June 17, 2026, Tokyo - Pinya, the emerging indie webtoon platform, and Celsys, the creator of the illustration, comic, webtoon, and animation app Clip Studio Paint, have officially announced the winners of the first-ever Pinya Creator Rewards Competition. This contest aims to discover original webtoons and novels by Filipino creators, with the first contest centered on the theme of “uplifting stories.” The Webtoon category winner goes to Rufus Wolfenson for Starswept Shores, a heartfelt and inspiring webtoon that captivated the judges with its expression of hope and the impact of kindness.
Accepting entries from October 30, 2025, to May 18, 2026, this inaugural contest was opened alongside the launch of new webtoon platform Pinya.io to encourage and reward the creativity of Filipino storytellers. The contest received 153 entries across the webtoon and novel categories, and 12 entries were chosen as winners to receive cash prizes and Clip Studio Paint licenses provided by Celsys to support their creative activities.
Celsys will continue to partner with webtoon and comic platforms worldwide to support creators in their goal of becoming professional comic artists.
Please see the announcement site on Pinya.io to see the winning entries in full.
Clip Studio Paint x Pinya Creator Rewards Competition Winning Entries
https://pinya.io/pinya-creator-rewards-2025
■Winning Entries : Webtoon Category
1st place
Artist: Rufus Wolfenson
Title: Starswept Shores
URL: https://pinya.io/comics/starsweptshores
Judge comment:
This webtoon beautifully embodies the uplifting theme by presenting hope not as an abstract concept, but as a choice rooted in empathy and understanding. The creator also explores the depth of individual characters, revealing how their experiences shape the way they view the world and others around them. Rather than dividing people into simple categories of good and evil, the story encourages readers to look beyond circumstances and consider the humanity behind every action.
2nd Place
Artist: Adventures of Rei Kun
Title: Blossom Tea House
URL:
https://pinya.io/comics/blossomteahouse
3rd Place
Artist: jellowtea
Title: Dear Readers
URL:
https://pinya.io/comics/dearreaders
About Pinya.io
Pinya.io is an emerging global indie platform for webtoons and novels, founded in Cebu, Philippines. Home to original works from creators around the world, it provides a dedicated space for storytellers to publish their work, grow their readership, and connect with readers globally. With an ever-growing library of webtoons and novels, Pinya.io is on a mission to make unique stories and fresh creative voices more accessible to a wider audience, one great read at a time.
Pinya webtoon platform:
https://pinya.io/
Pinya Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pinya_io
Studio Pinya:
https://www.studiopinya.com/
About Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is the drawing app chosen by over 60 million people (*) worldwide. Known for its natural drawing feel and powerful features, Clip Studio Paint is loved by illustrators, comic artists, webtoon creators, and animators alike. The app is available on iPad, Android, Windows, macOS, and iPhone, providing access to professional tools for all creators from beginners to industry professionals.
*Includes free trial users and downloads of the iPad, iPhone, Galaxy, Android, and Chromebook versions.
About CELSYS, Inc.
In the expanding creator economy surrounding digital content, Celsys provides tools including Clip Studio Paint that empower creators, alongside service platforms that will act as a new avenue for artistic pursuits. We strive for a more vibrant world where everyone’s passions are connected, 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
