Manga Artist for Seinen Dark Fantasy Project (Kodansha Competition, 100€+/page)

We are looking for a talented, professional manga artist to collaborate on a 45 to 60 page monochrome (black & white) manga one-shot. The project is fully funded, and we are aiming to submit it to an official Japanese Manga Contest in 2027. About the Project: Genre: Gritty, dark fantasy, mature seinen. Setting & Tone: A deeply atmospheric medieval world with unique mythological elements, political intrigue, high-stakes action, and psychological drama (similar in tone to Attack on Titan or Vinland Saga). Note: The full synopsis, world-building details, and character designs are currently confidential and will be shared only with the selected artist after a mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Note 2: The final script and all dialogues will be provided fully in English. What we need from the artist: Complete production of pages (Storyboarding/Name, Pencils, Inks, and Digital Screentones). Great understanding of dynamic action, shadows, and expressive character faces. Ability to design 2 main characters based on our text profiles. What you can expect from us: High-end, deeply structured script and professional, respectful communication. Complete creative freedom regarding panel layouts, pacing, and visual storytelling - we are fully open to your ideas, discussions, and artistic input to make the scenes look as dramatic as possible. A shared passion to win: We are deeply committed to this project and want to succeed together in the competition. Payment & Timeline: Page Rate: 100€+ per page (depending on experience and portfolio). Method: Paid in milestones via Upwork (per batch of completed pages). Timeline: Looking to select the artist soon, with production starting smoothly over the coming weeks. We have a comfortable timeline leading up to June 2027 How to Apply: Please apply directly through Upwork and include a link to your portfolio showing black and white manga pages, anatomy, and background work. Applications containing only color art or generic landscapes without storytelling panels will not be considered. Feel free to introduce yourself briefly and tell us why you are excited about this specific project. Due to the high volume of applications, we will only respond to candidates whose portfolios match our vision. Thank you!