SMA13-UNESCO Round Case Studies #5: Digital Gender Bias
Addressing gender-based bias in the digital sphere…
Imagine being written out of history for a single reason… your gender. In the digital age, we have more information available at our fingertips than ever before. Yet that wealth of data contains deep and fundamental biases, with one of the most important being the exclusion of the life experiences and achievements of women from the historical narrative.
Hypatia of Alexandria was a 4th Century Hellenistic Neoplatonist philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician whose story is mostly unknown in modern times. (Hypatia of Alexandria by Julius Kronberg, 1889)
While gender bias is particularly visible in the digital sphere, the problem is as old as history. In just one example in Thailand, Khunying Yai Damrongthammasan’s remarkable achievements as a devout practitioner of Dhamma Buddhist teachings were largely ignored by the history books – indeed, it was widely assumed until recently that the noted Buddhist text she wrote was in fact, authored by a man. Not only was she written out of history, but her own writings were attributed to another!
Khunying Yai Damrongthammasan
Such deletions from history have real-world implications, not only on the views of girls and women themselves, but for everyone in understanding the experiences and contributions made by women around the world. In the absence of such narratives, we also see online hate directed towards women that further stifle their voices. Without understanding women’s contributions to society, we fail to understand our communities or even ourselves.
Online, the scale of the problem is clear. Only 17% of profiles on Wikipedia are of women, showing an incredibly lopsided worldview. UNESCO, along with the Wikimedia Foundation are working to address this imbalance with the #Wiki4Women initiative by encouraging writers and researchers to explore the untold stories and achievements of women and multi-lingually document them online.
In the Asia-Pacific, the results have been remarkable, bringing to light the real-life stories of human-rights heroes, scientific geniuses, investigative journalists… pioneering women who have made vital contributions in literally every field and walk of life.
Marie Skłodowska Curie in her laboratory. Curie showed strength of character and determination in overcoming the challenges of being a female scientist.
Just as history is generally filtered through a male-dominated lens, current events often privilege men’s points of view. Until recently, it was far too common for news media to only feature male experts and commentators, while ignoring very qualified women because of unconscious bias.
To counter this, the “Women Make the News” project encourages gender equality and representation in the media by providing journalists with contacts for women experts who can make important contributions to the debate. The project also champions policy that advocates for gender-equal representation.
Gender equality is a fundamental human right, a building block of social justice and sustainable development. Women’s experiences, voices, viewpoints and achievements are essential, not only for fairness, but for all of us to better understand our histories and the world around us in our shared goal for universal peace.
PENMARU’s TIP!Equality equals justice… a very powerful theme in manga! With more and more women fighting for recognition for their amazing contributions to society, from computer programming to war reporting, a manga showing this struggle for justice will be as exciting as it is important!”
SMA11 Interview #3 – Dararat PROFILE Name: Dararat Kaewchanthong (Aristomeow) Age: 21Country: ThaiFavorite manga: Naruto; Kimi ni todoke; Detective Conan Favorite movie: Spirited AwayQUESTIONS How does it feel to win a SILENT MANGAAUDITION® award?Surprised and very happy! What were your first impressions of the theme?An easy opportunity to touch the heart.What was the inspiration behind your winning work?My family and my dog… also my teacher.What challenges did you face making your manga? How did you overcome them?Using software to draw because I’m not very good with Clip Studio, so I had to practice a lot. What did you learn from making your manga? Did you pick up any new skills or techniques?I learned how to make a story that can have an emotional effect without the use of words. How important is entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® in relation to your professional goals?Not only can the SMA help develop your drawing skills, but allows you to become confident in your work. What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?If you want to exercise your manga making skills, enter the SMA and you won’t be disappointed. And do your best! Read Dararat’s SMA11 EXCELLENCE AWARD RU winning manga, “Into the Moon” HERE! The Kumamoto International Manga Camp 2019 REPORT – Day 3
THE STORY SO FAR …
With the invaluable feedback and advice from the Zenon editors still swirling in the minds of our international mangaka, we dive headlong into Day 3.
Featuring an intense look at the manga industry in the Manga Meetings, more creative workshops and delicious culinary experiences, the third day of the Kumamoto International Manga Festival promises to be even more action packed than the first two!
Day 3 kicks off with a serious tone… an in-depth look at the manga business. With four tables manned by the cream of the manga industry, Tsukasa HOJO, Ryuji TSUGIHARA, Jun TOMIZAWA and Nobuhiko HORIE, our invited guests are offered the exclusive chance to direct questions, as well as receive insights from these giants of manga.
With an emphasis on the differences between manga and Western comics, the meeting looked at the very foundations manga is built upon… the ability to entertain readers. Artists and editors work together to achieve this vital mission, shinning a light on the motivations of professional manga in Japan.
At the meeting’s close, COAMIX Inc. CEO Horie-san reaffirms his commitment to further develop manga in the 21st century with his plans for making Takamori the capital of international manga. Make sure to keep an eye on our site and SNS channels for more info on this TOP SECRET project!
As our guests begin to make their way into the bright Kyushu sunshine, SMA China Tsukasa Hojo award winner A-Ton takes the opportunity to present Hojo-sensei with a special 60th birthday present!
A quick stop for a group photo and then it’s time for lunch!
NOTE: check out the SMA sensei’s sublime doodles on the board…
Say “KUMAMOTO INTERNATIONAL MANGA CAMP!”
At the Manga Camp, we believe you have to work for your lunch! So with chopsticks at the ready, our guests had enormous fun catching their food as delicious somen noodles cascaded down three bamboo slides. Nagashi-somen (flowing noodles) is a staple activity in Japan, making for a unique dining experience!
Now fully fed, it’s time to continue with the manga workshops. Using the feedback received in Day 2, our international guests make improvements on their “name” assignments under the experienced eyes of the Zenon editorial department.
A serious and focussed tone fills the classroom as our mangaka apply the feedback and advice they received. With several consultations with the editors, the goal is to impress the Zenon team… arguably a manga artists first reader in our mission to create effective and entertaining manga.
…No time to waste going back to the desk, let’s just work here!
The day draws to close with a celebratory meal… Takamori style! With fire pits gently roasting delicious dengaku, the invited guests of the KIMC 2019 bond over their shared the experiences at the camp, drink to the health of each other and discuss the one subject that brought them all together… manga!
But before we close the book on Day 3, Monthly Comic Zenon Editor-in-Chief Watanabe-san stands to deliver a rousing speech…
Thank you everyone for joining us here in Japan. We at Monthly Comic Zenon would like to assure each of you that we will do our very best to help you debut in Japan.”
Now… KAMPAI!
We hope you enjoyed Day 3, and that you felt you were with us in Takamori! Be sure to keep following our SNS pages to read our 4th REPORT of the KIMC 2019.
See you in 7 days, CIAO!
NEXT WEEK: A taste of original Japanese Matsuri and manga lessons with Tsugihara and Tomizawa sensei! Be sure to not miss it!
Indonesian SMA Star makes Japanese Debut!
Indonesian “fighting manga” master and long time SILENT MANGA AUDITION® MasterClass alumni, Alex Irzaqi makes his Japanese manga debut!
Alex, the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®’s first ever Grand Prix winner shot to SMA fame with his entryExcuse Me. Impressing the judging panel with his dynamic depiction of speed and emotion, Alex proved the obvious choice to take on the next Zenon Creator Audition…!
Alex’s oneshot Hujan di Tepian Rindu, a humorous fighting manga that left readers all over the world entertained, gave us a glimpse of this young Indonesian manga artist’s talent for dynamic action.
Click the picture below to read Alex’s original OneShot
Hit the banner below to read more about Toshiaki Yamada’s work
“I am a long time fan of Yamada-sensei. To me, it is an honour to be selected to recreate a manga name he worked on.” Alex says.
Two masters of action manga combine their creative output to give you a story so explosive, you’ll have to sit in a dark room for a month! An action packed tale of redemption, where a champion of the oppressed will rise and dish out JUSTICE with a tool bag!
Alex is the third SMA MasterClass member to debut their incredible manga talent to a Japanese audience with our exclusive Zenon Creator Audition! If you are a manga artist who yearns to unleash your work into the Japanese manga market, then join the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® today!
Title: “Reformer” by Alex IrzaqiOriginal Work: Toshiaki Yamada Format: Free in digital manga magazine, Web Comic ZenyonLength: 35 pages Release date: Friday, 13th December 2019 Language: Japanese
Hit the banner and learn more about the FIRST Zenon Creator Audition, “Midnight Shadow” by SIDEBURN004
Hit the banner and learn more about the SECOND Zenon Creator Audition, “Joze and the Magical Mansion” by Dedy Koerniawan
EX5 Interview #4 – yoonmi PROFILEName: yoonmiAge: 24Country: United StatesFavorite manga: Currently its… “Gokushufudou: The Way of the Househusband!”Favorite movie: Whiplash; The Prestige; A Silent VoiceFavorite quote: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” (from The Little Prince)“The opportunities that come with entering SMA speak for themselves.”QUESTIONS1. How does it feel to win a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?Nothing less than awesome! Knowing my work was shown to the judges is something to be grateful for in itself.2. What were your first impressions of the theme?I thought it was an unusually broad theme. It made it impossible to think of a story right away, but I also appreciated the lenient nature of it.
The iconic LAPD building in yoonmi’s home town of LA!
3. What was the inspiration behind your winning work?While gathering ideas, I was looking through the names I made a few years back that I’d put away. The original story is completely different, but there was one I drew about bubbles. There’s no special inspiration behind the bubbles, even in the original one. I just love them. Meanwhile, I’d already decided I wanted to try drawing boys for the story.4. What challenges did you face making your manga? How did you overcome them?I still can’t seem to think of what to put in a panel while simultaneously considering the panel size and layout on a page. So I have to do one before the other, and this always takes up a lot of time. I kind of just pushed through it, as it’s simply a skill that needs honing.
Indispensable tech of a mangaka
5. What did you learn from making your manga? Did you pick up any new skills or techniques?To save my eyesight from declining further, I decided to do the inking part of the comic with analog tools. It was a huge learning process—as if I was learning how to draw my first comic ever. The drawing took so long that I was starting to push the deadline, and there were many mistakes I had to fix digitally. I’d totally do it all again, though, just to get better at it.Oh, and I learned a cool way to put down tones using Clip Studio Paint. With the right settings, you can convert a greyscale layer into halftones, and then make it add a thin outline to the edges of the tone, so the edges will look crisp. Isn’t that awesome? As if there isn’t enough reasons to love the program already.
…But tech is still no match for the tried and tested methods
6. How important is entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® in relation to your professional goals?The opportunities that come with entering SMA speak for themselves. Professional feedback on top of that is indispensable.7. What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®Writing a comic that reads smoothly is just the first step. The second is to make it compelling. It’s never going to stop being difficult. Let’s work hard! Read yoonmi’s EX5 EXCELLENCE AWARD winning manga, “Daze” HERE! The Kumamoto International Manga Camp 2019 REPORT – Day 2
THE STORY SO FAR …
Day 2 of the 2019 Kumamoto International Manga Camp began with a celebratory welcome speech from COAMIX Inc. CEO Nobuhiko Horie whose mission, in collaboration with the town of Takamori, is to expand the Japanese manga industry into the world. Day 2 also included the Camp’s first of six Manga Workshops, where our invited guests got the chance to learn from successful Japanese mangaka and experienced Japanese editors.
So without further ado, let’s delve into the excitement of Day 2!
Surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of Takamori, the Kumamoto International Manga Camp takes place within the sprawling “campus” of the Takamori Folk School. More than just an opportunity to learn manga making from the professionals, the Camp also offers the chance to experience the wonders of this beautiful area of Kyushu.
The school’s gymnasium, a typical structure recognizable throughout Japan is the location of the first activity. An absorbing lecture about Takamori’s hidden delights, conducted by an enthusiastic member of the the Minami Aso Railway Takamori Line service.
Featuring prominently in the Hojo-sensei helmed Silent Manga movie “Angel Sign”, the Takamori Railway gave fresh look to the cinematic interpretation of “Beginning and Farewell”, by German SMA MasterClass member Vincent Lange.
For a rundown of the SMA manga featured in “Angel Sign”, click the banner below:
As the lecture comes to a close, the invited manga artists are surprised by a very special guest… Takamori’s adorable mascot Kazemaru!
With a hearty lunch over with, our international guests are primed for their very first editorial session with Japanese editors!
Prior to the Camp, we asked all our invited guests to create a very simple manga “name” showing a unique character perform their “special power” and accompanied with character concept designs. This “name” is to be the focus of these sessions, giving the MasterClass the chance for some effective feedback.
In the pictures: (Picture of the left) Monthly Comic Zenon Chief Editor Watanabe-san, Zenon editor Takaya-san.(Picture of the right) Web Comic Zenyon Chief Editor Akiyama-san, Comic Tatan Chief Editor Hisanaga-san, Zenon editor Oniki-san
We have covered the role of the manga editor extensively on our media channels, but for the newest members of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® Community, here’s a recap…
The role of the manga editor is to get the very best out of the artist, helping to deliver effective and entertaining manga to hungry readers!
As the first reader of their artist’s work, the editor will spot what elements need to change or remove, where the action needs to speed up or slow down, and even advise on the placement of speech bubbles and kakimoji.
Additionally, the editor may also come up with a manga concept that best exhibits an artist’s strengths. From developing the idea with the artist to exhaustively researching background for additional depth, without the editor to hold the reins on creative work, the artist may very well forget the audience as they passionately create!
Chief Editor, Hisanaga san explains Yoonmi how to improve even more her already entertaining manga story!
Sadly, the content of the SMA editorial sessions must remain a secret between artist and editor, but we can at least briefly show you these intense and fulfilling meetings with these dynamic snapshots!
With our guests reeling over the invaluable advice of the Zenon editors, it was time to grab some popcorn and settle down to watch the much anticipated Silent Manga movie “Angel Sign”!
“Manga is like a movie storyboard”… and so began Horie’s introduction to “Angel Sign”. As producer, the COAMIX Inc. CEO has been involved in the creation “Angel Sign” from the very beginning, utilizing his years of manga editorial experience to help create something very special indeed.
Featuring a sparkling showcase of international directing and acting talent, the feature length film is arguably the first large scale multi-media product, created from YOUR work with the SMA!
Currently screening as part of the Indonesian Japanese Film Festival, the movie is delighting fans of Japanese cinema throughout the region. If you happen to be in Indonesia, make sure to get yourself a ticket to be in with a chance of winning some signed merchandise from the movie’s project director, and manga making legend Tsukasa Hojo!
Click the banner for more details:
See you next Monday,
CIAO!
P.S. for a quick peek behind the scenes of “Angel Sign”, check out our series of short films (be sure to activate the English subs 😉).
NEXT WEEK: A meeting where international manga creators can ask direct questions to professional mangaka about how to improve their manga and share their doubts!? Be sure to not miss it!
SMA13-UNESCO Round Case Studies #4: Back from the Brink
Achievement-based scholarships provide vital help for low-income families.
Picture having to choose between your future or urgently supporting your family’s right to survive. Today, far too many children in the Asia-Pacific region are forced to quit school in order to work, often for very low pay to provide for their family’s basic and essential needs… a decision no child should be forced to make.
Education is a basic human right, which determines children’s future in work, society and their personal lives. Yet there are 18.7 million primary-aged children out of school in the Asia-Pacific, for reasons including disabilities, distance, language, armed conflict and child marriage. Poverty and child labour are among the most common causes, as children have to contribute to their family’s livelihoods, at the cost of closing the door on their own future.
For many migrants, a grueling existence of unending work awaits them.
But hope springs for many, such as teenager Pyo Ma Ma Soe, whose door to education has opened once again. As one of the top students in the pioneering Learning Coin initiative, she excels at school, reads at least two hours a day and plans to be a doctor specializing in cancer treatment. For her father, a migrant from Myanmar who makes a living sewing clothes in Bangkok, Pyo Ma Ma Soe’s academic success is a dream come true.
For teenagers like Pyo Ma Ma Soe, education offers the chance for a better life for her and her family.
The Learning Coin initiative is based on a clear-eyed view of the challenges to stay in school faced by children from low-income families. By using an app which collects data on reading, the programe pays students’ families a scholarship based on their efforts to develop strong reading habits and achieve high-literacy skills. The small scholarships literally make the difference between students staying in school or being forced to quit, with students who dropped out able to return to studies after the launch of the initiative.
Play is unknown in many parts of Asia-Pacific, but education is allowing children to be children.
This innovative approach to education – taking into account the realities faced by low-income families – is being tested in Thailand with the support of the Ministry of Education and private sector, with plans to extend the programe not only to migrant families but also to other vulnerable and low-income communities. The choice should not be between enough food to eat and a child’s education.
Thanks to the Learning Coin initiative, the future looks bright for Pyo Ma Ma Soe and her family.
Pyo Ma Ma Soe has taken this opportunity to prove herself to be an exceptional student. Not only does her hard work and love of learning help to support her family today, but she is fulfilling her potential working towards her future personal and professional goals, breaking the cycle of poverty and contributing positively to her community as a whole.
Watch Pyo Ma Ma Soe’s story here:
PENMARU’s TIP!The Learning Coin initiative is a life saver for many students, providing the very building blocks for a peaceful society through the power of education. But what future could this initiative give its beneficiaries? What future would they have without it? Why not tell us with manga?!”
SMA11 Interview #2 – Priscilla Miranda and Lucas Marques PROFILEName: Priscilla Miranda and Lucas MarquesAge: Priscilla: 26 / Lucas: 31Country: We’re from Brazil, a complex, miscegenated and joyful country, with who Japan has a long history of cultural and economic exchangeFavorite manga: P: Hadashi no Gen by Keiji Nakazawa; Solanin by Inio Asano/ L: Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo; Suiiki by Urushibara YukiFavorite movie: P: Mona Lisa Smile (Dir. Mike Newell); The Breadwinner (Dir. Nora Twomey) / L: Eyes Wide Shut (Dir. Staley Kubrick); Mulholland Drive (Dir. David Lynch)Favorite quote: P&L: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”“Don’t give up before trying, and give yourself the chance and time to develop!”QUESTIONS1. How does it feel to win a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?We’re very happy and grateful. When we saw our manga amongst winners, we felt very excited and amazed. Knowing so many talented people enjoyed our story is a dream come true. We couldn’t believe it! Being part of the SMA winners inspired us to engage even more in the art of making mangas, and it gave us motivation to keep writing and drawing new stories. It was also surprising because we’re a couple and it was the first time we worked on a story together. This made us realize great things can happen when we come to together, much like awakening creative potential in each other. We feel inspired to achieve more with this partnership, because winning together has a special taste! 2. What were your first impressions of the theme?It was very challenging. My creative process was never based on a specific theme, so my challenge was dealing with the direction of elaborating a story, which took a number of days. It was encouraging to try something different from what I was used to though. As I had just finished another graphic novel, I was concerned about participating in the SMA. I came up with some ideas, but I wasn’t able to develop any, so Priscilla stepped in to support me, cheering me up and talking to me about possibilities. Before we know it, we had created the complete script together.3. What was the inspiration behind your winning work?It came from some movies. As fans of the drama genre, Lucas was fascinated by the them of alcoholism in the movie The Lost Weekend (By Billy Wilder). But the inspiration for the promise came from our conversations. We couldn’t help but think about moments of our lives when we made and broke promises. We wanted to show a character who has flaws, who has difficulties in keeping promises to make it more realistic, as everyone goes through battles in life. ¥4. What challenges did you face making your manga? How did you overcome them? The deadline, for sure! Also, some difficulties with approaching the theme when I was working alone. But once we decided to do it together, it took just one day to write the story. The most striking moment was when my girlfriend’s sister went into birth labor so she rushed to the hospital to help her bring the baby to the world. Sharing the tasks and trusting in each other was essential! We needed to be organized and focused, with us working on our parts, which included cooking food and daily housework! Now we have a cute tiny nephew we can’t wait to introduce him to the world of manga.5. What did you learn from making your manga? Did you pick up any new skills or techniques?We learned that there are mane creative process possibilities, and that if we want to make manga, we need to be organized and focused. We also learned that drawings alone can be enough to tell a story. Theres a power in the silence. Because it was a manga with no dialogue, we realized that images have a great importance in creating the mood of the story, instructing the reader to a moving an interesting experience.(L: I also learned that Priscilla can get really angry when I don’t give her a little bit of attention! Ha ha)6. How important is entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® in relation to your professional goals? It was important because it gave us international exposure and some visibility. It’s also very exciting as it opens the possibility of interacting with Japanese editors, learning from them, exchanging experiences, getting better… And we’re amazed at the chance of having classes with the masters one day, and realizing our dream of meeting them in Japan!7. What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Persistence!! Count on your friends and close ones for support. They motivate you, encourage you and they’re there to give you a big victory hug, as well as a learning hug. These ties make a difference. We also would say that enjoying the process is essential, so focus on your passion of making comics, and let this flow into your work. Because if you don’t have pleasure in drawing and taking some kind of message forward, it will become a boring and frustrating process… Don’t forget to exercise patience to see results, because making manga has no immediate return. It’s a constant learning experience!Don’t give up before trying, and give yourself the chance and time to develop!
Read “Someone To Care” HERE ↓
The Kumamoto International Manga Camp 2019 REPORT – Day 1
Hello SMA Community!
It’s that special time of the year again…
Christmas you say? Close enough… it’s the Kumamoto International Manga Camp Report!
Over the next few weeks, we will be updating you on all the manga making action of the Camp. So sit back, grab your drink of choice and enjoy the first installment!
For the uninitiated, let us give you a brief explanation about the Camp…
The Kumamoto International Manga Camp (KIMC) is manga event held in the beautiful town of Takamori, on Japan’s Kyushu island. Exclusively open to SMA MasterClass members, creators who have attained the highest awards in the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®, the Camp offers the chance to learn more about making manga and the manga industry.
For more information about the SMA MasterClass, please click the banner below.
The 2019 Report will focus on the four newest members of the MasterClass, including two members from Indonesia, one from Malaysia and the last from Brazil.
The Camp kicks off with a glittering Opening Ceremony to welcome the newest members of the SMA MasterClass. With the opening speech by former the Chief-Editor of “Weekly Shonen Jump” and COAMIX Inc. CEO Nobuhiko Horie still ringing in their ears, the invited guests, including the winners of SMA CHINA hold their collective breath and await the handing out of the SMA MasterClass certificates!
The first to receive the much coveted SMA MasterClass certificate is Malaysian manga artist Harihtaroon.
Receiving the Grand Prix award for her amazing SMA EX4 entry Lucky Charm, Harihtaroon’s tireless work with the SMA has paid off with her induction into the SMA MasterClass.
Congratulations, Harihtaroon, you deserve it!
Next up to receive his certificate from Horie-san is Indonesian mangaka Dedy Korniawan. Dedy’s SMA-EX4 entry First Flight wowed the judges, earning him a Grand Prix Runner-up prize and a place in the SMA MasterClass.
Following Dedy on stage is Dedy’s fellow countryman, and manga prodigy RIZA aL ASSAMI.
With 3 GP Runner-up Awards and a Grand Prix Award for his SMA11 entry REBORN, Riza is by far the highest awarded manga artist to join the SMA MasterClass, prompting much excitement for his continued work with the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®!
Welcome to the team Riza.
Last, but by no means least is Brazilian manga supremo Heitor Amatsu!
With several award winning works to his name, including his action packed SMA10 entry BUS, STOP!, Heitor has consistently received praise from the SMA judging panel. Indeed, Tomizawa sensei expressed delighted surprise at the Brazilian wonder kid’s expert depiction of speed for creator as young as Heitor!
With our four international manga stars admiring their well deserved certificates, it’s time to pose for the cameras before enjoying the amazing culinary spread of locally produced, delicious Japanese delicacies!
Without the unwavering support of the amazing people of Takamori, the Kumamoto International Manga Camp 2019 would not be possible.
Located within the foothills of the imposing Mount Aso on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, Takamori is a riot of lush green valleys, breathtaking mountains and unique natural wonders. Quite possibly the best place to study manga!
(For more information about Takamori, take a look at last year reports)
The SMA MasterClass ceremony of 2019 comes to close with a speech from Takamori’s mayor Mr. Taisei Kusamura, welcoming the international guests from every corner of the globe to one of Japan’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty.
So without further ado, let the 2019 Kumamoto International Manga Camp begin!!
See you next week…
CIAO!
NEXT WEEK: The SMA MasterClass get their first taste of the editor/mangaka relationship with the Monthly Comic Zenon editorial team!
EX5 Interview #3 – Saf Satu PROFILEName: Saf Satu Age: 20Country: MalaysiaFavorite manga: Slam Dunk; One Piece; 20th Century BoyFavorite movie: Forest Gump; Your Name; A Silent Voice; Maquia; Against The Odds DOTA 2 (A Youtube movie, GO WATCH IT!)Favorite quote:“If you’re thinking of giving up, remember why you started”QUESTIONSHow does it feel to win a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?To be honest, I’m actually kinda disappointed! (haha) I hoped I would win a higher price when I heard that I got invited to the Kumamoto International Festival. I felt disappoint for just a few days because of my high expectations, but I am now grateful for receiving this award at my age. It’s a great experience.What were your first impressions of the theme?It was a theme I thought could be expanded on the most. You can make a story in any genre you want. At first, I’m thought of making a sports story, but then I ended up making a romance story. There was another action story entry I was working on at that time, but I cancelled it because I started to feel neck pain. I felt like I could go with anything with this theme.
Saf’s very organised work space!
What was the inspiration behind your winning work?As I said before, at first I was thinking of doing a sports story. Maybe a protagonist struggling with the final round while competing in Kumamoto. But when I started to research Kumamoto, I found a Youtube video that described a certain area of the Kumamoto as a romantic destination. That suddenly inspired me to make a romance story instead. A story about a guy trying to propose.What challenges did you face making your manga? How did you overcome them?The biggest challenge I overcame was being patient enough to finish the manga! I don’t think I overcome the other challenges (haha). I aimed to make 3 pages a day because I only draw on A4 paper, but I couldn’t. I tried to make the story 20 pages or less, but I couldn’t. Finally I developed neck pain, but luckily it was when I finally finished all the pages and I was at the editing stage.
Our award winner’s ever growing manga collection.
What did you learn from making your manga? Did you pick up any new skills or techniques?The biggest skill learned was inking faster using dip pen! I used a 0.1 pen in my previous entry, but this time I decided to use dip pen that I bought long ago and have not used in years. I also improved my line drawing without using a ruler. I don’t like using a ruler as it gives too clean a finish. I aim to create backgrounds like in the manga Yotsubato! by Yoshitoki Oima, where there are a little flawed lines that make you think “she’s not using ruler in this one”.How important is entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® in relation to your professional goals?Its pretty important, I need the money for my education for my goal to become a comic artist. Recently, I also decided my second ambition is to become a landscape painter, so SMA gives me a spotlight to showcase my abilities to malaysian comic companies and art universites/colleges.
Saf’s breathtaking neighbourhood in Malaysia.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?Make the story as simple as possible. Even this entry, I found way too long and complicated. Readers start to get bored when there’s too many things to show in a silent comic. I think once there is more than one conflict/event, It’s already got complicated!But this is just my point-of-view of story making. For me, instead of learning from other published manga, I think it is much more important to learn from real life. That way, the story is much more original, like the Esports film Against The Odds (DOTA 2). The story crafting is so engaging, that I immediately fell in love with the concept. It’s really THAT good! It’s crazy man!! Read Saf’s EX5 Sojo Award winning manga HERE!
Equality equals justice… a very powerful theme in manga! With more and more women fighting for recognition for their amazing contributions to society, from computer programming to war reporting, a manga showing this struggle for justice will be as exciting as it is important!”
