‘Attack on Titan’ Publisher Kodansha Joins the Script2Comic Contest
The Script2Comic Contest is going international. The competition that turns screenplays into comic books has a new sponsor: the Japanese publisher Kodansha, which is behind titles such as Attack on Titan, Akira and Ghost and the Shell.
It’s a noteworthy move for Script2Comic, as its winners now could have their work being turned into a Manga that Kodansha could develop into an animated series, in addition to being published as comics in the United States by boutique publisher AMP Comics.
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“This partnership embodies our enduring commitment to discovering new talents in the world of manga and graphic novels. We believe that this contest offers a unique platform for storytellers to bring their visions to life and potentially reach a global audience,” said Yohei Takami, director of the rights media business division of Kodansha.
Script2Comic founder Don Handfield, known for producing the Michael Keaton feature The Founder and History’s Knightfall, added, “Joining forces with Kodansha is a landmark moment for us. Their legacy in manga and commitment to storytelling excellence aligns perfectly with Script2Comic Contest’s vision. The soaring popularity of manga in the United States and around the world is a testament to its unique appeal. Manga’s ability to consistently outperform traditional comics in sales highlights not just a trend, but a shift in what audiences want.”
Past winners of the contest have gone on to garner Hollywood interest, with the vampire themed She Bites optioned by Westbrook Studios, while Trance is in the works as a mystery TV series from Prodigal Entertainment.
The 2024 contest is accepting entries as of today, with judges including Former Sony Television head Jeff Frost, Bristol Circle development exec Roosevelt Brown, Zero Gravity partner Eric Williams, Cop Shop producer Tai Duncan and Westbrook Studios’ Fidan Manishirova.
Script2Comic’s 2023 winners, just announced, are below.
Grand Prize – BearBatFrankenstein by Shaun K Radecki
When a hapless mad scientist’s latest creation turns out to be another epic failure, the mellow monster-gone-wrong boldly sets out to prove him wrong.
First Prize – Honour Bound by Omri Rose
The true story of dishonoured knight Roger Godberd who leads a band of warriors on a quest to rescue the peasants he once swore to protect, his deeds inspiring the legend of Robin Hood.
Second Prize – Ambergris by Jacobo Fe Gismera
In WWII, after crashing in the Sahara Desert, an RAF pilot meets a Tuareg. Regardless of their cultural differences, the bold British and the cryptic Bedouin join forces to traverse a harsh land in search of the weirdest and most valuable substance on earth: whale poop.
Third Prize – Faux by Graham Nelson
When a murderous shape-shifting abomination infiltrates the alpine getaway of a hostile housewives reality show, the newest cast member must discover who is real and who is fake before it’s too late.
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