Contestants can submit anime-style character for consideration as the face of the annual celebration
CHARLESTON, IL (03/19/2026) Eastern Illinois University’s Booth Library is seeking contestants with the design skills to animate this year’s EIU Comic Fest. The Library is accepting submissions for an Anime-Style Character Contest to find the face of the University’s 2026 event, and the selected winner will take home a cash prize.
Booth Library is seeking to select an anime-style character in three related poses to license as the official 2026 Comic Fest mascot for the annual event. The winning submission will be licensed to Booth Library for usage related to 2026 EIU Comic Fest in perpetuity; however, the copyright for the character will remain with the submitting artist.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- be a current EIU student
- create an anime-style character in three related poses, one of which must translate well for printing in single-color on official EIU Comic Fest 2026 t-shirts. The poses include:
- Directional Gesturing
- Speaking
- A third pose of the applicant’s choice
- create a character using original artwork. No AI-generated or copyrighted images will be accepted
- submit entries by Wednesday, April 29.
Booth Library’s 2026 EIU Comic Fest Contest is officially open for submissions, and the selected winner will take home a $300 prize.
Interested applicants can submit their character at eiu.libwizard.com/f/anime_contest. The winning design will be the official face of the 2026 EIU Comic Fest. For more information about EIU Comic Fest, visit the website, visit thekeep.eiu.edu/eiu_comic_fest or email comicfest@eiu.edu.
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