The 7th Golden Comic Awards ceremony was held on Aug. 2 at Syntrend Creative Park in Taipei to salute local cartoonists who have adhered to their ideas and courageously pursued their dreams in Taiwan.
Culture Minister Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君) noted that the imagery, storylines, and characters of comics are more easily adaptable for films, television programs, and scriptwriting. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture has attached great importance to developing the local comics sector.
In addition to rewarding the creation of original comics through the Golden Comic Awards, the Ministry will also retrofit several of its old offices and dormitories to serve as a platform for comic creation, she added. The completed infrastructure will offer comic studios, exhibition and sales rooms, cross-domain collaborative opportunities, and a meeting point for international comics exchanges.
The Minister cited the perseverance of veteran artist Zhu Deyong (朱德庸), who won the special contribution award this year, as not only a source of inspiration for younger comic artists but also an important reminder to the government of the need to support original creations.
Decorated Taiwanese comic artist Chijon Tsai (蔡志忠), who flew back to Taiwan to present the Best Comic Grand Prize this year, said that he chose to attend the awards ceremony after understanding how the Ministry of Culture values the comics sector. He advised young artists to place content over skill, and said he looked forward to seeing a new wave of Taiwanese comics.
Themed "Long Live the Hot-blooded Artists: Salute to Our Cartoonists,” the 7th Golden Comic Awards ceremony screened recordings from the daily lives of nominated cartoonists. From comical to heart-wrenching moments, the screening revealed the passion and tears that accompany the creation of comics.
Twenty-four of the 121 submissions were shortlisted for eight categories of the Golden Comic Awards. The winners of the 7th edition are:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Zhu Deyong (朱德庸)
- Best New Comic Artist: Chen Wen-sheng (陳穩升)
- Best Prototype Design Award: Push Comic System (阿推, Chiang Chen-tai)
- Best Comic Editing Award: Lin Yi-chun (林怡君)
- Best Comic Strip Award: Lei Ya (雷亞, Lin Tzu-yao), Liang Yuen (兩元, Liang Te-yuen)
- Best Children's Comic Award: Ao You-hsiang (敖幼祥)
- Best Young Male Comic Award: Yeh Ming-hsuan (葉明軒)
- Best Young Female Comic Award: Cory (顆粒, Ke You-hsi)
- Best Youth Comic Award: Li Lung-chieh (李隆杰)
- Best Comic Grand Prize: Yeh Ming-hsuan (葉明軒)