September 1, 2025, Tokyo - Celsys today joins with Artfol to open the sixth iteration of the Global Comic Awards on the theme of “Déjà Vu.” This comic contest for creators worldwide offers cash prizes, media placement opportunities, and creative app licenses, providing a chance for enthusiastic young creators to learn new techniques and connect with influential media organizations. This contest is hosted jointly with Artfol, a community-first social network for artists.
Open from September 1 to November 28, 2025, the Global Comic Awards is accepting single-page comic submissions from comic creators of all ages. Participating artists can have their stories seen by many and potentially connect with international comic and manga publishers supporting the contest. Comic entries should be a single page with up to 10 panels, and will be judged by comic artists Mirka Andolfo and Jaki King, creators of original webcomics and comic books.
Prizes include Clip Studio Paint licenses and $3,300 for the Grand Prize, $1,000 for second and third places, as well as cash prizes for 10 Excellence Awards.
Artfol × Clip Studio Paint’s Global Comic Awards
http://artfol.app/contest/GlobalComicAwards2025
Through these events, Celsys, together with leaders in comic culture both in Japan and across the globe, continues to support young creators aspiring to become professional artists.
Artfol × Clip Studio Paint’s Global Comic Awards
■ Contest categories and prizes
Grand Prize
Prize money: $3,300
Prize: Clip Studio Paint EX (Single-device plan, three years)
Runner-up Winners
Prize money: $1,000
Prize: Clip Studio Paint EX (Single-device plan, three years)
Honorable Mentions
(10 winners)
Prize money: $150
Prize: Clip Studio Paint EX (Single-device plan, one year)
■ Schedule
Entry Period: September 1 to November 28, 2025, 00:00 UTC
Results announced: December 2025
■ How to Enter
- Create your Déjà Vu comic following the rules on the Artfol contest page.
- Upload your comic as a submission to on the Artfol challenge by selecting “Participate” : http://artfol.app/contest/GlobalComicAwards2025
■ Submission guidelines
- Format: Single page comic, up to 10 panels (max aspect ratio 1:3)
- Content: Original works only
- Number of submissions: The same author may submit only one work
- Age restriction: No NSFW, gore, or content containing mature or 18+ themes
- Language: English is recommended, but all languages are accepted
- Other: Entries may not be AI generated images. Participants are requested to refrain from entering their submissions into other contests or from commercializing them during the period extending from the submission phase to the announcement of results.
■ Guest Judges
Mirka Andolfo (Comic creator)
Mirka Andolfo is an award-winning Italian comic book writer and artist, creator of internationally acclaimed series such as Sweet Paprika, Mercy, and Unnatural. Her works have sold over one million copies and are published in more than 25 countries, including Japan. A founding creator at U.S. publisher DSTLRY, she has written and illustrated for DC (the first Italian creator to do both) and worked with Marvel, Disney, BOOM! Studios, Image Comics, Dynamite, and Glénat. As an illustrator, she has worked for Sky, Netflix, Paramount, Warner Bros., Celsys, 20th Century Studios, OVS, and Juventus.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mirkand89
Jaki King (Illustrator)
Jaki King is a freelance illustrator & designer, and a Bostonian transplant in Vancouver. She is the creator of the webcomic Ladykillers (WEBTOON CANVAS), and has previously worked as an art assistant on Lore Olympus.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/heyitsjaki/
■ Supporting Media
KADOKAWA, TATESC COMICS, JumpTOON, Mangatari Co., Ltd, MANGA BANG!, EARTH STAR COMICS, Weekly Shonen Sunday, MAGCOMI, monthly comic magazine Comic Garden, COMIC OGYAAA!!, GA COMIC, Star Comics, Ki-oon, C'moA Comics, Ankama Éditions, TACOTOON, Glénat Manga
■ Organizers
Clip Studio Paint by CELSYS, Inc.
https://www.clipstudio.net/en/
Artfol
https://artfol.app/
About Artfol
The social network for artists. Artfol is made for artists, focused on showcasing artwork and supporting artists of all levels. With a growing userbase of more than 500,000 artists, Artfol aims to be a positive space for all artists online. Artists can post their own work, share their favorite art, and join community activities such as challenges, discussions and polls.
About CELSYS, Inc.
Celsys provides tools such as Clip Studio Paint to support creators in the creator economy that is expanding through the creation and use of digital content. We are also providing new service platforms that act as a new avenue for creators' activities. We look toward a more vibrant world where everyone's passions are connected, by offering total support to creators around the world through each part of their "creator journey".
https://www.celsys.com/en/
For media inquiries
Celsys Media Relations press@celsys.com
