Shonen Jump+ has launched a new manga competition titled the “Bad Guy Manga Award,” aiming to find works that feature attractive and engaging villains.
The “Bad Guy Manga Award” award is open to submissions from June 3 to September 15, and entries can be submitted through the Jump Rookie! platform, a web submission form, or postal mail. Selected works will receive either the “Grand Bad Guy Award” or the “Outstanding Bad Guy Award,” with the winning entries to be published on the Shonen Jump+ platform.
The competition focuses on characters described as 魅力的な悪いキャラクター, which means villains who may be ruthless or dangerous but also possess traits that make them appealing or unforgettable.
In addition with the award launch, Jump Rookie! has published interviews with five manga creators:
- Naoya Matsumoto (Kaiju No. 8) shared that Kaiju No. 9 was inspired by the unpredictability of the COVID-19 virus, and he is meant to feel more like a natural disaster than a traditional villain.
- Yuji Kaku (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku) said that compelling villains must have a consistent internal logic or belief system, rather than being generically “evil.”
- Takahiro (Chained Soldier) explained how the Shikoku was influenced by mythology and designed with unique traits, including cruelty and charm, in order to stand out among other visually strong characters.
- Tohru Kuramori (Centuria) focused on making his antagonist Arcos strategic and intelligent, so that his whose presence enhances the protagonist’s growth.
- Kuraku Ichikawa (Drama Queen) intentionally exaggerated the bad qualities of his character Nomamoto to the point that they became oddly satisfying and memorable.
This project follows a series of anime adaptation project for one-shot manga in collaboration with studios WIT Studio, Production I.G, and CONTRAIL, led by production company JOEN. The platform has put a large focus on one-shots, with more than 2,000 one-shot titles published to date and over 200 released annually.
Source: Comic Natalie
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