The SILENT MANGA AUDITION® (SMA) is not just a manga competition: it’s a gateway into the Japanese manga world for international creators. Just like new, aspiring Japanese manga creators, by entering the audition and winning awards, you will start working under the guidance of manga pros and legends towards your dream debut!
Moments of HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS are moments deeply linked between each other. Everyone experiences at least one of these moments daily. Recreate your most memorable experience involving one of those key-moments in an up to 17 page manga and prove your ability to the judges!
The 3 key moment-centered theme is the renewed way for how the Japanese Editorial Department above SMA, the ZENON Editorial Dept. finds new manga artists to create worldwide renowned manga series. Being able to represent ONE of those key moments means you have what it takes to be a manga creator in Japan!
We want to see a short, dialogue-free manga that encompasses at least ONE of these key emotional representations in an up to 17 page entry.
Let your imagination run wild with stories of any genre that utilizes HAPPINESS, AFFECTION, or TEARS as their core.
The legendary SMA judges will evaluate your artistic skills, your ability to build drama with an effective climatic twist, and your paneling/camerawork skills.
More detailed information about the requirements can be found in the Audition Details section.
The top selected entries receive financial awards, with the Grand Prix awarded entry receiving ¥500,000! By receiving a financial award, SMA hopes this will aid you in working towards your Japanese manga debut. This system is based on Japanese manga contests and even allows more than five entries to be awarded if there are a large number of high-quality entries.
The best part of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® is that each entry is carefully evaluated and receives feedback. The award-winning works are actually judged by professional manga artists and editors such as Tsukasa Hojo, Tetsuo Hara, Ryuji Tsugihara, Jun Tomizawa, Nobuhiko Horie and the top editors of the ZENON Editorial Department
Copic and I・C join the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® to help international manga creators!
The “I・C Prize” and “Copic Prize” are analogue manga prizes. The “I・C Prize” is a manga set that can be used to enjoy learning how to draw manga and use tools while looking at models and instructions, and the “Copic Prize” is a curated set of 12 markers bundled with a guide book to help you learn how to use Copic markers!
The 2 prizes will be provided to four entrants (two each) for SMA18, so be sure not to miss your chance to receive official Copic merchandise with us!
MasterClass members who show their talent, professional approach, and will to work in Japan, may receive the rare chance to be invited to the Artists Village Aso 096k and learn the art and technique of creating great manga by working next to other manga creators in the Village.
Located in Takamori Town (Aso, Kumamoto), The Artists Village was created with the purpose to nurture artists of all kinds, not only manga creators. COAMIX’s vision is to create an environment where artists can learn and work next to each other and start “Ticking towards their Dreams.”
The best of the best from the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® may receive the chance to enter the MasterClass – a community of international creators who produced high quality entries beyond the expectations of the SMA judges.
Being a MasterClass member means you are offered professional editorial support from the SMA Editorial Department; the same kind of support that Japanese manga creators receive after their talent is noticed. However, the MasterClass is just the starting point for creators who want to break into the Japanese manga industry. Work hard with your editor and you may find your work published in Monthly Comic ZENON!
・NO DIALOGUE. Tell your story through images alone.
・Reading order from right to left, monochrome only.
・5 – 17 pages
・Multiple entries.
・Entries from partners, groups, etc.
・Plagiarism, nudity, explicit violence, or material that is likely to cause offense.
・Copyrighted pictures in your entry.
・Preset photos or drawings of people and backgrounds.
For more information, please refer to the Rules and Guidelines page
(12:00 NOON IN YOUR TIME ZONE)
COAMIX Inc. is a manga publisher based in Tokyo (Japan) founded by worldwide famous manga creators. Among its many titles, “Record of Ragnarok,” “Arte,” “Unsung Cinderella,” and “Wakako-zake” stand out for being the most recent and internationally acclaimed manga series from the publisher.