Submission Guidelines

CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR 2022 REUBEN DIVISIONAL AWARDS IS NOW CLOSED.  Thank you and stayed tuned for finalist announcements in May and the awards this fall.

The National Cartoonists Society has completed its annual call for entries for consideration for the 77th NCS Divisional Reuben Awards recognizing excellence in professional cartooning for work published in 2022.

• The Divisional Reuben Awards recognize individuals for their artistic excellence in cartoon arts.
• You do not have to be a member of the NCS to enter.
• There is no fee for submissions. 
• All submissions must complete the online entry form and comply with division requirements.  If you are unable to submit via the online form, please email us at ncs@nationalcartoonists.com
• Only work FIRST published between the dates of January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022 can be considered. Submitted work must be accompanied by verification of the date of first publication or it will be disqualified–see detailed instructions below.
• Entries should represent professional cartooning, as demonstrated by publication, syndication, production, or distribution through a professional organization via a platform or manner widely available and consumed by the general public such as Amazon.   For example, art created solely for a card mailed to family or self-published for a school assignment or posted on social media for fun or done as a hobby should not be submitted.
• The NCS always encourages the exploration of new ways technology enables our members to create their work. We do, however, oppose the commercial use of AI-generated images that have been trained on copyrighted works, and will not allow any artificially-generated art to be submitted for any category of our awards.

YOUR SUBMISSIONS MUST COMPLETED BY FEBRUARY 15, 2023 FOR CONSIDERATION FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING DIVISION AWARDS:

Detailed division-specific guidelines for submission can be found below.  Click here for a printable PDF of these guidelines.

In the interest of ensuring that the NCS Divisional Reuben Awards are representative of the very best work produced in each category, entries are juried by members of our regional chapters or by specialty juries.  The results of nominations from jurors are compiled and the top 3 nominees in each division will be posted for online voting by the entire NCS voting membership.

Winners will be announced at the Reuben Awards, Fall 2023

Submission Process for All Divisions

All submissions and entry forms will be submitted digitally.

1. Review division-specific instructions below.

2. Complete the online entry form at the bottom of this page (GO TO ENTRY FORM).

3. On the entry form you will provide:

• Your Name
• Which division you are entering
• Email and Contact Information
• Short Bio (optional)

4. Upload work samples using the entry form.
Please follow division-specific guidelines provided below.

5. Upload PROOF OF 2022 PUBLICATION using the entry form.
Failure to provide proof of publication date may result in disqualification.

6. Submit the form by February 15, 2023 and receive an email confirmation of your entry.

Common Questions

• Each submitted image/sample may only be submitted to ONE division–no duplicates.  In other words, you may not submit the same image to the “Gag” division and also to the “Variety” division.
• If you have art from two separate titles, for example, “Book of Cats” and “Book of Clowns,” you may either submit one entry with a selection of art from both OR enter the same division twice, but you can only win for ONE title.  In other words, your entries will be competing against each other.
• Only one award is granted per division–if there are multiple names, they will all appear on one award.
• If you are unable to submit via the online form, please email us at ncs@nationalcartoonists.com

REQUIRED: How to Submit Proof of 2022 Publication

PLEASE READ: REQUIRED FOR ALL DIVISIONS: proof of 2022 publication date for each submitted sample of work MUST be included by uploading a separate proof file using the entry form. Failure to provide proof of publication date may result in disqualification.

Examples of proof:

• if the submitted work itself has the date clearly visible you will also submit the work in the proof section of the entry form
• a scan of magazine table of contents with feature circled
• dated product art or ad scanned from print, screenshot that shows publication date
• documentation or a letter of verification of print date from client, publisher, or syndicate
• a photo or scan of a printed page that shows date and name of publication
• a screenshot showing both URL and date of publication (for example at GoComics, Comics Kingdom, a webcomic site, or New Yorker etc.)
• direct web link that shows both the artwork and date of publication
• tearsheet or copyright page

Upload 1 proof image for each submitted image file. 

• Upload each image as a separate JPEG/JPG or PDF file
• SIZE: no larger than 800×800 pixels or 3MB per file  

 FILE NAME FORMAT

• PROOF_Lastname_Firstname_1
• PROOF_Lastname_Firstname_2
• etc.

Please name your files and/or label the proof documentation so that it is clear which piece of submitted work it is for.

Submission Instructions for Specific Divisions

SKIP TO ONLINE COMIC DIVISIONS
SKIP TO BOOK ILLUSTRATION, GRAPHIC NOVEL, OR COMIC BOOK DIVISIONS
SKIP TO ART FOR ANIMATED MEDIA DIVISIONS

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS FOR:

● NEWSPAPER PANEL CARTOONS ● NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIPS ● GAG CARTOONS ● EDITORIAL CARTOONS ● GREETING CARDS ● VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT ● MAGAZINE & NEWSPAPER ILLUSTRATION ● ADVERTISING & PRODUCT ILLUSTRATION

These divisions are for artwork that is primarily print-based, but may also appear online.

GUIDELINES FOR THESE DIVISIONS

• • Submissions may be submitted by the artists themselves, or by agents or other colleagues on the artist’s behalf.
  • NEWSPAPER PANEL and NEWSPAPER STRIP: If you are submitting syndicated cartoons that run in both strip and panel format, you may submit to one of those divisions, but not both (your choice). Duplication of entries into multiple categories will result in disqualification.
  • VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT: This division is for panels and strips that focus on trivia, puzzles, educational content, etc.
  • GREETING CARD: If you are submitting samples in the Greeting Card category, the samples must be original greeting card designs that premiered in 2022. Gag cartoons or newspaper panel cartoons (or any previously published cartoons or illustrations) that have been repurposed as greeting cards will not be accepted. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.
  • GAG CARTOON v PANEL CARTOON:  Panel Cartoons are part of a regular feature, and usually have a regular title. Examples of Panel Cartoons are: regularly published panels on a newspaper or magazine comics page like this that may also be regular features on GoComics, Comics Kingdom or similar sites.  Gag Cartoons, which are sold as one-off, ad hoc gags to a publication in print that may also appear online, for example appearing in publications like Airmail or The New Yorker (as the Daily Cartoon or in the Magazine).
  • ADVERTISING/PRODUCT ILLUSTRATION: Includes print/physical and digital advertisements and products, including items such as packaging, manuals, or apps.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

1. Review all instructions, including how to submit Proof of Publication as detailed prior to the division requirements.

2. Complete the online entry form at the bottom of this page (GO TO ENTRY FORM)

3. Upload UP TO 8 TOTAL sample images.

• Upload each image as a separate JPEG/JPG file
• SIZE: no larger than 800x800pixels or 3MB per file
• FILE NAME FORMAT:

Lastname_Firstname_1

Lastname_Firstname_2

etc.

Files will be viewed by jurors in numerical order based on your file names. Please number them in the order you wish them to be viewed.

4. Upload proof of 2022 publication (see detailed instructions prior to the division requirements)

5. Submit the completed form or or by February 15, 2023

You will receive a confirmation email with your entry details.  Division Finalists will be announced in May and winners announced at the annual Reuben Awards in fall of 2023.

ONLINE COMICS DIVISIONS: Short and Long Form

GUIDELINES FOR THESE DIVISIONS

• Submissions must be web-only publications (any work also syndicated in print should be submitted to the proper print division above)
• Submissions must have shown consistent timely publication over the course of the 2022 calendar year (weekly, bi-weekly, multiple times a week, daily, etc.)
• Compilations of work published in previous years are not eligible.
• Submissions may be submitted by the artists themselves, or by agents or other colleagues on the artist’s behalf.

ONLINE COMICS – SHORT FORM

• Submissions can be strip, single panel, single or partial page format
• Submissions must be mainly self-contained gag, story, or narrative in each short comic, even if also part of an ongoing narrative

ONLINE COMICS – LONG FORM

• Examples of Long Form Comics: An illustrated daily shouts piece in The New Yorker, a comic sketchbook page in the New York Times Review of Books, a piece published on The Nib, a Longform webcomic like this
• Submissions can be posted in single or multiple page format (but please keep in mind that multiple pages will count as multiple SAMPLE IMAGES)
• Submissions must be accompanied by documentation of date of first posting/release of each episode/page/segment
• Submissions must be ongoing narrative in serial form i.e. continuing comic book/graphic novel storyline

ALL ONLINE COMICS: SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

1. Review all instructions, including how to submit Proof of Publication as detailed prior to the division requirements.

2. Complete the online entry form at the bottom of this page (GO TO ENTRY FORM)

3. Upload UP TO 8 TOTAL sample images.

• Upload each image as a separate JPEG/JPG file
• SIZE: no larger than 800x800pixels or 3MB per file
• FILE NAME FORMAT:

Lastname_Firstname_1

Lastname_Firstname_2

etc.

Files will be viewed by jurors in numerical order based on your file names. Please number them in the order you wish them to be viewed.

4. Upload proof of 2022 publication (see detailed instructions prior to the division requirements)

5. Submit the completed form or or by February 15, 2023

You will receive a confirmation email with your entry details.  Division Finalists will be announced in May and winners announced at the annual Reuben Awards in fall of 2023.

Book Illustration, Graphic Novel, Comic Book Divisions

GUIDELINES FOR THESE DIVISIONS

• Please note, all content in all divisions must have first been published in 2022
• Compilations of work published in previous years are not eligible
• Submissions may be submitted by the artists themselves, or by agents or other colleagues on the artist’s behalf
• Each entry may represent only ONE artist’s work. If more than one artist contributed to the work:
  • in cases where multiple artists worked on a single image, entries must specify what art the entrant is responsible for: penciller, inker, etc
  • in cases where a title includes work from more than one artist (for example, one artist did the cover or different artists contributed different chapters) all sample art submitted must solely represent the entrant
  • if more than one artist from a particular title is to be considered, a separate entry should be submitted that represents each individual artist’s work

BOOK ILLUSTRATION, GRAPHIC NOVELS, COMIC BOOKS: SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

1. Review all instructions, including how to submit Proof of Publication as detailed prior to the division requirements.

2. Complete the online entry form at the bottom of this page (GO TO ENTRY FORM)

3. Submit UP TO 12 TOTAL PAGE SAMPLES using the following options:

• JPEG/JPG image files
• PDF/DOC files with images

5. For files, upload each sample as a separate file.

• SIZE: no larger than 3MB per file
• FILE NAME FORMAT:

Lastname_Firstname_1

Lastname_Firstname_2

etc.

Files will be viewed by jurors in numerical order based on your file names. Please number them in the order you wish them to be viewed.

6. If your file/link has more than 12 pages: use the form to indicate which 12 pages we should provide to the jurors. Otherwise only the first 12 pages will be used as your entry.

7. Upload proof of 2022 publication (see detailed instructions prior to the division requirements)

8. Submit the completed form by February 15, 2023

You will receive a confirmation email with your entry details.  Division Finalists will be announced in May and winners announced at the annual Reuben Awards in fall of 2023.

ART FOR ANIMATED MEDIA

GUIDELINES FOR THIS DIVISION

• For consideration is artwork created by an individual for the various fields of animation, including, but not limited to: Television, Features, Streaming Services, and Gaming
• Submissions are meant to represent an individual artist’s work for consideration. Entrants should be directly responsible for the creation of the art submitted, such as production designers, character designers, layout artists, background painters etc
• Entries may include stills, screen captures, photographs, digital image files etc. and/or up to two minutes of combined animation
• Each entry may represent only ONE artist’s work. If more than one artist contributed to the work:
  • in cases where multiple artists worked on a single title, entries must specify what art the entrant is responsible for: character design, background painting etc
  • in cases where a title includes work from more than one artist (for example, one artist did the intro or different artists contributed different episodes) all sample art submitted must solely represent the individual entrant
  • if more than one artist from a particular title is to be considered, a separate entry should be submitted that represents each individual artist’s work
• Submissions may be submitted by the artists themselves, or by studios or other colleagues on the artist’s behalf
• All entries must be work that debuted during the 2022 calendar year

ART FOR ANIMATED MEDIA: SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

1. Review all instructions, including how to submit Proof of Publication as detailed prior to the division requirements.

2. Complete the online entry form at the bottom of this page (GO TO ENTRY FORM)

3. You may provide UP TO 8 TOTAL PAGE SAMPLES using the following options:

• JPEG/JPG/GIF image files
• PDF/DOC files with images or clickable links to active web pages/li>
• MP4 movie files (up to two mins of total material)
• ZIP files

4. The entry form allows you to provide passwords or instructions for viewing links or files.

5. For files, upload each sample as a separate file.

• FILE NAME FORMAT:

Lastname_Firstname_1

Lastname_Firstname_2

etc.

Files will be viewed by jurors in numerical order based on your file names. Please number them in the order you wish them to be viewed.
If your file/link has more than 2 mins of material: use the upload form to indicate which clip(s) we should provide to the jurors. Otherwise only the first 2 minutes will be used as your entry.

6. Upload proof of 2022 publication (see detailed instructions prior to the division requirements)

7. Submit the completed form by February 15, 2023

You will receive a confirmation email with your entry details.  Division Finalists will be announced in May and winners announced at the annual Reuben Awards in fall of 2023.

Entry Form for All Divisions–CALL FOR ENTRIES IS NOW CLOSED.

Reach us at ncs@nationalcartoonists.com if you have questions.