Korean online comics have existed since the early days of the internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The industry saw significant growth when Naver launched its Webtoon platform in 2004, fueling Korea’s digital content expansion. Popular series likeSolo Leveling,Tower of God,andNoblesselater received anime adaptations in Japan, strengthening the connection between Korean webtoons and Japanese anime.
A major announcement in a leading South Korean financial newspaperrevealed thatNaver Webtoon’s Japanese service, LINE Manga, is launching a project this year to produce 20 webtoons as anime adaptations. CEO Kim Shin-bae emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader effort to expand webtoon-based intellectual property (IP) into new formats, including TV dramas, films, and anime.
Naver’s New Initiative Could Represent The Future Of Anime
Korean Webtoons And Japanese Anime Studios Join Forces
Kim Shin-bae, who leads Line Digital Frontier, explained, “We are focusing on the IP business that expands webtoons into dramas, movies, and anime in Japan.” The company has ramped up adaptations, producing 12 webtoons in 2023, up from just one in 2022.Notable upcoming titles includeCrevasse, Dark Moon, andOmniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.
As webtoon-based content gains popularity with international audiences, collaboration with Japanese studios and streaming platforms has become a key strategy. By leveraging Japan’s anime production expertise, LINE Manga seeks to bridge the gap between digital comics and mainstream anime, enhancing the quality, reach, and influence of adaptations. This approach positions webtoons as a mainstream entertainment format rather than just a niche digital medium.
Webtoon-Based Anime Have Risen To The Global Stage
Webtoons Are Already Reshaping The Landscape Of Anime
Kim also emphasized webtoons’ global potential, stating, “Works produced as TV and theatrical animations in Japan are also receiving attention in the United States.” Addressing competition from Amazon and Apple, he added, “Rather than competing with big tech companies, we want to grow the market so that webtoons become more mainstream.” To strengthen production, LINE Manga is also investing in Japanese webtoon studio Number Nine and plans to “increase our investment while promoting collaborations such as joint production.”
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The plan to create 20 new adaptations marks a major turning point—not just another adaptation here and there, but a full-scale integration of webtoons and anime. With the global success ofSolo Leveling, this wave of adaptations signals a new era where webtoons and anime reshape the entertainment landscape together.
