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The Bahamut 2026 ACG Creation Contest recently announced its winners across all categories alongside an awards tea party. In an interview with GNN, Manga category silver prize winner Kang Tang shared insights into the creative process and inspiration behind the winning work, Stone Head.

Stone Head presents a valley where monkeys possess clear class divisions, and the protagonist must climb a cliff to capture the leader's favorite food to rise from the lowest stone rank to nobility. Author Kang Tang noted that the narrative is built around themes of how individuals interpret one another and how viewpoints reflect character, exploring a closed ending with open interpretations.

Judges praised the work for its mature and stable artistic execution, high completion rate, and engaging worldbuilding. They highlighted the delicate traditional visual techniques, expressive framing, and sharp black aesthetics that convey strong emotional impact and visceral pain, while also praising the thoughtful character designs and distinct monkey hairstyles.

Kang Tang spent roughly seven and a half months on the project, including a period of upgrading drawing specifications to improve background and rock textures. Looking ahead, the author currently has one serialization project and two short stories in development as part of an ongoing path toward professional creation.

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