9th
Award-winning WorksManga Division

On-line Manga entries, which numbered 12 last year, increased to 33 this year. There were a larger number of entries from abroad than from Japan, indicating the growing recognition of this award worldwide. Many of the works were breaking free of the limitations of drawing on paper, making use of digital features for movement, sound, and color. However, when the emphasis of a work becomes movement, it tends towards animation, which cannot be recognized as a manga; this is a challenge for the future. Independent Manga takes the number one ratio in the Manga Division; this is probably because the Manga Division in the Japan Media Arts Festival is becoming more widely known. Among them, there was a work adopting a painting technique, and also some characteristic works with new expressions done by digital means. They were unique, but it was a pity that there was a lack of stories. Although the Frame Manga received a slightly increased number of applications, there were few one-frame manga applications. Nonetheless, there were many well made pieces and they had their own taste distinct from Story Manga. I am expecting many more applications for the Frame Manga next time.

It was most welcome that the total number of applicants has increased this year. The On-line Manga, especially, enjoyed a marked 275 percent increased compared with last year, which suggests the likely future tendency of manga publication. The number of entries from abroad has gone up year after year; about 10% of entries in the Manga Division were from overseas. This is evidence of the increasing recognition of the "Manga Award" at the Japan Media Arts Festival. There was great variety in the work of the final candidates, which reflects the broad spectrum of the manga field; from overwhelmingly epic themed work to very personal stories, from excellent orthodox work to styles somewhere between the painting and manga; each fully competed with the other. As this "Manga Award" is open to any nationality, any age, and both professional and non-professional artists, we are hoping to receive an even greater number of entries next year.

The increased number of applications received this year suggests that these awards are becoming increasingly widely recognized. It is also a good sign that there were not only circulated publications but also self-published manga and coterie magazine among the entries. Digital Manga is expected and intended to expand the possibilities of manga. However, there was noticeable confusion amongst entrants over what differentiates "Digital Manga" from "animation". Animation is animation, whether digital or analog. "Digital Manga", however, is intended "to cultivate new ways of presenting manga through applying digital techniques", and is supposed to be working towards this ideal. It was something of a pity that so many works entered in this category from abroad were actually animations.