How to Apply

Submission Criteria

Theme: “Promise”
You can submit artwork made with any digital or traditional tool or software. If you create your submission using traditional tools, please submit a digital scan of the artwork. (Paper submissions will not be accepted)

• 8-16 page original work
• Comic / Bande Dessinée: Please submit in color
  Manga: Please submit in black-and-white
• Submissions may be formatted for right-to-left or left-to-right reading.
• There are no restrictions on language depicted in works.
• File Formats: PNG, JPEG, CLIP (CLIP STUDIO format), less than 32MB per page
• You can create your comic in any size, but we recommend using 300 dpi resolution for color comics and 600 dpi for black-and-white works.

• An original Webtoon (sized 690 x 16,000 pixels).
• Color
• There are no restrictions on language depicted in works.
• File Formats: PNG, JPEG, CLIP (CLIP STUDIO format), less than 32MB per page

• An 8-page black-and-white manga/comic or color webtoon (690x16,000 px) drawn according to the assigned storyboard.
• Other requirements are the same as the Comic, Manga, Bande Dessinée, and Webtoon categories.
• You can rearrange the storyboard structure of the assignment: lines, characters, etc.
• Storyboard (Published Dec. 26, 2019)
  Download the storyboard from here.
  - The age, sex, gender, and appearance of the characters, as well as the panel layout, dialogue, backgrounds, etc. may be changed however you like.
  - We look forward to seeing your creative interpretations and renditions of the theme storyboard.
  - As the storyboard has been translated from Japanese, please read from right to left.
  Full screen

  Storyboard 1

  > Download (Clip 41.2 MB)
  > Download (Jpeg 21.2 MB)

  A day before the tennis match of a lifetime, Terry receives a surprise visit. Who are they, and what promise do they want Terry to keep?

  Full screen

  Storyboard 2

  > Download (Clip 37.7 MB)
  > Download (Jpeg 23.5 MB)

  Two childhood friends reunite after a decade. The question is, does either remember their promise to get married after all these years?

• An original color illustration
• PNG or JPG format, less than 5MB.
• There are no size restrictions, but we recommend the below size:
• A4 sheet, 300 dpi (2480 x 3508 pixels)

Entry Rules

• Applicants must be students aiming to debut as professional creators such as manga artists and illustrators at the time of application.
• Submissions must be unpublished original artworks that have not won other contests and must be suitable for all ages. (You may submit artwork that has been published in fanzines or on websites that do not offer compensation for artwork.)
• It is not necessary to delete the items that have already been posted online or to social media before submitting to the contest, but please refrain from posting new artwork online until the contest results are announced.
• Multiple creators can apply with group-created artworks in the Comics/Manga/Bande dessinée/Webtoon categories if all the creators are students, and they agree to apply with one co-created work.
  Please check the following terms before submitting your artwork.
• - When applying, please select a representative to upload your work to Clip Studio SHARE with their Clip Studio account.
• - When entering a name in the application form, use either your group's pen name or your representative's name.
• - For contact information, enter the contact information of your representative. The contest organizer will only contact the representative's email address.
• - Prize money and goods will be sent to the representative, who should distribute them to the other group members upon receipt.
• Winners (including runners-up) have the opportunity to have their work critiqued by judges and sponsors. These comments will be uploaded to the organizer’s official website. Parts of the works may be publicly reproduced for the sake of these critiques.
• A teacher must register on behalf of the school or program in order for students to be eligible. If your status as a teacher cannot be confirmed, you will not be able to register your school for participation. Students will need to enter the school ID (issued when a school is registered) when submitting their artwork.
• Supporting companies may also contact contest participants for permission to display the artwork in their media. A participants’ name, age, e-mail address and school in which they are enrolled may be shared with these entities in such an event. Winners’ addresses will also be shared with sponsors for the purpose of shipping prizes. We appreciate your understanding of these rules when submitting your works.
• The winning entries may be used in promotional materials for Celsys, Inc. and collaborating companies.
• Text within entries may be translated into other languages to present the artwork to an international audience.
• Works are not eligible for submission or judging in the following cases:
• - If not for all ages.
• - Content that infringes on copyright or intellectual property.
• - Offensive or objectionable content.
• - Other entries may be deemed inadmissible by the organizer. In such cases, the reasons for exclusion will not be given.
• Contest entries will be posted online after results are announced. Entrants’ pen name, school name, country name, and work title will be displayed along with the work.
• If you are a digital artist and a winner of the Comic, Manga, Bande Dessinée, or Webtoon categories, please send us the data with the separate layers so that we may translate your comic. Please save the file with separate unmerged layers where possible.
• A single applicant may submit multiple entries.
• Prize money will be transferred to your PayPal account.
• Celsys may send information about sponsor companies to the school email address provided when registering.

How to Apply

A teacher must register on behalf of the school or program in order for students to be eligible. Students will need to enter the school ID (issued when a school is registered) when submitting their artwork.

Participant School RegistrationThe school registration period has ended.

Please enter the necessary information below in the application form. The contest organizer will send a school ID via e-mail at a later date for submitting contest entries. It may take up to five business days for your registration to be accepted. School IDs issued for previous contests cannot be used. If you have registered your school for previous contests, you still must register separately for this event.

Necessary Information:

School name, type of school, teacher’s name, e-mail address, phone number, school website URL, school’s logo file*

* Logo is optional. Provided school logos will be displayed on the official website at a later date.

To confirm that you are a school teacher, you need one of the following when you register:

- Teacher's email address with school domain
- Business card or ID photo
- Document proving that you are a teacher

Teacher

Participant School Registration

School ID sent by e-mail

How to Apply (Comic / Manga / Bande Dessinée / Webtoon Categories)We are no longer accepting entries.

Students should submit their work individually.

• Create a Clip Studio account
  Please create a free Clip Studio account to upload comic submissions. All you need is an email address to register an account.
  If you already have a Clip Studio account, skip to Step 2.
  

  Student

  Clip Studio Account

  Create a Clip Studio Account
• Upload your comic
  Upload your comic to Clip Studio SHARE. Clip Studio SHARE is an electronic viewer for easily embedding and reading comics and manga.
  When uploading to Clip Studio Share, please use the following settings:

  Visibility: Lock with a secret phrase. Please send us the secret phrase when submitting your entry.
  Comments: Turn off commenting
  

  Upload Your Work

  
  Upload your comic
• Submit via entry form
  Fill in the application form below and enter the URL of the entry published on Clip Studio SHARE.
  You will need your school ID when submitting your artwork.
  

  Enter your submission URL and school ID in the entry form

  We are no longer accepting entries.

  Submit your Entry

How to Apply (Illustration Category)

Students should submit their work individually.

• Fill in the application form below and upload your illustration.
  

  Student

  Enter your submission URL and school ID in the entry form

  We are no longer accepting entries.

  Submit an Illustration

Application FAQ

• Q: Can student applicants register their school?
  A: No, a school teacher must register their school for participation.
• Q: My school doesn’t have a website. Can I still apply?
  A: Yes, you can apply even if there is no school website. Please attach a copy of your business card, teacher identification card or other documentation proving your status as a teacher when applying.
• Q: What’s the difference between the Comic, Manga and Bande Dessinée categories?
  A: Submissions are accepted for each category. Please submit to the category you personally believe your work fits in best with. American style comics are best suited for the Comic category, while Japanese-style manga are best suited for the Manga category. However, note that the Comic and Bande Dessinée categories are for color comics, and the Manga category is for black-and-white submissions.
• Q: Can I enter works that have been in other contests?
  A: Yes, if they have not won any awards at other contests.
• Q: Can I publish my work online after entering?
  A: If a piece has already been published on social media or a website, it’s not necessary to delete it. However, please refrain from uploading an entered piece before the results announcement.
• Q: Can I submit a work that I made with my friend?
  A: Yes, multiple creators can apply with a single co-created work in the Comics/Manga/Bande dessinée/Webtoon categories if all the creators are students and they agree to apply with one co-created work. Please choose a representative to apply. Please check the application rules for details. The Illustration category is not eligible for co-created artworks.