Welcome to Spirit Academy – the ultimate Idol training academy for future K-Pop superstars. We chatted with Silvia Brunetti about illustrating this action-packed and heartwarming story about friendship, monster-fighting, and being true to yourself.

K-Pop Spirit Academy is out now! Written by Joheun Lee, and illustrated by Silvia Brunetti. Published in the UK by Farshore. Pick up your copy at your favorite bookshop or online.

What first excited you about illustrating K-Pop Spirit Academy?

Definitely the plot! It brought back the little girl in me, who grew up surrounded by anime like Sailor Moon: magical superheroes who fight evil. For me, it was exciting to have the opportunity to illustrate the story of a group of eccentric girls who, through their shared passion for music, find friendship, superpowers, and the courage to fight monsters, as well as their insecurities.

Did you take inspiration from real K-pop groups, fashion, or performances while developing the artwork?

Absolutely! K-pop fashion greatly influenced the choice of outfits for our four heroines. Through them, each of the girls expresses her own personality, so it was very important to give each of them a style that represented them. Then, for the choreographic poses, I definitely took inspiration from real performances. It was really fun, and I won’t deny that I got involved in learning a little bit of some of the choreographies

The characters each have such distinct personalities. Which character was the most fun to illustrate, and why?

Each character has their own unique characteristics, it’s really hard to choose one! Maybe Kenny, who, with her cute and demure appearance, hides a kick-ass attitude that you would never expect! It was fun to draw some scenes in which Kenny explodes with her exaggerated reactions.

K-pop is known for its bold style and energy. How did you capture movement and performance in your illustrations?

I watched tons of live performances, choreography, and music videos. Idols are truly incredible artists, and the visual aesthetics are spectacular. I tried to take these elements and infuse them into our four heroines. At the same time, I tried to maintain the clumsy look typical of their age. After all, they’re learning and studying to become K-pop idols, and that’s exactly why K-pop Spirit Academy exists!

Did you have a favorite illustration or spread in the book?

I actually think I had more than one. These illustrations were really fun to make! Definitely the illustration with snacks, fun, and skincare. It reminded me of sleepovers I used to have with my friends, where you could stay up late and eat all the snacks you wanted! And maybe the chapter 14 illustration too! Kenny and her emphasis are really hilarious!

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Silvia is represented by Nicky Lander. To work with Silvia, get in touch with Nicky here.