pixiv's High Schoolers Illustration Contest 2024 results - Our most competitive year to date!

The panel of judges carefully critiqued each entry from a professional’s point of view, focusing not just on the artist’s technical abilities but also on the message behind the piece.

Due to the sheer number of impressive entries, the judging process took countless hours. In fact, the time it took to decide the Grand Prize winner was the longest time in the entire history of the pixiv High Schoolers Illustration Contest. Multiple contestants were nominated for first prize, and the judges agonized over the fact that they could only select one winner, as well as which aspects to value most when deciding the winning entry.

After an extremely challenging process and much deliberation, we are pleased to announce the winning works and the corresponding critiques from the judges. The second-to-last section, “About the Review Process,” is also packed with helpful tips regarding being a creator, so keep reading if you’re an aspiring artist!

Saito Naoki (hereinafter referred to as Saito): For starters, I like the fact that the artist used lots of green despite the theme being “Heat,” and their unique use of color left a powerful impression on me. Also, something tells me that the “unusualness” of this piece isn’t intentional either.

NAKAKI PANTZ (hereinafter referred to as NAKAKI): In some of the entries, you could practically hear the artist’s adamant refusal to use warm tones such as red and orange, but I didn’t get that from this piece, which makes the green in it pop all the more.

gemi: I could really feel the heat and humidity of the tropical forest from the sweat trickling down the character’s face. Moreover, the artist clearly researched each animal’s characteristics and went through the effort of drawing out all the details. While they could have slacked off on those finer details, they didn’t; as a professional illustrator, I find that highly commendable.

Haruo: When you zoom in on this piece, you can tell that even the ants have been drawn with great care. Not only is this work about heat, but it also demonstrates the artist’s enthusiastic, almost obsessive attention to detail. Additionally, I can’t help but wonder what this boy’s outstretched hand is trying to grasp.

Saito: Since the title is Fukagyaku Shinko (不可逆進行, lit. “irreversible progress”), perhaps he’s moving towards the future? At least, that’s what I felt when I saw this piece; I remember thinking, “Oh, this person is definitely living in modern times.” When you look at the tiger, which is meant to be an object of fear, you’ll notice that its eyes are hidden—almost as if they’re meant to be an invisible threat. Seeing the boy push aside the vegetation with each step as he makes his way through the dangerous jungle made me think of the treacherous social media landscape that high schoolers often have to navigate with uncertainty.

komugiko2000 (hereinafter referred to as komugiko: The artist also did a great job choosing stunning motifs and placing them strategically to make their symbolism apparent.

NAKAKI: It’s really impressive how many elements they’ve managed to pack in one illustration—plants, animals, insects, plus a boy—without making it feel cluttered. The artist has done a brilliant job choosing colors, and their piece is an excellent example of using addition in art. I would love to hang this drawing up in my room.

Saito: Another thing I liked was the fact that it doesn’t feel too polished. With the contestants getting increasingly talented each year, there’s no shortage of skilled artists. However, this person gives me the impression that they really went through a lot of trial and error, contemplating whether certain things work or not with each brushstroke. I feel like that sense of fumbling about in the darkness resonates a lot with this piece.

gemi: Whereas some illustrations focus too much on the technical aspect, such as using filters effectively, this artist has expressed themselves solely through painting. It’s such a breath of fresh air to have someone draw something this impressive using the most foundational of techniques.

gemi: The composition of this piece feels very strategic. Usually, when trying to tell a story, the typical approach would be to draw a motif relevant to the theme within the illustration. However, this work does exactly the opposite by placing the focal point of the scene outside the frame. As a result, it forces the viewer to expand their imagination beyond the scope of what they can see, which I found very fascinating and impressive.

Saito: The artist has framed the two characters in such a way that you can’t tell for sure whether they’re holding hands or not; I couldn’t help but wonder about the nature of their relationship and think, “Are they, or aren’t they?” the whole time. (laughs) Although the boy has his gaze averted, you can’t be certain whether it’s due to him being shy or some other deeper reason. Overall, the artist has done a fantastic job eliminating symbolic elements and conveying their message purely through the setting of the piece.

NAKAKI: I like how it’s not “grand,” and I mean that in a good way. It takes incredible skill to take a mundane setting and tell a compelling story solely through the use of basic motifs without relying on extraordinary scenarios or characters. True to its title, Kotoba nanka Iranai (言葉なんかいらない, lit. “no words needed”), this work is the very definition of “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

komugiko: I’m an animator, and one of the key things we need to keep in mind when creating a scene is whether it’ll leave a lasting impression on the viewer. In the world of animation, it all comes down to how symbolic and impactful your scenes are. Coming from that perspective, the girl marching with a sign with her head held high is one that I believe many people will remember from watching high school baseball matches on TV. I find it genius that the artist took inspiration from that and inserted it into their art. Additionally, I really liked the idea of having various symbolic summer elements form a neat line behind the girl instead of the usual high school baseball players.

Saito: This work is by last year’s Grand Prize winner, but I didn’t realize it until I’d already made my selection. (laughs) While this piece is primarily monochromatic, that’s not the reason it caught my eye; I simply found the composition absolutely brilliant. Not only does it perfectly illustrate the theme “Heat” without the use of any color, but it also manages to feel fresh and captivating despite it being almost perfectly symmetrical. Seeing it made me want to pick up a pen and draw something myself.

gemi: Most illustrators chose to create colorful drawings in line with this year’s theme, but this artist made a unique decision by choosing to go the ink drawing route.

NAKAKI: I love the free-spiritedness of this piece, and it reminded me that there are no rules in art. Various creatures and objects surround the figure in the center, creating a dynamic and lively composition. The fact that the room is drawn from a bird’s eye view also resonated with me, as being able to draw rooms well is one of the main goals I’d like to work on. This piece is overflowing with unadulterated passion, and I can practically hear the artist saying, “Check out this bit—I worked really hard on it!” which makes me want to picture what kind of person they are. Although there were several other illustrations that I had my eyes on, ultimately, this was the one that I was drawn to the most.

Haruo: This piece had been my top pick for this award ever since I scanned the entire list of entries. It feels incredibly emotional and evokes feelings I had as a high school student whenever I used to compare my art to others—admiration, envy, and a host of other complex emotions. This illustration depicts those feelings brilliantly, and it transported me back to my early drawing days when I used to cry while working.

komugiko: I love how relatable this piece is; it does a great job of depicting those fervent feelings.

NAKAKI: It’s something all creators can relate to, isn’t it?

Haruo: While some parts are still rough around the edges, they don’t necessarily take away from the charm of this piece, which is another thing that makes it so wonderful. Despite some technical issues, the artist did an excellent job conveying the overall feel of the piece and telling their message.

The works featured here were chosen by our sponsors. Each of the artists will receive a variety of creative production-related goods and other items from each respective company. Here are the comments from each company.

The choice of an overhead composition was an unusual one, and we were drawn to the way the characters’ art seemed to leap out at us from the illustration. While the piece uses minimal lines, the overall effect is stunning, demonstrating the artist’s exceptional ability to make their vision come alive on the canvas. Although you can’t see the characters’ faces, that only arouses our curiosity further, making us wonder if they’re racing towards a deadline, experiencing a creative burst of energy, what they might be talking about while working, and so on. We’re unsure if this piece is based on the artist’s experience, but working on a giant creative project together feels very fitting for the pixiv High Schoolers Illustration Contest. 

While the artist’s go-to medium is presumably digital, we would love to see them explore more traditional mediums as well, such as Copics, and broaden their artistic range.

We could really feel the artist’s overwhelming passion for drawing from this piece, and the fact that we’re seeing it from the canvas’s point of view was also fascinating. The hand extending from the canvas makes it feel as if the girl’s passion made the painting come alive, and it also feels like a stepping stone for her artistic growth, prompting us to consider all sorts of possibilities. We hope the artist continues to draw more works in the future with the same passion this girl possesses!

Although the artist picked a tricky way to approach the theme, they did an excellent job depicting the contrast between a swelteringly hot day that makes everything appear warped and hazy and the instant relief upon lying down on a cool tiled floor. The more closely you study the work, the more you notice the artist’s skill in the dynamic composition, the colors used to convey the contrasting temperatures, the delicate expression on the girl’s face, and the variation in brushstrokes they used for the washing machine and baskets. We could tell that the artist had gone through a lot of trial and error to develop this one-of-a-kind art style using a variety of painting materials, and we look forward to seeing more of their work in the future.

This is a newly established award, and the winner of this award will receive an official commission from the following sponsors. In the event that there were no entries that met the criteria of the commissioning companies, no winners were selected. Additionally, since the selection criteria differ from the other awards, it was possible that a contestant who had already been chosen for another award could receive it. Here are the comments from each sponsor.

NAKAKI: Simply put, it’s a unique piece. (laughs) It has an unusual charm to it, and there’s a lot to unpack here, starting with the title.

komugiko: I feel like the artist really wanted to tell a story in a single drawing. I used to draw stuff like this when I was a high school student myself, so I understand the feeling well. I’d say this artist has great potential to become a mangaka or animator if they so choose.

Saito: I love how the artist decided to portray the characters’ personalities through the way they sit.

gemi: It feels like a scene from a film, where the camera is placed diagonally across from the pair.

Saito: True—it does feel more like a movie still than an illustration. That said, that’s not a realistic angle to place a camera in real life, so it still retains the charm of a drawing in that sense.

Haruo: I feel like this could be used as a card illustration; that’s how excellent the quality is. Not many people choose to draw dragons, so that fact alone already made this piece stand out. I think it’s great that the artist chose to draw what they like for their submission.

gemi: I like how detailed it is, even the parts that don’t stand out as much. You can tell that the artist did their research and drew each object carefully, no matter how small, without trying to rely on their imagination.

Saito: It’s passionate in a conventional way, and I like how straightforward their interpretation of the theme is. I feel like I’m really looking at a high school baseball player; I wouldn’t be surprised if the artist were one too.

NAKAKI: It’s full of passion and to the point, not to mention they’re highly proficient at drawing.

gemi: I love how dynamic each detail is, and I don’t just mean the player’s arms and the dirt they’re standing on; even the clouds seem to have parted to celebrate this victorious moment.

komugiko: There were many entries of characters painting on a canvas, but this one caught me off guard because of the Nebuta. Three-dimensional objects indeed look more impressive in a drawing, and I applaud the artist for choosing this motif.

Saito: I simply love their art style. Because the artist uses so many colors, each section of the drawing gives an entirely different impression. I could look at it all day.

NAKAKI: I love the folksy art style—it’s cute and reminds me a bit of Momoko Sakura. Although I can’t use colors like this myself, I like it a lot. It’s a fun piece to look at.

NAKAKI: What can I say? I love boys who look like this. (laughs) He seems to be burning a photograph of some sort, which makes me wonder what’s going on.

gemi: There’s a letter in the upper left corner that says, “I loved you.” Maybe something happened to his oshi that caused him to stop supporting them?

Saito: But it doesn’t seem like he’s destroyed any of the merch he’s collected. Why burn just this one photo?

Haruo: It’s definitely a piece that makes you think a lot.

NAKAKI: For one, the artist is incredibly talented, and the tiles on the street and the greenery are drawn beautifully. At first, I thought the girl was looking at something in the display window, but actually, she was looking at a girl coming out of a framed painting.

Saito: Maybe it’s trying to show that she’s encountered a piece that stole her heart?

NAKAKI: I love the colors and the overall vibe of the piece. The character engrossed in their book is depicted through muted green tones, while the pops of red serve as a lovely accent color. I find it incredibly charming.

komugiko: This artist knows how to create a captivating illustration. The composition is excellent, and they’ve drawn this unique theme in a way that maximizes its beauty.

Saito: I also like how some parts are incredibly detailed and intricate, while others are more like rough scribbles.

NAKAKI: When I first had a look at all the entries, this was the one that left the biggest impression on me. I love the atmosphere and the storytelling, and since the work is titled Kienaide (消えないで, lit. “don’t disappear”), you can’t tell whether the girl is alive or dead. It’s a delicate and beautiful illustration that makes you wonder about the relationship between these two characters.

Haruo: Despite being a little rough around the edges, you can really tell what the artist wants to depict.

NAKAKI: This drawing brims with youthful energy, and I love how vibrant and cute it is. It makes me wish I could have drawn something this cheerful when I was a high school student. It’s upbeat, unique, and utterly charming.

Haruo: This is so cool! I love the way they’ve drawn the view in the distance too.

Haruo: It took ages to decide the Grand Prize winner, didn’t it? From what I was told, this was the least smooth the selection process has ever been.

Saito: Now that you mention it, most Grand Prize winners have been decided fairly quickly and unanimously. Whereas the winning entries are usually those that have been polished to near perfection or by artists who have developed their own style or are technically advanced, this time around, there were a lot of instances where we nominated works because they spoke to us or moved us in some way. I believe that’s the trend nowadays, however, and not necessarily unique to this contest.

NAKAKI: As you said, there were many wonderful entries this year, even if they weren’t exceptional in terms of technique.

gemi: Ever since I was invited to serve on this panel, I’ve been thinking about what criteria I would base my selections on. In my case, I believe an award-winning piece meets the following: the artist shows originality in their interpretation of the theme and has the skills to convey it well. That said, there are times when the passion to express something outshines technique, and I hoped to pick up on that as well.

Saito: I believe society is starting to value passion more than skill these days, and that was reflected in this review process as well; that’s why we had such differing opinions. Setting aside the question of which piece was most worthy of the Grand Prize, our tendency to pick works that struck a chord with us felt very in line with modern values.

Haruo: In short, we had entries that made us rethink the concept of pixiv’s High Schoolers Illustration Contest, as well as the basis on which prizes should be awarded. I think it’s incredible that the contest has evolved to that degree.

Saito: All of us were drawn to works that featured things the artist genuinely wanted to draw; I think that goes to show that the advancement of technology has made works that are merely beautiful or well-drawn less relevant. Although I can’t say for sure whether this sentiment will persist, for now, it seems like “drawing from the heart” has immense value in our society. It feels like we’ve returned to the origins of art and what makes it so interesting.

gemi: This is going to sound bad, but when drawing for work, I tend to avoid processes that aren’t cost-effective. This means I spend less time experimenting with my art and instead try to complete it using skills I already have. I suppose this is only natural when you have deadlines to meet, which is why I enjoyed seeing all these works that were the complete opposite of mine, with “cost-effectiveness” being the least of their concern. The sheer amount of time these artists must have spent on their illustrations, refining each detail until they were satisfied, reminded me of what makes drawing so enjoyable. I would love all high school students to honor that process as they create more works in the future.

komugiko: Seeing everyone’s works really reminded me of what it was like to be a high school student. When you’re a teenager, it’s easy to be directly influenced by artists that you love. That goes for me, too, and I really admired cogecha’s work back then; you could tell that he directly influenced the work I submitted to an illustration contest. At the time, cogecha seemed like the ultimate artist, and I couldn’t break free of his influence. Still, I worked hard to find my own style and get to where I am now, and I’m grateful to have gone through that experience.

Haruo: I agree. It’s that process of experimentation and discovery that leads to originality.

komugiko: There were many entries where I could clearly tell who the artist was influenced by. Having artists you admire and look up to is important, and I hope people will continue to honor those feelings. At the same time, I would advise them not to let their creativity be boxed in by others’ art and to make an active effort to develop their unique style.

Haruo: Judging everyone’s entries has reminded me what it feels like to be a budding artist again. It has also motivated me to keep working on my craft, for which I’m very grateful.

NAKAKI: I agree. It’s important not to forget what it felt like to draw without any restrictions and simply enjoy the process. I loved seeing the high schoolers’ originality, bold choice of colors, and unique compositions, and I was able to learn a lot from them. Thank you for this wonderful and inspiring opportunity!