Result of the Preliminary Round
Comment on the Preliminaries
It was great that there were many highly passionate entries.
The entries submitted can be divided into several types:those that expressed the given theme in a straightforward manner, those that gave it a little twist, and those that changed it into laughter.
However, in the end, those that rose to the top were mostly works that specialized in something, such as being easy to understand, having a strong message, or being skillfully drawn.
By focusing on what one wants to express the most, the feelings and passion of the artist are easily conveyed.
The power of manga has overpowered Covid-19’s feeling of hopelessness!
I felt first-hand how manga has taken root throughout the world!
The judging room was buzzing with the enthusiastic energy coming from the entries!
Thank you for all the laughter and heartfelt feelings!
I was surprised at how the act of drawing manga can make people’s hearts pure both in Japan and abroad!
On the other hand, it also reminded me how difficult it can be to create a “unique perspective” and a “unique way of expression”.
There were many works that faced the theme head-on with their straightforward interpretations.
I would like to see more originality, such as personal settings and ideas.
It was fun to see the works of people from all over the world.
For this year’s contest, both the quantity and quality of the entries have improved, making this a very worthwhile contest.
Although the word “distance” has become a word that we often hear in this time of Covid-19, there were many positive stories and many that made me laugh. This gives me hope for the future.
For “growth”, a large number of entries were similar in content. I chose the ones that I felt shone the brightest.
I look forward to next year’s contest, with lots of stories from lots of countries.
Works that have passed the Preliminary Round
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】KNOW
- Judge comments
- The fact that it's not difficult to read even with many panels used, shows the technical skill of the artist. It is a good work with very persuasive content and design.(Osawa Shuntaro)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】いくらなんでも…
- Judge comments
- Home delivery services, the plight of eateries, and the play on social distance... I was impressed by the way the manga cleverly and humorously incorporates the current times.(Morita Masafumi)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】脱出
- Judge comments
- A play on making matters worse during a severe situation!!(Muraoka Masahiro)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】夏の距離感
- Judge comments
- This artwork is clear and fast-paced, making it very easy to understand. I can't help but laugh when reading it. It is a manga that I like very much.(Kusaka Riki)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】防疫創世紀
- Judge comments
- It's funny as a manga and can also be used worldwide as an awareness poster.(Masaki Hidehisa)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】死角
- Judge comments
- Love how this brings a burst of laughter.The artistic level also helps boost the impact of the story!(Masaki Hidehisa)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】距離
- Judge comments
- Staying at home due to Covid-19 causes people to be like stars on Earth; separated and never touching. However, even though they are small, love and warmth can be felt.(Kusaka Riki)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】母親與女兒(母と娘)
- Judge comments
- This artwork is not about growing up, instead it shows how relationships change as part of growth. A great artwork that goes a step further into the theme. The art itself is also good.(Osawa Shuntaro)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】船遞
- Judge comments
- There were a couple of entries with the theme of "there is no distance of the heart", but this artwork is excellent in its attractiveness and its dramatic delivery. Perhaps he'll be a fisherman in the future too.(Morita Masafumi)
- 1枚まんが【高校生部門】距離
- Judge comments
- The picture quality is poor, and it looks blurred when you zoom in. However, this just makes the ghostliness of the grandfather stand out even more.(Muraoka Masahiro)
Works that have passed the Preliminary Round
- 1枚まんが【フリー部門】スマホのなれの果て
- Judge comments
- When the lenses increased to three, I felt inexplicably uncomfortable (in my opinion). This end result... makes me want to scream. Photos taken will be one hell of a picture!(Morita Masafumi)
- 1枚まんが【フリー部門】大きくなったね
- Judge comments
- Great impact at first glance! Nice.(Muraoka Masahiro)
- 1枚まんが【フリー部門】ベビーベッド
- Judge comments
- This is a funny piece of work that shows that although the character has physically grown, we are unsure if he has grown mentally as well. This idea is expressed very well with just one picture.(Osawa Shuntaro)
- 1枚まんが【フリー部門】Even if they don't see your growth
- Judge comments
- The life lesson that growth is not something to be flaunted, is well expressed metaphorically.(Masaki Hidehisa)
- 1枚まんが【フリー部門】Growth
- Judge comments
- We gain some and we lose some, as we make choices that enriches our lives. We then share this with the next generation. A work of great depth.(Kusaka Riki)
Final Judging
- Date
- 6th March 2021 (Sat)
- Summary
- The final judging and announcement of the results will be broadcasted live at the “National Mangaka Online Daikaigi (tentative name)”, an online event featuring many famous manga artists! In addition to the World Manga Senbatsu finals, the event will be filled with other programs for manga fans to enjoy, including a manga artist talk show!