Tsurumaikada (Japanese: つるまいかだ), sometimes rendered Tsuruma Ikada, is the author of the Medalist manga series.
Though Medalist is their first serialized work, they have independently released several short comics beforehand such as #NapiKawa🌸PRIVATE GUIDEBOOK Natsumi Haruse is verrrrrry cute voice actress, Pot-au-feu, Nakiyami, and Megami ni Nante Narenai.
The release of Nakiyami in COMITIA 123 led them to become one of the winners of the Rookie of the Year Award (即日新人賞); the results of which were published in 2018 5th issue of Monthly Morning Two. This work then captured the attention of Kodansha which led to the eventual release of Medalist.[1][2]
Influence of Natsumi Haruse[]
Tsurumaikada is a long-time fan of voice actress Natsumi Haruse, initially known for her role as Kaoru Ryuzaki from THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS.
As a result, Tsurumaikada created 144 page fanbook compiling her career (#NapiKawa🌸PRIVATE GUIDEBOOK), before creating the Medalist series envisioning Haruse in the lead role. The choice of figure skating as the central theme was influenced by Haruse's interest in watching the sport.
In 2020, Tsurumaikada also hired Haruse to narrate the special commercial for the release of Volume 1 of the manga. When the anime adaptation was announced, Haruse was successfully cast as Inori, fulfilling Tsurumaikada's original vision.
Other Works[]
Trivia[]
- Their current editor at Kodanasha is Ms. Yajima.
- They have several assistants who help them draw backgrounds.
- They actually go to skating rinks conduct research by figure skating and interviewing figure skating coaches from various clubs and other people to ensure the accuracy of the details in the manga.
- Fullmetal Alchemist was the manga that inspired them to draw manga.
- They often mistake drawing Inori's hair braid in the wrong direction so their editor devised a "Fried Shrimp Check" to make sure Inori's hair was right.
- They talk about not being able to draw men, especially Tsukasa, well so they have to go a under a "Nice Tsukasa Check" every chapter.
References[]
- ↑ Comicspace: 【インタビュー】『メダリスト』つるまいかだ「表舞台では見えない、努力の軌跡を描きたい」
- ↑ Seian Illustration Dept: 即日新人賞・優秀賞受賞！卒業生二名