Hello!
I am looking for someone who is interested in collaborating with me for the Kodansha Manga Academy Contest. While this position is unpaid, if we win the contest I plan on splitting 50 50 the prize money. Please note that if you do join me with this and if we win, that we would be continuing the process afterwards with a professional debut. More information below.
I am planning on writing the main story and have two ideas for potential stories to submit. Though if none of these are at all appealing, I am able to create other ideas. So, these are just the two I have currently made for this forum. Overall, I am hoping to do a one-shot of this concept to submit to Kodansha for the contest.
*The only AI I plan on using is to fix spelling, grammar, and make sure I have fluid sentences. No AI will be used to write the story for me.
Requirements for artist:
- Must be over the age of 18 due to needing parent's permission in the Kodansha Manga Academy rules.
- Must be alright with the position being unpaid since we will be doing this as a collaboration or partnership.
- Must have some knowledge of paneling or manga creation
- Must meet deadlines as this is a contest after all
- Willing to discuss the series with me to make it even better.
- Please send me your portfolio
- AI rule: I don't want AI art. But AI can be used as a tool if needed. Please disclose any AI used like I have.
Story one is a 'gate story' that focuses on a character who has an ability that is considered innately evil. And it is him overcoming that because ultimately, he wants to be a hero who saves people from the rifts that have appeared around the world. Rifts were created by unfinished sentences spoken by Sages, beings from another universe. While a lot of this probably won't be put into the one shot, I will also mention that it is different than Solo Leveling as the system is closer to how adventurers would rank up in guilds rather than you measure your ability powers.
Story two is not exactly a romance but it gives that kind of vibe. It's a story about platonic love between a gay guy and a going def girl. And they both fall in love with the same guy. It's their struggles with their feelings and their friendship but ultimately want to support each other. The one-shot will be a largely condensed version of their two struggles of being accepted as gay in society and being accepted as someone who will one day never hear again.
Deadline is 22 July 2026,23:59 (JST). More information about the contest here on the official website. https://manga-academy.kodansha.com/award/mangaka-discovery/
I also put this out to a couple of my friends so hopefully I can find someone who is interested and passionate as I do about manga.
