Taiwanese Comic Artists Shine in International Competitions; Minister Lee Yuan Heralds 'New Taiwanese Manga Era'

(Central News Agency, Reporter Wang Bao-er, Taipei, June 3) Taiwanese comic artist Chang Sheng was nominated this year for the US Eisner Awards, known as the 'Oscars of the comic world,' for his work 'Yan Tie Hua.' Meanwhile, three Taiwanese comic artists won awards at the KADOKAWA World Manga Contest in Japan. Minister of Culture Lee Yuan stated today that this allows the world to see Taiwan's 'New Taiwanese Manga Era.'

Lee Yuan said in a press release that Taiwanese manga has been continuously winning international awards in recent years. This time, veteran comic artist Chang Sheng, who also happens to be the convener of the jury for the inaugural Qingman Awards, broke through a field of competitors from Japan, South Korea, and other countries to be listed among the top US awards. At the same time, emerging comic artists have made their mark in a major Japanese competition, showcasing a 'generational接力.'

The Ministry of Culture stated that the Eisner Awards, named after the American comic master Will Eisner, are regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the global comic industry. They are presented annually at the San Diego International Comic-Con, one of the world's largest anime and manga events. Winning or being nominated often represents the highest standard of comic creation for that year and has a significant impact on the creator's international reputation and the expansion of their work into overseas markets.

This year, Chang Sheng was nominated for two major awards for 'Yan Tie Hua': 'Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia' and 'Best Writer/Artist.' He became the first Taiwanese comic artist to achieve a double nomination at the Eisner Awards. The Ministry of Culture stated that this not only demonstrates his personal creative strength but also symbolizes that Taiwanese manga has gradually gained recognition from the international comic industry and professional jurors.

The KADOKAWA WORLD MANGA CONTEST, organized by the major Japanese publishing group KADOKAWA, recently announced the winners on its official website. Emerging Taiwanese comic artists included Eli Lin, who won the Gold Award in the Wordless Manga category for 'Cells Within the Body'; MurJi, who won the Bronze Award for 'Hitokuji'; and JASONZ, who received an Effort Award.

Lee Yuan stated that since promoting the Manga Subsidy Program in 2018, the Ministry of Culture has been gradually building an ecosystem for the comic industry through creation subsidies, publishing support, international copyright promotion, cross-domain matchmaking, talent cultivation, and the establishment of the Taiwan Comic Base and the National Museum of Comics. Starting in 2025, the 'Qingman Awards' were established to further discover and cultivate new creative talent.

Lee Yuan noted that, for example, 'Yan Tie Hua' received support from the Ministry of Culture's Manga Subsidy Program. Leveraging his rich creative energy, Chang Sheng has garnered widespread support both domestically and internationally. The work has already sold copyrights for eight languages, including English, French, Spanish, and Italian, making it one of the most important representative works for Taiwanese manga entering the international market. It subsequently received a subsidy from the 'Cultural Black Tide Taiwan Medium-to-Long Form Manga Production' program for the creation and publication of a sequel, as well as IP cross-domain and overseas market development.

Regarding the recent string of successes for Taiwanese manga, Lee Yuan pointed out that this not only represents the determination of creators and the industry to 'fight for a breath' under a decade of policy support but also shows the gradual formation of a human ladder for generational接力. He predicted that Taiwan will also host its first International Comics Festival in 2027. 'We are absolutely confident in welcoming the official arrival of a "New Taiwanese Manga Era,"' he said. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150603