ページ 8 – SILENT MANGA AUDITION®

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?

Read “Ephemera” here!

“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.

Read “The Witch of Petrovsky” here!

“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.

TO VOTE IS SIMPLE!

1 – Read Laica Chrose’s entry IN JAPANESE* HERE

2 – Read monotone_inks’ entry IN JAPANESE* HERE

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!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: Thuntopia Age: 28 Country: Thailand Favorite manga: ONE PIECE Favorite movie: Star Wars Entry 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.

READ Thuntopia’s SMA18 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

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! PROFILE Name/Pen Name: Jeffrey R Lopez Age: 24 Country: Nicaragua Favorite manga: Haikyuu!! Favorite movie: High School Musical Entry 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.

READ Jeffrey R Lopez’s SMA18 ENTRY HERE!

About your 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!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: nemuisemi (pen name), Yuliia (real name) Age: 19 Country: Ukraine Favorite manga: Mushishi, Ping Pong Favorite movie: When Marnie Was There, Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Favorite quote: “Dedication is talent all on its own.” – Alphonse Elric Entry 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♥

READ nemuisemi’s SMA18 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

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!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: Ochechula Age: 30 Country: Czech Republic Favorite manga: ONE PIECE, Ping Pong, Buddha, 20th Century Boys Favorite movie: Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis Entry 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!

READ Ochechula’s SMA18 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

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!

HELLO SMA18 AWARD WINNERS, Brandon Chen & ComiPa!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: Brandon Chen (author) Age: 25 Country: United States of America Favorite manga: BLEACH Favorite movie: Spirited Away Favorite Quote: “If I follow my dream and it shatters – I can accept having to regret that. But I don’t want to regret not pursuing it in the first place.” – Bakuman. Name/Pen Name: ComiPa (artist) Age: 41 Country: The Philippines Favorite manga: Air Gear, Tenjou Tenge, Macross 7 Trash, Chrono Crusade Favorite movie: Macross – Do You Remember Love, Evangelion, Gundam Char’s Counter Attack, Redline, Top Gun Favorite Quote: “Yamete Kudasai” “Iyaaa-da” “Ara-ara” “Mo-e” “What is a death game?” “~~~yaro” Entry title: “My Future” Round: SMA18 “Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS” Award: Grand Prix

“It is better to start with a simple and small concept and build out.” -Brandon Chen “Keep the reader engaged, and your story interesting and believable.” -ComiPa

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Brandon Chen: It feels incredible to have our work and talents recognized by professionals in Japan. It is just solidifying that we are on the right path in building our skillset within the manga medium. I’ve found many times that publishers, particularly in America, have historically not taken international mangaka very seriously. But with recognition from Japan’s creators and professionals, I feel more confident than ever in our ability to tell stories! ComiPa: I feel very honored that professionals and legends get to review our work as well as relieved that my questions were finally answered.

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? Brandon Chen: My life! I used to work in finance and followed a career that ultimately was unfulfilling, but I pursued it because many people in my life always told me that it was the best route. However, my passion has always been in story-telling. Since then, I have managed to quit my finance job and make a career out of developing stories and intellectual property, heavily inspired by the manga and anime stories I’ve always loved. Like the young dreamer in our silent manga, I decided to take control of my destiny. ComiPa: I would say “Brandon” 😀 because of his perseverance asking me to do an entry with him to the point that I finally caved in to one of his scripts.

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? Brandon Chen: I think that the struggle was really conveying the “twist” in a way that was not too predictable, but also made sense for the reader. My biggest concern was that perhaps the twist would be too “cliché” or obvious. However, after getting feedback from some friends and readers and some iterations of the manga storyboard, I feel that we managed to get it right. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend to read over your manga storyboards! ComiPa: The most challenging was trying to fit as many panels into a single page without straying away too much from Brandon’s vision. It was really a good thing that he left me 7 pages to spare and play around with.

READ Brandon Chen and ComiPa’s SMA18 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? Brandon Chen: I started writing manga when I was 19. Before that, I came from a background of novel writing. My advice is always that it is better to start with a simple and small concept and build out. It is easier to expand an idea than it is to condense one. Also, begin by developing a logline for your story before getting too deep into development. If your story concept is strong from the simple logline, then you’re onto something and it will be easier to build around that. ComiPa: I started working on making manga about 23 years ago with the use of Grapic-Sha books out of curiosity.

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? Brandon Chen: I am just the writer. If I am doing a storyboard, I will use an ipad, apple pencil, and procreate or clip studio paint. ComiPa: I’ve been drawing Digitally since 2006 using MangaStudio EX, now known as Clip Studio EX, and have been using a Cintiq nowadays. but I started drawing manga using Felt tip pens and a G-Pen.

What was the first manga you picked up? Brandon Chen: Dragon Ball! I was in kindergarten when my mother brought me volume 1 from the library. It was quite inappropriate for my age, I must say. ComiPa: I still remember picking my first copies of Ranma 1/2, 3×3 Eyes, and Ah! My Goddess at my local comic shop. I didn’t even know it was called “manga” back then.

Which manga changed your life? Brandon Chen: Bakuman and Naruto. Bakuman was what inspired me with the guts to chase after what I wanted. Naruto was what inspired me, from a young age, to never give up and to persevere. Writing Naruto fanfictions was also how I got better at writing when I was a kid. My first novel, published when I was 17, was heavily inspired by Naruto as well. ComiPa: I guess I would say Air Gear and Tenjou Tenge made a huge influence on how I draw. I really like how the author does his foreshortening, action shots and ummm… female characters. 😊

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Brandon Chen: Takagi from Bakuman. I am a writer with enormous passion and imagination! I love collaboration and working with artists. Like him, my ultimate dream is to get an anime adaptation of one of my intellectual properties one day! ComiPa: Hmmm… This is quite a hard one… Probably… Narusegawa Naru and Asuka Langley Sohryu… probably because my closests friends always tell me I’m Tsun-Tsun a lot of times and become Dere-Dere when I’m really happy with something. I know female characters right (LOL)… it’s mainly because I can’t recall knowing any real Tsundere male character.

What kind of manga do you want to make next? Brandon Chen: Contrary to my silent manga audition submissions, I am actually primarily an action/shonen author. I would like to showcase my abilities in that genre/demographic and see how the Japanese audience reacts! ComiPa: To be honest… I really don’t know as I only work with things that interest me and just follow the flow.

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? Brandon Chen: I make videos! A big part of my career is sharing my projects online and talking about the manga/anime/entertainment industries and my opinions on social media platforms. It taps into a different part of my creative mind and I enjoy connecting with my audiences through videos. ComiPa: I do more manga when I’m not making manga and relax by doing more manga… wait does this even count? 😂just kidding. There’s a lot of things I do when not making manga. It’s usually browsing the web for art and references, eating lots of food while watching movies, chatting with friends, casual gaming with friends… If I decide to take a long break, that is. And most importantly……… SLEEP~

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? Brandon Chen: I write serialized shonen-style stories for webtoon publishers. I consider myself a story-merchant, because I will develop a story and staff an art-production team. Because of my relationships with many webtoon publishers, I operate as my own agent and pitch to the publisher with the story pitch and art teams. If the project gets picked up, I will then write and produce the serialization! I also have written for manga, novels, and video games. ComiPa: Illustration and streaming.

Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Brandon Chen: I hope to have a manga serialization! My goal was to get an anime adaptation of one of my intellectual properties by the time I turn 30. I am 25 now, so we’ll see how that goes. ComiPa: I really can’t say at the moment where I would be in 5 years. But this I know for now…SMAC ignited my passion to do manga once again.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Brandon Chen: Don’t get too attached to one particular idea. You will have many ideas in life, each better than the last. Try new ideas, try and fail and grow. The best way to become better is by failing and learning. ComiPa: I would not really say this would be advice but rather search… “When you get access to the Internet… look for ‘Brandon’ and ‘Beatrush’ and be really good friends with them as both can bring out the best in you.”

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Brandon Chen: I believe the hardest part of the silent manga is the twist! The twist is ultimately what brings emotion in the reader. So, making sure that you get that twist in the KI-SHO-TEN-KETSU manga structure is really important, otherwise your story might feel too linear. Start with a small concept, develop your twist, and try many times and learn from each one! “My Future” was my fifth submission to SMA! ComiPa: “Practice; sleep when you’re dead… 😱” …heh, jokes aside… Best advice would be… “KI-SHO-TEN-KETSU” Keep the reader engaged, and your story interesting and believable. Your choice of page layout, panel layout, camera angles and character emotions matter. Build up your story and save the cool stuff where it is significant.

Thank you, Brandon Chen & ComiPa! 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!

MasterClass Debut in JAPAN with Manga Series "STREETxBEAST"!!!

Brazilian and Indonesian MasterClass series debut in Japan! Today marks a BIG day for the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® international community! MasterClass members Ichirou, Roberto F., and Vanilla have debuted in Japan with the webtoon style manga series STREETxBEAST: a high-school action story about the passion for 3×3 (three-ex-three) basketball!

A high school 3×3 basketball action story The story follows high school student Kanna, a rising E-sports star, and Eight, who used to be at the top of the 3×3 basketball world. One day, Kanna receives mysterious glasses that help her synchronize with other people and control them like virtual players. It’s then that Kanna realizes this just might be the key to help her troubled, estranged childhood friend Eight who lives next door. Genre-wise, STREETxBEAST is a mix of sports and action with sci-fi elements. The sport the characters play, 3×3 basketball, is a street-type basketball which only just debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Available digitally all over Japan Released on all major Japanese digital manga platforms such as Line Manga and Piccoma on October 20th, STREETxBEAST marks the long-awaited SMA MasterClass series debut in Japan. The series is produced by YKBK Thailand Co., Ltd, in collaboration with BS-TBS Inc., Creative Board Inc., and COAMIX Inc., with art production by MasterClass members Ichirou, Roberto F., and Vanilla. The series is scheduled to be updated every week!

10 years of silent manga… The series debut aligns with the 10th year anniversary of SMA, and what better way to celebrate than by having its MasterClass members debut in Japan? From silent manga to a full-colored webtoon series – this international group is working hard to deliver a story about loyalty, friendship, and all the joys and sorrows of growing up.

…to an internationally created webtoon series! Though the webtoon release is initially scheduled to take off on Japanese platforms only, the production of the work is more international than you think! Cooperation is definitely surpassing the boundaries of world time zones as it connects Japan, Thailand, Brazil, and Indonesia! COAMIX’s cooperation includes our ZENON Editorial Department HQ in Tokyo, the SMA Editorial Department HQ here at the Artists Village Aso 096k in Takamori, and our professional advisors. You can be sure that it’s not an easy task to coordinate everything, but we are humbled to see the fruits of the MasterClass members’ labor!

Exclusively for our readers, we asked the art creators for a short message about their work and their feelings about debuting:

Ichirou (Brazil): “It’s been a very challenging project, and I feel very glad and privileged to be part of a creative team with people that I admire so much. Hope the readers find joy reading it!”

Roberto F. (Brazil): “A true adventure, and I wish the readers find that adventure by immersing themselves in the world of Eight and Kanna.”

Vanilla (Indonesia): “We are really grateful for the opportunity and to be able to work together with amazing people who we learned from and improved our skills. And lastly, we hope the readers will enjoy the story! Thank you!”

Curious how Kanna plans to help Eight climb to the top of the 3×3 basketball world again? Check out STREETxBEAST on Line Manga and Piccoma! We’ve also prepared an exclusive preview for you with Eight in action!

Want to debut in Japan, too? Take the first step by joining our current round, SMA19, and show that you have what it takes to join the MasterClass community and the Japanese manga world!

HELLO SMA17 AWARD WINNER, NASS!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: NASS Age: 22 Country: United States Favorite manga: Kono Oto Tomare!, Bungo Stray Dogs, Shortcake Cake, Orange Favorite movie: Paradise Kiss Favorite Quote: “Sometimes living can be hard! But it’s only because we’re alive that we can make each other laugh, cry, and be happy!” -Tohru Honda Entry title: “Paper Cranes” Round: SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES” Award: Honorable Mention

“Take the reader seriously and learn how to structure your stories to be entertaining!”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Aside from feeling very honored and grateful, I felt extremely relieved to receive my first award after six years of submitting to contests. I’ve drawn manga for a long time, and I felt at this point if my entry did poorly, then I wouldn’t be able to trust my own sensibilities. Then again, there’s a lot to improve on, and I’m a slow learner!

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I wanted to draw the emotional points with different kinds of smiles, and I liked the concept of contrasting personalities. It really evolved from the initial concept though!

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? I always struggle with the deadline… Always! The storyboard takes too long and I end up doing most of the art a day or two before the deadline! (For this particular one, I sketched and inked 14 pages in two days…) I also really struggled with structuring the plot, and again and again I have to rethink who my characters are and why I’m writing the story, out of all the billions of stories I could choose. I overcame the first struggle with pure desperation not to let the deadline pass… And the second one was by thinking so hard that I broke out in cold sweats… So my process seems to be to cause myself as much pain as possible!

READ NASS’S SMA17 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? Aside from drawing and writing all my life, I drew my first one-shot seriously when I was 16. It was after a period of thinking I’d never draw again, and I drew a silent manga about a boy desperately trying to succeed in music. Having read a billion answers to this question over the years from different artists, I think most people fall into two groups and I have different advice for each. For the people who feel compelled to draw no matter what they do, and have no problem getting their hand to move because it flows naturally, I’d say “Find the message you want to tell. Whether it’s ‘Basketball is really cool!’ or ‘Face your problems head on!’ find a perspective you want to share with the audience, or show them, and then write your story as if you are trying to convince us that you’re right! For the people who love the idea of making art but struggle with the motivation or inspiration to sit down and do it; Keep a notebook, or some sort of paper, nearby while doing work, riding on the bus, etc. And scribble shapes. Random ones. Move your hand, don’t think, just let the lines out. Once your hand is comfortable, I think you’ll feel an enhanced capability to put thought into what you’re drawing, and it will evolve slowly. For those that don’t struggle with this, I think we all did those very natural habits at an age too early to understand it or notice, and often you just need to let yourself go through that developmental period.

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? Nowadays I use a hybrid- I pencil, ink and beta traditionally. I use the g-pen, maru-pen, b4 paper, india ink… Very very classic tools! Then I scan and screentone digitally. For that I use the free app Jump Paint! Screentones in that app mimic real-life screentone (you have to lay the sheet down and cut out your shape) so I feel happy using that process!

What was the first manga you picked up? Peach Girl was gifted to me by an older family member who was also an artist!

Which manga changed your life? Fruits Basket and Ouran High School Host Club. They were the first manga I read that made me think “Manga is better than anime!” Fruits Basket made me love emotional moments and deep character interactions, and Ouran made me love humor and fashion. A lot of what I draw is still influenced by those manga!

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Shizuku Mizutani from My Little Monster, because she is isolated due to her seriousness in studying and lack of social effort. I’ve felt for most of my life that being close to others isn’t important, especially if it will take time from achieving my goals. Even though I eventually realized you can’t write about people if you don’t know anyone, I still always feel uncomfortable and antsy when I’m not alone working. (Sorry if that sounds like I’m giving myself a lot of credit. I still slack off!)

What kind of manga do you want to make next? Since I love slice of life, I hope my next work can show characters who think deeply about the world and themselves, and use that to painstakingly change their own futures!

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? When I’m stressed or need a break I go on drives with my mom! We talk a lot about deep stuff, and the area I live in is really pretty so we explore it together!

Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Writing for an ongoing series!

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Stop watching videos! Also, don’t just draw whatever you want thinking it will be a masterpiece; take the reader seriously and learn how to structure your stories to be entertaining

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Utilize their articles! Take notes! SMA helps you practice taking an idea, and using the medium of manga to get that idea across as quickly and as entertaining as possible, so use it as a tool to create better, longer manga in the future!

Thank you, NASS! We can’t wait to see what inspiration you will find for your next entry!

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 SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Azumane Kanna!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: Azumane Kanna (東寝♡柑菜) Age: 24 Country: Russia, Republic of Tatarstan Favorite Manga: Haikyuu!!, My Hero Academia Favorite Movie: Pokemon The Movie 2: The Power of One, Saint Young Men: The Movie Favorite Quote: “Practice makes perfect!” Entry Title: “bad day” Round: SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES” Award: Honorable Mention

“Plan your time in advance!”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Very exciting! I was so excited when I looked at the winners page, I felt dizzy… For me, this is an incredible success, which indicates that I am on the right path to my goal. It is in the order of things for me to set impossible goals for myself and move towards them step by step. The higher the goal, the more imperceptible will be the amount of difficulty! After all, what difference does it make if you stumble fifty times or fifty-five? It is with such thoughts that I choose for myself something to strive for. And if I really succeed, I am incredibly proud of my success and allow myself to eat a small cake! Now I feel immense gratitude for the existence of SMA! Without this audition, my path would have been more laborious. It is always very welcome to get the advice of professionals in order to understand where to move on with increased zeal. Thank you very much for organizing this audition! It’s an incredible job – to give a little piece of care to everyone who dreams of becoming a professional! (´ ω `♡)

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? Each of us has moments when we are deprived of strength due to certain events. And sometimes there is not often a chance to relax from the accumulated stress. And in life there are more and more new challenges! On such days, reaching for a fallen pen, you can stay on the floor with this pen, curled up in a ball under the table. Somehow this idea was born. It’s sad that deadlines can even get out from under the table. Or maybe it’s even good? Deadlines are the engine of progress!

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? My main problem in life is lack of time. Every new year, I make a wish that the day consists of 30 hours. I have liked to draw since childhood, and I am very happy that I was able to find a job in this direction. However, in my case, working in the field of drawing means that you will rarely get a chance for your own projects. Therefore, you have to dodge and avoid some stages to save time. For example, skip the sketch stage and try to draw the final work right away.

READ Azumane Kanna’s SMA17 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? In middle school I saw the anime Bakuman and after that I realized that manga is what really suits me. I dreamed of telling stories with drawings, but the laboriousness and certain style of presenting information in color comics was a big obstacle for me. Very deep feelings that can be conveyed to the reader, and the speed of the work being done were the most important criteria that could hook me. Naturally, I’ve always put off my desire to draw manga until later because of school/institute/work, and only recently realized that this delay will never help me achieve my goal. All these years I suffered from the “beginner’s problem,” when I wanted everything, immediately and beautifully. But none of this can be achieved without experience. My advice to those who are starting their journey as a manga artist – do not be afraid of large amounts of work or lack of attention to the result: just draw what you like and you will definitely reach your goal! (o^▽^o)

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I have not drawn something by hand for a long time; I’m completely immersed in the digital format. It is very comfortable! For digital instruments, I prefer Clip Studio. Every hatch done in this program gives me pleasure. I really want to thank the developers of this program! Thank you very much for this miracle! ♡

What was the first manga you picked up? My first manga I read in middle school was Fairytail by Hiro Mashima-sensei. Then for the first time I decided to watch the anime of the same name on the advice of a friend. I was very surprised that it was based on a comic book! (How far from reality I was in those days, ahaha!) But I was even more amazed that the entire comic turned out to be black and white! “It’s a coloring book!” flashed through my head when I first saw the pages of the manga. The next thought was “Wait, why is everything so strange reading here?” Later, I learned that the manga is read backwards, from right to left. Of course, Fairytail left an indelible mark on my soul of the very fairy tale that Hiro Mashima wanted to convey to his readers. For me, this manga has been an irreplaceable treasure that will cheer me up during difficult times.

Which manga changed your life? Two wonderful works are very important to me – Haikyuu!! and My Hero Academia. Haikyuu!! gave me my first love (I think many will guess who it was haha) and told me how important mutual understanding is. Thanks to this work, I believed in my strength to become what I want and learned purposefulness. My Hero Academia left me with an open mouth after the first chapter. I have never seen such great work! I still worship Horikoshi-sensei like a god >U< Everything in this story is perfect for me – the perfect balance of the story, the beautiful art, the amazing arrangement of shots! His work for me often serves as a reference and a book worth studying from cover to cover. My Hero Academia inspires me to change for the better every day! Once upon a time, it helped me believe in myself and throw off those extra 20 kilograms, hehe.I think I’m aiming for the same level of feeling for the characters as in these two stories. I would like the reader to be also inspired to achieve, as I was once inspired!Dear Kōhei Horikoshi-sensei and Haruichi Furudate-sensei, I sincerely appreciate your works! Thank you so much for working every day to give people hopes and dreams! ( ´ ω ` ) I really want to see more amazing manga from you in the future!

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? It would probably be Midoriya Izuku, the protagonist of My Hero Academia. We are both reserved, diligent A students and have a strong sense of purpose (୨ ´ω`)୨ I don’t know how much I really resemble him, but I would really like to become just like him. Selflessness, the desire to achieve something even through pain, as well as boundless kindness and responsiveness – these are the qualities that I would like to have.

What kind of manga do you want to make next? It will probably be for a new round of SMA, and then I will do a short romantic story about a giantess girl and a great hero who fell in love with her at first sight. I also plan to draw a one-shot of my favorite idea – about the most terrible swindler on Earth, who, after death, is forced to help the daughter of Satan win in fair political elections inside all of Hell! (￣▽￣*)ゞ

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? In my free time, I play games, read manga or novels to gain knowledge about the variety of stories. Also, I love to cook! Pizza, cabbage pies, rolls, shawarma… Mmm! But it seems I need to be careful with such high-fat dishes, hehehe… (´ ∀ ` *)

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I work as a freelance artist and as an artist for two game development companies specializing in anime visual novels. For this reason, I often fail to stabilize my own style – each of the teams needs a certain type of anatomy and color scheme.

Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Of course, during this period I want to become a pro! Perhaps, in these five years I will be able to reach such a level of professionalism that I can draw a series in one of the Japanese magazines.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? I would advise myself not to be afraid to use references and learn from them. And also every day should be filled with productivity and pleasure!

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Plan your time in advance – the deadline always comes very quickly, and because of this, you can damage your health. Be sure to use inspiration as an impetus to improve the completed work. Study manga like a science and use the rules so that the reader can understand you.

Thank you, Azumane Kanna! We can’t wait to see what inspiration you will find for your next entry!

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 SMA17 AWARD WINNER, Samuel Anugrah Andre!

PROFILE Name/Pen Name: Samuel Anugrah Andre Age: 26 Country: Indonesia Favorite Manga: Dragon Ball, Vagabond, A Girl On The Shore Favorite Movie: Taxi Driver (1976), Princess Mononoke, Mirror (1975) Favorite Quote: “Until they get to know the real you, people’s stereotypes don’t mean much.” -Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza Kiwami 2) Entry Title: “Witch Hunt” Round: SMA17 “Moments of HASTE, RAGE, or SMILES” Award: Honorable Mention

“Be friends with blank pages! Know yourself better!”

About SMA

How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Surreal! I participated in SMA in its first competitions years ago. I didn’t know a lot back then so my entries sucked, but now to win one of the awards feels surreal. I’ll be making better works from now on!

What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? Dark fantasy RPG games in general (for example: The Witcher 3) and Dark Souls’ gloomy vibe. But the manga Berserk probably would have inspired me even though I haven’t read a lot of it yet.

What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? Being overwhelmed by a blank page. When I am completely stuck on creating the pages, I just do hobbies like gaming or watching YouTube to ease my mind, or just take a shower.

READ Samuel Anugrah Andre’s SMA17 ENTRY HERE!

About your Manga

How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? Professionally only 2-3 years ago for my freelance work but I did amateur Naruto dōjinshi work when I was in middle school for fun. I don’t know if this counts as advice, but making good works takes years of practice, for sure.

Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? Digitally; I use Clip Studio Paint and Adobe Photoshop.

What was the first manga you picked up? Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama-sensei.

Which manga changed your life? A Girl on The Shore by Inio Asano-sensei. It evokes raw emotions throughout the pages, and is heartbreaking and honest. Plus, it doesn’t shy away from taboo topics. It’s the one manga that changed my perspective so much.

Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Miyamoto Musashi from Vagabond. I always have the urge to strive for the best, to be better than I was before, and sometimes I forget the people around me and how nice it is to smell the roses along the way.

What kind of manga do you want to make next? Something simple and relatable to people in their 20s. Yet, I also want to make a vampire gothic manga, lol.

About You

What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? Gaming. I enjoy games a lot. My favorites are the Yakuza series (Ryu Ga Gotoku), Deus Ex, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? Right now I’m in animation, currently doing 2D character and VFX animations but I did (and still do now) western comic works.

Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? Debut with my own manga, hopefully. Or just being satisfied with the quality of my work.

What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Be friends with blank pages! Know yourself better!

What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Just DO IT! Lol.

Thank you, Samuel Anugrah Andre! We can’t wait to see what inspiration you will find for your next entry!

In your words, “Just DO IT!” and join SMA19!