Asia Alfasi has beaten some of the world's finest illustrators to win $5000 from the first international competition to identify the best in manga and anime talent, awarded by organisers IMAF - the International Manga and Anime Festival.
Asia, who has received support from HI8US Midlands Ltd since 2003, is the winner of the Kids Character Design. Her creation, Monir, is a feisty young Arabian from the Muslim Abyssinian times who draws strength from his faith to fight injustice and battle for his family's survival.
"I went back to my Arab heritage to draw from its design," says Asia."Manga usually features Japanese culture, and I wanted to introduce some Arabian mysticism to the market."
Asia has just taken part in an exhibition at the Custard Factory and plans to conitnue working on her own comic while finishing her degree in Visual Communications at UCE.
