YunuyeiWhere Community Brings Creative Worlds to Life
Yunuyei shows just how much strength lies in community, cooperation, and the courage to think things through together.
An idea that has stuck
Some stories just won’t let you go, even if they’ve been on hold for a long time. For Yunuyei, aka Nadya Knops, it all began back in 2004 with a doujinshi—a fan comic—published on the Animexx platform. The story quickly found a following but remained unfinished—not because the idea was lacking, but because the circumstances were different back then. Over the years, the project continued to take shape. In 2012, Yunuyei first considered adapting the story into a novel. But self-publishing was still in its infancy, and formats like light novels were barely established in the German-speaking world. Today, things are different, and it was precisely this shift that made it possible to reimagine the story.
From Book to World of Experience
What Yunuyei has created with this project today is more than just a traditional manga. For her, writing and illustration naturally go hand in hand, but it doesn’t stop there. Her new work combines text, illustration, music, and spoken word. It is inspired by anime, video games, and all those media that have always been created as collaborative works.
Books are often perceived as individual achievements. Yunuyei sees it differently. For her, books are places where many creative disciplines come together in a visible and intentional way. That is precisely why it was important to her to set up the project as a team effort and to communicate it as such.
“Books are the result of creative teamwork. This is something that’s discussed far too little. Especially in times when the art world is under serious threat from generative AI, I think it’s all the more important for us artists to work together collaboratively.”
This approach runs through the entire project, from the initial concept to its implementation.
Collaboration as a Mark of Quality
The many collaborations surrounding the book are not an end in themselves, but the result of a careful selection process. Yunuyei works with people who take their own work seriously while also valuing the work of others. Expertise alone isn’t enough; passion and mutual respect are what matter most. This is how, for example, the collaboration with the Soundsquirrel recording studio—which masters her audiobooks—came about, as well as her work with narrators Franciska Friede and Vincent Fallow, who are themselves deeply rooted in the anime and gaming communities. The music, composed by Irene Chan and Thomas Hohl, is also closely tied to the world of the story.
In sales, the author relies on partners such as Thalia and Figuya, where she repeatedly sees just how much enthusiasm there is for books and stories. What all these collaborations have in common is working as equals. It’s not a client-service provider relationship, but rather a shared project built on trust and mutual respect.
Working in Multiple Fields and Drawing Strength from It
To outsiders, Nadya’s daily life seems multifaceted. She is a mangaka, author, illustrator, speaker, university instructor, and networker. For her, these roles are intertwined. Each area provides inspiration—in terms of content, creativity, and human connection—for the next. This diversity gives her freedom. She can switch between activities, adopt new perspectives, and connect people with one another. Instead of limiting herself to a narrow framework, she takes advantage of the opportunity to work wherever she currently feels energy, curiosity, or enthusiasm. For her creativity, this is not a disadvantage, but an important resource.
An Honest Look at Self-Employment
As inspiring as her journey is, Yunuyei also speaks openly about the challenges of being a creative freelancer. The industry is demanding; criticism is part of everyday life, and recognition is often lacking. Mental health, in particular, plays a major role for her. This is because many people in the creative industries bring unique strengths to the table—and often neurodiverse perspectives as well. At the same time, it is precisely this that makes them more vulnerable to burnout or exploitation. That’s why Yunuyei repeatedly emphasizes how important it is not to struggle through it alone.
“If you want to be successful in the creative industry, you shouldn’t go it alone. Collaboration is the key. Together, we can achieve more.”
Yunuyei
For them, a strong network, mutual support, and clear boundaries are not just nice-to-haves, but fundamental prerequisites for sustainable work.
Networking: Proximity Over Reach
Yunuyei is exceptionally well-connected within a large and very active manga community. She deliberately takes a personal approach. While social media plays a role, face-to-face encounters are her top priority. Conventions are important meeting places, as are startup events, Discord groups, or good old-fashioned conversations over coffee. Relationships form where people can engage on equal footing—without sales pressure or strategic distance. Her approach is pragmatic and open: highlighting good work, talking about it, and staying honest throughout. Not aggressive, not “salesy,” but based on partnership. This attitude also shapes her long-term collaborations.
Creativity as a Shared Space
Nadya Knops shows what contemporary creative work can look like: interconnected, open, and grounded in mutual respect. Her manga project is just one part of a larger picture—a creative ecosystem where people, ideas, and disciplines come together. What remains is the realization that creative strength does not arise in isolation. Rather, it arises where people are willing to open up spaces, share knowledge, and think ahead together. That is precisely where worlds are created that are allowed to grow.
For anyone who would like to see Yunuyei in person and support her at her book launch: On August 6 at 7:00 p.m., her book launch party (Opens in a new tab or window) will take place at Thalia on Mariahilfer Straße.