PROFILE
Pen Name / Name: Hariv / Vũ Hồng Hải
Your social media profiles (optional): X: @Hariv_19 Instagam: @haithao.9805
Country: Vietnam
Favorite manga: Ajin, Dandadan, Look Back
Favorite movie: Interstellar, Everything Everywhere All at Once,… And the show I always listen to while drawing is High Kick!
Favorite quote: “No pain, no gain.”
Entry title: “After School”
Round: SMA21: “The Biggest Surprise”
Award: Grand Prix Runner-up
“Continuously learn new things and observe everything around you; great ideas will come.”
About SMA
How does it feel to receive a SILENT MANGA AUDITION® award?
It’s an indescribable thrill and a surprise. My heart pounded when I saw my comic panel appear on the award banner.
What was the inspiration behind your awarded work?
It was the short videos about creepy pasta creatures that kept appearing on my TikTok feed. They kept popping up, so I decided to write a story about them. I changed my ideas and storytelling methods many times, and I finally completed my story after two months.
What challenges did you face while making your manga? How did you overcome them?
Different ideas kept popping up, and I wanted to include them all in the story. However, due to the page limit, I had to decide which ones to keep and which ones to leave out. It was a pretty tough decision.
Storytelling is also a big challenge for me. I often worry that readers won’t understand my intentions, so I changed my storytelling style quite a bit to make it both concise and easy to understand. However, it didn’t seem very successful, because after letting my friends read the story, they all said the ending was a bit confusing.
About Your Manga
How and when did you start making manga? What do you wish you knew as a beginner? What advice would you give to someone who wants to start drawing manga?
During the COVID-19 lockdown, I happened to watch a segment of an anime. I had plenty of free time, so I started practicing drawing. I’m entirely self-taught, which was really challenging. I wish I had received formal and professional training. My advice is: keep drawing! Continuously learn new things and observe everything around you; great ideas will come.
Do you draw your manga digitally or by hand? What are your go-to digital or analogue tools?
I draw digitally, using a computer, a drawing tablet, and Clip Studio Paint.
What was the first manga you picked up? Is it easy to access manga where you live?
When I was in elementary school, the convenience stores at the school gate rented out Doraemon comics. Because of that, I got to read them and dreamed of becoming a manga artist from a young age.
Which manga changed your life?
Attack on Titan is the manga that introduced me to the wonderful world of comics. I happened to watch a segment of the anime while staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, I turned to the manga to find out what would happen next. From there, I became interested in manga and determined to pursue my childhood dream.
Which manga character do you most identify with? Why?
Maybe Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan. This character is willing to give up everything to achieve their goal, just like how I gave up on university to draw manga.
What kind of manga do you want to make next?
A slice-of-life manga with a touch of the supernatural sounds fascinating!
In my country, the comic industry hasn’t developed much. Many people still view comics as something for children only, and artists don’t always get the recognition they deserve. It’s believed that making a living through art isn’t sustainable, and people usually prefer reading foreign comics.
That’s why I want to develop the Vietnamese comic industry, to change the perception that, ‘Comics are only for children. Vietnamese comics are low-quality and cannot compare to Japanese manga and American comics.’ I want my country to have more high-quality comic series.
About You
What do you do when you’re not making manga? How do you relax?
I work as an electrical engineer at a tech company.
What industry do you work in (if manga making isn’t your primary job)?
Industrial automation and robotics.
Where do you see your manga career in 5 years time?
I will probably continue writing and drawing the stories that exist in my mind on paper.
What manga making advice would you give to your younger self if you could?
Keep reading and drawing a lot.
What advice would you give to people entering the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®?
If you have an idea, draw it immediately. If you don’t have an idea, read books, watch movies, observe everything around you, and you might come up with something new.
Thank you, Hariv! We’re eagerly awaiting your next manga masterpiece!
The deadline to join SMA22 is February 2nd. Enter for a chance to develop your potential as a manga creator with us in Japan! 
HELLO SMA21 AWARD WINNER, Hariv! was first posted on 10月 17, 2024 at 3:46 pm.
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