. Besides that, I enjoyed working on the last 3 pages – at that point it felt like I’d ‘figured out’ how I wanted to draw this oneshot, but by then the story was already practically finished haha.
6. Please tell us what manga you are reading recently.
I’ve been re-reading Dorohedoro – it’s so fun and gory, there’s a charm to it I haven’t seen in many other things. Besides that though I’ve been keeping up with Chainsaw Man, which also never fails to be fun and gory!
7. What kind of manga do you want to create next?
Something that’s equal parts funny, horrifying, and sad.
8. Please leave a message for our readers.
I hope you enjoy the story! Also, don’t forget to drink water!
monotone_ink’s work is only one of the manga masterpieces created by the SMA MasterClassthat won an award through Comic ZENON and COAMIX; with the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members are showing year after year their potential to the Japanese audience and working towards their professional debut by joining SMA exclusive projects such as the “Artists Village Aso 096k!”
For your chance to change your working life and come work with us in Japan, JOIN SMA19 TODAY!
THE MASTERCLASS HAVE ARRIVED IN JAPAN TO WORK WITH US!!
The SMA Editorial Department is happy to announce that we have had the honor of inviting the first five international manga creators to join us in the Artists Village Aso 096k! Joining us since December 2022, they’re now working alongside Japanese creators and doing their best to debut in Japan!
The first group of international creators joining us are MasterClass members Sideburn004 from Russia, Yoonmi from the United States, Enewald from Finland, MAGE from Indonesia, and Ichirou from Brazil. Each of these creators have displayed their unique talent, ambition to move to Japan to work, and most of all, their willingness to work hard towards their manga debut!
Want to get the exclusive chance to live and work in Japan, too? Take the first step by joining SMA19 and show the judges that you have what it takes to debut in the manga industry!
HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNER, suonäcy! PROFILEPen Name: suonäcy Age: 24 Country: FranceFavorite manga:Well, huh…Favorite movie: That’s, huh...Favorite quote: Actually, very good questions.Entry Title:“Tickles (くすぐり)”Round:SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS”Award: Honorable Mention
“Just do your best and enjoy the process!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?I was pretty glad when I knew I won an award, but it was quickly replaced by a dissatisfaction of not having done well enough for a higher one…
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I actually redrew an old manga I did from 2018, with the exact same title (but different characters that I didn’t want to use for a contest). I had no real knowledge of how to draw a manga except from the ones I read. I’m currently in a manga-teaching school, so redrawing it was a way to acknowledge how much I progressed. I honestly think I did a good job.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? This manga was far from being my first idea for the contest. I had two other stories in mind, but I just couldn’t bring myself to draw them (lack of drawing skills for specific themes, not inspired enough by the stories/characters). Using an older manga as a template was kind of a last resort option; it’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I started drawing in a manga art style pretty early in my childhood, but I started drawing manga comics more seriously only three years ago. I’m not sure I have any advice to give… If you want to start something new, especially if you’re young, do it and don’t be afraid to fail (because we mostly all suck at first). But if you don’t feel like going into that path yet, it’s okay. If you change your mind later, be it in four days or four years, it’ll still be there for you.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw both ways but when it comes to manga, I stick to digital. I’m very comfortable using Paint Tool Sai so I generally use it for sketching my storyboards, and when I do the clean version, I switch to Clip Studio. I’m not yet drawing big 100 page stories, so for now it’s not too bothersome.
What was the first manga you picked up? The first manga I picked up and owned was Sgt. Frog (Keroro Gunsō) when I was in elementary school… But honestly, I think I liked the anime adaptation better. It was somehow more targeted at kids (What, a girl’s panties? In my manga?!).
Which manga changed your life? Natsume’s Book of Friends (Natsume Yūjinchō). It was just here for me at the right time (patiently waiting to be read in my middle school’s library). I don’t consider it my favorite manga, but it (still) holds an important place somewhere in my heart. … Or brain.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Now that’s a very good question. I identify a lot with characters like Hitori Bocchi (Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu) and Gotō Hitori (Bocchi the Rock) (Wait… Do I sense a pattern in those names?). I learnt to be more at ease publicly with time and I am doing pretty fine nowadays, but I still struggle with the anxiety to be liked and being a shy, awkward loner longing for more emotional, friendly interactions.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I still want to focus on characters’ psychology and emotions, but I want to explore much darker themes than a couple’s tickle fight.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I eat. And if I ate too much already, I think about eating.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m just a smol art student.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? In order to avoid disappointment or put too much pressure on myself, I’ll just say… Hopefully somewhere I can at least pay rent.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? It doesn’t have to be perfect now because it never ever will. Just do your best and enjoy the process.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? If you have the time to consider participating, by all means, do. For those who struggle with what kind of story, I think anything can do, as long as you can make your readers look forward to the following pages; they need to be hooked for the conclusion. It doesn’t need to be life-changing or exceptional; it can be extremely simple. Anything that’s important to you (and relevant to tell in a 17 page story).
Thank you, suonäcy! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
You have time until April 3rd to join SMA19 and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNER, Punix! PROFILEName/Pen Name: Pakapol Potisaratana/PunixAge: 32 Country: ThailandFavorite manga:ONE PIECE, Death Note, Bleach, I’s , Eyeshield 21Favorite movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Dark Knight TrilogyFavorite quote: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” -Steve JobsEntry Title:“Itsumo”Round:SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS”Award: Honorable Mention
“Just love it at first. Love it enough to bring it to be a part of your life.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?I am grateful to the SMA team for holding such great contests every year and would like to say thank you to all the judges. Your comments are very precious to me. Moreover, I am very happy to have a chance to show my works to the Japanese audience. The manga industry in your country has always been attractive to me.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? “Itsumo” is based on a true story from my life. I have always had feelings for a childhood friend who is a girl, but after we grew up we did not meet as often as before. As the world separated us, the memories of “happier times” with her are still with me. I just wanted to tell her to always be happy and smile. It is what she deserves.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? Working on contests along with making money for my family always challenges me!
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I started drawing manga when I was young and first watched anime and read manga. I have always asked myself why I draw, and the answer was I love to see the manga world weaving out of me. My advice for beginners: just love it at first. Love it enough to bring it to be a part of your life.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I usually draw digitally because it is easier. My tablet is a Wacom Bamboo with a notebook Dell G3 15.
What was the first manga you picked up? Detective Conan.
Which manga changed your life? There are 3 manga that brought me to draw manga like crazy.
First, Detective Conan, I have started reading it since I was young and try very hard to draw in the same quality as Aoyama-sensei.
Second is Midori no Hibi. It is the time I began to realize how to draw in “Moe” style. It happened that I love to draw cute girls very much.
The last one is Death Note. I am a fan of Obata-sensei’s works. His style always blows my mind, especially in Death Note. The first time I read Death Note, I settled my mind that I will be as good as him someday.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? It is Monkey D. Luffy from ONE PIECE. I also dreamt high at first but knew nothing. As the time passed, I started to learn everything step by step with joy.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? Sci-Fi, cyberpunk, fantasy, romance.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I usually draw illustrations to make myself relax. Sometimes, I read novels and play games (like Kingdom Hearts) to get new ideas.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I work in the 2D animation industry because I am also an animator.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? In 5 years, I hope for my works to be more famous, and have a chance to work in the Japanese manga and anime industry.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Manga is freedom because you can make anything happen. Just be yourself and don’t stay in a box.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Ask yourself what is the best thing in your life that you can apply to the topic of the contest and how the audience can improve their life from knowing your story. Then, tell it to the world.
Thank you, Punix! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
You have time until April 3rd to join SMA19 and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! Two International Manga Creators Finalists in Japanese Manga Contest! Two members of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® MasterClass are finalists in Monthly Comic ZENON’s 25th Manga Taisho: monotone_ink from Australia and Laica Chrose from Brazil!
“Ephemera” (Japanese title: Kagerou no Natsu) is created by SMA16 Grand Prix Runner-Up and Webtoon creator Laica Chrose. The manga tells a classic boy-meets-girl story, but with a surprising twist: our hero is a boy that ages incredibly slow. Living in isolation, everything changes one summer when he meets a girl who is living on borrowed time and shows him the joys of the outside world. Was their meeting chance…or fate? And how will things end for these two souls whose time cannot be compared?
“The Witch of Petrovsky” (Japanese title: Petorofusukii no Majou) is the latest manga from monotone_ink, the first international creator to have a one-shot printed in Monthly Comic ZENON after receiving the top award in COAMIX’s 6th Kyushu International Manga Award. The manga is set in a world where witches are hunted by the humans that fear them. The story follows Evelyn, a witch who is orphaned at a young age and vows to take revenge against humans under the cold, snowy sky of Petrovsky. However, Evelyn’s frozen heart begins to melt after a fateful encounter with Marya, a girl who selflessly helps others.
“Monthly Comic ZENON’s Manga Taisho” (lit. “The Great Manga Audition of Monthly Comic ZENON”) is ZENON’s oldest contest where Japanese newcomers can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with a 39 page entry. Manga Taisho is not only judged by manga legends such as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, but also judged by booksellers and the general public in order to evaluate the marketability of the entrants. Laica Chrose and monotone_ink follow Momo Sanse and Enewald as international creators discovered by the SMA Editorial Dept. who have reached the finals of the prestigious Manga Taisho, which allows you, the SMA Community, to READ and VOTE for their manga! Both Laica Chrose and monotone_ink’s manga will be available for review by Japanese and international readers from today January 13th until January 20th,11:59 (JPN time) on the Comic ZENON website.
3 – Fill the form with YOUR name and vote for an entry HERE
That’s it!
We are looking forward to reading your opinions and reactions! *The English versions of “Ephemera” and “The Witch of Petrovsky” are scheduled to be published on the SMA website in 2023! HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNER, Thuntopia! PROFILEName/Pen Name: ThuntopiaAge: 28 Country: ThailandFavorite manga:ONE PIECEFavorite movie: Star WarsEntry title:“Indelible Memory”Round:SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS”Awards: Excellence Award
“Please don’t hesitate; just draw it. If it fails, do it again.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? I’m very appreciative; it feels like “Finally!!” After many previous entries, I received many valuable comments from the judges that helped me correct and improve my manga.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? For the theme of passion, I tried to think about unique and interesting hobbies and lifestyles such as singing, drawing, and tattooing. I chose tattooing because it is very charming and is socially controversial in my country, and especially because it helped me create a very cool character.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? I decided to create a manga about tattooing, but I didn’t have any information about it. So I searched for many references about tattoos, tattooing and tattoo studios. Then I needed to design a tattooed character. I had many drafts for him.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I made my first manga when I was in primary school. I was just drawing on used school-notebook paper with a pencil. I changed to drawing with a ball-pen in secondary school, but it was still just a hobby. When I just entered university, I started using a G-pen, drawing oneshots and presenting them to publishers. Now that I am working, I draw digitally and self-publish my manga.
My advice is: drawing manga is easy to begin with and even easier to enjoy.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I started digital drawing 3 years ago. At first I used Clip Studio Paint and Wacom Bamboo, then I changed to Wacom Cintiq. Before that I had used a G-pen.
What was the first manga you picked up? I picked up the 7th volume of Yu-Gi-Oh when I was 9.
Which manga changed your life? I think each manga I read changed my life at a different stage of my life and had a different perspective at that time. The ones that changed my life especially are ONE PIECE (I could see how far imagination can go) The Wonder Boy and Oyasumi Punpun (I learned about other genres besides shōnen and saw how deep manga can go through in my mind). Others worth mentioning are Death Note, Gintama, and others.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Wonder boy from The Wonder Boy. He’s mysterious, charismatic, innocent, cruel, godlike, and humanistic all at the same time. And as for the character design, I really love Enel from ONE PIECE, and Yami-Marik from Yu-Gi-Oh.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I want to draw manga about Sci-Fi and coming of age, or something about thinking of the meaning of life.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I read manga, watch anime and movies, and play board games. Sometimes I go to bed. And think about manga I never make.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I work in a hospital.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Self-published manga, sold at dōjin-market festival, I guess. I hope I can release a comic book per year.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? If you burn out, just take a rest and don’t give up. Travel more, get to know more people, and read more books (except manga). The more experience you have, the wider your perspective is, and the better manga you can make.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Please don’t hesitate; just draw it. If it fails, do it again. Comments from the judges are so important. You can learn a lot of manga techniques from SILENT MANGA AUDITION® YouTube channel (me included).
Thank you, Thuntopia! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
You have time until April 3rd to join SMA19 and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNER, Jeffrey R Lopez! PROFILEName/Pen Name: Jeffrey R LopezAge: 24 Country: NicaraguaFavorite manga:Haikyuu!!Favorite movie: High School MusicalEntry title:“There Is No Plan B”Round:SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS”Awards: Excellence Award
“Focus on the weaknesses you have as a drawer and at the same time try to correct them in order to be closer to the goal.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?It feels wonderful to be among the best in such a massive contest. It only makes me feel more inspired to keep moving forward with the goal of debuting in the manga industry.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I wanted to capture in the work as much as possible the sensation of being a child who wants with all his heart to reach a goal that is almost impossible to achieve due to his geographical and economic position but who, despite these circumstances, seeks a way to move forward with his limitations.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? During the creation of the manga there were many creative blocks, lack of time to continue drawing due to other obligations, and other problems. The only solution I found was to give 200% of my effort and continue with the manga.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I found out about the existence of manga when I was 14 years old. From that moment something in me immediately felt that I wanted to dedicate myself to it. Since then I began to analyze all the works I consumed to learn the best from them, despite the fact that in my current country you can’t get manga easily. For people who want to start drawing manga, I can only recommend that they create works that only they themselves can create based on personal experiences, points of view on life, emotions that they come to feel, and a slight touch of sensations that they have liked in other works.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I started doing my work analogically and then moved on to digital illustration. Currently I do the story boards by hand and then I start with the final work in digital using a laptop and a graphic tablet.
What was the first manga you picked up? Naruto. Since I was little I liked the message of never giving up and as soon as I could acquire it I did.
Which manga changed your life? There is no specific one, but every time I read a new work I acquire a piece of the message of that work to use in my life.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I find it hard to identify with a specific one, since like real people each character has a unique point of view and personality and I love the confrontation and interaction between those personalities. For this reason precisely I love creating manga!
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I want to create a manga that takes the reader on a difficult but at the same time entertaining journey where the protagonist goes along with the reader advancing more and more as a person, and thus being able to show viewers my point of view on never giving up on dreams. If I can make the readers feel that feeling, I can say that I did it well.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I usually play basketball to exercise, and to relax I go to parks to see the clouds for a long time and think about what I will do next.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I currently work part-time jobs to focus on studying how to design manga properly.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Within 5 years I want to be fully within the manga industry by having my own serialization and being very successful at it.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? My best advice for my old self is to focus on the weaknesses you have as a drawer and at the same time try to correct them in order to be closer to the goal.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Try to express your ideas to the world as best as possible without the need for your characters to speak. If your characters and stories have strong feelings without the need for text, I think you will do very well.
Thank you, Jeffrey R Lopez! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
You have time until April 3rd to join SMA19 and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNER, nemuisemi! PROFILEName/Pen Name: nemuisemi (pen name), Yuliia (real name)Age: 19 Country: UkraineFavorite manga:Mushishi, Ping PongFavorite movie: When Marnie Was There, Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Favorite quote: “Dedication is talent all on its own.” – Alphonse ElricEntry title:“Not Your War”Round:SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS”Awards: Grand Prix Runner-Up
“Don’t hurry; think and prepare before starting more.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?At first I was really shocked, but then I burst into tears. I would never have thought that I could get that far and win any prize, especially on my second try. I always take part in something just because it’s quite fun and it is an interesting experience for me, but I’m obviously happy to be one of the winners.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? Unfortunately, it was the current situation in my country. It was just an attempt to rethink and convey the feeling that I go through everyday, but I don’t want anyone to feel pity for me. “Not Your War” is a made up story, so I hope it was a really touching experience to read it.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? I’m not that good of an artist, so I often have difficulties with perspective and anatomy, but I’m honestly trying my best to become more skillful. I’m trying to use 3D models and photo references to make my process easier, haha♥
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? My first try in creating manga was back in 2019. It was a 200 page story called “Song of the Wind.” I was 16 and didn’t know much about creating comics, so the story was a real mess, but at least it was a good experience for me! I would recommend beginners not to be scared to start creating manga even if you don’t have any experience or skills needed. Just have fun, study other people’s work, and you will improve eventually! But I feel that I’m a beginner myself hahaha.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw manga digitally but only because it is more comfortable for me. If anyone prefers drawing traditionally – it is up to you to choose your materials! Clip Studio Paint is a great software with useful tools, so I recommend using it (but I draw in Paint Tool SAI personally).
What was the first manga you picked up? I guess it was the first volume of Gintama. It was a New Year gift from my friend, and from then I started collecting manga on my own.
Which manga changed your life? I think it is Mushishi. It was always my absolute favorite manga because of its atmosphere and Urushibara Yuki sensei’s style, and I love every chapter from this masterpiece. I feel a unique connection with this story.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I’d say it is Ginko from Mushishi. I’m also pretty cold in appearance, but I share his philosophy and viewpoint on life. I love life how it is and accept our reality.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? Only time will tell. I want to make touching and sincere stories so anyone can relate to them, and I hope I will have enough skills to do this!
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I love watching cartoons and playing games! I’m keen on dolls and repainting their faces. Also, I’m always very sleepy, so my hobby is lying in bed and relaxing hahaha.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m currently studying animation at university. Making animations is a hard enough job, but frankly speaking, comics and manga suit my interests more. I hope to become a good mangaka, but now my only option is freelance when I have free time from studying.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? I’ve been writing a script for my personal project for a long time, and it’s obviously a manga project. As I said, manga is my passion and I would like to continue drawing and studying to become good at it. For now, I feel that my drawings aren’t authentic enough to compare myself to real Japanese mangakas. But I will try my best!!
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Don’t hurry; think and prepare before starting more. I feel that my previous works could have been much better if I had been more patient and thoughtful.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Don’t be afraid and just try! SMA is a great opportunity to estimate your skills and know exactly what areas you as a mangaka should improve. I believe only practice can be your teacher, so an attempt will pay off your time, and eventually, you will get a comment on your work. It is much better if there is someone professional who can help you point out your weaker sides.
Thank you, nemuisemi! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
You have time until April 3rd to join SMA19 and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNER, Ochechula! PROFILEName/Pen Name: OchechulaAge: 30 Country: Czech RepublicFavorite manga:ONE PIECE, Ping Pong, Buddha, 20th Century BoysFavorite movie: Osamu Tezuka’s MetropolisEntry title:“The Distant Mountains”Round:SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS”Awards: Grand Prix Runner-Up and Copic Prize
“Keep it simple and easy to read. Too many details sometimes gets the reader lost.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?My heart stopped when I saw my doodle among all the other beautiful drawings on the SMA18 Results page!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I live at my family house, under the hills. I can see the hills from my window, but I rarely go there, since I have a lot of work. This is basically the plot of my manga.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? The biggest challenge was to stop daydreaming about “the manga I want to create” and to actually start drawing it. Joining contests such as SMA is a really good way to overcome this challenge!
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? In high school I drew short stories for a Czech manga zine. It was really experimental, with no Names or sketches. I just drew panel after panel, usually with no words. I wish I drew more of those. My advice is: Don’t be scared if you can’t find “your style” just have fun with it and style will happen along the way.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? By hand, but sometimes I use the computer for flat shades. I use ink, G-pen, brush, and a wooden stick to make more energetic lines at the background or textures.
What was the first manga you picked up? There was no manga translated into my language (Czech) when I was a child.
When I was 14, my uncle brought a big bag full of manga from the Polish library. It was mostly Ranma 1/2 and Naruto. It was in Polish so I didn’t understand the story. But I loved art so much that it was no problem for me.
Also, my uncle thought that all comics are for children. So another manga he brought to me was Eden: It’s an Endless World!. I remember being fascinated by the art but I was too scared of adult themes there so I never read it whole 😀
Which manga changed your life? I am not sure if there is only one, but ONE PIECE is a manga that makes me happy, no matter how many times I’ve reread it!
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Jaguar from Pyū to Fuku! Jaguar. I am a chaotic person, so some people find me charming, while some annoying.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I would like to practice writing different characters. So maybe a slice of life, with the touch of the supernatural.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I love hiking and spending time with my friends. And best of all is going to hike with my friends!
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I am a freelance artist, and I’ve worked as an animator and book illustrator. In the last two years most of my job was manga (I drew two comic books in a more European comic style).
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Well I would love to gain more experience and try new styles of drawing. There are so many different ways to draw manga, it is going to be fun!
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Stop doubting yourself and just draw! Even when it does not work, just keep going. And have fun with it!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Keep it simple and easy to read. Too many details sometimes gets the reader lost.
Thank you, Ochechula! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
You have time until April 3rd to join SMA19 and have a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan!
