Exclusive Interview With Japanese Manga Artist Acky Bright
Image Source: CultureSlate
Acky Bright is a Japanese manga artist who is known for his black and white illustrations. His art has been dubbed “kawakakkoii”, for his “cute” and “cool” character styles. He has worked with a variety of companies, including Hasbro, DC Comics, and McDonald's. His first official art book, B/W, was published in 2023. Recently, we had the chance to interview him and talk about his various collabs, how he got into art, and if he has a dream franchise he wants to work with.
CS: Was there anything that made you want to be an artist? How did you start your career?
Acky: When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a manga artist. Later on, I started and ran a design company, working as an art director, planner, and illustrator, and drew a great deal of artwork — though I never made my name public. I was content creating without fame; the work itself was enjoyable and fulfilling.
However, as platforms like Netflix emerged and the boundaries between Japan and the rest of the world began to disappear, I noticed a growing global demand for creators capable of producing something from zero to one. Seeing that, I began to feel a strong desire to take part in that movement myself.
When I asked myself what I could contribute — how I could work on a global stage — I realized that my ability to draw was the key. That realization led me to start putting my name out there and begin working openly as an artist. I believe that was around 2019, and that decision has brought me to where I am today.
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Image Source: Acky Bright
CS: How do you get inspired to make the type of art you do?
Acky: I’m not the type who relies heavily on reference materials when drawing. Instead, I constantly take in everything I see and hear in my daily life, storing it all away in the “warehouse” of my mind. Because of that, when I start working on something new, I usually try to capture the very first image or idea that comes to mind — the instinctive vision that surfaces before anything else.
CS: What made the black & white art style so appealing to you?
Acky: First and foremost, I believe my creative roots lie in manga, and that naturally shapes the way I create. It’s something that happens instinctively, without deliberate intent. That said, I often get asked about this, and it’s true that most of my works are actually in color. Perhaps people associate me with black and white because my live drawing sessions and personal works are usually monochrome.
Of course, it’s also true that black and white has become a fully realized style for me — a form of expression that feels complete in itself.
CS: When you work on a collab, say with a franchise or a business, how do you decide what your art is going to look like for that particular collab?
Acky: I usually begin by shaping the very first image that comes to mind, and more often than not, that initial vision ends up being the one that feels right. That’s generally how my creative process works. I believe that constant preparation in daily life is essential — if there’s nothing stored within you, ideas simply won’t emerge. And if, on top of that, you rely too heavily on trends or past works for inspiration, I feel that the result stops being truly your own creation.
Image Source: Acky Bright
CS: Do you have a dream collab? Or a franchise/business that you would really want to work with that you haven’t yet?
Acky: For example, I’d love to create drawings on a fashion brand’s store window, or collaborate with a brand to produce figures of my own cyberpunk-style characters. Since I’ve always loved fashion, I’ve long wanted to do a fashion collaboration. I’ve often imagined how cool it would be to bring my signature styles — cyberpunk, fantasy, and manga-inspired aesthetics — into the world of fashion art. In fact, I’ve even drawn concept pieces as if I were collaborating with luxury brands, just for fun.
I’m also interested in large-scale projects, like wrapping artwork around airplanes or water tanks. Last year, I showed my art to Usher at an event, and he said, “Let’s do something together.” I’ve been hoping to make that collaboration happen ever since.
Whenever I go to a concert, I’m always moved — seeing how musicians can make so many people happy makes me wish I could do the same. I’d love to collaborate with global bands or singers to bring joy to people through art. I also really enjoy doing 3D and live-action character design, and someday I hope to work on a full-scale film project as well.
CS: The WcDonalds campaign was cool and unique. What was that experience like?
Acky: It was one of the biggest projects I’ve ever worked on. More than anything, what made it special was that everyone — the client, the ad agency, and the whole team — was filled with passion to try something new. I had so many great conversations with them, both in Japan and the U.S., sharing ideas over meetings and even meals together. Not once did I have a negative experience — it was a project that made me happy from start to finish.
And to see every McDonald’s bag in the U.S. featuring my artwork truly felt like a dream come true. When I actually visited the stores and saw the walls and counters filled with my art, I was overjoyed. Even now, people still bring those WcDonald’s bags to my signing events. I should also mention that the project went on to win multiple major advertising awards, which was an incredible honor.
Image Source: Acky Bright
CS: Do you have any upcoming projects that you’re particularly excited for? If so, could you tell us a bit about them?
Acky: This year has been really busy, but in a good way, filled with projects that have connected me with fans around the world and pushed me creatively. My recent collaboration with BAD IDEA is something I was really looking forward to, and I hope it resonates with everyone. Those who’ve followed me this year might know I originally had a big announcement planned for October, but it’s now been moved to next year. I wish I could share more, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I first started down this path, a project I’ve been building toward for a long time. In a way, the delay has allowed us more time to create an even bigger and better execution, which I believe will bring its own advantages. As a result, I’ll be releasing both a manga and a comic in the same year, which is something very special for me. I hope everyone will look forward to it.
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