A word from Joanne Kim :
« It’s an honor for me to have won the first prize at the MAGIC International Manga Competition this year! I still do not quite realize what happened and I feel like it was a dream because everything went fast. I was extremely nervous when I introduced my manga to the members of the jury, including Mr. Nakano and Mr. Hosono, because I was scared of the scene and I did not feel mentally ready.

I shed a lot of tears (of joy!) And it was a really great experience for me … Thanks again to MAGIC for this unforgettable experience and the opportunity to realize my dream with my manga RUNTIME! I’m going to work hard to make it a manga that is enjoyable for readers to read and successful! »

Leïla BENSAID
Leïla Bensaid (27) is currently part of the DreaMaker, group of three artists and friends: Bun, Momo and herself, under the artist name Zilo.
After a typical student path until obtaining a baccalaureate L, followed by a year of bachelor’s degree in Japanese, she started arts studies for two years in Paris and made her third year in Japan at “Ôgaki women college “located in Gifu prefecture.
Once graduated, she returns to France to repay her student loan. In parallel with her job, she continues to be an exhibitor with DreaMaker, she creates her first online webcomics on Tapastic, to work on traditional and digital, and she participates in various competitions.
In 2013, she won the “Young Creator Illustration Award” of the illustration contest of the Japan Touch, judged by Ken Niimura. In 2015, she won the third place in the Alys contest organized by Clairefontaine, Manga Ink and Voxwave. His passion for music, animated films, horror and fantasy films, as well as video games continue to feed her different worlds.

 A word from Leïla Bensaid :
« This is the first time I participate to MAGIC. I was very excited to see the jury members names of the manga contest despite the doubt that invaded me. But neither one or two, I took my courage with both hands and I launched, encouraged by my friends: “who does not try anything has nothing”. I’m happy to have come so far in this contest and my world has been enjoyed.
My only regret is to have not been able to meet Tite Kubo, but it was offset by his comments, those of Mr. Hosono, Mr. Nakano and members of Shibuya Productions who were very welcoming and caring. An enriching experience that will allow me, I hope, to continue in the path of drawing. »

Team Nako
Tiers monde and Max
With more than three albums, Tiers Monde is a safe bet of French hip-hop. He did more than 300 concerts, including several at the Zenith and one at the Olympia. But it’s not his only job: screenwriter in various music videos (Medine, Brav, Alivor) in addition to his own, his passion for manga and Japan encourage him to write his own shonen … He meets Max and entrust him with his last album’s design “No Future”.  Originally trained in traditional cartoons, Max is quickly passionate about storyboarding and character design. It is finally far from there that he will makes his weapons, merging the drawing of the press with his other passion: rap, while drawing, and having fun of the rap news for the media web Booska-P. In parallel, he collaborates with various artists of the French rap scene and as a graphic designer and illustrator for their musical projects.

Following their meeting, Tiers Monde and Max multiply collaborations, which reinforces their complicity and their artistic affinities. Tiers Monde then proposes several stories to adapt in Manga, they will choose Nako and will embark on this great project …

A word from Tiers Monde:
« Honored and very happy to have been consecrated  Jury’s Favorite at the Magic 2018.
This is our first Manga,
We still haven’t realized that we are going to be published inside the legendary Jump+ alongside these prestigious licenses.
Thanks to the MAGIC teams for making this possible. »