Silent Manga Audition: "A Kind Heart"

The Silent Manga Audition is an international manga competition run by COAMIX, the Tokyo publisher behind Monthly Comic Zenon. Creators tell a complete story in 5 to 17 pages using images only, with no dialogue, so that it can be read in any language. The theme of this round is "A Kind Heart": kindness and consideration for others, inspired by the Japanese idea of omoiyari. The Grand Prix is ¥500,000, and the best entries are published and offered editorial support. Submissions open on 15 November 2026 and close on 15 January 2027.

Since it started, the audition has become one of the main routes for creators outside Japan into the manga industry. Every entrant receives editorial feedback, which is rare for a free competition.

You can enter more than once, and you can work as a pair or group.

Who Can Enter the Silent Manga Audition?

The audition is open to creators worldwide, alone or in groups. It is particularly relevant to:

• Manga artists and comic creators
• Illustrators who want to try sequential storytelling
• Animation students with strong storyboarding skills
• Creators outside Japan aiming for a professional manga debut

What Can You Enter?

A complete manga of 5 to 17 pages on the theme "A Kind Heart", told through pictures alone. Sound effects, signs and book titles are allowed, but no dialogue.

Format

• Right-to-left reading order, preferably monochrome
• B4 (220 × 310mm trimmed) or A4 canvas
• Image files up to 2MB each; check the accepted file types on the official rules page

Entry Fees

There is no entry fee.

What Do Selected Entrants Receive?

• Grand Prix: ¥500,000
• Grand Prix Runner-Up: ¥300,000
• Excellence Award: ¥100,000
• Excellence Runner-Up: ¥30,000
• Honourable Mention: ¥10,000
• Top winners: a place in the MasterClass with editorial support, and an introduction to COAMIX's Artists Village programme in Japan
• Excellence Award and above: publication on Zenon Plus; runners-up and above featured in Monthly Comic Zenon
• Every entrant: editorial feedback and a three-month Clip Studio Paint EX code after a short survey

Submission Requirements

Entries are submitted through the online form on the official Silent Manga Audition website, which requires a Google account.

Why Silent Manga?

Removing dialogue forces a creator to master the core skills of manga: clear acting, readable composition, pacing across panels and page turns that land. Without words, a story has to work through expressions, body language and visual detail, which is exactly what editors look for in new talent. Silent stories also cross borders, so a creator from any country competes on equal terms with Japanese artists. Many past winners have used the audition as a stepping stone to longer serialised work, and the editorial feedback given to every entrant makes even an unsuccessful entry a useful lesson for the next one.

Things to Consider

• Tell it without words. Faces, gestures and panel rhythm must carry the whole story; test it on someone who has not seen your script.
• Find a small, specific kindness. Quiet moments often move judges more than big dramatic rescues.
• Respect the page count. A clear story in 8–12 pages is often stronger than using all 17.
• Read right to left. Plan layouts for Japanese reading order from the start.
• Use the feedback. Even if you do not win, the editorial notes are valuable for your next entry.

Enter the Competition

Interested in submitting your manga?

Enter the audition

For the full rules, format guide and entry form, visit the official website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 16, 2026