This time around, we’ve seen a lot of works with a solid, consistent quality. The artwork continues to show improvement, and although the story could use some further development, you are on the right track. In the future, try to focus on adding a unique element that will make an even more lasting impression, one that will leave readers wanting more.
Creator: City Hunter, etc.
I was amazed by the amount of high-quality entries in this round. What really impressed me this time was the artwork. It was emotional. There were quite a few pieces that moved me to tears, and I felt the potential to convey emotions effectively. It made me think there are creators who can really grow in this field. The ability to express and convey emotions is remarkable. These aspects should be acknowledged and appreciated.
Co-Creator: Fist of the North Star, etc.
The overall impression of artwork is remarkable. However, there are no gripping aspects to the story; it just ends smoothly, leaving an impression of “Oh, is that how it ends?” It would be good to think a bit more about the flow of the story, like the development and conclusion. Many of the entries lack in terms of climax, and just end abruptly, leaving no lasting impression as a story. However, the artwork alone seems to excel in emotional expression, which has the potential to excel in Japan as well.
Creator: Yoroshiku Mecha-Doc, etc.
This time around, I could sense great potential in the artwork, but I still feel that there is plenty of room for growth in terms of storytelling and manga-like creation. It is important to convey the protagonist’s emotional changes in a single scene within the drama. Whether the character’s emotions are conveyed without dialogue is in my opinion, the most crucial part of the silent manga.
Creator: Koroshi-ya Menkichi (Menkichi the Avenger), etc.
The level is improving with each round! It’s a talent to convey what you want to say with easy-to-understand paneling. There are some authors who make readers think hard, making them read over and over again until they understand, but on the other hand, there are also those who have the skill to convey their thoughts clearly and simply. The technique of conveying the intensity of feelings through art is inherently present. Each work still has space and potential for growth, and I’m excited to see it being developed further.
CEO, COAMIX Inc.
Author:
Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure,
etc.
(Former Chief Editor, Weekly Shonen Jump)
Monthly Comic ZENON Editorial Dept.
We’ve also felt the improvement of the art in this round. With the theme of “Memorable Smiles,” you clearly achieved the goal to depict great expressions. There might be aspects like the story being unclear, but especially works done by younger creators show great promise and we’re looking forward to introduce them to the Japanese readers as well.
Publications: Record of Ragnarok, etc.
A manga set with vibrant colored markers, illustration prints, and even multiliners from Copic.
Check THIS VIDEO to see how this prize can be used to create beautiful manga!
A curated set of 12 colored markers bundled with a guidebook from Copic.
Check THIS VIDEO to see how this prize can be used to create beautiful manga!
A manga set with models and instructions to learn how to draw analogue manga from I・C.
Check THIS VIDEO to see how this prize can be used to create beautiful manga!
GRAND PRIX
500,000 JPY
Offer to Enter the MasterClass
Introduction to our Artists Village Aso 096k Project
To Be Published on the Manga App “MangaHot”
To Be Featured in Monthly Comic ZENON
TITLE You Have My Heart
CREATOR plushelisa
COUNTRY France
Read this MANGA
Tsukasa HOJO:
The scene of an encounter between a boy with a broken heart and a high school
student who misses the train is beautifully depicted with incredibly dramatic
art direction. Your work firmly grabs the reader’s heart with its variety of
character expressions, the gap between casual and memorable facial expressions,
and the camera angles and panel layout that create an exquisite tempo…It makes
me want to read the rest of this story!
GRAND PRIX RUNNER-UP
300,000 JPY
Offer to Enter the MasterClass
Introduction to our Artists Village Aso 096k Project
To Be Published on the Manga App “MangaHot”
To Be Featured in Monthly Comic ZENON
TITLE Don’t Be Cruel
CREATOR Lufty Adam
COUNTRY Singapore
Read this MANGA
Ryuji TSUGIHARA:
I enjoyed the setting of the friendship between a human transfer student and a
monster high school girl. The carefully drawn pictures and the well-constructed
story were highly evaluated. If the story can be developed in a way that exceeds
the reader’s expectations and if small objects that symbolize the emotional
contact between the transfer student and the monster can be added, it is likely
to be even more impressive.
Too Marker Products. Inc.:
We enjoyed the touching parts of the story that values the inner feelings over
appearance. The character design and expression were expressive and memorable as
well! We thought it would be really interesting to see how your characters would
come across by using vivid colors of Copic markers.
TITLE Paint my black in colors of smile
CREATOR Akari Sayaka
COUNTRY Ukraine
Read this MANGA
Tetsuo HARA:
There were many very artistic expressions and I felt a unique sensibility. The
passion for drawing and directing expression can be clearly felt, and the facial
expressions of the characters are well drawn and amazing. I liked the boy who
opened his heart and courage to smile, and I would have liked to see more of his
smile at the end when he received the soccer ball from his friend.
Too Marker Products. Inc:
We were impressed by the representation of the world as seen from the
protagonist’s point of view, the decrease of black color as the story progresses
and the increase of white color at the same time. We would love to see how this
would look by using the IC Screen tools!
TITLE On the edge
CREATOR Syoera
COUNTRY Vietnam
Read this MANGA
Nobuhiko HORIE:
I laughed when I saw the expression on the cat’s face in the last part. In that
sense, it is the most manga-like work because of the effective “punch” at the
end. The realistic and careful depiction of the interaction between the cat and
the girl from the first half of the story makes the reader laugh when the last
development exceeds the reader’s expectations. I would have liked to see the
characters depicted in the play in a “smile-inducing moment,” but there is no
doubt that this is a work that will make readers laugh.
TITLE ARIA
CREATOR Gentle Coda
COUNTRY Australia
Read this MANGA
Tetsuo HARA:
This work depicts the delicate emotions of the characters very well. Although
the work is still in its infancy, I can sense a high level of artistic ability.
The panel layout and angles are also very elaborate, giving this work the
highest score in my opinion. The idea of expressing the emotional bond between
the two heroines by sharing a pair of sports shoes was excellent. I hope you
will continue to improve your talent by drawing more and more works in the
future.
TITLE Fire
CREATOR Zaki
COUNTRY Spain
Read this MANGA
ZENON Editorial Dept:
We found the idea of a chess match between a veteran and a girl, intially
depicted as a war scene, very interesting. We highly appreciated the high
quality of the artwork and the careful depiction of the characters, horses, and
backgrounds. It is a little regrettable that the “Memorable Smile” in the last
part of the story was not more mature due to the nature of the work.
EXCELLENCE AWARD
100,000 JPY
To Be Published on the Manga App “MangaHot”
To Be Featured in Monthly Comic ZENON
TITLE Under The Starry Sky
CREATOR Yuno
COUNTRY Austria
Read this MANGA
Tsukasa HOJO:
The part where they look out of the sea surface and look up at the starry sky
together and the part where the sea boy’s smile overflows is impressive. The
story is well structured and can be read without any sense of discomfort, which
earns high evaluation, in my opinion. I hope you will continue to do your best
in the future.
Too Marker Products. Inc.:
The story of two characters overcoming each others’ differences and gazing at
the endless space was heartwarming. We would love to see the underwater world,
the space, as well as their gorgeous expressions brought to colorful life with
Copic Markers!
TITLE Memorable birthday
CREATOR Volpe
COUNTRY Mexico
Read this MANGA
Jun TOMIZAWA:
Your drawing ability is high and the expressions of the characters are
attractive. The interaction between the father dressed as a clown and the son
who notices him was very movingly directed and very good. The last shot shows
the expression on the son’s face when he meets his father, but I thought it
would have been even more memorable if another panel had been added to show a
close-up of the son’s smiling face.
Too Marker Products. Inc:
The expressions of the characters (especially the protagonist and father) were
carefully drawn, and we were drawn to the story immediately! We were impressed
by your ability of using the screen tones, and we would love to see you portray
those expressions in analogue way by using IC Screen tools.
TITLE Rainy Man
CREATOR Maxime Barlé
COUNTRY France
Read this MANGA
Jun TOMIZAWA:
I really liked the idea of a man who always has a rain cloud over his head. The
way you used the weather conditions of the rain cloud to express the changes in
the character’s emotions is a direction that is easy for the reader to
understand and relate to. I would have liked to have seen the expression on the
face of the hero and his female colleague at the moment when they smile at each
other in the last scene, next to each other and not from the side.
TITLE Glimpse
CREATOR Baktiabe
COUNTRY Indonesia
Read this MANGA
Ryuji TSUGIHARA:
Since we, the judges, are also old, we could empathize with your story even
more. I thought that the scene in which the old man sees the image of his late
wife and the old man’s tears and smile at the end hit the reader’s heart more
effectively because of the connection between the characters in the story and
the sadness in the old man’s heart being carefully depicted in a dramatic way.
Well done!
TITLE ROSA
CREATOR Heol
COUNTRY France
Read this MANGA
Nobuhiko HORIE:
Your work earns a high level of evaluation in terms of both drawing and art
direction. The panel layout and angles are elaborate, and I felt the power of
the production that drew me into the story. It is a little regrettable that the
last cut, in which the main character smiles with tears in his eyes, is so
simple, as it is a very moving story. I think it would have been better if more
panels were used to heighten the emotion.
TITLE Ten Years Revenge
CREATOR Jeffrey Roberto Lopez
COUNTRY Nicaragua
Read this MANGA
Tetsuo HARA:
I felt the persistence that went into this story. The lively panel layout and
the careful depiction of the characters’ movements and facial expressions scored
high marks in my opinion. There are still some rough edges, but I think the
strength of your desire to convey something comes across in the lines and grabs
the reader’s attention. I hope you continue to draw more and improve your
talent!
TITLE Duet
CREATOR Yam
COUNTRY United States
Read this MANGA
Tsukasa HOJO:
I felt that you are very talented in incorporating visual camera angles into the
panels. The panel layout is a bit different from that of Japanese manga, but I
think the production and drawing skills are wonderful, as if you could hear the
heroine’s piano playing. The rough-looking drawings look attractive, but in the
future, I would also like to see carefully detailed drawings.
TITLE Remain
CREATOR Okagawa Kenji
COUNTRY Brazil
Read this MANGA
Jun TOMIZAWA:
Your work depicts in detail both characters and backgrounds, creating a unique
world view. The emotional depth shown through the grandfather’s expressions as
he protects his granddaughter’s painting was also very impressive. I appreciated
the twist at the end, where the grown-up granddaughter draws her grandfather,
which was very unexpected and added a significant impact to the story.
Too Marker Products. Inc.:
It was very moving to see the grandfather looking forward to life with the main
character’s memories and drawings. We were also impressed by the very detailed
style and the different touch between the characters and the paints, and we
would love to see your unique world colored by using Copic markers!
TITLE HOMECOMINGS
CREATOR DODO & TOSHI
COUNTRY Italy
Read this MANGA
Nobuhiko HORIE:
I evaluated highly the moment when the father, seeing his son smile, puts work
aside to play together. It was simple but very realistic. If you focused on the
scenes of father and son laughing together a bit more, it would have made the
story even more touching. The artistry and the nuanced expressions are
impressive and I’m looking forward to seeing your future works as well.
Too Marker Products. Inc.:
It was very moving to see a parent and child learning about the importance of
feelings over efficiency and time.The school and the meadow in the background
are easy to imagine, and we would love to see your characters and setting drawn
in colors.
HONORABLE MENTION
10,000 JPY
TITLE Social Smile(an)xiety
CREATOR Adamantink
COUNTRY Spain
Read this MANGA
Tsukasa HOJO:
Your high artistic skill and attention to detail in the artwork are simply worth
to praise. You portrayed the protagonist’s discomfort in crowds effectively, and
it created a nice contrast to the memorable moment when he finds his lover at a
party. However, I found the use of smartphones and symbols to convey situations
through social media interactions a little regretful, as this concept, while
creative, could be somewhat difficult for readers to understand.
TITLE A Different Approach
CREATOR Hikikomorino Arushii
COUNTRY Philippines
Read this MANGA
Ryuji TSUGIHARA:
I appreciate the story development where a female student, who is feared because
she struggles with smiling, bravely attempts a clumsy smile, leading to a
friendship and smiles among her peers. However, I somewhat felt you missed an
opportunity for not including a scene of eye contact between her and the male
student whose advice helped her make friends. Do your best and I am looking
forward to seeing your works in the future!
TITLE Alone
CREATOR Mika Nikolas
COUNTRY Philippines
Read this MANGA
ZENON Editorial Dept:
We appreciated the scene where the protagonist energetically dances while
listening to music. The presence was very relatable and impactful. The manga
successfully captures engaging episodes that many can empathize with – which is
a very important aspect of manga production. We hope that by drawing more, your
artistic skill will improve, especially if you pay greater attention to detail,
which will enhance the quality of the work further.
SMA Editorial Dept. Award
For more amazing manga, check out the SMA20 Nominees and Candidates!
View the SMA20 Finalists – Nominees and Candidates!The new SILENT MANGA AUDITION® is already open!
We can’t wait to display YOUR work in the next SMA!
A message from SMA Chief Editor, Shuichi “Mocchi” Mochida
Shuichi “Mocchi” Mochida
Board Member, COAMIX Inc.
CEO, Kumamoto COAMIX Inc.
Chief Editor, SILENT MANGA AUDITION® Committee
We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the entrants of the 20th SILENT MANGA AUDITION®(SMA20). This round’s theme was “Memorable Smile” and we received a record number of 909 entries from 84 countries, making it the round with the largest number of entries since the establishment of the audition.
SMA20 produced many remarkable prize-winning works, including the GRAND PRIX recipient, Plushelisa’s from France. For this reason, we’ve decided to exclusively introduce the GRAND PRIX and GRAND PRIX RUNNER-UPs to the readers of the “Monthly Comic ZENON” and have them printed in the April issue. The judges were overall very impressed by the high quality of the entries.
The judges commented on the overall improvement in drawing and panel layout techniques, including drawing and directing skills. However, there were some works that lacked the characters, episodes, and story structured in a way that would move the readers’ hearts.
SMA is a global manga audition that focuses on the evaluation of production skills. I expect that creators who are technically competent will be able to create manga that will leave an even greater impression on readers by developing the characters, episodes, and direction to express the message they want to convey. Creators who have just started making manga are encouraged to learn a lot from the works of SMA’s senior artists and aim to surpass them.
SILENT MANGA AUDITION® strives to be the greatest opportunity for manga creators, aspiring to debut in Japan. This includes SMA MasterClass who are working hard here at the Artists Village Aso 096k in Kumamoto, Japan, and continue to produce published works. We hope you keep improving your skills and look to the best entries from this round for inspiration as you get ready for SMA21!.
We will do what is in our power in supporting those artists who continue to strive for excellence. We look forward to receiving your submissions in the future as well!
Shuichi “Mocchi” Mochida