Photo/Illutration Hajime Isayama, creator of "Attack on Titan," stands in front of the statues of the main characters from his manga series on Nov. 8, 2020, in Hita, Oita Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

BRUSSELS--Hajime Isayama, creator of the globally popular "Attack on Titan" manga series, is the latest Japanese cartoonist to be honored at a major comics festival in France. 

Isayama received a special prize at the 50th Angouleme International Comics Festival held in the southwestern French city of Angouleme on Jan. 26-29.

"Attack on Titan" focuses on the battle between humanity and human-devouring giants.

It ran in a manga anthology for about 11 and a half years after its launch in September 2009 before concluding in April 2021. 

The 34-volume series sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

The festival also selected Ryoichi Ikegami, known for "Otokogumi" and many other works, and Junji Ito, best known as author of "Tomie," as recipients of an honorary award.

Held to honor artists for their contributions to the development of comics, the Angouleme festival is also referred to as the "Cannes of comics," likened to one of the world's most prestigious film festivals also held in the country.

In the past, "Akira" creator Katsuhiro Otomo and Rumiko Takahashi, whose works include "Urusei Yatsura" and "Inuyasha," have been given the top prize, with "Dragon Ball" author Akira Toriyama and other creators winning a special prize.

Yoshiharu Tsuge, renowned for his "Nejishiki" (Screw style), has also been given a special honorary award.

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