Ancient Sagas is a Pokémon fanzine dedicated to celebrating Legendary and Mythical Pokémon!
ABOUT
Ancient Sagas: A Legendary & Mythical Pokémon Zine celebrates and explores all Legendary and Mythical Pokémon within the world of Pokémon! Whether you want to explore the skies with Articuno, create vast forests with Xerneas, or find all your desires with Pecharunt, this zine is for you!
About the Zine
What is a zine/fanzine?
A zine is a fanmade booklet/magazine that is a collection of art and/or writing revolving around a particular subject or theme. It usually comes with merchandise alongside the booklet, both of which may be digital and/or physical.What is this zine about?
Ancient Sagas is a zine all about all currently known Legendary and Mythical Pokémon!What are the zine specifications?
Our zine size will be determined by our interest check, but regardless, there will be various merch options! Templates will be provided!Do the mods have any experience running zines?
Yes! You can learn more about the mods of this zine here.Is this zine for-profit or for-charity? What does that mean?
Our zine is for-charity. This means all leftover earnings from the zine will be donated to a chosen charity by our team.Do I have to apply to be in the zine/Do I need to have a portfolio to be in the zine?
Yes, if you wish to contribute, you will need to apply! You will be required to curate both samples and a portfolio for your application. You can view our application guidelines here.
Content in the Zine
Are other Pokémon allowed to be featured in the zine?
We will allow other Pokémon as long as they are not the main focus of your piece. Your piece should be about your chosen Legendary and Mythical Pokémon only.Will every single Legendary and Mythical Pokémon be represented?
We'd love it if we could, but there will most likely be some left out. We will do our best to share love to all of them, though, and not have one overly represented!Are OC Pokémon allowed?
No, all Pokémon must exist in canon.Are OC Non-Pokémon characters/Trainers allowed?
Yes, OC characters and Trainers are allowed, but your piece should still primarily focus on your chosen Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.Is NSFW allowed?
No, our zine is a strictly SFW zine.Will this zine contain Pokémon spoilers?
Yes, this zine will contain any variation of stories about all Legendaries and Mythicals that currently exist in canon. Contributors can choose which generation(s) they'd like to represent and what storylines they'd like to include and create for.Do I need to create original work for the zine or can I submit pieces I've already created and/or posted publicly?
Yes, all pieces must be made for the zine itself and not previously posted.Is AI/generated AI content allowed?
Absolutely not. If we find out that you're using AI at any time, you will be immediately removed from the zine and banned from the mods' future projects.
Contributor Information
How many contributors will this zine have?
We will have a total of 30 page artists, 2 spot artists, 6 merch artists, and 8 writers. We will be accepting 28 page artists, 2 spot artists, 5 merch artists, and 7 writers through applications.What kind of pieces are page artists making?
Page artists will be making one piece that will cover an entire page of the zine. Some artists may sign up to create a spread or comic as well.What's the word count range for writers?
The word count range for our writers will be anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 words.Once the zine is completed, do I retain the rights to my work?
Yes, absolutely! We do ask that while the zine is still actively going (starting from creation period to pre-orders to leftover sales) that you do not share, post, or sell your work until the mods have given you the go ahead to do so! But you will retain all rights to your work upon the zine's completion and the zine will not retain its rights to distribute your work.How will contributors and mods communicate/keep in contact?
Our main mode of contact is through Discord and email! We do require that you have a Discord account so that you can join our zine's server; we will frequently make announcements and updates there. We will, however, also send out emails for the more important announcements. Also, any important or sensitive information (such as emails and addresses) will remain completely confidential from other contributors; only the mod team will be able to view this information.Will contributors receive free copies of the zine?
All contributors will receive the digital zine for free! We are also aiming to be able to compensate all contributors with full bundles as thanks for contributing their time and creativity. Whether or not we're able to do this is wholly dependent on sales.Are minors allowed to participate?
No, all contributors must be at least 18 years old.Am I allowed to drop out if something happens where I can no longer contribute to the zine?
Yes, you may drop out of the zine at any time if needed. We just ask that you inform us ASAP so that we may contact a pinch-hitter to fill your spot.
MODS
Astrid
She/Her
FAVORITE LEGENDARY AND/OR MYTHICAL:Jirachi and Celebi because I love the lil magical pixie lookin' guys 😭
ROLE:Co-head, Writing, & Formatting Mod
ABOUT:My name is Astrid and I'm happy to be here! I love Pokémon so much, and once got sent home from pre-school because I was rocking Pikachu gear from head to toe (scrunchie and light up shoes included) because I wouldn't shut up about how excited I was!!
ZINE EXP:✸ Shipping Mod — Hisui Zine: A Pokémon Legends: Arecus Zine
✸ Finance & Shipping Mod — New Dawn: A Twilight Princess Zine
✸ Communications, Formatting, & Shipping Mod — CYPHER: A BTS Rap Line Zine
✸ Mod for 30+ zines, Head Mod for 9 of those
✸ Contributor for 20+ zines
Dianna
They/Them
FAVORITE LEGENDARY AND/OR MYTHICAL:Suicune is the coolest ever. Arceus haha what a legend. Mew... wow! kitty!!
ROLE:Co-head & Social Media Mod
ABOUT:Hello, I'm Dianna, your resident kitty zine mod who cracks up so much every time I log into my SoulSilver game just to see my tiny pixelated Arceus follow me around. I like to imagine the NPCs going "WHOA?!?! THAT'S ARCEUS?!?!"
ZINE EXP:✸ Head & Formatting Mod — Chasing After: A Canon DKBK Zine
✸ Head, Writing, Social Media, & Formatting Mod — Mosaic: A MiniMoni Zine
✸ Co-head, Writing, Finance/Production, & Formatting Mod — Path of Life: A Kakashi Zine
✸ Mod for 23+ other zines, Head Mod for 8 of those
✸ Contributor for 29+ zines
Seds
She/They
FAVORITE LEGENDARY AND/OR MYTHICAL:So hard to pick a fave since so many of them hold a lot of nostalgia for me, but maybe I'd say Latios and Latias!! I swear I watched Pokémon Heroes 100x as a kid lol!
ROLE:Graphics Mod
ABOUT:Hi there!! My name is Seds and I've loved Pokémon since I was a wee little kiddo eagerly watching every movie as they came out on VHS!! I am so excited to be part of this zine and make something awesome together!! ❤️
ZINE EXP:✸ Graphics Mod — Chasing After: A Canon DKBK Zine
✸ Graphics Mod — three is tender: a minjoonkook zine
✸ Co-graphics Mod — Golden Haven: A Charity Zine Collection
✸ Professional graphic designer for 12+ years
Nicky
They/Them
FAVORITE LEGENDARY AND/OR MYTHICAL:Darkrai is my favorite because they are such a force for good and making the world a better place!
ROLE:Finance/Production Mod
ABOUT:Hi, I'm Nicky. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon altered my brain chemistry. Let's have fun together!
ZINE EXP:✸ Finance & Shipping Mod — Yago: A SKK Zine
✸ Finance & Shipping Mod — P3RE:Flect
✸ Finance & Shipping Mod — Binary Stars: A Cyberpunk BKDKBK Zine
Ace
They/Them
FAVORITE LEGENDARY AND/OR MYTHICAL:There’s so many I love but Dialga is my favorite because Diamond is the first game I played and I love time shenanigans!!
ROLE:Art Mod
ABOUT:Hey, my name’s Ace! I’ve loved Pokémon ever since I was a kid and I'm so honored to help make a zine about legendary Pokémon a reality!!
ZINE EXP:✸ Intern Mod — Path of Life: A Kakashi Zine
✸ Art Mod — Éblouissant: A ShBkDk Winter Zine
✸ Co-Head, Graphics, and Beta Mod — Endless Love: A Deku Rarepair Zine
✸ Contributor for 20+ zines
Ama Leigh
None
FAVORITE LEGENDARY AND/OR MYTHICAL:It's a tie between Entei, Jirachi, Manaphee, and Cosmog. Three of them are fren shape and I like my angry puppo.
ROLE:Shipping Mod
ABOUT:I'm a very tired bun that likes to knit, crochet, bake, and sleep.
ZINE EXP:✸ Shipping Mod — Golden Dearest: Claudeleth Vol. 1 & 2
✸ Head & Shipping Mod — Operation Strix: A Spy x Family Zine
✸ Shipping Mod — Manakete Millennium: A Fire Emblem Dragon Zine
✸ Head & Shipping Mod — Day of Devotion: A Fire Emblem Gen Love Zine
✸ Shipping Mod — Dream Links: A Kingdom Hearts Playing Deck Project
SCHEDULE
July 8th, 2025: Zine launch date ⭐️
July 13th, 2025: Interest Check Opens ⭐️
August 3rd, 2025: Interest Check Closes ⭐️
August 10th, 2025: Interest Check Results ⭐️August 16th, 2025: Applications Open
September 13th, 2025: Applications Close
September 20th, 2025: Application Results Sent
September 25th, 2025: Application Responses DueOctober 1st, 2025: Pitches Due
October 5th, 2025: Pitch Assignments Sent Out
November 2nd, 2025: Check-in 1
November 30th, 2025: Check-in 2
December 28th, 2025: Check-in 3
January 25th, 2026: Final Submissions DueFebruary 27th, 2026 (Pokémon Day): Preorders Open
April 3rd, 2026: Preorders Close
April-TBA: Production
TBA: Shipping
TBA (if applicable): Leftovers
All times are in PST.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Applications are open from August 16th to September 13th @ 11:59 PM PST.
General Guidelines
We are accepting 28 page artists, 2 spot artists, 7 writers, and 5 merch artists through applications. This number does not include our invited guests. You can apply for multiple roles, but we will only accept you for one.You must be 18+ to apply.Make sure all links for your portfolio and examples work and are viewable. Links that don't work may disqualify you. We recommend testing your links in an Incognito browser!You can also view these guidelines in a Google Doc here.
Page Artist Guidelines
💚 We are asking that you provide a portfolio as well as 3 finished pieces, preferably with backgrounds.🤎 While artwork that has legendary and mythical Pokémon is preferred, we ask that at least one (1) example features any kind of Pokémon. Please also do NOT submit your entire portfolio link for each example, you must choose separate examples for each one that best represent your artwork.💚 Examples should showcase the style you plan on using for the zine.🤎 If you choose to include NSFW pieces, make sure to let us know that they're NSFW! Please also tag any triggers that might be included in your examples, like any explicit content, MCD, gore, etc.💚 While linking your examples below, please remember that if you're using Google Drive, make sure your privacy settings for the link allow us to view them! You're more than welcome to use any other sites as well, like links to your Twitter, DeviantArt, photo hosting sites, etc.‼️ Links that don't work may disqualify you. We recommend testing your links in an Incognito browser!
APPLY TO BE A PAGE ARTIST HERE
Spot Artist Guidelines
💚 We are asking that you provide a portfolio as well as 3 finished pieces. Your artwork does not have to have complete backgrounds, but you can include them if you plan on using backgrounds in your spot art.🤎 While artwork that has legendary and mythical Pokémon is preferred, we ask that at least one (1) example features any kind of Pokémon. Please also do NOT submit your entire portfolio link for each example, you must choose separate examples for each one that best represent your artwork.💚 Examples should showcase the style you plan on using for the zine.🤎 If you choose to include NSFW pieces, make sure to let us know that they're NSFW! Please also tag any triggers that might be included in your examples, like any explicit content, MCD, gore, etc.💚 While linking your examples below, please remember that if you're using Google Drive, make sure your privacy settings for the link allow us to view them! You're more than welcome to use any other sites as well, like links to your Twitter, DeviantArt, photo hosting sites, etc.‼️ Links that don't work may disqualify you. We recommend testing your links in an Incognito browser!
APPLY TO BE A SPOT ARTIST HERE
Merch Artist Guidelines
💚 We are asking that you provide a portfolio as well as 3 examples for merch that you've done before or think would work as a merch item. This can be something fully illustrated like you could see on a print, or something chibi and smaller, like what you would see on a charm.🤎 While artwork that has legendary and mythical Pokémon is preferred, we ask that at least one (1) example features any kind of Pokémon. Please also do NOT submit your entire portfolio link for each example, you must choose separate examples for each one that best represent your artwork.💚 Examples should showcase the style you plan on using for the zine.🤎 If you choose to include NSFW pieces, make sure to let us know that they're NSFW! Please also tag any triggers that might be included in your examples, like any explicit content, MCD, gore, etc.💚 While linking your examples below, please remember that if you're using Google Drive, make sure your privacy settings for the link allow us to view them! You're more than welcome to use any other sites as well, like links to your Twitter, DeviantArt, photo hosting sites, etc.‼️ Links that don't work may disqualify you. We recommend testing your links in an Incognito browser!
APPLY TO BE A MERCH ARTIST HERE
Writer Guidelines
💚 Please include a link to your portfolio and 3 examples that you think showcase your writing the best! The portfolio can be anything from a Google Drive folder to your Ao3 account. This is just to give the mods an opportunity to check out other works by you if needed.🤎 Each example needs to be 2k words or under, but only one must be a completed story. Examples that are longer will not be considered, and your application may be disqualified if you don't have the required 3 examples that do qualify.💚 While writing that has legendary and mythical Pokémon is preferred, we ask that at least one (1) example features any kind of Pokémon. Please also do NOT submit your entire portfolio link for each example, you must choose separate examples for each one that best represent your artwork.🤎 If you choose to include NSFW pieces, make sure to let us know that they're NSFW! Please also tag any triggers that might be included in your examples, like any explicit content, MCD, gore, etc.💚 While linking your examples below, please remember that if you're using Google Drive, make sure your privacy settings for the link allow us to view them! You're more than welcome to use any other sites as well, like links to your Twitter, AO3, writing hosting sites, etc.‼️ Links that don't work may disqualify you. We recommend testing your links in an Incognito browser!
Tips & Tricks
This section is something that can heighten your portfolio and application, but aren’t actually required for it.💚 We recommend at least one piece that showcases the theme of our zine either in your examples or portfolio. This helps us mods get a better understanding of what you may be creating for our zine itself when it comes down to it. That being said, if you do have work that represents our zine theme, but it is older and doesn’t represent your current style, we highly recommend putting it in your portfolio rather than your examples.💛 A well-organized portfolio is something every mod loves, including us! If you’re an artist with both merch and art pieces in your portfolio, it may be beneficial to separate them into folders labeled “Merch” vs “Page,” for example.🤎 Artists, a good portfolio is usually 5 pieces or more. If not 5, please include at least 3. Again, a portfolio is meant to help us mods in case your examples aren’t enough for us to make a decision! If we leave your examples to open a portfolio that only has 2 pieces in it, it usually doesn’t help us very much.💚 Artists, we truly mean it when we say we recommend backgrounds! A massive lack of backgrounds in examples can sometimes make or break an application as they are required for our zine. We also recommend that you do not include WIPs/sketches in your portfolio since it usually reads as “incomplete” to mods rather than “in progress/has potential.”💛 Writers, if you’re submitting a Google doc, we recommend an easily readable font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.) that is sized at a normal size (10-12 point font). We also recommend that you incorporate paragraph breaks so that your examples are easier to read. Nice formatting on a fic makes for a happy mod reading experience!💚 Writers, if your examples can be interpreted as confusing without some kind of context and it’s only a snippet, it is helpful for us mods if you include a few tags at the top of your fic. It could also help us if you linked to your full fic (if it’s published) at the top of the document, too.🤎 Writers, your grace for word counts is small. Submitting an example that’s 2.1k or so is usually fine, but if you submit an example that is, for example, 2.4k, that can easily make or break an application! Please adhere to our word count range.💛 Finally, if there’s something you think us mods should keep in mind for your application, please feel free to let us know in the comments/concerns/questions section! We genuinely want to know and take it into consideration.
We are so honored you want to be a part of our zine and we wish you luck with your application! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via DMs on our socials and/or through our Alterspring. 💚🤎💛