Exciting Opportunity: Launch of NEXT Manga Award by Funguild!

Funguild Announces the First NEXT Manga Award!

Funguild, a publishing company based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, has made an exciting announcement that fans of manga have been waiting for. Starting from August 17, 2025, the first-ever NEXT Manga Award will be held under its fantasy label, comic spira. This initiative aims to discover new talent in the manga industry and provides a unique opportunity for aspiring authors to showcase their creativity and storytelling.

About NEXT Manga Award

The NEXT Manga Award is a chance for budding creators to step into the spotlight. Known for successful titles like "The Marquis Daughter Lydia’s Beautiful Decision" and "The Bride of the Black Demon", comic spira is committed to promoting dynamic new voices in the manga field. With a focus on encouraging submissions, the award features three distinct categories, where participants can submit original works starting from just four pages long.

Anyone aspiring to become a manga artist is welcomed to apply! Participants can submit works published on social media, school project assignments, or even those showcased in doujinshi (self-published works) as long as the content is original and not derivative of third-party projects.

Award Categories

The NEXT Manga Award will have three categories, each allowing artists to express their uniqueness:
1. Free Category: This section invites submissions from any genre, not limited to fantasy. Creators can submit original works they have shared online or published as doujinshi.
2. Comic Adaptation Category: Participants will be provided with story scenarios within the realms of fantasy featuring either a girl or boy protagonist from another world, allowing artists to utilize their strengths while adapting the given storylines.
3. Illustration Category: Like the adaptation category, this section also offers storyboards within the same fantasy settings for participants to illustrate and submit.

Schedule

- Start of Application: August 17, 2025 (Sunday)
- End of Application: October 6, 2025 (Monday, 23:59)
- Results Announcement: Expected to be in late November 2025

You can check the official comic spira website for advanced details regarding the provided storylines and guidelines for submission.
Visit comic spira's official site

Eligibility

Both amateur and professional creators are encouraged to apply. Anyone with a passion for storytelling can participate. However, those currently engaged in ongoing projects with the same or other publishing houses might be disqualified from the selection process.

Prizes and Benefits

Winning entries will be published on the official comic spira website, featuring feedback from the editorial team. Here’s a breakdown of the awards available:

- Grand Prize: ¥200,000 and guaranteed opportunity for publication
- Outstanding Prize: ¥100,000 and guaranteed opportunity for publication
- Honorable Mention: ¥50,000 with editorial support
- Encouragement Prize: ¥30,000 with editorial support
- Expectations Prize: Amazon gift cards worth ¥5,000

Awards will be selected from all three submission categories.

Judging Panel

The editorial team of comic spira will be responsible for the evaluations.

For more detailed information on application requirements and submission processes, please refer to the official comic spira NEXT Manga Award page.

About comic spira

comic spira is a label dedicated to exploring enchanting adventures and love in fantastical settings. It aims to be a refuge for readers seeking an escape from everyday life, offering works that inspire positivity and imagination after turning the last page. For more updates and insights, check out comic spira’s official site and follow @FG_spira on X (formerly Twitter).

Inquiries

For further details about this initiative, please contact Funguild’s public relations team:

- Address: 5th Floor, Bigs Shinjuku Building, 2-19-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-0022, Japan
- Phone: 050-3823-2233
- Fax: 03-3226-8190
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Funguild