final screening results
Organizers comments
Grand Prize
「Blood moon」
Kariki Hajime
Winners' comments
Digimon is a very special anime series and many of its monsters have left unique impressions on me. I wanted to share the appeal of Digimon with everyone through my artwork, so LadyDevimon Under a Scarlet Full Moon was born.I'm grateful that my work has been well received and feel honored to have participated in the competition with other artists. I will keep working in the future!
Judge's comment
This is an amazing work that stood out in terms of color balance, personal touches, and composition. Congratulations on winning the Grand Prix!!
Mr. Kenji Watanabe
With so many great works of LadyDevimon, this one really charmed us with the unique composition and characteristic use of colors. Looking at the fallen angel standing tall against the blood moon, what does her facial expression tell?
Mr. Masashi Harada
Congratulations on winning the Grand Prize. It's so stylish. The handling of the lighting is wonderful and there's what's flowing down from the moon, blood is it? It might look like that because of how her hair blows in the wind from the gorge. It might be that we came across her at a moment that we aren't meant to see. This work has a strange charm that sets off the imagination despite its simplicity, rousing that kind of feeling.
Mr. Shinsuke Kojima
The character's pose and the layout of her expression and the screen are extremely stylish. I rate this highly for the high level of pure drawing ability as well as the flavor of the illustration and the taste of color in the background.
Digimon Card Game R&D Team
I was overwhelmingly captivated by this picture even during the first judging and that didn't change until the end. It's an illustration with amazing colors and composition.
Ms. Hiromi Seki
I love the composition where LadyDevimon seems to look down on both the Digiworld and the real world, while the red moon in the background matches the character's attributes, contributing to an overall great color tone. What is it that she is gazing at? It's an impressive illustration that promises to tell a narrative.
Digimon Ghost Game Production Staff
Second Prize
「Watching the sunset」
Iori Sunakura
Winners' comments
I am filled with gratitude for this opportunity, so much so that words cannot describe no matter how hard I try. I happily drew my illustration while imagining a day in the life of Agumon. I hope people who see this illustration enjoy it.
Judge's comment
I feel that the taste of the warm illustration matches extremely well with the figure of Agumon, his back turned and gazing toward the vast Digiworld and the evening sun, and I think very highly of it, including the uniqueness of the composition. The space is used extremely well too, with a marvelously exquisite balance in the character-to-background ratio.
Digimon Card Game R&D Team
「Sunny day after rain」
naru
Winners' comments
I am genuinely happy as Digimon is something that I cherish and love. I was able to participate and create an amazing memory. I hope to use this experience to continue my endeavors in the future.
Judge's comment
Veemon, a combat species, tends to be drawn as mischevious and energetic, but this work uses confident drawing ability to express the adorableness characteristic of a growth period.
Mr. Masashi Harada
「Strong! Strong! Strong!」
Aurola
Winners' comments
I am really grateful for this opportunity to enter the competition and present the best of my work. There are many reasons why I love Digimon series, but I like the most is how they present children’s innocent heart within the stories, and I also want to show that in my art. Again! Thank you so much!
Judge's comment
The Japanese-style background reminiscent of ukiyoe is interesting and suits the character of Teslajellymon. I also felt that it is a powerful illustration with an overall sense of liveliness.
Digimon Ghost Game Production Staff
「Know Oneself」
Takeuchi Moto
Winners' comments
Thank you so much for selecting my illustration. I avidly drew my illustration while focusing my thoughts on my younger self who wanted to be a DigiDestined. I am happy and honored that the people involved with Digimon were able to look at my illustration. Thank you!
Judge's comment
This is an intense work with a bold composition, but the snow crystals in the foreground also highlights the silence and beauty. All the judges were wowed by the commanding appearance of SymbareAngoramon.
Mr. Shinsuke Kojima
「Have a Sukamon parfait」
IRASA
Winners' comments
Thank you so much for selecting my illustration out of many. I drew my illustration while imaging a scene of someone wearing a parfait costume to go on a date with someone cute. I am so happy that many people were able to see the mischievous Sukamon!
Judge's comment
If you see this menu at a Digimon cafe, you'd definitely order, eat, and post it on social media!! That moment popped into my mind, so I voted for it without hesitation!!
Ms. Hiromi Seki
「Gather dreams」
E_Volution_
Winners' comments
I want to thank Digimon for giving me a platform to showcase my artwork. I've been fond of adventure stories like Digimon since I was a child, and this event feels like the fulfillment of my childhood dream.
Judge's comment
This is another work I nominated. I was blown away by how the character is expressed only with vigorous lines and a bit of color. I like this kind of illustration based on a good idea.
Mr. Kenji Watanabe
「Imperialdramon a new hope」
Capitan Artiglio
Winners' comments
Winning this award is truly an honour. Kenji Watanabe’s illustrations made me dream since I was little and I spent my childhood drawing Digimon. Thank you with all my heart for this opportunity!
Judge's comment
This creatively depicts a world befitting Imperialdramon Dragon Mode, the ultimate ancient dragon Digimon. The beautiful use of colors also highlights that being that has the potential to become either savior or destroyer.
Mr. Masashi Harada
Judges’ Special Prize
「Nightwatch」
MaxLessle
Winners' comments
Thank you for the Judges‘ Special Prize. It’s great to see so many amazing works of passionate artists and I’m honored to be selected for this award. Working on my illustration has been a lot of fun and I’m looking forward for what’s to come in Digimon and future art contests.
Judge's comment
Is Agumon out camping by himself? Maybe he's waiting for someone to come join him? Is he looking up at the moon or at shooting stars? What is he thinking about, wishing for? I voted for this illustration because it makes you so curious and sets off the imagination!!
Ms. Hiromi Seki
「V」
OMGElsie
Winners' comments
I am honored to have my work selected for the Judges' Special Prize! I have fond memories of Digimon Adventure 02 so I had fun depicting Veemon in a powerful V-shaped composition. I will continue to work hard and draw more Digimon!
Judge's comment
Illustrations of Veemon are usually all cheery, but this one is pretty uncommon in that it expresses a fighting spirit. It gets a vote also because of how awesome sense of speed in his advance!!
Ms. Hiromi Seki
「Protect the Digitama in the sea」
lanlllan
Winners' comments
This award has been the biggest surprise in my journey with Digimon. I'm very fond of Jellymon and participating in the competition with my illustration of Tesla Jellymon, an adult Jellymon, carries a feeling of destiny, as if she has brought me good luck. I'll never forget this great honor and I thank all of the Digimon for their continuous spiritual inspiration!
Judge's comment
It's a very beautiful illustration with a taste and composition that is both pretty and translucent. You also get a great accent from the surrounding Digimon that add a liveliness to the screen.
Digimon Card Game R&D Team
「Dance」
Masatoshi Masuda
Winners' comments
Words cannot express the joy of becoming involved in the Digital Monsters series through my own illustrations, as I encountered and was inspired by the artwork of this series since childhood. Thank you for this treasured opportunity.
Judge's comment
The energetic composition is really nice. The theme of SymbareAngoramon glowing in the moonlit night also matches the character. It's a wonderful illustration that has an impact.
Digimon Ghost Game Production Staff
「How To Be Mischievous」
Nophy
Winners' comments
When I was a child, I got in trouble because I could not remember part of the Japanese writing system, but through my beloved Digimon, I was able to remember. I didn't think in my wildest dreams that I could receive the Judges‘ Special Prize! Digimon evolve and become stronger. Encouraged by this experience, I too will do my best to evolve like Digimon.
Judge's comment
There was a lot of variation in the pictures of Sukamon, so it was hard to make a choice. Among them, I really liked this work for the distinctiveness of the collagesque expression.
Mr. Kenji Watanabe
「Invading lady」
gocci
Winners' comments
I am so happy to have received the Judges‘ Special Prize. For me, Digimon is an important memory. LadyDevimon seemed mysterious and aggressive, and as a child, I thought her scary but cool. I drew this illustration while reminiscing on my time as a child. I hope everyone who sees this illustration will also think she is scary but cool.
Judge's comment
It's a stunning illustration, I think. The LadyDevimons are awfully good-looking. I feel a particular taste in both composition and color sense. I think it can be improved even more if lines are drawn with different thickness to show the depth of the characters in the foreground and further back.
Mr. Kenji Watanabe
「Witness, the first contact」
GLACIER Hanjia
Winners' comments
I'm very grateful to receive an award for my work! WarGreymon has been one of my favorite Digimon since I was a child. Being able to draw my favorite Digimon and winning an award has given me great pleasure! I hope in future that I'll be able to see more lively Digimon art.
Judge's comment
WarGreymon powerfully drawn from a unique angle. It truly shows the arrival of the mightiest dragon knight. The dignified figure gives a sense of the fierce battle that is sure to come.
Mr. Masashi Harada
「Aspiration」
Keita
Winners' comments
When I saw Imperialdramon for the first time as a child, I remember thinking, "Wow! Cool! But so mind-boggling!" I think I was able to sort of come close to turning my feelings at the time into an illustration as I drew. It was truly an honor to be able to draw wonderful Digimon.
Judge's comment
It was selected as the most powerful, massive and powerful Imperialdramon of the many entries. We think it expresses the different ranks of the emperor very well.
Mr. Shinsuke Kojima
Thank you very much for your participation in the Digimon Illustration Competition 2023.
We sincerely thank you for your submissions of imaginative works, coming from a total of 13 countries and regions, that really express the charm of and love for these eight Digimon that are so different from each other.
Chosen after careful consideration, we have announced the one Grand Prize, the seven Second Prizes, and the eight Judges’ Special Prizes.
We will be using the eight successful winners of the Grand Prize and the Second Prizes for the DIGIMON CARD GAME that has been released in more than 50 countries and regions as of March 2023. We're planning to distribution them, so I hope that you will look forward to that.
The organizers will be coming up with new projects in the future for the enjoyment of as many people as possible, so we hope to have your continued support for Digimon.
Digimon Illustration Competition Organizers