Indonesian Creator Kevin Winata Receives Comic ZENON Manga Taisho Award!
Kevin Winata from Indonesia, who received a Future Talent Award in the 10th Kyushu International Manga Award with his piece “Zeroboros”, has now also been awarded an Honorable Mention and Special Judges’ Award in the 29th Comic ZENON Manga Taisho Award! His prize-winning work was featured in the April 2025 Edition of Monthly Comic ZENON!
Kevin’s 39-page one-shot, …And Justice for Allwas highly rated by guest judge, Makoto Shiozuka-sensei (“The War of Greedy Witches“), as well as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei, Tetsuo Hara-sensei, Tsugihara Ryuji-sensei, and others!
...And Justice for All is a dystopian sci-fi manga about a near future in which each person’s movements are tracked carefully. In this world, the law is simple; no matter what crime you commit, the punishment is the same: death. This justice system was created by Lady Executioner Eleanor Reichard, who believes in one rule: “an eye for an eye”. But what happens when Eleanor, lady justice herself, begins to doubt her principles? Enjoy this chilling one-shot!
“The artwork and composition are very high level. The panel layouts and line art match the world setting perfectly, making it easy to get immersed in the atmosphere. The facial expressions and paneling are striking and skillfully executed.”
To commemorate Kevin’s award, we’re releasing an exclusive interview! Read on to learn more about the process behind …And Justice for All!
How do you feel about winning this award?
I almost cried – it’s unbelievable! I’m really honored. I knew I’d be competing with a lot of talented people, so it was overwhelming, and all I could do was hope for the best. Seeing how things turned out makes me so happy, and I can’t wait to draw more!
How did you think of the idea for this piece?
I always try to create manga that resonates with people personally – whether it’s their emotions, ideas, or experiences. I believe that stories with themes you can connect to personally have the strongest impact. When I was creating this manga, I was reflecting on the world around me, especially my environment at the time. I had this feeling that things were being controlled in a bad way, and, as an individual, I felt powerless – like all I could do was accept it. That made me wonder: What if I could say something about it? That question became the premise for this story. Since we live in an era of rapid technological advancement, I thought it would be interesting to set it in a sci-fi world. That’s how this manga came to be!
What do you think is the best part of this piece?
Definitely the horror scene where Eleanor is haunted by Tom in the shower. Everything becomes so dark, gritty, and terrifying. That moment is the emotional core of her storyline, as well as the turning point – or maybe even the climax – which makes it really powerful for me, even when I reread it. It was terrifying to draw, but also really fun! I also loved designing the L.O.G.I.C tower and the guns. They look so cool and were a blast to work on!
What did you struggle with when creating this piece?
Conveying emotions and psychological struggles visually. The nightmare scene, where Eleanor is confronted by her remorse, Tom, and the ghosts of those she killed, was especially tough. It was really abstract in my head, and it took the longest to translate into drawings. I knew what I wanted to happen, but I also wanted readers tofeelsomething from it. Since it was the climax, I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it just right. It was definitely stressful. However, in the end, after countless cups of coffee and many late nights, I’m happy with how it turned out!
What was it like working with editors?
At first, I was really nervous, and even a little scared. I tend to see every opportunity as a huge deal, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to do my absolute best and not disappoint anyone. That led to a lot of overthinking and cold sweats. But after a few meetings, I realized my editors weren’t just judging me – they genuinely wanted to help me create the best work possible. This wasn’t justmyjourney; we were working together to bring this story to life. That mindset shift made everything so much more enjoyable. Now, I really hope we can continue working together for a long time. My editors are the best I could ever ask for! To my editors, thank you so much for your help! I’m looking forward to creating more amazing manga together!
Was there anything you kept in mind while creating these characters?
For Eleanor, I wanted to create a character that looks strong but is actually broken inside. For Tom, I wanted the exact opposite – someone who is frail and victimized. I love creating strong contrast in my characters. At first, Eleanor is a strong woman with authority, while Tom is just an ordinary citizen with no power. However, when the tables turn (starting with the nightmare scene), Eleanor becomes broken and depressed, while Tom transforms into a terrifying figure who haunts her and pushes her to the limit. That duality was something I kept in mind the entire time because I felt it made the characters more compelling and realistic for readers.
What manga do you like?
Visually, I love manga with heavy rendering, where there’s more black than white, such as Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei. That aesthetic just works so well with my love for black-and-white art. Story-wise, I enjoy simple yet unique narratives that completely immerse me and leave me with a sense of longing, even though they’re fiction, like Omoide Emanon by Kenji Tsuruta. I also love manga with cool character designs and unique personalities, like Bleach by Tite Kubo, and world building that blows my mind, like Berserk by Kentaro Miura and Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi. Honestly, I choose manga based on my mood – because for me, reading manga is all about the emotions it makes me feel. I’ll read anything as long as it’s interesting!
What kind of manga do you want to draw next?
I want to dive deeper into psychological/horror manga while keeping the sci-fi aesthetic. I had so much fun drawing the nightmare scene in this one, so I’d love to explore more of that, both thematically and visually. I also want to create more cool, strong, memorable, and unique characters. So yeah… I have a lot I want to draw!
What is your latest obsession? (It can be something other than manga!)
Lately, I’ve gotten back intoPokémon! It’s been over a decade since I last played (Pokémon Emeraldwas my first and last game), but now I’m playingPokémon Scarlet! (Yes, I picked it because Koraidon is way cooler than Miraidon.) It all started when I got tired ofYu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel(which I got into because I watched the anime as a kid). I decided to try a different card game and foundPokémon TCG Pocket. From there, I fell down the Pokémon rabbit hole. Now I’m back to battling, adventuring, and collecting Pokémon. It’s surprisingly calming and refreshing, especially after long hours of drawing!
Do you have any final comments for the readers?
I hope you enjoy this manga! I put my heart and soul into it, haha! But seriously, thank you so much for reading. I hope this story means something to you, just like it does to me. And please look forward to what I create next!
Do you want to be published in Japan, too? The next SMA announcement is coming soon, so stay tuned!
SMA19 Excellence Award Runner-up Kawjia Snags Top Prize in the 12th Kyushu International Manga Award!
Kawjia, who was an Excellence Award Runner-up in SMA19 with his piece Ballons, has now won the top award in the 12th Kyushu International Manga Award!
Kawjia’s 39-page one-shot, Zombie Knight stunned the judges, snagged the top prize, and was published in its entirety in the February edition of Monthly Comic Zenon!
In Zombie Knight, a mysterious ritual reawakens a young, fallen knight. When his eyes open again, he’s completely alone, but has supernatural strength and speed. Despite his best efforts, rumors of a monster spread amongst the locals, and he becomes entangled in human conflict. However, he finds an unlikely ally in a blind girl spurned by the other villagers. To find out what happens next, read Zombie Knight, now available in English on the SMA website!
To commemorate Kawjia’s award, a Q&A article was printed in the magazine along with his award-winning work.
Check out the full interview below to read more about Kawjia’s process and the origin of his prize-winning manga!
How do you feel about winning this award?
I’m very honored to have received this award! It was exciting to know my manga would be printed in a magazine. I want as many people as possible to read this story!
How did you think of the idea for this piece?
I really like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The idea of a person being treated as a monster from the time they were born was interesting to me, and served as a starting point for the story. I also enjoy drawing knights and armor, so I wanted to incorporate them into the setting. Then I thought, ‘maybe a knight that got turned into a monster would actually enjoy it for a while, because you don’t have any duties, you’re really strong, and you can eat whatever you want!’ That’s how it started, and the ending was a natural progression from there.
What do you think is the best part of this piece?
I liked the part where Zombie Boy leaves Anika, then falls to the ground and faints. I think you can only have a good climax if you have enough conflict leading up to it. It was actually my editor’s idea to have more conflict between the characters, and it really helped the story!
What did you struggle with when creating this piece?
Keeping the story within 39 pages was tough. I probably had to rewrite the ending 5 or 6 times before it flowed correctly. The drawing was also quite difficult. Coming up with the right solution for each panel was terribly fun, but also quite challenging… Now that I have more time after finishing this manga, I want to practice drawing more!
Was there anything you kept in mind while creating these characters?
I had to remind myself to make sure every character changed by the end of the story, except for the antagonist. If they’ve changed, it means they’ve learned something! For Zombie Boy in particular, he had to find his identity as a knight, which he’d lost when he became a zombie.
What manga do you like?
I’ve been re-reading Honey and Clover by Umino Chica. It might be because the story is about art students, and I’m an art student myself, but I feel like I can see me and my friends in all of the characters in that story. Umino Chica writes their experiences and struggles in a way that’s so poetic yet relatable, and every chapter makes me feel more connected to the world.
What kind of manga do you want to draw next?
I want to draw a manga that takes place in a desolate, harsh world, and see what kind of characters come out of a place like that!
What is your latest obsession? (It can be something other than manga!)
I started listening to Eminem recently, and his music makes me want to punch a hole in the wall. Somehow I can’t stop listening to it, though.
Do you have any final comments for the readers?
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this manga. Please enjoy!
Do you want to be published in Japan, too? The next SMA announcement is coming soon, so stay tuned!
Manga Taisho Award Winning One-shot by Finnish MasterClass Member Don Now Available in English!
MasterClass member Don, from Finland, was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 28th Comic ZENON Manga Taishoand featured in the October 2024 issue of Monthly Comic ZENON!
“The charming drawings and the powerful panel layout were wonderful! I read the whole story all the way to the end without stopping. I only found difficulty in understanding some parts of the story setting, such as the ‘curse’.”
The following is a comment from another special judge, Mr. Takemiya, from Horindo Book Store:
“The story is so high-quality that it could be published as a complete work as is. It drew me in from the very first page.”
The Rabbit Who Ate the Moon tells the story of Serena, who is haunted by a love from her youth. Caught up in her feelings, Serena made a fateful promise to her demon lover, and as a result, was cursed to feel a terrible physical discomfort whenever she is on the ground. The demon disappears from her life, leaving Serena to endure the curse, damned by the memories of his love. Seeking momentary relief, Serena visits a bar in a skyscraper 100 meters above sea level, where she encounters another demon, Algol. To her surprise, she discovers that she and Algol have a lot in common… Don’t miss Don’s love story from hell!
Don’s work isn’t the only SMA MasterClass manga that has won a Comic ZENON or COAMIX award! With the support of the SMA Editorial Department, MasterClass members show their potential to Japanese readers each year, so stay tuned for more exclusive one-shots!
PROFILE Pen Name / Name:Fitzfactor Your social media profiles: Instagram: @fitzfactor_comics Country: United States of America Age: 32 Favorite manga: 20th Century Boys Favorite movie: Back to the Future
“Be consistent. Even more than drawing and writing, learning how to be disciplined will be your greatest asset!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? It was very exciting and a total surprise! I felt very honored and had a moment where I thought, “Hey, maybe I’m not so bad at this?” That thought was immediately followed with, “But you could be better!! Study more!!” So I felt excited by what I had achieved, but also excited to do more. What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I wanted to write a story that had both a surprise for the characters, as well as a surprise for the reader. I tried to have both of the surprises be opposites in a sense, by having the character surprised by new life and the reader surprised by death. I also really wanted to draw nature, so having a journey through forests was a big part of the writing process.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? I almost forgot about the deadline! I had the story written out a month or two in advance, but had forgotten about creating the manga until a week before the deadline. This forced me to speed up my workflow, which I think was a very good learning opportunity. I did this by learning to undo and erase less, and to be more confident with whatever lines I made. It was a very challenging, but rewarding, process.
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga? I’ve been drawing ever since I was a kid. I have been making manga for around 10 years. I say 10 years… but I’ve been very inconsistent with it! I finished one manga in 2015, and then another one in 2023. I’m now making the second volume of that series. I think I focused a lot on improving my drawing ability, but something I wish I knew starting out is that writing is just as important! Maybe even more so! There are so many manga that I love that I don’t think have the best art, but they still capture my heart. My advice would be to read manga less like an audience member and more like a creator, always thinking about what you can learn from it to use in your own manga.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw digitally in Clip Studio Paint. I love using the rulers in the program, as well as using 3D models for my block out sketches. Sometimes I model things in Blender and bring them into the comic.
What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live? My first manga was Naruto. I watched the anime in English until there were no more episodes. Then I found out that there were more episodes in Japanese, so I watched it with subtitles. When I caught up with those, I learned that the manga had more of the story, so I switched to reading the manga. It was really good! Thank you, Naruto. Which manga changed your life? Naruto!!
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Daichi Sawamura from Haikyu!! because our personalities seem to match. He’s not the star of the show, but he’s reliable for those around him. I guess that’s how I feel in real life.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I’m currently making a manga called “Ollie Max and the Order of the Fang!” It’s a sci-fi mystery comic. I would like to make a fantasy next. Making manga can take a lot of time, so balancing it with my daily schedule can be tricky.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I love playing board games and lifting weights. I’ve been doing less of both, though, because I have three sons, so most of my free time is spent with them. I love it.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m trying to make manga my primary job!
Where do you see your manga career in five years time? I’d love to work under a publisher at some point. As of right now, I’m completely independent.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Be consistent. Even more than drawing and writing, learning how to be disciplined will be your greatest asset!
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Writing without words is very tricky. Focus on the way the characters act and make the paneling as simple to follow as possible.
Thank you, fitzfactor! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name / Name:Crabocalypse Your social media profiles: Instagram: @crabocalypsez Country: Indonesia Age: 22 Favorite manga: There’s a lot of them! But I currently like Gachiakuta Favorite movie: Legend of Xiao Hei Favorite quote: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
“Just draw!! If you don’t start, you won’t be able to draw anything.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Obviously, I’m very happy! It gives me more motivation to improve my manga skills. What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? Gacha machines and matryoshka.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? Most of the time when creating manga, I struggle a lot with brainstorming. But I like to do it; it feels like I’m completing a puzzle. I overcome any hardships by looking at more references and asking for my friends’ opinions.
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga? I started to draw manga in elementary school, and started to learn about it more deeply when I was in high school. My advice for beginners is: watch more movies and read more comics, stories, and novels. There are never enough references! I wish I had known this earlier, too.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw digitally. CSP EX is the perfect software for drawing comics.
What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live? Eyeshield 21 and Naruto. Yes, there’s a bookstore with an entire manga section! Which manga changed your life? Fullmetal Alchemist.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I identify most with Hashibira Inosuke (Demon Slayer) & Yodaka (Shinobi Undercover). I’m impatient and don’t like to overthink things. I also struggle with handling people, but somehow I manage to finish my tasks.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? Mostly, I only do one-shots, but I want to challenge myself to draw a manga series. In my country, finding a job as a manga creator or illustrator is very difficult.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I play games with my friends when I’m not drawing! I relax by watching my favorite streamers.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m a freelance illustrator.
Where do you see your manga career in five years time? I’m not sure! But I’m praying for a good career, and I’ll do my best to get to a good place.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Just draw!! If you don’t start, you won’t be able to draw anything. Also, learn from a wide variety of media and do your best, but don’t forget to rest.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Since there’s no dialogue, I suggest drawing all poses very clearly, so the reader won’t get confused!
Thank you, Crabocalypse! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name / Name:C.M. Kevin Your social media profiles: X: @CMKevinManga Country: United Kingdom Age: 31 Favorite manga: Slam Dunk Favorite movie: Probably… The Grand Budapest Hotel? Favorite quote: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” – Viktor Frankl
“Find someone to be your editor, and don’t jump into inking before you have them read your storyboard.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? *Pats myself on the back* I am very proud of myself. Although, after reading the other authors’ works, I felt extremely lucky to be chosen. What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I was reading Macaroni Switch by KAWADA Daichi and the theme was so… casual? I thought I’d just make something silly like that. I entered with no expectation of winning, and there’s no deep thought or meaning in my work.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? My working file was deleted accidentally near the deadline. Fortunately, I was sharing my progress with friends, and I had some screenshots. I put them together and was able to reconstruct about 70% of it. Then, I realized my story was confusing to a lot of people – two of my friends jumped in and basically became my editors. We completely replanned a few pages, so at least the story would be understandable. Basically, it was meant to be ‘just for fun’, but it turned into many hours of grinding. The story was about a girl going through an emotional roller coaster, but the theme was not far off from my real life.
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga? I started making manga in early 2023. I entered a U.K. competition, Manga Jiman, because I was going through a breakup and needed a distraction *sob*. In many ways, I’m still a beginner so the word ‘advice’ may be too strong… I’ll quote a Yogi: “Do not do what you like – do what the world needs.” This advice is for me as well. Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I use an iPad and Procreate (I do not recommend using these tools, I just happen to have them). What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live? It may sound weird, but my earliest memory was one of Tezuka Osamu’s works. I forget which one I picked up first. For some reason, the local library had a very rich collection of Tezuka’s work – I probably read 90% of all his works. It’s not a big library, so that was quite strange.
Which manga changed your life? ‘Change my life’ is a big statement… Maybe Honey and Clover by Chica Umino? I re-read that manga many times.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Shinpachi from Gintama. That guy is so easy to cosplay.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I want to create a detective story. I used to read books by authors like Keigo Higashino and Kōtarō Isaka, but as it turns out, I’m not as clever as them, so… The next one is likely to be a gag manga. I like violent humor, like Daily Lives of High School Boys by Yasunobu Yamauchi. As for the challenges… I think no matter the country you are in, there are always difficulties. It’s not like Japanese people have it easier, either.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? I like walking. London in summer is a beautiful place. I like walking in a park or through the forest.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I am a motion designer, and I work for a marketing firm.
Where do you see your manga career in five years time? If AI were to take my job, all my energy would be devoted to making manga. I can see my drawing skills are not there yet. Hopefully, in 5 years, I will draw faster and be more ‘precise’. My short-term goal is to enter as many competitions as possible, to see if I have it in me. My long-term goal is to create a movie-length story.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? ‘Hey Kevin, your anatomy drawings are awful. Put in some work to improve them.’
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Don’t be silly! Find someone to be your editor, and don’t jump into inking before you have them read your storyboard.
Thank you, C.M. Kevin! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
HELLO SMA21 AWARD WINNERS, Agata Maliszewska & Dennis Tran PROFILE Pen Name / Name:Agata Maliszewska & Dennis Tran Your social media profiles: Agata: @posupoko Dennis: @snackteam (Instagram) Country: Agata: Poland, Dennis: USA Age: Agata: 27, Dennis: 32 Favorite manga: Agata: Currently, Dungeon Meshi! Dennis: A Silent Voice Favorite movie: Agata: I’m not sure if I have one, but The Wild Robot left a huge impression on me! Dennis: Back to the Future Favorite quote: Agata: “If everyone is not special, maybe you can be what you want to be.” Dennis: “Why should you go to jail for a crime someone else noticed?”
“Learning to be patient with yourself and giving yourself time is as important as your drawing skills. Please be gentle with yourself.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Agata: I’ve been following SMA for years now, so it feels a bit unreal to see our work win. I’m not quite sure if I’ve fully processed it yet!
Dennis: It feels amazing. My partner and I were just happy to be able to share our story. To know that our piece was viewed by such esteemed judges is a reward of its own, but to have it win an award as well? It was certainly an unexpected and incredible outcome, and we want to thank the judges wholeheartedly for this amazing honor.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? Agata: It’s very personal to Dennis and his wife!
Dennis: Our story was loosely based on my wife’s grandmother, who passed away in 2022. She was an incredibly kind, incredibly strong woman who survived through a particularly turbulent era in history, but still managed to keep so much love in her heart up until the moment she left us. Losing grandma was difficult for all of us, especially for my wife, so in order to help her through her grief, I wanted to honor her memory and show her one last glimpse of her grandma in a medium that is near and dear to our hearts. What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? Dennis: Coming up with the concept for the story was the hardest part for us. We wanted to tell a story that we felt would have an emotional impact on readers, but our ideas (our earlier ones, that is) felt too hollow or too distant compared to our ideals. I started asking myself, “What’s making me feel a strong emotion right now? What is impacting me?” It was then that we managed to land on our concept. All it took was a simple look inward!
Agata: We had some troubles with page six, too. However, after showing it to a couple of friends, we managed to find a solution. Feedback from other people is priceless!
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga? Agata: I remember picking up drawing manga after a magazine called How to Draw Manga was released in Poland years ago (I was still in primary school!). Initially, my friend bought it, but she got bored with the magazine and the tools attached, so she gave them to me instead. That’s how it all started. Then, I ended up pursuing drawing more seriously, made some stories with my best friend, and even enrolled in university to study Japanese, as I thought it would be helpful. What I wish I knew was that life won’t always go the way you want it to. You can still achieve your goals, it will just take more time, and importantly, dedication. I feel like I hyper-focused on art and orchestrated my whole life to eventually do that professionally, but I noticed that I didn’t learn as fast as other people. I struggled with finishing projects, and I prioritized others’ opinions about my art over my own feelings. Sometimes, it’s easy to feel like you’re losing your dream because of the struggles you face, but hard times will eventually pass. Learning to be patient with yourself and giving yourself time is as important as your drawing skills. Please be gentle with yourself.
Dennis: As the writer of our manga, it’s a bit difficult to answer this question, since I’m not exactly the one putting pen to paper. I remember drawing a lot of comic books as a child, but I could hardly call those manga, as they were not only styled after American comics, but they were also very, very bad. Story structure, however, was something that I knew very well and have been studying for a very long time. So, I suppose if I were to give advice, I would say study stories and learn what makes them work. Break each of your favorite stories down to the smallest beats and put them under a microscope. Figure out what the characters are doing, why they are doing it, where they’re going, what keeps them going, what’s in their way, and how they are going to change.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? Dennis: As a writer-artist duo, this is a question for my wildly talented partner.
Agata: Digitally! I love ctrl+z!!!
What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live? Agata: I believe the very first manga I bought in a store was called Drug-on. Right now, it’s quite easy to buy tons of manga. We now have access to a variety of titles here in Poland.
Dennis: The first manga that I ever owned was a volume of Pokemon. Back then, manga was a relatively unknown medium in America, so accessibility was limited.
Which manga changed your life? Agata: My answer to this is probably Dungeon Meshi. I’ve been very burnt out these past few years and have been unsure what to do with my art, but Dungeon Meshi reignited my love for anime and manga. I love this series so much and I love Ryoko Kui’s art style.
Dennis: My first read-through of A Silent Voice was absolutely life-changing. I remember being awestruck by both the art and how viscerally the story was told.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Agata: Bocchi from Bocchi the Rock! I’m very awkward and dedicated to one thing that I’m sort of good at haha. Dennis: I identify a lot with Usopp from One Piece. Considering that he is the most “ordinary” member of the Strawhats, I relate to his lack of confidence, and am inspired by his ability to stand with his god-like comrades anyway, despite his cowardice.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? Agata: I struggle with being interested in too many styles and genres. I also feel like, artistically, I’m still trying to find my voice, so I’m not sure… My main goal right now is improving my craft and sending more entries to SMA! When it comes to challenges… I feel like Polish people still have a tendency to view manga, and anything drawn or animated even, as strictly a children’s medium. Sometimes, it feels as if manga artists here are a little infantilized and not taken seriously because of that. We have many wonderful manga artists here, so that’s a shame.
Dennis: I’m honestly not sure what I want to write next. I’m very drawn to stories about romance, so I want to try my hand at that for my next work. As for the challenges of being a manga creator in America, I suppose the lack of infrastructure and editorial support is probably at the top of my list. Given that manga is not as big of an industry over here (as opposed to graphic novels and comic books), it’s difficult to get a foothold without searching for opportunities abroad.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? Agata: I find it very hard to relax, but when I do, I usually doomscroll on Tiktok. I desperately need a better hobby.
Dennis: I can nap just about anywhere, so when I’m not making manga or working, I’m most likely sleeping.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? Agata: I’m currently working as an animator and an editor for a big YouTube channel!
Dennis: I work in video post-production as a video editor.
Where do you see your manga career in five years time? Agata: I really hope I’ll be more confident in my skills! It would be cool to work on longer stories as well.
Dennis: I’m hoping that in five years time, I will have written a story that is serialized, either in print or web.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Agata: “Don’t draw pretty boys only!! Please!!!”
Dennis: “Read more manga and keep drawing, stupid!”
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Agata: If you struggle on your own, find company, or at least discuss your ideas with friends! Brainstorming can help a lot!
Dennis: My advice would be to do your homework! Don’t just blindly rush into your story without learning from those who came before you. Read every winner and runner up and break down their stories into acts, those acts into beats, and figure out why their stories work the way they do. This will teach you a great deal about narrative structure and how to effectively tell a silent story!
Thank you, Agata and Dennis! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
Plushelisa Wins Future Talent Award for Her New Manga, “Face-off”!
French MasterClass member Plushelisa has done it again! Plushelisa has now won three manga awards in one year!
In February of 2024, Plushelisa won the Grand Prix in the 20th round of the Silent Manga Audition, for which the theme was “Memorable Smile”. Her piece You Have My Heart was highly evaluated by Hojo-sensei, of City Hunter fame. Hojo-sensei complimented Plushelisa’s silent manga, commenting that it was, “beautifully depicted with incredibly dramatic art direction.” After winning the Grand Prix in SMA 20, Plusehlisa also won the top prize in the 11th Kyushu International Manga Award with her piece, My Friend TOMA, the story of a shut-in who creates a computer program to alleviate her loneliness.
Now, with her new piece, Face-off, Plushelisa has also won a Future Talent Award in the 15th Itten Toppa Award!
The Itten Toppa Award is hosted twice a year, and works anywhere from 5 to 17 pages long are welcome. Itten Toppa literally translates to “one point breakthrough”, and is a prize for creators to show off one, specific strength! You can check out the Itten Toppa contest details (in Japanese only) here. This year, Sato Kentarou, the author of Magical Girl Apocalypse participated as the guest judge! Sato-sensei had this to say about Face-off:
“The author did an incredible job of creating the atmosphere of this piece, and the character designs were great! Try incorporating an additional element within your piece in order to further elevate the surprise.”
The main character of Face-off, Bonnie, sustains third-degree burns all over her body as the victim of a bombing. During her recovery, Bonnie finds a savior – Dr. Mark. With his encouragement, she finds the will to live again. However, is their relationship only that of doctor and patient? Or is there something more to it? Click on the link below and read Face-off to find out!
Want to hear more from Plushelisa? This talented creator is now on Instagram, X, and YouTube! Check out her social media for more stunning artwork and manga tips!
PROFILE Pen Name / Name:Carlos Alvarez Your social media profiles: Instagram: @chals.art Country: Spain Age: 23 Favorite manga: Rin by Harold Sakuishi Favorite movie: The trilogy of The Lord of the Rings Favorite quote:“Don’t shrink yourself to fit in places you don’t belong.”
“If you really love and enjoy making manga, research, practice, read, draw and above all, don’t give up! Your efforts will pay off!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Seeing my work as one of the winners and being recognized by manga professionals for the first time is a feeling I will never forget. It is the first step on the long road ahead of me, but this step has given me a lot of motivation to move forward and face future projects with strength and enthusiasm. What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? With this entry, I wanted to go completely out of my comfort zone by creating characters and a setting with which I had no previous experience. So, when it came to thinking about what story I should do, I simply went against my instincts and drew a manga totally new to me.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? This year, I have gone through some personal problems, which I have had to work through and deal with. Every author puts a part of themselves into their works, and for me, making this manga has been a way to face the challenges that appeared this year.
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga? I started drawing when I was very young. I liked to draw my favorite characters and invent my own lore for them. Even so, I didn’t start making manga seriously until 2022. Once I finished my studies, I decided that I wanted to become a mangaka. Since then, I have been practicing and improving little by little while working part-time jobs.
If I had to give someone advice, I would tell them to start drawing their stories as soon as possible. It’s difficult when you’re just starting out, but it’s necessary to work through that to be able to create what you really love, so don’t delay starting – the sooner the better.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I usually enjoy drawing more traditionally, but it is something that I normally do when I draw illustrations for fun, when I design characters, or when I’m still in the storyboarding phase.
It’s much more comfortable to create manga using programs like Clip Studio Paint, with all the tools they offer, and it saves a lot of time. So, when I start drawing the pages, I always work digitally.
What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live? It was the 15th volume of Naruto. I was 6 or 7 years old at the time, and the cover and the drawings hooked me at first glance. Since then, I haven’t stopped reading manga.
Here in Spain, we are so lucky that there are a lot of comic/manga stores with a very wide catalog of titles, so manga has become increasingly popular in the past few years.
Which manga changed your life? Rookies by Masanori Morita. The message, the art, the characters… Everything in this manga made me fall in love with it. It’s one of those stories that you wish you could read again for the first time. I totally recommend it for everyone.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I have never really identified with a manga character, but if I had to choose one, it would be Fushimi Kinosuke from the manga Rin because he also loves making manga and wants to become a professional.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? The next manga I would like to work on would be an adventure one shot with fantasy elements, in which I could let my imagination run wild, while also practicing and improving my weaknesses.
Here in Spain, the manga industry has made some progress over the last few years. Even so, it’s practically impossible to live and work exclusively as a mangaka. The manga publishers here do not invest too much in local authors and their works, so if the industry does not change or evolve, most authors have to aim to publish in other countries to be able to make a living from their works.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? When I’m not drawing manga, I usually spend my time reading and watching movies/ TV series. I tend to hang out with my friends and play video games with them (but I don’t like to play single player games). I also started going to screenwriting classes a couple of times a week.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? Until this year, I was working at a warehouse and in a supermarket. Thanks to those jobs, I saved up some money, and now that there have been some changes in my life, I have been able to dedicate myself to drawing manga and entering some contests this year, as well as practicing and developing my skills.
Where do you see your manga career in five years time? This is a really difficult question to answer… Realistically, I would like to publish some of my stories here in my country and be on my way to entering the manga industry in Japan. Although it is really complicated, demanding, and competitive, my dream is to be able to get a serialized project. I will keep working until I get there.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Without a doubt, if I had to give myself some advice years ago, it would be to draw all the ideas I had when I was little until they were completely finished, and not to worry so much about “not being good enough to create them”. Also, to stop being such a perfectionist. In the end, being able to create a story from start to finish is a challenge in and of itself, and that’s where you gain real experience.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? To whoever is reading this and wants to submit their manga to the SILENT MANGA AUDITION, the only thing I can tell you is that – if you really love and enjoy making manga – research, practice, read, draw and above all, don’t give up! Your efforts will pay off!
Thank you, Carlos Alvarez! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name / Name:Yoikaha Your social media profiles: Instagram: @yoikaha Country: Indonesia Age: 22 Favorite manga: Look Back Favorite movie: The Grand Budapest Hotel Favorite quote: “I’m not like them, but I can pretend. The sun is gone, but I have a light. The day is done, but I’m having fun. I think I’m dumb, or maybe just happy.” ― Nirvana
“Take your pen and make some manga! Don’t think too much about the result, just do it!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Receiving this award is a bittersweet experience. While I’m incredibly grateful, it also comes with a sense of responsibility to continue creating work that is meaningful and inspiring. But still, winning this award makes me very, very happy! What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I’m the kind of person who never talks about my problems or asks for help from others. Maybe that’s where the idea for this manga came from. I was reading Heaven by Mieko Kawakami when I thought it would be appropriate to combine my own personal problems with the theme of bullying.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? For me, the biggest challenge of making manga is finishing it. Making manga takes hours of drawing every day just to finish a story that will probably be read in a few seconds. Knowing that makes me wonder why I’m willing to spend so much of my time making manga. I tried to overcome this issue by not thinking about anything while drawing, and instead just focusing on following the story I had created and drawing it. I also thought that maybe those few seconds could be meaningful, and would always be remembered by readers, just like when I read other people’s manga.
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga? I created my first manga when I had just graduated from high school. At the time, there was an Indonesian publisher that opened submissions for manga to be published in its monthly magazine. I submitted two very bad works (I only realized how bad they are now), and of course, they were not accepted. Even though they weren’t accepted, the publisher’s kind comments kept me from giving up on making manga. Knowing that, I wish I had started making manga sooner!
My advice for someone who wants to start making manga is to start small first, for example, make a 4-panel or even 2-panel manga, focus on completing a story first, and then slowly increase the quantity of panels.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw storyboards by hand, and the rest of it – the sketches, line art, effects, etc. – I do digitally using Pen Display in Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint.
What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live? The first manga I read was Naruto, when I was in middle school. I found it in the school library, and I was very happy to find something fun to read among the boring stacks at the time, but unfortunately the library did not carry the complete series. Bookstores were far away from where I lived, so I mostly read manga online.
Which manga changed your life? Solanin by Inio Asano changed the way I look at life. I read it right when I was dealing with uncertainty in my twenties. It made me realize that what I’ve been dreaming of might not come true in the future, and that’s the reality of life. Even so, at least I want to keep trying to pursue my dreams without worrying too much about the outcome.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I think Kiriyama Rei from March Comes in Like a Lion by Chica Umino. Maybe it’s because I’ve always felt a deep sense of loneliness, like Rei, who often feels alienated from his surroundings. Although he’s quiet, he actually wants to make friends with others, but is at a loss for conversation starters, and I can relate to that. But unfortunately, I’m not a genius like him, haha.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I’m not sure about that yet. However, I’m interested in creating a story that has a bit of a supernatural element because I like reading Haruki Murakami’s works. They give me the sensation of dreaming with my eyes open.
In my country, there is no well-established market for manga. Also, there is not a lot of demand for original manga and fewer opportunities for creators to get their work published. It used to be possible to submit work to publishers, but now it’s not possible because comic publishers are having financial difficulties and are on the verge of bankruptcy.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? Besides making manga, I do commissions quite often. But sometimes drawing all the time makes me feel bored, so I indulge in entertainment to kill that boredom. In my spare time, I like to play video games. Lately, I’ve been helping my friend who just started playing Elden Ring. Seeing him struggle and die so many times makes me happy, hahaha 😀. Other than that, I read manga and novels, watch anime and movies, or just randomly strum on my guitar.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’ve been doing manga commissions for other people, which helps me to pay for college and my living expenses. So yeah, for now making manga is my main job, although sometimes the manga I draw is not for myself.
Where do you see your manga career in five years time? I’m not quite sure, but I think I’ll continue to make more one-shots. I still have a lot of stories that I haven’t made into manga yet. In the next five years, I hope to get serialized and go to Japan. That’s just my wishful thinking.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? A letter to my younger self: “Dear younger me, what are you doing!? Stop wasting time! Take your pen and make some manga! Don’t think too much about the result, just do it!”
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Silent manga is a great medium for channeling emotions that cannot be expressed in words, so make the most of it. Make sure your story can be easily understood without words by using strong visuals, clear paneling, and effective body language to convey emotions and actions. And most importantly, make sure you have fun while making it. Ganbatte!
Thank you, Yoikaha! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
