The American Manga Awards are back for their second year, celebrating the best and brightest in manga publishing across North America. With the 2025 edition taking place during Anime NYC (August 21–24 at the Javits Center in New York City), excitement is rising among fans, publishers, and creators alike.
This year’s nominees reflect the breadth, creativity, and global appeal of manga storytelling. From unforgettable debut volumes to expert translation and bold publication design, the list highlights excellence in every corner of the industry.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the 2025 American Manga Awards nominees.
Manga Publishing Hall of Fame: Studio Proteus
Before diving into the nominees, the 2025 Hall of Fame Award will honor Studio Proteus. This pioneering translation and publishing team helped establish manga in the North American market, with landmark titles like Blade of the Immortal, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and Ghost in the Shell under its belt. Their influence laid the foundation for today’s booming manga readership.
Best New Manga
Celebrating debut manga series that launched between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024:
- Hikaru in the Light! Volume 1 – Mai Matsuda (Scholastic Graphix / Azuki)
- Dragon and Chameleon Volume 1 – Ryo Ishiyama (Square Enix Manga & Books)
- The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All Volume 1 – Sumiko Arai (Yen Press)
- Spacewalking With You Volume 1 – Inuhiko Doronoda (Kodansha USA)
- A Witch’s Life in Mongol Volume 1 – Tomato Soup (Yen Press)
Best Continuing Series
Honoring ongoing manga series that consistently impress with narrative and artistic quality:
- The Summer Hikaru Died Volume 5 – Mokumokuren (Yen Press)
- Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 – Shin’ichi Sakamoto (Dark Horse)
- Search and Destroy Volume 2 – Atsushi Kaneko (Fantagraphics / MSX)
- The Apothecary Diaries Volumes 12–13 (Manga) – Natsu Hyuuga, Nekokurage, Itsuki Nanao (Square Enix Manga & Books)
- Hirayasumi Volumes 3–5 – Keigo Shinzo (VIZ Media)
Best One-Shot Manga
For single-volume stories that deliver powerful, self-contained narratives:
- H.P. Lovecraft’s The Colour Out of Space – Gou Tanabe (Dark Horse)
- Brain Damage – Shintaro Kago (Fantagraphics)
- A Smart and Courageous Child – Miki Yamamoto (TOKYOPOP)
- Tamaki and Amane – Fumi Yoshinaga (Yen Press)
- Stardust Family – Aki Poroyama (Yen Press)
Best New Edition of Classic Manga
Recognizing masterful re-releases of important manga works:
- They Were 11! – Moto Hagio (Denpa Books)
- Short Game – Mitsuru Adachi (Denpa Books)
- Mansect – Koga Shinichi (Living the Line / Smudge)
- The Legend of Kamui Volume 1 – Sanpei Shirato (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow Volumes 1–2 – Asao Takamori & Tetsuya Chiba (Kodansha USA)
Best Lettering
Highlighting the artists who expertly adapt Japanese text for English editions:
- Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow Volumes 1–2 – Evan Hayden (Kodansha USA)
- Cat Man – Rebecca Sze (Seven Seas Entertainment)
- Love Laid Bare – Robert Harkins (FAKKU)
- My Tiny Senpai Volume 1 – Joven Voon (J-Novel Club)
- Search and Destroy Volume 2 – Phil Christie (Fantagraphics / MSX)
Best Translation
Celebrating the translators whose work bridges linguistic and cultural gaps:
- Otaku Love Connection Volume 1 – Translated by minami (Square Enix Manga & Books)
- FaceMeat – Translated by Ryan Holmberg (Living the Line / Smudge)
- Search and Destroy Volume 2 – Translated by Ben Applegate (Fantagraphics / MSX)
- UltraHeaven Volume 1 – Translated by Ajani Oloye (Last Gasp)
- The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant Volume 1 – Translated by Andreas Kronborg Danielsen (Blue Feathered Quill Publishing)
Best Publication Design
Recognizing outstanding visual presentation and physical design in manga releases:
- The Legend of Kamui Volume 1 – Design by Lucia Gargiulo, Tom Devlin (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Planetes Deluxe Edition Book 1 – Design by Riley VanDyke, Carl Gustav Horn (Dark Horse)
- Seaside Beta – Design by emuh ruh (Glacier Bay Books)
- Veil Volume 1 – Design by Kohei Nawada Design Office, Lettering by Kevin Druelle / Oshino Studio (Udon Entertainment / MSX)
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure—Part 7: Steel Ball Run Volume 1 – Design by Adam Grano (VIZ Media)
Voting Info
Voting registration is open to anyone involved in manga publishing across Japan, the United States, or Canada. Registration closes on July 21, and voting wraps up on July 24.
With this year’s incredible diversity of nominees—from underground hits to beloved classics—it’s clear the American Manga Awards are growing into a vital spotlight for talent and excellence across the industry. Whether you’re a fan, creator, or industry professional, this is the moment to celebrate the manga scene’s ongoing evolution and global influence.
Stay tuned in August for the winners—and maybe discover your next favorite read along the way!
