Ana Oncina, a Valencian author born in 1984, surprised many when she received the second prize at the 17th edition of the Japan Manga Awards. This honor is conferred annually by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to acknowledge the contribution of foreign writers to spreading Japanese culture and promoting cultural exchange through manga.
The moment of triumph caught the artist off guard as she recalled being present in the venue. The call arrived while she was in Barcelona, and she admits she did not expect to be recognized in this way. The publisher had submitted her work to the competition, and she confesses she agreed to participate without imagining a prize would come of it.
Just Friends, published by Planeta Cómic, marks Oncina’s first foray into manga aesthetics and narrative. The story follows Erika, a somewhat solitary teenager who longs for a peaceful summer. Her wish shifts when she ends up at a camp where she meets Emi, with whom she shares meaningful experiences that shape her vacation.
Oncina has long drawn inspiration from manga, growing up reading a variety of titles. Yet Just Friends is notable for being her first project not drawn from personal experience. In her own words, this work represents a conscious departure from autobiographical material, signaling a new direction in her career. Her previous projects, including Croquettes and Dumplings and A Walk in Japan, are known for humor and personal touches. She notes that European and American influences had always informed her comics, but this time the focus leans toward a broader, more universal appeal.
Planet
The Valencian artist has released a new graphic novel, Planet. The narrative centers on Valentina, who lives in a small cabin in the heart of a forest with her dog Sopa. Each night, the protagonist experiences a dream in which she finds herself on another planet, sharing a bond with her companion Ane. This work revisits familiar European and American references, while leaving open the possibility of continuing to explore the manga form in future projects.
As a creator, Oncina has shaped a distinct career path. She founded Croqueta y Empanadilla in 2014, a venture undertaken while she was finishing her Fine Arts degree. The path was not planned as a surefire career, and in the early years she balanced these projects with other work. Today she concentrates solely on comics and illustration. In 2015, her work attracted the audience award at the Barcelona International Comics Fair and received a nomination for the Best Spanish Work Award at Ficomic. In 2017, she was listed by Forbes among Europe’s most influential creators under 30. Her more recent publications include Los f*cking 30 (Zenith, 2019) and Mangaka, Neko Grl, and Voices That Tell in Planeta Manga editions (2019–2021), with additional collaborations on anthologies.
Oncina observes that comics are enjoying a peak moment with an expanding range of styles and voices. She emphasizes greater visibility for creators, noting especially the rise of female creators within the field, and remains optimistic about where the medium is headed.