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Project Anima Announces Results of 'Another World/Fantasy' Anime Contest

The official website for Project Anima announced on Wednesday that Yuzuki Akasaka's Mahō Tsukai ni Narenakatta Onna no Ko no Hanashi. (The Story of the Girl Who Couldn't Become a Wizard, pictured right) is the grand prize winner for the "Another World / Fantasy" category of the competition. J.C. Staff (Revolutionary Girl Utena, Toradora!, Flying Witch) will produce an anime adaptation of the work that is slated for a 2021 debut.

The novel's description on the Everystar website reads:

Kurumi Mirai, a freshman in high school. In the Letran Magic and Magecraft School, the one institution that trains the top-class "wizards" of the International Mage Alliance, she has already secured top marks since middle school. And yet, when she reached high school and took the selection exam to get into the "Magic Group" class that trains wizards, she did not get in.

In the next class, there were students taking the test to become fully fledged wizards, and among them was a student whom Kurumi admired.

How will Kurumi adapt and grow with not being selected despite her boundless intellect?

And what of the goals of the top-class wizard Minami Suzuki, Kurumi's new homeroom teacher?

In addition to the anime adaptation, Akasaka will receive a monetary prize of 1 million yen (about US$8,900) at an award ceremony that will be held at a stage outside of Tokyo Tower on November 3.

The "Another World / Fantasy" category was further divided into novel and script, manga, and proposal and other submission categories for judging. Submissions were accepted from both professional and amateur creators, as well as from both individuals and groups such as companies from May 1 to July 15.

The electronic and mobile commerce company DeNA's editors and producers were judges for the first phase. DeNA, advertising agency and sponsor Sotsu Co., Ltd., radio station Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, and radio and television company Mainichi Broadcasting System judged the second wave of the competition along with J.C. Staff producers. Directors joined the judges for the final stage of judging.

Each category of the project has different application and judging periods. The project announced the winner for the "Science-Fiction/Robot" category in August, with Nekotarō Inui's Sakugan Labyrinth Marker (Drilling Labyrinth Marker) novel as the runner-up (the judges did not award the novel a grand prize), with an anime adaptation by Satelight slated for 2020.

Each category of the project has different application and judging periods. The project is accepting submissions in the "Kids / Game" category until November 15.

Project Anima is accepting story submissions from the general public through DeNA's MangaBox, Everystar, and similar user-submitted content platforms. The companies are hosting competitions in three categories. Doga Kobo (Majestic Prince) will animate the winner of the "Kids / Game" category.

Project Anima is a collaboration between companies to make three television anime in different genres for the 2020 broadcast season. Mengo Yokoyari (Scum's Wish) drew the project's main visual (pictured left).

The project allows submissions in the form of novels, scripts, manga drafts, thumbnail sketches, illustrations, videos, and other formats. The project also accepts submissions from both professional and amateur creators, as well as from both individuals and groups such as companies. In addition to the television anime adaptations, the three main partners and the collaborating productions companies will explore other adaptations for the winning entries such as books, manga, and games.

Sources: Project Anima's website, Everystar, Comic Natalie