The First 'American Manga Awards': Winners!
Every one earned, and every one deserved.
The first ever American awards ceremony honoring manga was a complete success.
The Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at the Japan Society in Midtown Manhattan was alive with energy tonight as the first ever American Manga Awards were held. Anime NYC in conjunction with the Japan Society held the ceremony to pay tribute to artists, writers, publishers, and every other professional who makes it possible for fans across the US and Canada to consume these stories.
Frederik L. Schodt | Stone Bridge Press
Translator and author of Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics, Frederik L. Schodt, took home the Manga Publishing Hall of Fame award.
The award categories, the winners, and their respective authors and publishers are as follows:
For Best New Manga:
#DRCL Midnight Children by Shin’ichi Sakamoto, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, at VIZ Media
For Best Continuing Manga Series:
Delicious in Dungeon by Ryōko Kui at Yen Press
For Best New Edition of a Classic Manga Series:
Neighborhood Story by Ai Yazawa at VIZ Media
For Best Translation:
Stephen Koehler for his translation of Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier at Kodansha
For Best Lettering
Lys Blakeslee for lettering Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier at Kodansha
For Best Publication Design
Adam Grano for designing Kazuo Umezu’s My Name is Shingo at VIZ Media
The ceremony included a few quotes from nominated authors, including #DRCL Midnight Children‘s Shin’ichi Sakamoto, who wrote,
[I am deeply grateful for the recognition of the challenge I took on as an Asian writer to portray Dracula, one of the most famous monsters in the Western world, in my own way through manga, while attempting to stay true to the original intent of the novel. This award motivates me to further strive towards creating a visual blend of beauty and terror. Thank you very much!]
As well as Neighborhood Story‘s Ai Yazawa, who wrote,
[Thirty years ago, I never imagined that "Neighborhood Story" , which I created at a cramped desk often occupied by my cats, would one day cross the vast ocean and reach so many people. This is all thanks to the support and dedication of everyone involved over the years. I truly appreciate it. Thank you so much.]
Delicious in Dungeon ‘s Ryōko Kui,
[Thank you all very much! It is such an honor to receive an American Manga Award in its inaugural ceremony. I hope that this award will help connect more fans and readers to the world of manga in the future.]
And My Name is Shingo ‘s Kazuo Umezz had this to say about Best Publication Design winner Adam Grano,
[I worked very hard on this series, and I think my hard work must have been conveyed to Adam as well. I'm sure that's true. That's why Adam is so great!]
With the ceremony in the rear view, the only thing I could ask for is more, more, more. More nominees, more winners, more oomph.
It was evident from the beginning that this was going to be a success. I can only dream of what this event will be like in the coming years, but I fully intend to be right there when it happens.
About the Author
Cruz Esparza
Cruz Esparza is an anime nerd, as well as Producer and host of the Nakama Podcast. He spends his time drawing as well as collecting figures and comics, and playing video games. He operates as an artist under the name doublecrxss, and you can find him on twitter @doublecrxss
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