#Japan #Tokyo #Creator Contest #LINE Manga #webtoon awards

LINE Manga Launches Grand Webtoon Award 2025

LINE Digital Frontier, based in Minato, Tokyo, has announced an exciting initiative that aims to energize the manga community. Starting November 21, the company launched its most esteemed award to date - the "LINE Manga webtoon Award 2025". This award comes with an unprecedented top prize of 10 million yen, ensuring that all winners will have a pathway to publishing their work.

Overview of the Award

The LINE Manga webtoon Award 2025 is designed to discover and promote original webtoon and horizontal reading manga talents. This event is a major step forward in LINE Manga's ongoing commitment to support and nurture creators in the manga industry. Given the recent success of various webtoon titles produced in Japan, the award aims to broaden the genres and reach of webtoon creations, delivering a diverse array of stories to readers.

The top prize winner not only receives 10 million yen, the largest award in LINE Manga’s history, but also secures rights for serialization on the LINE Manga platform along with guaranteed distribution through the company's global services. All awardees will be assigned an editor from the LINE Manga WEBTOON STUDIO, ensuring they receive professional support for their debut. Additionally, they will receive valuable art software—CLIP STUDIO PAINT—sponsored by CELSYS, suitable for phones, tablets, and PCs. There’s also a special giveaway campaign for the first 100 early submissions of completed manuscripts.

Special Judges for the Award

Prominent figures in the manga community have agreed to participate as special judges for this prestigious award. The panel includes celebrated creators like T.Jun, who crafted the story for "Kenkadouku", and yaongyi, known for "Shimanekokai". Their involvement not only lends credibility to the award but also emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community support in the creative process. They have shared encouraging messages to the hopeful creators, reinforcing that persistence and passion are paramount for success in this competitive field.

Reader Engagement and Selection Process

The award process will be transparent and participative, incorporating reader voting following the first round of selections. This shift allows fans and the community to actively participate in the recognition of upcoming authors, reinforcing the bond between creators and their audience. Potential applicants are encouraged to take part in "LINE Manga WEBTOON Meetup"—free online seminars offering insights and techniques from experienced manga creators. These are open to both novices and those who have previously worked on webtoons, providing a supportive environment for everyone.

Award Details

The award period extends from November 21, 2025, to February 15, 2026. Only original webtoon submissions are allowed, and there are no restrictions on genre or presentation (though color is encouraged). For those interested in the complete manuscript category, submissions must consist of a minimum of 40 panels, while multiple chapters can submit up to three for consideration.

Prize Categories

• - Grand Prize: 10 million yen, serialization rights on LINE Manga, and global distribution rights.
• - Excellence Award: 3 million yen and serialization rights.
• - Reader Vote Award: 3 million yen and publication rights.
• - Special Jury Award: 1 million yen and publication rights.
• - Special Award: 500,000 yen and editorial support.
• - Honorable Mention: 50,000 yen and editorial support.
• - Name Award: 300,000 yen and editorial support.

Submission Guidelines

Interested creators can submit entries via the "LINE Manga Indies" platform. Full details, including submission guidelines and requirements, can be found on the designated event webpage.

The selection timeline includes the announcement of first-round winners in March 2026, with a voting period for readers to select their favorite entries, concluding with the final results revealed in May 2026.

Conclusion

LINE Manga is dedicated to the growth and revitalization of the manga market through dynamic initiatives like the webtoon Award, and the upcoming webtoon seminars, affirming its commitment to blending creativity with community, enabling new narratives that resonate with audiences everywhere.

For more information, check out the official website X.