How did manga find its home in Bulgaria?
Manga Academy blends Japanese aesthetics and Bulgarian entrepreneurship. Anna and Lyubo are creating a space where young talents find confidence and inspiration, and creativity turns into a real profession. Their mission shows that sustainable business can also be an act of art.
Name
Location
Category
For Anna and Lyubo from Manga Academy, the path to the world of Japanese comics begins with something quite simple: curiosity. Specifically, manga has a story with recognizable beginning and end, and each part not only entertains but also builds an entire world.
Lyubo remembers how his first encounter with manga was a surprise: “There is no color... did they forget to color it?” But it was this black-and-white aesthetic that ignited his passion deeper than anything else. The pen and ink became symbols of discovering his own style.
Anna, for her part, sees art as both instinct and conscious choice: “There is something inside that nudges you”, she says, “but you can also consciously pursue a certain style”. In this interaction between internal drive and rational control lies the essence of creativity – an existential search for emotion.
In a world full of endless content, Anna and Lyubo believe that a good story is one that makes you feel. It may be the 'most awkward' from a technical standpoint, as Anna jokes, but if it touches you, it has done its job. Stories are not just for reading: they are a form of emotional exchange, a bridge between the author and the reader.
Manga specifically, they say, has a unique rhythm: slower, more contemplative. It is not afraid of the moments when 'nothing happens.' Right in those empty spaces lies the deep human presence – the pauses in which the reader is left alone with themselves and the drawing. Additionally, the Japanese culture of copyright and fan creativity allows for a natural transition from fan to professional. This creates an environment in which art grows from the inside out, nourished by the community.
The projects of Manga Academy, such as 'The Thracian' and 'Diary of a Young Comic Artist', follow a similar philosophy. Students do not just learn to draw. They find their place. In an environment where peers with similar interests are often lacking, the academy becomes a space of belonging, inspiration, and confidence.
Transforming a creative idea into a sustainable business in Bulgaria is not an easy task. Anna admits it without beating about the bush: "Education cannot just be a business." For her, it is like healthcare – if it becomes entirely a market activity, it loses its human element. That is why Manga Academy was created as a combination of mission and market logic – a place where children learn not only to draw but also to believe in themselves and the power of stories.
Over time, the two discover that development is not a straight line. Anna says: "I learned that it's okay for a person to set something aside and then come back to it". Every project, every year, every group of students adds a new layer to the academy – something like a living story in motion. And, as she loves to repeat, "perfect things are dead because they do not tolerate change."
Ultimately, three words describe the philosophy of Manga Academy: fun, creative, company. Not just a business, but a community – a place where young artists find their voice, and Bulgaria finds its voice in the world of manga.