The “Kyoto International Manga Anime Award 2021” has begun accepting entries of submitted works starting on May 11, 2021.

The deadline for submitting entries is until July 26, 2021 for manga and illustration contests; and until July 31 for CG animation. One work of excellence award, one work of semi-excellence award, and three works of prize has been selected in three categories. Among these awards, there will also be one grand prize.

The Miyako Messe convention center is the venue for the event. It will be a 2-day trade show/market/festival. The event also took place at the International Manga Museum in the past. It is one of the biggest events in the Kansai region.

The USP of the contest is that it is an international contest that recruits applicants from all over the world. The aim is to discover outstanding talent overseas and expand the field of activities in Japan. According to the official site, the Kyoto International Manga Anime Award will be a part of KYOMAF. It will be a stage event declaring the winners in each category.

The eligibility criterias for the contest emphasises that creators who are already active in commercial magazines cannot apply. The application guidelines state that only new creators who aim to make their professional debut in Japan can participate.

The Kyoto International Manga Anime Award, which started in 2015, is an international competition for aspiring creators and manga artists, who want to make their professional debut through Kyoto. It was preceded by the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair(KYOMAF). Beginning from 2020, the manga and illustrations section included CG animation as well.

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