American MasterClass PoodPoopsie’s awarded manga printed in Japan now available in English! MasterClass member PoodPoopsie from the United States received an award in the 10th round of the “Kyushu International Manga Award!” and was featured in the March 2024 issue of Monthly Comic ZENON! PoodPoopsie’s 39-page entry for COAMIX’s 10th Kyushu International Manga Award, “Portrait of the Devil” marks her first award in a Comic ZENON manga contest. She is also the third MasterClass participant to be recognized with a Kyushu International Manga Award, along with monotone_ink and Enewald!
The following is a comment from the special judge of COAMIX’s 10th Kyushu International Manga Award, Kei Koga-sensei (“Trace: Recollections of a Forensic Researcher”) about PoodPoopsie’s entry:
The atmosphere of the work was unique and the illustrations were engaging! The three main characters’ principles were somewhat clear to me, but I felt that the story lacked some vital explanation, which would make it much easier to understand.
“Portrait of the Devil” is a one-shot manga that tells the story of a clumsy, but good-hearted painter named Faust, who can’t seem to live up to the ideals of his renowned master, Silas. When a grave illness leaves his master bedridden, Faust takes it upon himself to create Silas’ paintings, which are scheduled to be exhibited at the Crystal Palace. However, there is more to his master’s immense success than talent alone, and, unknown to young Faust, dark forces lurk behind his success…
A special illustration, an interview, and a comment from PoodPoopsie were featured in the March 2024 issue of Monthly Comic ZENON, which we have translated below.
1. How do you feel after receiving this award?
I am very grateful to have received an award this round! I am very thankful to my editors and SMA for making this possible. However, I have high expectations for myself, so I will aim for an even higher quality manga next time.
2. What was your creative process behind this entry?
The original concept for this story came from a storyboard class I was taking. I was inspired by the film, The Picture of Dorian Gray, as well as by my own artistic journey. The original concept is very different compared to what we have now, as I went through many iterations.
3. In your opinion, what is the best part of this entry?
I enjoy the twist of using Baal’s demonic powers to trap Silas in the painting. Whether I executed that well is a different story. However, the idea of using Baal’s powers to trap someone in a painting is the main thing I did not change from the original story. I typically think about the twist first and the characters second. I think that is both a strength and a weakness of mine, as my characters are not as strong as I would like, and I often change them to suit the twist.
4. What was the hardest part in drawing this entry?
I think I struggled the most with understanding the strengths and flaws of my original concept, such as what I needed to keep and what I needed to take out. The original story and the current story are very different from each other, but both have their strengths and weaknesses. It was definitely a good learning experience. I will try to do better next time to understand the core strength of my story.
5. What aspect of character creation did you put the most effort into?
I focused on a dark academia and Victorian aesthetic for this manga. Some of the outfits are not historically accurate, though. For Silas’ outfit, I took inspiration from Reginald Hargreaves’ outfit from The Umbrella Academy. For both Baal and Faust, I tried to incorporate a lot of moving patterns. This is something I like to lean into for monster designs. Faust’s hair is his main design point, and it involves spirals to create a sense of movement.
6. What manga have you been reading recently?
There are a ton of manga I enjoy reading. A few of them are Kaiji, Detective Conan, and Inuyasha.
7. What kind of manga do you want to create next?
I want to write more fantasy manga in the future which have monsters as the protagonists or deuteragonists. Writing a one-shot with a bittersweet ending would be interesting as well!
8. What are you most interested in lately?
Recently, I’ve been reading “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” and watching adaptations of Jin Yong’s works. In the future, I think I would like to try making a wuxia (Chinese: 武俠) manga as well.
9. Can you give a message to our readers?
I want to thank my editors for sticking with me for so long just to create this piece! Next time, I will do my best to make something that will be even more satisfying to read!
PoodPoopsie’s work is just one of the manga created by theSMA MasterClass that has won an award in Monthly Comic ZENON’s manga contests! With the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members show their potential to Japanese readers each year.
PoodPoopsie’s workhas also been published IN JAPANESE on the ZENON Editorial Department’s website! Take a look and leave a comment to support her by clicking the banner below! ❤️
HELLO SMA20 AWARD WINNER, Lutfy Adam!
PROFILE Pen Name: Lutfy Adam Age: 21 Social network profiles: Instagram: @sgt.boisketcher, X: @adam_lutfy Country: Singapore Favorite manga: One Punch Man Favorite movie:Back To the Future Favorite quote: “What’s the deal with airplane peanuts?”~Jerry Seinfeld
“How dedicated you are is how far your art will improve.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? It’s a huge deal for me. Not only because I rarely win anything, but because getting Grand Prix Runner-Up was something truly unexpected. After a failed attempt from entering the previous round and coming out with not much, I’m glad the effort put in for this story paid off.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? At the time, I was watching a lot of ‘kaiju’ movies. Watching two giant monsters fight it out was really cool to me, and I wondered why there wasn’t any recent manga with a kaiju lead in it. But looking at the previous SMA works, the idea seemed too conflicting with the normal fluffy deep emotional meaningful stories that seemed to be the winning factor in the competition. Nevertheless, I liked the challenge, and in the end I came up with a fairly simple prompt for the story: “A cute, touching story with a ‘kaiju’ in it!” What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? The biggest challenge was juggling the time for work, family and drawing. I was also serving my national service (it’s mandatory for Singapore boys) as a military driver so there were times where I had to stay several nights in the camps. Luckily, I could bring my laptop in so I could work on my manga some more in my free time.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I took an interest in the art form in secondary school as I had just gotten into anime and I wanted to make my own stories. But I only really started seriously making manga after getting my diploma. I was studying animation and also found storyboarding lessons to be very useful when making manga. As for the advice…I’m a beginner myself but, all I can really say is: draw what’s cool to you. Drawing lessons can also be very helpful and there’s lots of them online. How dedicated you are is how far your art will improve.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw digitally and very much enjoy it. Going digital is definitely more convenient and at times also speeds up the work process. I mainly use Clip Studio Pro as it’s not only affordable, but provides many useful tools. For example, its manga page organizer. And paneling tools. Those are at least the few I can think of that I mostly use in my works.
What was the first manga you picked up? My first manga was My Hero Academia. It’s what made me want to draw my own manga in the first place. Kohei Horikoshi-sensei’s works also inspired my drawing style a bit.
Which manga changed your life? Saguri-chan Tankentai. It taught me to appreciate the outdoors more and go outside every now and then.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I would say Akira from Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. I admire his outlook on life, and how he stays positive. There’s a point in the story where he tries to give back as much as he can to his parents, which I find relatable. You gotta give back to your folks at some point in your life after all. I guess he reminds me to think about family every now and then. Also, much like Akira, I can be dumb and enjoy stupid humor as well. What kind of manga do you want to make next? I enjoy stories with comedy and action so probably something like that. I would also like to write a story that takes place in my hometown. Local flavors make things interesting after all. More shōnen manga that’s as original as possible is what I am aiming for, I guess.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? Aside from playing online games with friends, I do cycle in the parks in my free time. Not as much now though since I started national service.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? Well, currently I’m serving my national service as a military ambulance driver. Day in and day out, I’m on standby at a medical center ready to bring sick or injured soldiers to the hospitals. The job isn’t really that “badass” though.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? I dream of getting published by “Weekly Shōnen Jump.” But realistically, I would either quit all together or find a smaller international publishing magazine. I do love making manga though so hopefully my manga career takes a good ending.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? I’m quite content with the skill I have now. But I guess I would tell my younger self to start making manga earlier on paper. It would be nice to have some amateur physical drafts from my younger self to read every now and then.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? The only advice I have really is to add an aspect of something you love to the story you’re making. That’s what I think is what makes one’s work stand out in my opinion anyway.
Thank you, Lutfy Adam! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name:Akari Sayaka Age: 17 Social network profiles: Instagram: akari_sayaka2006, X: @AkariSayaka01 Country: Ukraine Favorite manga: Pandora hearts, Alice in Borderland, The Summer Hikaru Died Favorite movie: Joker, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Favorite quote: “Noblesse oblige” (sounds cool)
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Firstly, I thought I was still dreaming in my bed, when I saw the results. I was really surprised (even shocked) but mostly, of course, I felt proud and happy that my work was appreciated so highly in such a big manga competition!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I wanted to convey the character’s feelings with the help of interesting visual elements, many of which did not immediately come to mind. I was prompted to this idea by SMA’s previous works, as well as other works with interesting visual solutions. This inspired me to look at the everyday story from the other side and add interesting elements. The always introverted boy finally opens his heart and gets accepted…I like this story having a good end. What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? I started drawing this manga about a month before the deadline, after I finished a different work. At that time, the classes at my university also began. Another question was whether I could fit the story into 17 pages, but in the end everything went quite smoothly and I was able to submit the work before the deadline.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I started making manga when I was about 11 years old with my finger on my phone. Maybe I was inspired by manga since I first read one and wanted to create one by myself. As a beginner myself, I think it’s important to understand that there are many objective assessments of skills. However, there are even more subjective ones and comparing yourself to others is not always effective. No one is perfect, there will always be those who are better than you, but as for me, it is important to strive to ensure that compared to all of the “yesterday’s” you, today’s you are the best.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I often draw with pencil and paints, but my work place looks kinda messy. So I prefer to draw manga digitally with a graphic tablet, computer, pen and inspiration. 🙂
What was the first manga you picked up? My first manga was Pandora hearts. I also think that it was one of the reasons why I started drawing manga; I was captivated by the graceful and sophisticated style of this manga. It gave me a boost.
Which manga changed your life? I think it’s also Pandora hearts, because, I could say, it was the place where my dream started. However, if I were to name another manga that changed my life, it would be the 4-panel manga “Ukraine no Akari-chan,” which I started drawing from the first days of the war. I think that from that moment on, my life became even more closely connected with manga.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? Had to think about this question for some time. And now I think that I could identify myself with Phos (Phosphophyllite) from The Land of Lustrous. I think I’m somewhat similar to her character at the beginning and the middle of the manga. We also have some similarities in hairstyle and I like her sense of humor. If associating myself with one of the Pokemon, then it is most likely Eevee. This is one of my favorite Pokemon. What kind of manga do you want to make next? I’m interested in creating mystic or dark mystic manga. Mysterious and elegant atmosphere, the contrast of images of beauty and cruelty, as well as the potential of this genre give me an inspiration to new ideas.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? When I don’t draw manga I usually do homework from university, but when I have time, I like to relax by drawing sketches in my notebook while watching anime or go for a walk with friends.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? Now I’m studying graphic design in university but want to become a professional manga artist.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? In 5 years I’d want to have my own popular manga series. I’d like to successfully create unusual and interesting manga in Japan and become a professional. I’m also going to strive to get an anime adaptation of my manga one day, just like in Bakuman!
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? If I could give my past self an advice in making manga, it would be “Keep improving! Don’t give up!” I just wish my past self was more confident (as well as my current self, though). All my mistakes have helped me grow in one way or another, I appreciate them. The thing is not to repeat them again in the future.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? SILENT MANGA AUDITION® is a kind of project everyone can take part in and get a chance for their dreams to come true. Manga without dialogue is also a great way to improve your emotional expression skills, so if you feel up to it and want to get involved, there’s no limit to it! Just do it!
Thank you, Akari Sayaka! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name:Syoera Age: 29 Social network profiles: X: @notsyoera, Facebook: @Notsyoera Country: Vietnam Favorite manga: Meshi Dungeon, Nobunaga Concerto, Honey and Clover, Parasyte Favorite movie: Interstellar, Supernatural Favorite game: God of war 4 – 5, Ace Attorney, Pokemon RSE, Yakuza, Final Fantasy 7, Dragon Age 2, Paper Please, Detention Favorite book: Fountainhead by Ayn rand, A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber, The Power of Geography by Tim Marshall
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? I was very excited to receive the news of winning the prize, because this is the first time I’ve won a manga award, and it’s even a major one like the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®!
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? At first, I wanted to draw cats, because I have cats at home and watching them every day is really interesting! But I didn’t know where the cat would be or what it would be doing…in general, I had many different ideas like drawing daily life of a cat whose owner is away from home, or the main character bringing home a pregnant cat and taking care of it. But in the end, the main reason I chose the idea that I drew was because it was funny, and because of its message about controlling the wild cat population in the city. What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? For me, the most difficult part of drawing manga is probably the process of selecting among the script ideas and then doing a thorough research. I struggle a lot and I often have to discard many different ideas due to inappropriate length, or because they seem to be too ridiculous…sometimes I feel discouraged and don’t even know if I’ll be able to enter the competition in time, lol.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners? I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember. I’ve been drawing on every possible surface: in notebooks, on cardboards, even on the walls! I still keep several old notebooks full of silly comics I made, and occasionally revisiting them still makes me laugh a lot (mostly because of how cringy they are). But they’re still precious to me.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? First, I draw the name on my small tablet. Based on the name, I then create sketched pages with Clip Studio Paint. After that, I print out the detailed sketches on paper with blue ink and begin inking them by black ink pen, then scan them back onto the computer for digital editing. In general, both digital and analogue methods have to be fully utilized to finish my manga pages.
What was the first manga you picked up? Doraemon, or Sailor Moon. It could also be Chibi Maruko. Or the short works of Osamu Tezuka-sensei. Which manga changed your life? In middle school, it was Honey and Clover. Recently, it’s probably been Meshi Dungeon and Chi – Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? No one. I see them as individuals being in their own world with their own personalities and lives, while I am myself. What kind of manga do you want to make next? Well, actually, whenever I have an idea that I like, I’ll just draw it, so I’m not sure about the genre anymore. But it will probably lean towards realism, the little things in daily life, or the ordinary things that appear around us but we often overlook. Although I still have a lot to learn about drawing more realistic stories.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? Playing games, making games, reading manga, and playing with cats. Additionally, I also enjoy chatting with friends about anything possible.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I’m a freelance artist most of the time. Occasionally, I also dabble in making indie games for fun.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? I want to create products that I can be proud of.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? Just keep doing what you’re doing.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Do whatever is worthy of the time you spend in your own precious life!
Thank you, Syoera! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
PROFILE Pen Name:Plushelisa Age: 18 Social network profiles: X: @plushelisa, Instagram: @plushelisa Country: France Favorite manga:Berserk Favorite movie: Parasite Favorite quote: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
“Start right away. Even if you don’t win, you will learn a lot!”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award? Honestly, I didn’t expect to win a prize at all. I’m very happy to have won. It’s truly an honor and it motivates me a lot for the future. I am motivated to progress in drawing so that I can create better stories. I was also very pleased to receive compliments on my work from manga legends; I am very grateful.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work? I was inspired by my personal life, first of all. In my entry, the story begins with a girl who misses her train, which happens to me often! Additionally, I drew inspiration from the winning works of previous auditions. I noticed that there was often a very poetic atmosphere, so that’s what I wanted to recreate. Moreover, I was greatly inspired by Shojo manga because I find its layout very original and well-done.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them? In my opinion, the absence of text was the most significant challenge. In my previous works, I always used the dialogues between the characters as a way to convey the story, so I had to adapt my approach. It is always harder to make a story understandable when there is no dialogue. Another challenge was to make the expression on my characters’ faces very clear. It’s important for the readers to be able to understand how they feel. I also had trouble with the backgrounds. Drawing backgrounds is always a bit difficult, at least for me, so I really worked on that aspect. Creating the script was also a challenge. Creating a story that is both simple but interesting and all this in a limited number of pages, took quite a lot of my time. To overcome all these challenges, I used the same method, which is to take my time and proceed step by step. I worked extensively on each of the aspects mentioned above. When I wasn’t content with something–for example the script or backgrounds–I worked on it again until I got something I was satisfied with.
How and when did you start making manga? Any advice for beginners?
I started drawing manga in March 2022, so it’s quite recent. I still consider myself a beginner, I still have so much to learn! However, I have always had a passion for drawing in general. I have been drawing since childhood. But I’ve really gotten back into drawing since the lockdown in 2020. Since then, I’ve been drawing every day. I wanted to start drawing manga because the idea of being able to make characters live through a story that I could create myself, was really attractive to me. I had imagined characters and a draft story for several years but I had never really taken the leap of faith to start writing my manga. I had concerns that I was not going to live up to my expectations and that I would not succeed. What really helped me get started was participating in a contest. In 2022, a French manga publishing house held a competition to win a publishing contract. So I decided to participate. Because there was a deadline and a theme, it really gave me a framework to work on. Even if I didn’t win that contest, the experience allowed me to learn a lot about the whole process of creating manga. From then on, I kept making manga.
My advice for someone who wants to draw a manga for the first time would be to start right away. I was thinking before that I had to practice more before I would reach a level to be good enough to start drawing manga. However, I can tell you that no one is ever satisfied with their current level. So it’s better to start directly. Even if you don’t win, you will learn a lot!
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools? I draw digitally on an iPad. I used ibisPaint X. It is with this software that I drew all the manga I have created to this date. It’s a software that is free and I think is quite effective for making manga. It is very intuitive and suitable for beginners. But I recently changed and I’m now drawing on Clip Studio Paint. I heard it was this software that some mangaka were using. I’m still getting used to it, there are so many features!
What was the first manga you picked up? During my middle school years, I began to read manga. However, I didn’t read a lot of it. I really started reading manga again when I was in high school. After purchasing the first volume of Berserk, I became obsessed with manga. Now I read it every day! Which manga changed your life? I’m a huge fan of Hunter x Hunter! I adore the storyline and feel a strong attachment to the characters. Chrollo Lucilfer, the leader of the Phantom Troupe, is one of my favorites across all manga. His charisma and impressive demeanor struck me. Discovering him sparked my desire to create characters of similar depth! So, it was Hunter x Hunter that inspired me to begin creating my own stories.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why? I would say Kobeni from Chainsaw Man! I love that character. I think she’s very funny. Her perpetual fear reminds me of myself in certain situations, where I also tend to become slightly stressed. I admire that despite her fear, she takes action even when terrified.
What kind of manga do you want to make next? I would love to make manga with the characters I use repeatedly. I don’t have a specific genre in mind, I want to test everything!
About you
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax? When I’m not drawing, I review my economics coursework in the university library. And in my free time, I love going for a walk in Paris with my sister, friends or my entire family, and eating pastries in cafes.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)? I am currently studying economics at a university. It is not necessarily my passion but I like it. Besides that, I have a part-time job. I give manga drawing lessons to children and adults in Paris. I like being able to share my passion, I find it very rewarding.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time? In five years, I would still like to draw manga and would not mind being published. It would really be a dream come true.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could? I’m going to offer her the same advice I previously gave: “Go for it! Even if you think you don’t have the skills, go for it, young Plushelisa! (And start working on perspective immediately because you’re still struggling with it today -_-)”
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®? Make a story that you like, it’s very important! And get started! Even if you don’t think you can win, you never know!
Thank you, Plushelisa! We’re eagerly expecting your next manga masterpiece!
Favorite manga:Chainsaw Man, Tokyo Ghoul, Goodnight Punpun The 25th “Comic ZENON Manga Taisho” Excellence Award: “The Witch of Petrovsky”
“Whatever is necessary to work as a professional manga artist in Japan. Through dialogue with editors and drawing, you can learn it.”
What made you decide to come to Japan?
The reason was that I thought such opportunities were rare and found it interesting. I never imagined being able to work in Japan, let alone make drawing manga a profession overseas. My friends and family were delighted and supported me in my activities in Japan.
I’ve liked Japanese manga since I was a child and have been reading it. I think its characteristic is its wide range of expressions. Some are bright, or full of gag, while others are intensely dark and serious. Furthermore, within that gradient, various works jostle together. What they have in common is that they are generally easy to read and have devices that make it easy for readers to enter the world of the work. That’s why I think Japanese manga has become popular worldwide.
What is your impression of Japan, Kumamoto, and Aso?
It’s a beautiful place with scenic views. From old buildings seen in shrines and temples to cute cafes in the city and seasonal landscapes, everything is beautiful. When I arrived in Japan, it was cherry blossom season, and it was unbelievably gorgeous.
On the other hand, Aso has many cash-only shops, so I, who was used to credit card payments in my home country where they are common, initially had trouble adjusting to this custom. To avoid becoming like me, who takes five minutes to buy a cup of hot chocolate, I recommend consulting others before going shopping (haha).
How do you feel about the Artists Village Aso 096k’s location in Kumamoto as an environment for drawing manga? What’s your impression of the living environment and food?
I think it’s a great place for drawing manga. As a working environment, it offers all the support for both digital and analogue work, and the atmosphere of the workspace and studio is conducive to drawing manga. You can switch between focusing and relaxing freely.
Additionally, it’s great to be able to work with artists from other countries who share the same purpose. While drawing manga is often seen as a solitary job, having fellow professionals nearby allows for considerable support in work. It’s also possible to lighten the mood by joking around with each other.
Furthermore, the staff at the facility are considerate and very flexible. I’ve never felt excluded.
The Artists Village also offers excellent meals. The chefs in the dining hall are fantastic, and the daily meals are always delicious. I personally enjoy sushi, fried chicken, and ramen. Since you can usually decide how much to serve yourself, I ended up gaining more weight than expected (haha).
What does an average day at the Artists Village look like for you?
I wake up around 8 a.m., have breakfast in my room, and prepare for work. If time allows, I’ll read novels or study the Bible.
I start working around 10 a.m. I spend the whole day working in the studio on the second floor of the facility. Lunch is around 12:30 p.m., and dinner is around 6:30 p.m. During this time, I work on drawings or writing at my desk, sometimes having meetings with editors.
After dinner, around 7 p.m., I have relatively free time. If there’s still work remaining, I continue with that. Otherwise, I might play board games with other artists, watch movies in the theater room, exercise at home, or go shopping.
Late at night, I usually call my family and have longer conversations with them.
Additionally, on holidays, I often play games, play the piano in the facility, or engage in activities other than work.
What are your goals for the future?
In addition to improving my skills as a manga artist, I want to experience serialization. I’m always conflicted between pursuing what I want to draw as an artist or aiming for something that sells well and is read by many people. However, as I have more discussions with editors, I’ve come to believe that these two goals can be reconciled. Since I am able to draw manga in this environment by coming to Japan, I intend to continue striving for commercial success.
Please give a message to those who are thinking about working at the Artists Village Aso 096k!
If the timing aligns with your life, I highly recommend it. It’s an invaluable opportunity if you’re interested in making manga production your profession. The staff here warmly welcome us and provide generous support. It’s truly a blessing to be able to work with them.
Thank you, monotone_ink! Stay tuned for his original manga debut next month!! 🙂
Learn more about how YOU can join the Artists Village and create manga with us!
Meet the Artists Village MasterClass Duo #8: Vanilla
Favorite manga:Natsume’s Book of Friends SMA-EX4 Excellence Award: “Little Hero”
“Your fellow manga artists and editors will generously give you tips on how to draw and improve your work.”
What made you decide to come to Japan?
It has always been a dream of ours to work in Japan, where there is a lot of great manga being produced. We are more than happy to gain the know-how through the manga production process. Our family and friends are very happy for us to have been invited to Japan by COAMIX Inc., and we too feel honored to have been invited. Before coming to Japan, we used to draw artworks and publish them in doujinshi magazines.
Our favorite Japanese manga is “Natsume’s Book of Friends.” Japanese manga has a good design and storyline, and once you start reading it, you are immersed in the story. We like to read paper comics because we feel that they are of high quality as well.
What is your impression of Japan, Kumamoto, and Aso?
Aso in Kumamoto is a beautiful place surrounded by mountains and greenery. The scenery is amazing. Sometimes when we spend our days here, ideas for new works come to us naturally.
Also, since it is easily accessible from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where we are from, we did not feel any physical or mental burden in coming to Kumamoto.
How do you feel about the Artists Village Aso 096k’s location in Kumamoto as an environment for drawing manga? What’s your impression of the living environment and food?
It’s a great place to work, where people give you a helping hand when you need it. Our colleagues, including Tati, who is also from Indonesia, are always willing to give us tips on how to draw if we ask them. It is also a good place to hone your skills as the editors are the first readers to give you feedback on your work.
The living environment is comfortable. There are six rooms in each residential building, and our roommates are senior Japanese manga artists. They are very kind and also help us with our Japanese studies. Sometimes we are so surprised that we can see them working next to us that we even call them: “Sensei!”
Also, the food served in the cafeteria here is very delicious. We always look forward to lunch time.
What does an average day at the Artists Village look like for you?
It depends on the deadline, but we spend 8 hours a day drawing, not including lunch and dinner. There is a resting area in the facility for a change of pace, so we try to take a well-deserved break after a long day of concentrated work.
What are your goals for the future?
Our goal is to debut as a professional manga creator. We want to continue to draw good works. This has been our dream since we were children. We hope to make the most of the fact that we are a two-person team, and we will be able to work together for a long time, making up for each other’s short-comings.
Please give a message to those who are thinking about working at the Artists Village Aso 096k!
Work hard with the goal of creating a good manga! And don’t forget to apply for the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®. The first step to open the door to the Artists Village is to submit your manga to the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®.
Thank you, Vanilla! We’re looking forward to your original manga debut!
Learn more about how YOU can join the Artists Village and create manga with us!
Favorite manga:Your Lie in April SMA5 GRAND PRIX: “I’m Happy”
“Sometimes I get character ideas from being surrounded by nature and living daily life here in Takamori.”
What made you decide to come to Japan?
The main reason I came to Japan was to learn more about Japanese manga and to gain experience in the life and work of a manga artist. Japanese manga is wonderful. It tells a story through pictures and delivers a thoughtful message to the reader. It is memorable and resonates with the heart. Second, I wanted to learn more about Japanese culture and language. And third, I wanted to make drawing my full-time career, to gain rich experiences and enjoyment, and to make my life more colorful. For me, drawing is something that transcends the boundaries of work or hobby, and is something that I am passionate about above all else.
Before coming to Japan, I worked as an art teacher at a vocational school in my home country while doing freelance manga after work and on my days off. In my home country Indonesia, it is common in manga production to divide the work between the original story and the drawings. Therefore, I also formed a two-person team named DS STUDIO and was the one in charge of the drawings.
I am happy to say that my family supports my decision to come to Japan after COAMIX invited me. My sister loves Japanese anime. My brother loves to draw, and watching him growing up is what inspired me to draw manga.
What is your impression of Japan, Kumamoto, and Aso?
In Indonesia, Japan is considered a clean and disciplined country. I have felt this while living here in Kumamoto.
There is also a lot of entertainment such as manga, video games, and anime, and the culture is rich. As a lover of horror stories, Japanese yokai are very interesting to me.
How do you feel about the Artists Village Aso 096k’s location in Kumamoto as an environment for drawing manga? What’s your impression of the living environment and food?
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where I am from, is a big city plagued by smog.
On the other hand, Takamori in Kumamoto is an environment full of greenery, which is rarely seen in Jakarta. The beautiful nature surrounding me here often inspires me with ideas for our characters.
I like to eat fish dishes here because they are delicious. I also like fried chicken. But…I sometimes think I need a little more habanero pepper, hahaha.
What does an average day at the Artists Village look like for you?
I spend all of my days here drawing. When I’m not drawing, I play board games, go for walks, play baseball with my fellow manga creators, play games, and go shopping. Of course, I also get a good night’s sleep.
There is an editorial staff and a family-like community here, which gives me a sense of security that makes life easy for me.
What are your goals for the future?
To create and illustrate heartwarming stories. I also hope to grow as a person through this process.
Please give a message to those who are thinking about working at the Artists Village Aso 096k!
“Dream as if you will live forever, Live as if you will die today.” If you are not sure whether to come here or not, it is better to come first. Do the best you can do right now!
Thank you, Tati!! We’re eagerly awaiting your original manga debut!
Learn more about how YOU can join the Artists Village and create manga with us!
Meet the Artists Village MasterClass #6: Roberto F.
PROFILE Pen Name:Roberto F. SNS Profiles: X: Mr_Houseki, Instagram: mr.houseki, Facebook: mangaroberto Country: Brazil Favorite manga:Rurouni Kenshin, Fullmetal Alchemist, Blade of the Immortal, CLAYMORE
“Everything you see and hear here is a source of inspiration for good manga.”
What made you decide to come to Japan?
I came to Japan because I love Japan and Japanese manga, and I saw it as a special opportunity to grow as a manga artist.
I have been a manga fan since I was a child, and at the age of 6, I was exposed to Japanese works such as “Dragon Ball” and “Saint Seiya”, and was hooked. This led me to draw manga with my friends when I was 14 years old.
In my home country of Brazil, I drew manga while doing freelance design work. My family and friends understood my desire to make manga my career and my interest in Japan. So when I was approached by COAMIX and decided to move to Japan, everyone around me was willing to support me.
What is your impression of Japan, Kumamoto, and Aso?
I think the scenery of this area is very beautiful and I really like the people I have met. There is respect, compassion, hard work, and a great sense of humor. Everything I see and hear here is a source of inspiration for good manga. Everything is information that I don’t have in my home country. For example, unlike Brazil, Aso has snow. The landscape is an inspiration for new stories.
How do you feel about the Artists Village Aso 096k’s location in Kumamoto as an environment for drawing manga? What’s your impression of the living environment and food?
The studio has everything you need for drawing manga. I also find it interesting to work with people of different nationalities in the same space. I also like the greenery around the facility.
I also love the food. Sushi, sashimi, udon, and all the other Japanese food in the cafeteria here is delicious, including the wasabi.
As for drinks, I was surprised by the iced coffee. You can’t find this in Brazil. Other than that, I am excited to try the vending machine drinks.
The residential building is a one-minute walk from the Art Studio, making it easy to come and go, and the rooms are easy to live in. The closets with sliding doors are especially convenient!
What does an average day at the Artists Village look like for you?
I am working on a webtoon series and my own original work, so every day passes quickly in terms of coming up with a story and character development. But I still find time to explore the area around the Artists Village, make plans to go out with my fellow manga creators, attend various events, see movies, and go out to eat at restaurants.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to impress as many people as possible by creating and publishing as many manga as possible. I would also like to learn the language and get closer to Japanese culture, as I hope to become a fluent Japanese speaker.
Please give a message to those who are thinking about working at the Artists Village Aso 096k!
Japanese manga is unique in the way it is produced, and I believe this is at the core of its high quality. It will be a great pleasure for you to learn and draw manga here!
Thank you, Roberto F.! We’re eagerly awaiting your original manga debut!
Learn more about how YOU can join the Artists Village and create manga with us!
Argentinian MasterClass Receives Manga Taisho Award!!
Argentinian MasterClass member Andrea Jen’s one-shot manga was awarded with an Honorable Mention in the 26th edition of the “Comic ZENON Manga Taisho” Japanese manga contest! She joins 5 other SMA MasterClass members who’ve received an award in Manga Taisho, Comic ZENON’s oldest manga contest where new and upcoming creators can prove themselves DIRECTLY to their future fans with an up to 39-page entry. It’s not only judged by manga legends such as Tsukasa Hojo-sensei and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, but also by booksellers and the general public!!
The following is a comment from Manga Taisho and SMA Judge Ryuji Tsugihara-sensei regarding Andrea Jen’s entry:
“I was impressed in how beautifully and neatly the creator drew the illustrations. I felt that there is room for growth in showing the emotional expressions of the characters, so I hope the creator can focus on that for next time!” – Ryuji Tsugihara-sensei
After being awarded SMA-EX1 Grand Prix Runner-Up and making a special 3 volume one-shot, Andrea Jen decided to join Manga Taisho with “The Lady Afraid of Flowers.” Working earnestly on her family farm, Jasmine is hindered by a crippling fear of flowers from a past trauma, despite wanting to enjoy their beauty. Her life is changed when she encounters her kind neighbor Samuel, but something sinister and more terrible than Jasmine’s fear is lurking in the shadows…!
Andrea Jen’s work is only one of the manga masterpieces created by the SMA MasterClassthat won an award through Comic ZENON and COAMIX; with the support of the SMA Editorial Department, the MasterClass members are showing year after year their potential to the Japanese audience and working towards their professional debut by joining SMA exclusive projects such as the “Artists Village Aso 096k!”
