SILENT MANGA AUDITION® SMA25 MANGA COMPETITION 2027
“A Kind Heart”
An international manga competition open to creators from around the world
The SILENT MANGA AUDITION® (SMA) is the world’s biggest manga audition, exclusively for manga without dialogue. Through silent manga, talented international creators have the same opportunity as Japanese creators to enter the world of manga.
The theme of SMA25 is “A Kind Heart.”
Competition Theme
The theme of this round is “A Kind Heart.”
Through this theme, the organizers aim to convey the Japanese concept of “omoiyari,” which describes consideration, thoughtfulness, and kindness toward others. Omoiyari can also include an element of self-sacrifice, in which a person puts the needs of others above their own.
Participants are encouraged to create stories in which characters consider the needs and emotions of others, put themselves in other people’s shoes, open their hearts, and show kindness and consideration.
The stories do not have to be grand or extraordinary. Small, everyday acts of kindness are also welcome, such as helping an elderly person carry shopping bags or giving a seat on a train to a young child.
The most important rule is that the story must remain “silent.”
Create a 5–17 page manga without dialogue, using pure visual storytelling that can move readers around the world without language barriers.
Submission Dates
Submission Period:
November 15, 2026 – January 15, 2027
Judging Period:
January 16, 2027 – March 31, 2027
Results:
April 30, 2027
Prizes
Grand Prix
¥500,000
- Offer to enter the MasterClass
- Editorial support
- Introduction to the Artists Village Aso 096k Project
Grand Prix Runner-Up
¥300,000
- Offer to enter the MasterClass
- Editorial support
- Introduction to the Artists Village Aso 096k Project
Excellence Award
¥100,000
- Excellence Award and above will be published on “Zenon Plus.”
- Excellence Award Runner-Ups and above will be featured in Monthly Comic ZENON.
Excellence Award Runner-Up
¥30,000
- Excellence Award Runner-Ups and above will be featured in Monthly Comic ZENON.
Honorable Mention
¥10,000
Participation Benefits
Professional Editorial Feedback for Every Entry
Every entry receives professional editorial feedback.
The feedback will identify the strengths of the submitted work and highlight areas that participants can practice and develop toward creating professional-level manga.
Three-Month FREE Trial of Clip Studio Paint EX
Entrants who complete the survey after entering will receive a three-month Clip Studio Paint EX activation code.
The free trial code can only be received once.
Submission Rules
Manuscript
- NO DIALOGUE. Tell your story through images alone.
- Reading order should preferably be right to left.
- Preferably use monochrome only.
- The theme “A Kind Heart” must be the core of your story.
Number of Pages
- 5–17 pages
File Size and Format
- 2 MB or under
- JPG or PNG files only
- JPEG files are NOT accepted
What Is Allowed
- Multiple entries
- Entries created by partners, groups, etc.
- Onomatopoeia / sound effects (SFX) in any language
- Text appearing on traffic signs, book titles, etc.
- Legally obtained 3D models or assets that are copyright-free or approved for commercial use
- A title page may be included, but it is not mandatory
What Is Not Allowed
- Plagiarism
- Nudity
- Explicit violence
- Material likely to cause offense
- Copyrighted pictures
- Preset photographs or drawings of people and backgrounds
- The use of AI-generated software to produce drawings
- The use of emojis in speech bubbles instead of text as a means of creating dialogue
Canvas Sizes
B4
Trimmed artwork area: 220 × 310 mm
Main content area: 180 × 270 mm
Trim margin: 20 mm
A4
Trimmed artwork area: 279 × 198 mm
Main content area: 261 × 180 mm
Trim margin: 9 mm
Note: Works created on paper must be scanned and digitized at 300 dpi resolution.
Submission Method
For SMA25, submissions are accepted through a Google Form.
To submit:
- You must have a Gmail account.
- Number your pages sequentially, such as
page_01,page_02,page_03. - Export your pages as PNG or JPG files.
- Compress the pages into a ZIP file.
- Submit the ZIP file through the official Google Form.
After a successful submission, an automatic confirmation email will be sent.
If there are problems such as an incorrect number of pages, incorrect file name, or incorrect file type, an automatic email will explain the problem and request a resubmission.
The SMA team checks submissions and may contact participants by email if there are problems with the content, such as dialogue, text, or graphic content. Participants should therefore check their email regularly.
Judging Criteria
The SMA judges evaluate entries according to the following criteria, with the expression of the characters’ emotions being particularly important.
Emotions
Characters’ emotions should be expressed and displayed clearly.
Originality
The story and setting should demonstrate the creator’s originality.
Composition
The theme should be communicated effectively through a story that is easy to understand and enjoyable to read through its paneling.
Judges
- Tsukasa HOJO
- Tetsuo HARA
- Ryuji TSUGIHARA
- Jun TOMIZAWA
- Nobuhiko HORIE
- Monthly Comic ZENON Editorial Department
- SMA Editorial Department
Official Information
Official competition page:
SILENT MANGA AUDITION® SMA25 – “A Kind Heart”
Important: Competition dates, submission requirements, and other rules may be changed by the organizers. Please check the official website for the latest information before submitting your work.