Springfish Illustration Contest 2025 Results & Comments From the Judges! - [Free Commemorative Digital Art Collection Available]

The atmosphere of a live concert comes across beautifully! The composition, with Nemesis lying down right in front of the audience’s point of view, is incredibly fun. It evokes the heart-pounding feeling of a fan getting a close, personal interaction with their idol. It’s a wonderful composition that conveys the emotions of such an interaction perfectly. The perspective and attention to detail are of an impressively high standard, and the color control is superb. The image feels rich yet well-balanced. Overall an outstanding work! (kurikO, Special Judge)

By creating a strong sense of depth in a multi-character composition, the space feels wonderfully expansive. The bold pose in the foreground is especially striking, and the overall color palette is harmonious and radiant. (SIBYL, Special Judge)

Transparency and the interplay of light and shadow are handled exquisitely, contributing to a composition that carries a graceful, arcing rhythm. The characters’ expressions hold a mysterious quality that draws the viewer in. (RainFox, Judge from Springfish Studio)

What a beautiful group illustration! The use of color is masterful. Despite the background evoking outer space, the interplay of color and lighting gives the piece a luminous, transparent quality. Earendel’s hair, in particular, is rendered with exceptional beauty, adding depth to the scene. I feel that refining the balance of composition and color on the right side would elevate the work even further. (kurikO, Special Judge)

The lighting effects are wonderfully executed, and the attention to detail in the rendering is both meticulous and confident. This is an exceptionally well-thought-out piece. (SIBYL, Special Judge)

The single shaft of light naturally draws the viewer’s gaze to the character. The striking contrast between light and dark leaves a strong impression, and the character’s pose carries a sense of power. The countless particles radiating from the light source evoke the feeling of singing in the vastness of space. (RainFox, Judge from Springfish Studio)

The camera work is truly striking in this highly polished piece. The composition is simple yet powerful, leaving an immediate and lasting impact. The use of light, shadow, and color is masterful, and with greater detail added, I think it could be an even more remarkable work! (kurikO, Special Judge)

Despite being a single-character composition, the impact is undeniable. The expression and lighting radiate explosive energy. (SIBYL, Special Judge)

The poses of the characters are brimming with energy, perfectly capturing the scene of them singing brilliantly under the moon. (RainFox, Judge from Springfish Studio)

I really love the overall use of color. The soft pink and lavender tones create a charming, girlish atmosphere. Each member has a uniquely designed outfit, making this piece feel incredibly detailed and full of love. (kurikO, Special Judge)

I'm sure any fans who stumbled on this scene would scream, “These four are just too cute!” The contrast between indoor and outdoor lighting is exquisite, creating a pleasing balance across the whole piece. Just by looking, you can almost feel the coolness inside the shop and the heat outside. Espada gazing at the pudding from outside, Munzel with teary eyes, Cetro calmly adding toppings, and Graal smiling straight at the camera... All of their expressions and gestures convey the artist’s deep understanding of and affection for these characters. It’s a wonderful work, full of summer spirit and lively energy. (Fei, Special Judge)

I absolutely love the theme of the four members having fun at a mini amusement park! The scene is full of delightful little details waiting to be discovered, such as each capsule toy containing a mascot version of one of them, or Cetro’s car having the license plate “T-124." It’s a piece you can enjoy for a long time, finding something new each time you look. The subtle shifts in color scattered throughout are beautiful, and the rainbow-like glimmers of light enhance the summery feel even more. Overall, it’s an incredibly fresh and highly polished work. (Fei, Special Judge)

Summer means going out together! The perspective from inside a capsule toy is truly unique. Mind if I take one home myself? The character placement and sense of scale are spot-on, and the way the composition playfully guides the viewer’s gaze makes it especially engaging. The little touch of the pudding-flavored ice cream about to fall feels so real and everyday, and the two in the back are just the height of cuteness. And sunglasses indoors? Love it! (Aerysky, Special Judge)

A refreshing summer vibe that grabs you the instant you see it! With this lineup, they could totally be starring in a sports drink commercial (laughs). The overall tone, the hydrangeas, and the rainbow in the distance evoke a scene straight out of early summer, as if just after an afternoon shower. The unified color palette allows the red of the cola can in the foreground and the red of the distant sign to enhance each other, guiding the viewer’s eye. The attention to detail is meticulous, resulting in a wonderfully romantic and beautiful piece. (YUChien, Judge from Springfish Studio)

The beautiful blue tones are truly stunning, with soft light gently filling the scene, creating a wonderfully pleasant atmosphere. Despite the strong contrast between light and shadow, it never feels harsh on the eyes. The color balance is masterful. The characters’ expressions feel natural, and even the two in the distance are rendered with care, which leaves a strong impression. The composition feels like a collage of four friends’ shared summer moments, imbued with a sense of story, like the cover illustration for a chapter in a novel. (Fei, Special Judge)

All of them appear in school uniforms, and the moment I saw it, I felt like I’d just started playing an otome game! Are there romance routes for this? I want them all! The purple-based color scheme brings out a refreshing sense of youth, which works beautifully. If just a bit more water imagery had been added, it might have felt even more summery. (Aerysky, Special Judge)

An everyday moment before an afternoon band practice? You can almost picture them gathering together, saying, “It’s way too hot today!” The afternoon atmosphere is conveyed beautifully through the careful play of light and shadow. The details in their outfits show meticulous attention and thought, something I greatly appreciate in this work. The chosen composition is a challenging one to execute, and with greater precision in the perspective, the piece could reach an even higher level of refinement. (YUChien, Judge from Springfish Studio)

This piece feels like a snapshot of a fleeting moment just before the four gather for band practice. The way their motions are frozen mid-action invites the viewer to imagine what each of them will do next. The contrast between warm light and cool shadow is striking, with the combination of sunny yellows and refreshing blue-greens creating a pleasing harmony. Adding to that, the symbolic motifs scattered across the scene enrich the composition beautifully. (Fei, Special Judge)

I think everyone knows what it feels like waiting around for friends, right? This piece captures that casual, everyday moment perfectly, as if they’ve just met along the school route and are heading to the meeting spot together. The bold perspective and light streaming in from outside the frame create a skillful sense of space, while the way each character interacts naturally, whether taking a photo, greeting eachother, or chatting, makes the scene incredibly appealing. (Aerysky, Special Judge)