During
the San Diego Comic-Con International, held this Thursday, July 24,
the renowned manga creator Kia Asamiya was surprised with the
prestigious Inkpot Award. The announcement was made during his
retrospective panel titled "Kia Asamiya: 40 Years of Imagination
and Visions," where his extensive career in the industry was
celebrated.
In her
acceptance speech, Asamiya joked, "This is the second award I've
received in two days, so I'll probably die tomorrow," drawing
laughter and applause from the crowd.
A legacy
that spans generations
Kia Asamiya
is the creator of iconic works such as Silent Möbius, Steam
Detectives, Compiler and Junk: Record of the Last
Hero. He also designed characters for the anime Martian Successor
Nadesico, which he later adapted into manga. Among his best-known works is
the manga adaptation of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and
the comic book Batman: The Child of Dreams, which he wrote and drew
personally.
Much of his
manga have been adapted into anime, cementing his influence in both mediums. In
addition, he has collaborated with international video game companies and
publishers, bringing his art to a global audience.
Double
recognition in less than 48 hours
In his
emotional speech, Asamiya revealed that a day earlier he had been distinguished
for the second consecutive time as Best Artist by the Japan
Science Fiction Convention, which adds a new milestone to his prolific
career.
Later that
Thursday, he is scheduled to participate in the panel "The
Artistry of Anime and Game Art" at 2:00 a.m. on Friday,
July 25 (Spanish time, UTC+2), where he will share the stage with Udon
artists: Edwin Huang, Jeffrey Cruz and Long Vo. With more than four
decades dedicated to art and visual storytelling, Kia Asamiya continues to
inspire new generations of creators and fans around the world.
