［INFORMATION］ Seeking manga and illustrations from all over the world, the "MCPO AWARD 2017" is open!

2016.12.02

On the lookout for creative people, filled with passion from anywhere in the world!

Fukuoka Prefecture has turned out a great number of big name Japanese manga artists, including the likes of Leiji Matsumoto ("Ginga Tetsudo 999" [Galaxy Express 999]), Moto Hagio ("Poe no Ichizoku" [The Poe Family]), Tsukasa Hojo ("City Hunter"), Tetsuya Saruwatari ("Riki-Oh"), Yuki Suetsugu ("Chihayafuru") and Hiroya Oku ("GANTZ").

A groundswell for creative, talented individuals in various fields, such as manga, video and gaming… Based in Fukuoka, a gateway to Asia that serves as a base for lively international exchange, the "Manga Contents Promote Organization," also known as the "Manga CPO," was established in June of this year, with the hope of unearthing the creative minds of the future both in Japan and overseas, while also pursuing new avenues and possibilities for manga!

It's not been long since "Manga CPO" was established, but they are already holding the "MCPO AWARD 2017," which is open to manga/illustrations from all over the world! It doesn't matter what country you come from, whether you're a professional or an amateur… They are looking for works in any theme or genre from all over the world!

The chance to see the best works from around the world! The works under consideration will be open to the public! Make sure you don’t miss-out!

They have put together a very special judging panel for the contest. Fukuoka native Tochi Ueyama ("Cooking Papa"), Koshi Rikudo ("Excel Saga"), and Suu Minazuki（"Sora no Otoshimono" [Heaven's Lost Property]）will preside over the "Manga Section," while Haruhiko Mikimoto, who was in charge of character design for works such as "Super Dimension Fortress Macross" and "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress," will oversee the "Illustration Section." The Manga CPO competition is an event open to the general public and all works entered will be inspected by the prestigious jury that has been assembled. (*Please note: There is a fee for entering).

Having the entries open to the public means that you can hear comments that you might not often come across, learn more about the approach that creative individuals employ, what they are looking for, as well as how you can improve your work and make it better. Bringing artwork from all over the world under one roof, this is not just aimed at fans of manga and illustrations, but rather an event that hopes to stimulate and inspire creative people everywhere!

The application period runs until Wednesday 15th February 2017, so don't let it pass you by! There will be some great opportunities for the pieces that stand-out in the grand-prix… They will be viewable to people all around the world on the websites of "MCPO AWARD 2017" co-operative bodies, while others may even be published in books or magazines. For more detailed information on the submission process and entries, please check the "MediBang website." (>> https://medibang.com/contest/mcpo/ )

*Titles in brackets beside the manga artists names are some of their major works.

About the "Manga CPO"

The "Manga Contents Promote Organization" or "Manga CPO" is a non-profit organization that, pursuing new possibilities for manga, aims to develop new content that can bring the world closer together.

Together with participation from manga artists, manga authors, manga researchers, illustrators, and screenwriters, the Manga CPO hosts events, initiates international exchange and dialogue, all in the name of discovering and cultivating the talent of tomorrow.

- Official website： http://manga-cpo.jp/

"MCPO AWARD 2017" Application Guidelines

Application period:
Thursday 17th November 2016 - Wednesday 15th February 2017

Manga Section
・Application Requirements
1. No restriction on theme or genre [Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese (Simplified) and Chinese (Traditional) can be submitted.]
2. One-shot comics only (stand alone story, or single issue work)
3. Works must be less than 30 pages
4. Only completed manuscripts will be accepted. (Scenarios/scenes/captions/storyboards will not be accepted)
5. No requirement in terms of what direction the pages are ordered (Stories may run right to left, left to right or top to bottom. All will be accepted)

・Grand Prix
- 300,000 yen cash prize. Your work will also be appear on the Manga CPO, MediBang and Manga Oukoku (lit.: Manga Kingdom) websites, meaning that it will be viewable to some 35,000,000 people around the world. Will also appear in magazines or books published by Sougeisha.
- Award of Excellence: 200,000 yen
- Honorable Mention: 100,000 yen

・Special Judging Panal
- Tochi Ueyama
- Koshi Rikudo
- Suu Minazuki

Illustration Section
Application Requirements
1. No restriction on theme or genre
2. JPG, PNG (File Size: Less than 30MB)

・Grand Prix
- 150,000 yen cash prize. Your work will also be appear on the Manga CPO, MediBang and Manga Oukoku (lit.: Manga Kingdom) websites, meaning that it will be viewable to some 35,000,000 people around the world. Will also appear in magazines or books published by Sougeisha.
- Award of Excellence: 100,000 yen
- Honorable Mention: 50,000 yen

・Special Judging Panal
Haruhiko Mikimoto
*Other well-known illustrators will also be included on the judging panel

For more detailed information on the submission process and entries, please check the "MediBang Application Site." https://medibang.com/contest/mcpo/

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