Announcing ‘Next ILLUST Award 2024,’ a Worldwide Illustration Contest Held by an Illustration Magazine

PIE International Inc., based in Tokyo, will be holding the worldwide illustration contest beginning Thursday, July 4th.
Many illustrations have been submitted to “S” and “Small S (SS)” magazines, published by PIE International, since they were first launched. Those who have submitted work in the past have gone on to become active in the world of illustration, manga, anime and gaming.
Starting this year with the “Next ILLUST Award,” we will widen the scope of the illustration contest to accept entries worldwide through Discord.

From Masanao Amano, Editor-in-Chief of the magazines,
“The visual collection derived from manga, anime and gaming that originated in Japan has spread all over the world, and we feel that now people overseas enjoy Japanese-style illustration and have begun to draw such illustrations themselves. In 2023, we jointly organized the “COMICUP ×S magazine Illustration contest” in both Japan and China, and witnessed this development firsthand in the submissions from China. Through this contest, we hope to spread “ILLUST” (“irasuto” meaning illustration in Japanese) worldwide, build a bridge for people to connect with one another, and to support the next generation of creators who want to try drawing their own illustrations. We thank you for your support.”

Entries will be judged by three talented illustrators, Murata Range, Mai Yoneyama and Sakusya 2, along with the “S” Editorial Division, the PIE COMIC ART Editorial Division, Kinokuniya USA, and COMICUP.
This is a BIG CHANCE to have illustrations featured in the magazine “Small S,” where they will be exhibited in Japan and overseas and be seen by a distinguished panel of judges along with the prizes. We hope you will send us your illustration work!

●Contest Eligibility: Anyone can participate, regardless of age, occupation or nationality.
●Contest Theme: Any theme is acceptable.
●How to Enter:
Please enter through the designated contest Discord channel.
https://discord.gg/JGEw7fd4K5

For entries in China, a separate application site will be opened.

●Please Note:
Entries will not be considered for selection if any of the following apply:
・entries use images and/or text generated automatically, in whole or in part, using AI tools
・entries are found to infringe on the copyright, portrayal right or other rights of third parties
・entries that are traced, or are suspected of being traced, from a third partyʼs work

▼Please see the website below for more details on how to apply and important notes:
https://pie.co.jp/news-en/next-illust-award-2024/

●Submission Period
2024/7/4 (Wed) at Anime Expo, Los Angeles, CA 〜 2024/10/21(Thurs) 23:59 (JST).

●Publication
・Small S (SS) vol. 80
Asia/Oceania Release: January 2025 (TBD)
Europe Release: August 2025 (TBD)
Worldwide Release: October 2025 (TBD)
・Discord server
・Social medias of PIE International and Editors of S
…and more!

●Prizes
Gold award:
3 year subscription for CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO(2 device plan)
Featuring your specially drawn artwork in S magazine (paid)
1 art/illustration book from PIE International

Silver award:
2 year subscription for CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO(2 device plan)
Featuring your specially drawn artwork in S magazine (paid)
1 art/illustration book from PIE International

Bronze award:
1 year subscription for CLIP STUDIO PAINT PRO(1 device plan)
1 art/illustration book from PIE International

Jury award:
1 art/illustration book from PIE International

●Exhibition Sites for Selected Works
・Kinokuniya USA Bookstores (Schedules to be announced)
・COMICUP31 Venue (China/ Schedules to be announced)
・Gallery ecurii (Shibuya, Tokyo/ Schedules to be announced)

★Judges
・Murata Range
Murata Range is an illustrator and character designer. In 1993, he gained attention for character illustrations for the video game series “Power Instinct” (Atlas). At the same time, Murata started working as an illustrator with works appearing in various magazines including “Irakuten” (WANIMAGAZINE) and “Ultra Jump” (Shueisha). In addition to character design works, Murataʼs anime works include “Blue Submarine No. 6,” “LAST EXILE,” “Shangri-la,” and “BEM,” and video game works include “Wachenröder” and “Spy Fiction.” Murata has also published numerous cover illustrations for novels, illustrations and art books, and in recent years has held many exhibitions.
X:https://x.com/Murata_Range

・Mai Yoneyama
Mai Yoneyama is an animator and illustrator. She has participated in various anime works including “Kiznaiver,” “Kill la Kill” and “Promare” as an animation director and character designer. She is currently expanding her work as an illustrator.
X:https://x.com/yoneyamai

・Sakusya 2
Sakusya 2 is an emerging illustrator who began their freelance career in April 2021, working on character designs mainly for merchandise and apparel. More recently, the artist has expanded their activities, collaborating on exhibitions with Village Vanguard and WEGO and creating illustration elements for the cover of Small S (SS) magazine. With more than 900,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram, Sakusya 2 has been attracting attention not only in Japan but also around the world.
X:https://x.com/sakusya2honda

・S Editorial Division
・PIE COMIC ART Editorial Division
・Kinokuyniya USA
・COMICUP

⚫Co-Organizer
COMICUP

●Cooperation
Kinokuniya Book Stores of America Co., Ltd.

●Sponsorship
CLIP STUDIO PAINT