Reading your works, I really felt your anger! All around the world, people have a lot of built-up stress and frustration. There were many stories about school, the workplace, and war, which are themes that people, regardless of nationality, can empathize with. I really enjoyed reading these works! Even so, I noticed that many works expressed anger very straightforwardly, and I wanted more works to incorporate a twist.
Creator: City Hunter, etc.
The overall level of the works was quite high! Although the average level was higher, there were fewer works that stood out to me. I, too, felt that many creators chose to depict anger straightforwardly, without adding an extra level or a twist to their works. I would encourage all participants to return to their favorite manga and study how the story is constructed.
Co-Creator: Fist of the North Star, etc.
The average artistic level of the works goes up each round, and this round was no different. I was very impressed with the drawings, and I felt that the creators who participated displayed the key emotion very successfully. I still felt, however, that many works lacked some essential parts of a story, and therefore packed a weaker punch.
Creator: Yoroshiku Mecha-Doc, etc.
While I enjoyed reading your works, I felt there was a common pattern for creators to link anger to violence. Many works showed their main characters getting angry, committing acts of violence, and then feeling relieved afterwards. I think there are many other directions to take this theme in, so I would have liked to a greater variety of takes on the theme.
Creator: Koroshi-ya Menkichi (Menkichi the Avenger), etc.
In manga, it’s important to tell a ‘beautiful lie’. We want to fascinate the readers and make them wonder what life would be like in the world of the manga, and for that, you need a ‘beautiful lie’. I felt that a lot of creators portrayed anger in a straightforward and realistic manner. It’s not impossible to make a manga more based in reality, but to do so, you need a lot more than 17 pages. Therefore, I’d like creators to think about what kinds of ‘beautiful lies’ they can mix with the theme to create their works.
CEO, COAMIX Inc.
Author:
Keiji’s Kabuki Adventure,
etc.
(Former Chief Editor, Weekly Shonen Jump)
Monthly Comic ZENON Editorial Dept.
There were a lot of strong works this time around, especially when it came to expressions. There were quite a few creators who were able to draw a wealth of different expressions very effectively. We’re excited to see where those creators go in the future!
Publications: Record of Ragnarok, etc.
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 Quiet
CREATOR Yinfu & Cyenn
COUNTRY Taiwan
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Tsukasa HOJO:
This work hits you with two separate twists, both of which work perfectly. These creators were able to execute both twists naturally within the flow of the story, without it feeling like anything is over-explained. The execution of the twists was masterfully done, and the paneling, drawings, and facial expressions were all fantastic. I think I speak for all of the judges when I say that I’m very excited to see what yinfu and cyenn create next!
EXCELLENCE AWARD
100,000 JPY
To Be Published on the Manga App “MangaHot”
To Be Featured in Monthly Comic ZENON
TITLE Warzone Trade
CREATOR xalalix
COUNTRY United Arab Emirates
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Tetsuo HARA:
I was completely swept away by the atmosphere of this piece. The drawings, the character designs, and the paneling were not only strong, but also incredibly innovative. They all worked in harmony to build the atmosphere of the piece, and I was completely absorbed in this unique world. While the worldbuilding and atmosphere stood out, the story was a bit difficult to follow, especially towards the end, so I would encourage this creator to work a little bit more on narrative comprehensibility.
TITLE Mr. Crow of the Forest
CREATOR Bayu Harditama
COUNTRY Indonesia
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Nobuhiko HORIE:
This is another piece that swept the judges away with its unique atmosphere and worldbuilding. Furthermore, this piece flawlessly incorporated a ‘beautiful lie’; it presented me with a fascinating world very different from my own. I was really taken by Mr. Crow and his rabbit friend, and by the end of the story, I wanted to know more about them: who is Mr. Crow, really? And what is this world that he lives in? My only piece of constructive criticism would be that I wish the theme was a bit more central to the story.
TITLE Hot in snow
CREATOR Mckieey
COUNTRY India
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ZENON Editorial Dept:
In this piece, the creator chose to depict a very small event. Most of us have lined up for something, and some of us do it every day. It was a very small event, and a very small kind of anger, but that’s what made it so fun and relatable. The camera work throughout the piece was very strong, with panels from a variety of different angles. We just wish that the final twist was something a little stronger and more unexpected.
TITLE I am here even if I am not
CREATOR Leena Jasim and Niemand
COUNTRY Iraq and Germany
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Ryuji TSUGIHARA:
The story was structured and paced very successfully. As a reader, I felt each one of the protagonist’s emotions with her. However, the drawings are still a little rough, so I’d like to see the artist continue to hone her craft. If I were to give one suggestion in terms of paneling and page composition, I would suggest switching around the composition of your double-page spread, so that the protagonist is on the right, instead.
TITLE Justice Strike
CREATOR Obosobo
COUNTRY Poland
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Jun TOMIZAWA:
The story flowed very well, and was easy to understand. On top of that, it had an emotional depth that really impressed me. I think this creator is very adept at showing the complex nature of humanity and human emotions. The story relied on some coincidences in order to reach its conclusion, and while that is quite common in manga, the story would be stronger if it didn’t rely on those coincidences as heavily.
TITLE Goodbye, Sweet Boys!
CREATOR CMKevinLi
COUNTRY The UK
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Tsukasa HOJO:
This story was brimming with rage! This creator did a fantastic job of creating a story that fit the theme perfectly. The drawings were also very clean, which made reading this piece a stress-free and enjoyable experience. While I enjoyed the overall story and the way the theme was portrayed, I was unsure why this creator chose to make the main character a devil. I think it would have been easier to empathize with the main character if he were human.
TITLE Play With Me
CREATOR Haanz
COUNTRY Vietnam
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Nobuhiko HORIE:
The drawings in this piece were quite striking. They looked a little rough around the edges, but that suited the piece in a way. The facial expressions were drawn vividly, and so the main character’s emotions were communicated to the readers very clearly. I think this creator has a bright future ahead of them! I would encourage them to keep honing their artistic and story-telling skills. Next time, I’d like to see a piece from them that incorporates the theme more centrally in the story.
TITLE Enough!
CREATOR Fat nova
COUNTRY Morocco
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Tsukasa HOJO:
The drawings were clean and energetic, which added to the ambiance of the piece. All of the judges were impressed with the quality of the drawings, especially at such a young age! The story was appropriate for the theme and flowed well. However, we’ve seen similar stories in past rounds of the SMA, so we’d like to see this creator do something new and unique to them in the next SMA!
TITLE In clouds
CREATOR eminora
COUNTRY Latvia
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Jun TOMIZAWA:
Personally, I loved this creator’s drawing style. The characters’ expressions were really varied, so they were able to express a wide range of emotions. If a few issues could be ironed out in the story, I think this would be a really successful piece. For example, I thought the third task the girl was asked to do (to feed the cat) was a bit difficult to understand, and I would have liked for the double-page spread to be just a bit more impactful.
TITLE The Test
CREATOR Adzukirin
COUNTRY Indonesia
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Jun TOMIZAWA:
If this is the first manga you’ve ever drawn, at only 16, then you may be a genius! Your drawings are looking good already, so keep practicing! You’ll only improve from here. The story was fun, and the topic was something everyone can relate to. I think everyone has been betrayed by their pencil during an important test at least once in their lives. However, the ending of your manga was a bit difficult to understand (did the mechanical pencil break? Or did it just not have any lead?). Keep practising and remember to prioritize comprehensibility in your story!
TITLE Escape Act
CREATOR Yoikaha
COUNTRY Indonesia
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Tetsuo HARA:
The drawings are incredible, and the story was thrilling! The pacing was very well done, and while reading, I felt a sense of urgency and panic. The twist was also well-executed and very unexpected. However, this piece felt very off-theme. I would have liked for the main character to get angry at his family at the end in order for this work to fit the theme better.
TITLE Catharsis
CREATOR TAGASAING
COUNTRY The Philippines
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Ryuji TSUGIHARA:
The drawings are beautifully done, and the twist in the story succeeded in surprising us! The main character’s expressions are incredibly expressive, and you can really feel her pain and the complexity of her emotion in the final panel. The story ends on essentially the same note that it started on, but I would have preferred for some kind of change to have occurred by the end.
TITLE The Weight of Days
CREATOR ric yang
COUNTRY China
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Tetsuo HARA:
The atmosphere of this piece is so strong that it succeeded in transforming average, daily occurrences into something repulsive and foul. Through creative use of camera angles, and by distorting their characters, this creator was able to completely change our perceptions of relatively normal events, as well as to create a distinct aura to their piece. While the atmosphere of this work is strong, the story becomes unclear towards the end, so I would recommend that this creator work on smoothing out the transition between pages, as well as checking with friends and family that the story is comprehensible.
HONORABLE MENTION
10,000 JPY
TITLE Suppressed Feelings
CREATOR LT
COUNTRY Thailand
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Jun TOMIZAWA:
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There was a lot of thought put into the main message and the way that message was conveyed, and I thought the story displayed a lot of emotional maturity. I simply wish that the drawings were a bit more developed, in order to portray the message in a more impactful, meaningful way. I thought there were a lot of missed opportunities to create big, stand-out moments, such as the scene in which the main character’s other ‘self’ comes out of the mirror.
TITLE GAME TO WIN!
CREATOR Pearlyn M. x Cyrus Romanes
COUNTRY United States and the Philippines
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Ryuji TSUGIHARA:
The drawings in this piece were incredibly well done. The characters had a wide range of facial expressions, and their emotions came across very clearly. Although I understood the characters’ emotions, I found those emotions to be somewhat shallow. For example, the main character reconciles with his rival very suddenly at the end. I wish there had been a bit more emotional complexity to this story, but even as it is, I very much enjoyed it!
TITLE The Paper-man
CREATOR Alma
COUNTRY France
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Tetsuo HARA:
The drawing style is still a bit rough, but the page layouts were incredibly innovative, and there were a lot of big, dynamic panels that caught our attention. The biggest issue was that the theme of ‘rage’ was not as strong as it could have been, and the central moment of ‘rage’ could have been much bigger. That being said, we’re very impressed with what this creator has achieved at such a young age, and we hope that they will continue to make manga!
TITLE That Big Roach!
CREATOR Pearlyn M. x Anzuarden_Art
COUNTRY United States and Indonesia
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Nobuhiko HORIE:
The drawings are beautifully depicted, the main character is extremely expressive, and the multiple moments of rage came across very clearly. This was a really fun piece to read, but, as a reader, that was my only real takeaway. The idea behind this piece is almost a bit too basic, so it would be stronger if there was more of a complex message behind it.
TITLE That’s Enough!
CREATOR abnormality
COUNTRY Singapore
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ZENON Editorial Dept:
The main character displayed a full range of emotions (including rage!) very clearly, and we felt like we got to know a lot about her and her life in just a few pages. Excellent work! There are some scenes that feel like they don’t add much to the story and could be trimmed down, but overall, we think this creator has a lot of promise!
TITLE ☩ R I V A L ☩
CREATOR codelune
COUNTRY France
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ZENON Editorial Dept:
This creator is very skilled at drawing, and it was a joy to flip through this piece. They were very good at depicting movement and action, so we imagine they’d be good at drawing an battle/action manga! On the other hand, the premise of the story was a bit difficult to understand, and some of the scene changes were difficult to follow, so we’d like this creator to focus on greater comprehensibility in their next manga!
SMA Editorial Dept. Award
For more amazing manga, check out the SMA22 Nominees and Candidates!
View the SMA22 Finalists – Nominees and Candidates!The new SILENT MANGA AUDITION® round is already open!
We can’t wait to display YOUR work in the next round!
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
I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who participated in SMA22! Thanks to you, we received 1101 entries, the most entries for a single round in SMA history! Creators from 105 countries and regions participated, and eight new countries were represented: Luxembourg, Slovakia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Honduras, American Samoa, Barbados, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The judges noticed improvements in artwork, panelling, and artistic expression. Overall, participants successfully portrayed moments of deep, explosive rage, and we were very pleased to see that the theme resonated with a great number of people!
However, many works contained extremely straightforward depictions of ‘rage’, and I felt that their stories lacked conclusions that could surpass my expectations as a reader. To create a manga – even a short manga – that keeps readers engaged, it’s important to include a development that surprises them, while also delivering a convincing and satisfying ending. This is something that we, the judges, became more acutely aware of throughout the judging process. Therefore, unfortunately, we decided to forgo the Grand Prix prize altogether and instead award the Grand Prix Runner-up to a single work. We hope that everyone who participated in SMA22 will learn from this experience, and incorporate their own unique twists and perspectives on the theme (hopefully ones that can exceed readers’ expectations!) in their SMA23 works.
Past SILENT MANGA AUDITION® winners working at the Artists Village Aso 096k have begun to debut in Japan with serialized works, such as Fetal Parasite and Diagnosis From a Fallen Angel . More than ever, we feel the potential of overseas creators to debut in Japan, as well as a passion to provide opportunities for those talented, young creators. The world is overflowing with talent, so show us yours! We can’t wait to see how you all improve in SMA23. Until next time!
Shuichi “Mocchi” Mochida