Webtoon (platform)
{{Short description|Webtoon hosting service}}
{{Redirect|WEBTOON|the comic format|Webtoon}}
{{Update|part=the IPO of Webtoon's US-based parent company Webtoon Entertainment Inc.|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Webtoon
| logo = Naver Line Webtoon logo.png
| logo_caption =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| url = [https://comic.naver.com/index Korean website]
[https://www.webtoons.com/en English website]
| commercial = Yes
| type = Webtoon platform
| registration = Optional
| language = Multilingual
| owner = {{Plainlist|
- Naver Corporation (66.8%)
- LY Corporation (33.3%)
}}
| parent = Webtoon Entertainment
| author = JunKoo Kim
| launch_date = {{Plainlist|
- 2004 Korean
- 2013 Japanese (Line Manga launched)
- 2014 English, Thai, Mandarin, Cantonese
- 2015 Indonesian
- 2019 Spanish, French
}}
| traded_as = {{Nasdaq|WBTN}}
| founded = {{sda|2004}}
| alexa =
| current_status = Active
}}
Webtoon{{efn|Naver Webtoon in Korean; Line Manga in Japanese; Dongman Manhua and Webtoon in Chinese; Webtoon in English, French, German, Indonesian, Spanish, Thai, and Xhosa}} (stylized in all caps) is a South Korean-American webtoon platform launched in 2004 by Naver Corporation, providing hosting for webtoons and compact digital comics. The platform, controlled by Naver and the Naver-SoftBank Group joint venture LY Corporation through a Delaware-domiciled, Los Angeles, California-headquartered holding company Webtoon Entertainment Inc.,{{cite web | website = S-1 | url = https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1997859/000119312524151708/d396527ds1.htm | title = S-1 | access-date = September 20, 2024 | ref = {{harvid|S-1|2024}} | quote = "WEBTOON is a Delaware corporation and was incorporated in 2016. Our principal executive offices are located at 5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 220, Los Angeles, CA 90036, and our telephone number at this address is (323) 424-3795. Our website is https://about.webtoon.com." }} is free and can be found both on the web at Webtoons.com and on mobile devices available for both Android and iOS.{{Cite web |title=An Interview With JunKoo Kim Creator of LINE Webtoon |url=https://comicbastards.com/comics/an-interview-with-junkoo-kim-creator-of-line-webtoon |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Comic Bastards |date=February 27, 2015 |language=en-US}}
The platform first launched in South Korea as Naver Webtoon and then globally as Line Webtoon in July 2014, as the Naver brand is not well known outside of South Korea and some of its services are also not available outside of the country. The service gained a large amount of traction during the late 2000s and early 2010s. In 2016, Naver's webtoon service entered the Japanese market as XOY and the Chinese market as Dongman Manhua.{{cite web|url=https://ametorico.com/manga/xoy/|title=無料漫画アプリXOY ジョイが最強な3つの理由とおすすめ漫画3作品|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=February 18, 2018|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921134613/https://ametorico.com/manga/xoy/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://dongmanmanhua.cn.ipaddress.com/|title=▷ Dongmanmanhua.cn Website statistics and traffic analysis | Dongmanmanhua|website=dongmanmanhua.cn.ipaddress.com}} On December 18, 2018, Naver closed XOY and migrated all of its translated and original webtoons to Line Manga, its manga service that offers licensed manga.{{cite web|url=https://xoy.webtoons.com/ja/notice/detail?noticeNo=918|title=お知らせ :: XOY|website=xoy.webtoons.com|access-date=December 21, 2018|archive-date=December 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182458/https://xoy.webtoons.com/ja/notice/detail?noticeNo=918|url-status=dead}} In 2019, Line Webtoon was changed to Webtoon in English; Spanish and French versions were launched.
The platform partners with creators to publish original content under the Webtoon Originals{{cite web|title=Notice :: WEBTOON|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/notice/detail?noticeNo=1769&page=3|access-date=2021-07-06|website=www.webtoons.com}} banner and hosts a number of other series on its self-publishing site, Canvas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/tiptoon/webtoon-now/webtoon-originals/viewer?title_no=2025&episode_no=2|title=WEBTOON Now - WEBTOON ORIGINALS|website=www.webtoons.com}} Line Webtoon comics can be discovered through the "daily system" function, along with being read and downloaded for free on computers and both Android and iOS devices.{{cite web|url=https://comicbastards.com/comics/an-interview-with-junkoo-kim-creator-of-line-webtoon|title=An Interview With JunKoo Kim Creator of LINE Webtoon|website=Comic Bastards|date=February 27, 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=April 3, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://linecorp.com/en/pr/news/en/2014/773|title=[LINE] LINE Webtoon Released First on Android, Offers Free Comic Content on Smartphones {{!}} LINE Corporation {{!}} News|website=LINE Corporation|access-date=April 3, 2020}} In November 2020, Webtoon established a new subsidiary called Webtoon Studios for the purpose of licensing English-language properties.{{cite web |title=Webtoon Launches Production Arm Webtoon Studios, Sets Partnerships with Vertigo Entertainment, Bound Entertainment & Rooster Teeth |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/webtoon-launches-production-arm-webtoon-studios-sets-partnerships-with-vertigo-entertainment-bound-entertainment-26-rooster-teeth/ar-BB1aQImi |website=MSN}} In August 2022, it was reported that Wattpad Webtoon Studios would expand with a new animation division.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/wattpad-webtoon-animation-division-1235341918/ | title=Wattpad Webtoon Studios Expands with New Animation Division, Multiple Hires | date=August 16, 2022 }}
History
=Digital comics (1997–2005)=
Webtoons are a type of episodic digital comic that originated in South Korea usually meant to be read on smartphones. Posting comic content for free caused the $3 billion South Korean book and comic industry to rapidly collapse. While webtoons were mostly unknown outside of South Korea during their inception, there has been a surge in popularity internationally thanks to the easy online accessibility and variety of free online comic content. Today, Webtoons make roughly $5.91 billion in just the U.S. alone. In the country, as digital comic have emerged as a popular medium, print publication of comic has decreased. The amount of material published in webtoon form has now reached an equal amount as that published offline.{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2024 |title=WEBTOON Entertainment Named to Inc.'s 2024 Best In Business List |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203926892/en/WEBTOON-Entertainment-Named-to-Inc.%E2%80%99s-2024-Best-In-Business-List}}
Webtoons are a sub-menu of the gate companies that began with South Korean portal services Daum and Naver. The Naver site started in 1999, but it initially had a muted response as a hidden menu. Portal sites gathered a large online audience by offering digital comics as bait. Naver, taking advantage of the unexpected success of digital comics, placed webtoons in premium advertising spaces worth 300 million Korean won on its portal surface. This significantly increased their traffic. The key to their success in the portal market was digital comics.
Webtoon administrators paid comic artists only 50,000 Korean Won ($50) as their monthly wage, a highly unscrupulous tactic. In the 1990s, Korean artists claimed that even with a monthly income of 6 million Korean Won ($6,000), it was challenging to do weekly serials. With exorbitant royalties, professional artists experienced mental shock.
=Comics platform (2005–2014)=
Webtoon Entertainment, the serial comics platform, was founded in South Korea in 2005 by CEO Junkoo Kim, Naver.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Porter |date=2024-06-27 |title=South Korea-Owned Webtoon Entertainment Launches Its IPO |url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2024/06/south-korea-owned-webtoon-entertainment-launches-its-ipo/#:~:text=Webtoons'%20Nasdaq%20Ticker%20Symbol%20is%20WBTN&text=Our%20Publishing%20Perspectives%20readers%20are,Wattpad%20for%20US$600%20million. |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Publishing Perspectives |language=en-US}} Since its launch in 2013, WEBTOON has become the most popular mobile app, catering to young adults and teens who enjoy reading comics and webcomic content.{{Cite journal |last=Jeon |first=Ahrum |date=May 2021 |title=Care as a Border-Crossing Language: The Webtoon Reader Discussion Forum as Mediascape |url=https://ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jaal.1147 |journal=Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy |language=en |volume=64 |issue=6 |pages=657–664 |doi=10.1002/jaal.1147 |issn=1081-3004|url-access=subscription }} Similar webcomics can be found on these platforms, including Tapas, Pocket Comic, and others. This platform is particularly successful because creators and comic artists use it to publish their stories, and it's simple to set up. Ensure it adheres to Webtoon's [https://www.webtoons.com/en/terms/canvasPolicy guidelines].{{Cite web |title=Terms of Use {{!}} Webtoon |url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/terms/canvasPolicy |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=www.webtoons.com}} It is possible to create a story that they want to express.
In 2004, they already had a market share of 80%. Kim Jun-gu, who introduced the "Bizarre Comics" genre, played a crucial role in Naver's rapid growth. In 2008, Naver introduced ads on webtoons, but they did not fairly share the ad revenue with artists.
In 2012, Naver did not participate in the legal crackdown on illegal sites that had been pirating their content for eight years. The first legal action was taken against a frame-link piracy site. In 2013, Lezhin Comics introduced a new form of payment called "Time Delay."
Naver adopted this payment model and, due to the free nature of its site, had to offer low royalties to artists. However, the influx of readers brought in significant income through search keywords, exceeding the revenue from selling comics, despite the cost of around 26,000 to 4,000 Korean Won ($20 to $3) per keyword.
Moreover, there were multiple ads. Naver absorbed the electronic publication rights of Korean artists for a small fee, which allowed them to monopolize works for a long time even though they were not books. Mobile platforms were utilized for brand promotion, and international publishing rights were eventually obtained. Many aspiring creators submitted free comics, and the influx of free content was guaranteed as long as they were not part of the 0.1% that received a formal serialization.
Due to this discrimination, freelance creators couldn't unite. Some profited from this system, which improved the company's image thanks to a few star artists. The "vertical scrolling" method was used to fit more content, demanding over 100 cuts, which strained artists' health due to the excessive workload.
Kakao Webtoons' top artist, for example, died at the age of 37 due to overwork. The BBC reported on artists suffering from severe labor and exploitation. The "gate sites," which were initially established to support comics, became highly profitable.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-11 |title=Solo Leveling artist's death sheds light on webtoon creators' working condition |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/01/178_334310.html |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}
In 2013, Webtoon launched Page Profit Share (PPS), which offered the artist a share of the advertising revenue for the first time.{{Cite web |title=V&A · A brief history of webtoons |url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-webtoons |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Victoria and Albert Museum |language=en}} After the purchase of Wattpad in early 2021 by Naver Corporation, both companies started to work together under Naver's content division.webtoonscorp.com{{cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/work-at-wattpad |title=Work at Wattpad | Wattpad HQ |publisher=Company.wattpad.com |access-date=2022-08-08}} Webtoon now features webcomics such as Lore Olympus, UnOrdinary, True Beauty, Space Boy, and Gourmet Hound.
=Global launch (2014)=
On July 2, 2014, the Line Webtoon website and mobile app were launched worldwide, allowing international artists to upload their own works to the service. Hundreds of webtoons are available in the self-publishing section of Webtoon, known as Canvas, where artists can be paid based on page views.{{cite web|title=Creators 101 :: CREATOR RESOURCES|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/creators101/creatorresources?webtoon-platform-redirect=true|access-date=2020-11-16|website=www.webtoons.com}} JunKoo Kim, Director and Head of the Line Webtoon Division at the time of the launch, stated that a partnership with established and up-and-coming American creators would serve to "expand [Line Webtoon's] selection of titles and help [the creators] expand their fan base."{{Cite press release |last=Webtoon |first=LINE |title=Popular Mobile Webcomic Service, LINE Webtoon, Debuts in the United States and Worldwide |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/popular-mobile-webcomic-service-line-webtoon-debuts-in-the-united-states-and-worldwide-265512371.html |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} Naver Corporation selected 42 webtoons (including Noblesse, Tower of God, and The God of High School) and one new webtoon by an American artist to be available on the service in English at launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/popular-mobile-webcomic-service-line-webtoon-debuts-in-the-united-states-and-worldwide-265512371.html|work=PR Newswire|title=Popular Mobile Webcomic Service, LINE Webtoon, Debuts in the United States and Worldwide|date=July 2, 2014}}{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Elizabeth|date=August 23, 2014|title=Op-Ed: LINE Webtoon, a Web comic service, makes U.S. and global debut|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/arts/op-ed-line-webtoon-a-web-comic-service-makes-usa-and-global-debut/article/404866|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926224407/http://www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/arts/op-ed-line-webtoon-a-web-comic-service-makes-usa-and-global-debut/article/404866|archive-date=2014-09-26|work=Digital Journal}} According to 148 Apps, the service offered "plenty of content" at launch, as seven to ten webtoons were updated each day and the webtoons spanned various genres.{{cite web|url=http://www.148apps.com/reviews/line-webtoon-review/|work=148 Apps|title=LINE Webtoon Review|last=Allen|first=Jennifer|date=July 15, 2014}}
=Partnerships=
In April 2013, Naver Webtoon created a Profit Page Share program. Webtoon's global profit-sharing programs have seen exponential growth over the past decade. Today, the company's business model has expanded to include paid content sales, advertising revenue, and IP business revenue. When launched in 2013, Webtoon's programs generated 23.2 billion won. By 2022, these will programs have grown to 2.25 trillion won (USD $1.69 billion), an increase of more than 87 times.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130606000213|title=Ad program for webtoon artists takes off|last=Herald|first=The Korea|date=June 6, 2013|website=www.koreaherald.com|language=en|access-date=April 4, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2023/05/129_349715.html|title=Naver Webtoon to expand profit sharing model to attract creators|last=Times|first=The Korea|date=April 24, 2023|language=en|access-date=July 25, 2023}}
In 2015, Line Webtoon partnered with American comics veteran Stan Lee, Image Comics co-founder Marc Silvestri, and make-up artist Michelle Phan in order to promote their service.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/business/media/free-digital-comics-site-is-expanding-in-us-with-celebrity-help.html|work=The New York Times|title=Stan Lee and Michelle Phan Help Line Webtoon, Digital Comics Site, Expand in U.S.|last=Gustines|first=George Gene|date=July 5, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2015/07/06/stan-lee-helping-korean-digital-comics-site-expand-into-the-u-s-/|work=ComicBook.com|title=Stan Lee Helping Korean Digital Comics Site Expand Into The U.S.|last=Lovett|first=Jamie|date=July 6, 2015}} Silvestri brought his long-running comics series, Cyberforce, to the platform.{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/silvestri-cyber-force-line-webtoon/|work=ComicsAlliance|title=Marc Silvestri Brings 'Cyber Force' To LINE Webtoon|last=Wilson|first=Matt D.|date=August 31, 2015}} Various other established American comic book artists and cartoonists have also partnered with Line Webtoon over time, including Dean Haspiel (New Brooklyn),{{cite news|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/line-webtoon-launches-the-new-brooklyn-comics-line/|work=Comics Beat|title=LINE Webtoon launches the New Brooklyn comics line|last=MacDonald|first=Heidi|date=October 7, 2015}} Katie Cook (Nothing Special),{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/09/30/katie-cooks-nothing-special-comes-to-line-webtoon-next-year-and-debuts-at-nycc/|work=Bleeding Cool|title=Katie Cook's Nothing Special Comes To LINE WebToon Next Year – And Debuts At NYCC|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=September 30, 2016}} Seth Kushner and Shamus Beyale (The Brooklynite),{{cite news|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/line-webtoon-launches-the-brooklynite-by-kushner-and-bayale/|work=Comics Beat|title=LINE Webtoon launches The Brooklynite by Kushner and Bayale|last=MacDonald|first=Heidi|date=November 16, 2016}} and Tracy J. Butler (Lackadaisy).
In 2016, Webtoon Entertainment Inc. was incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. In September 2016, Line Webtoon partnered with the Patreon crowdfunding service, incorporating a "Patreon button" in the "Discover" portion of the website. This function creates an easier channel for readers and artists to mutually communicate.{{cite web|url=https://comicsalliance.com/line-webtoon-patreon-partnership/|title=LINE Webtoon Partners With Patreon To Support Creators|last=Shiach|first=Kieran|website=ComicsAlliance|date=August 2016 |language=en|access-date=April 4, 2020}} Naver invested US$3.6 million and $1,000 every following month for webtoon creators who reached a certain threshold of activity and popularity with a Patreon page.{{cite news|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/line-webtoon-and-patreon-team-up-to-invest-up-to-3600000-in-webcomics/|work=Comics Beat|title=LINE Webtoon and Patreon team up to invest up to $3,600,000 in webcomics|last=Heidi|first=MacDonald|date=August 1, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.themarysue.com/line-webtoon-patreon-webcomic-partnership/|work=The Mary Sue|title=LINE Webtoon and Patreon Partner to Support and Develop Digital Comic Creators|last=Jusino|first=Teresa|date=August 1, 2016}} One month later, Naver signed with the Creative Artists Agency for film and television opportunities in the United States.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/asia/line-webtoon-comics-caa-tv-film-1201847907/|work=Variety|title=Korea's LINE Webtoon Digital-Comics Publisher Signs With CAA for TV and Film Projects|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=August 31, 2016}}
Line Webtoon also partnered with DeviantArt in the second half of 2016, in the form of the "Artist Alley Tour". The companies were active at four comic cons: Boston Comic Con, Baltimore Comic Con, Rose City Comic Con, and New York Comic Con. Here, Line Webtoon and DeviantArt held discussion panels, "Artist Alley Sponsorships", live draw events, influencer and creator demonstration areas, and on-site contests.{{cite web|url=http://www.themarysue.com/line-webtoon-and-deviant-art-partnership/|work=The Mary Sue|title=WEBTOON and DeviantArt Announce "Artist Alley Tour" to Support and Showcase Digital Comic Creators|last=Jusino|first=Teresa|date=August 8, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2016/08/09/line-webtoon-teams-with-deviantart-for-conentiontour/|work=ComicBook.com|title=LINE Webtoon Teams With DeviantArt For Convention Tour|last=Lovett|first=Jamie|date=August 9, 2016}}
In 2017, Line Webtoon and Legendary Comics expanded their partnership with the addition of John Barrowman's Acursian and season 2 of Firebrand.{{cite web|url=http://theagency.co.uk/books/webtoon-legendary-comics-expand-partnership-new-titles/|title=Webtoon and Legendary Comics expand partnership with new titles|first=Sane and|last=Able|date=November 21, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsarama.com/32234-legendary-partners-with-line-webtoon-for-exclusive-comics.html|work=Newsarama|title=LEGENDARY Partners With LINE WEBTOON For Exclusive Comics|date=December 5, 2016}}
In 2018, they partnered with Noble Transmission and Common for the new Caster series.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2018/08/30/stan-lee-warren-ellis-fabien-nicieza-highlight-new-webtoon-series-launches-this-fall/|title=Stan Lee, Warren Ellis, Fabian Nicieza Highlight New Webtoon Series Launches This Fall|first=Rob|last=Salkowitz|website=Forbes}}
In 2019, Webtoon's digital content subsidiary Studio LICO collaborated with Big Hit Entertainment to release Save Me as part of the latter's BTS Universe (BU), which revolves around the output of South Korean boy band BTS.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/18/happened-every-member-bts-gripping-webtoon-save-8359679/|title=What's happened to every member of BTS in their gripping webtoon 'Save Me'|last=Kelly|first=Emma|date=January 18, 2019|website=Metro}}
On October 15, 2019, Crunchyroll and Line Webtoon announced a partnership to produce animated works from Line Webtoon's catalog. The two will team up to tackle the distribution, licensing, and retail of the series produced by the partnership.{{cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/10/15/crunchyroll-and-webtoon-team-up-to-co-produce-new-animated-content|title=Crunchyroll and WEBTOON Team Up to Co-Produce New Animated Content|website=Crunchyroll|date=October 15, 2019 |language=en-us|access-date=October 15, 2019}}
In May 2020, it was announced that Webtoon was being transferred to Naver Webtoon Corp.{{cite web|date=May 27, 2020|title=Notice Regarding Change in Specified Subsidiary|url=https://d.line-scdn.net/stf/linecorp/en/ir/all/LINE_20200527_EN.pdf}}
In October 2020, Webtoon and Archie Comics announced that the two companies would collaborate on the new Webtoon original series Archie Comics: Big Ethel Energy, which launched in September 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/big-ethel-energy-comic-series-riverdale-character-debut-in-september-1235013011/|publisher=Hollywood Reporter|title='Riverdale' Spinoff Comic 'Big Ethel Energy' to Debut In September (Exclusive)|author=Drury, Sharareh|date=September 15, 2021|access-date=July 25, 2023}}
In January 2021, Webtoon's parent company, Naver, announced that it would acquire the popular user-generated fiction platform Wattpad to provide more opportunities for creators. The acquisition was completed in May 2021. Wattpad had previously partnered with Webtoon in its 2020 Watty Awards Contest.{{cite press release|date=May 10, 2021|title=Naver Completes Wattpad Acquisition|publisher=Wattpad|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/naver-completes-wattpad-acquisition|access-date=April 12, 2023|quote=said WEBTOON founder and CEO, Jun Koo Kim. We're thrilled to have Wattpad join Naver and Webtoon, aligning our teams and global communities to create more opportunities for writers everywhere.}}{{Cite web|url= https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/10/with-new-owner-naver-wattpad-looks-to-level-up-its-user-generated-ip-factory/|title=With new owner Naver, Wattpad looks to supercharge its user-generated IP factory|publisher=Techcrunch|author=Etherington, Darrell|date=May 10, 2021|access-date=July 25, 2023}}
In June 2021, Wattpad and Webtoon announced that the companies would merge their studio divisions to create Wattpad Webtoon Studios, a division of the company focused on developing Wattpad and Webtoon IP for film, television, and print publishing. As of May 2023, around 300 projects from Webtoon and Wattpad Webtoon Studios are in development for entertainment adaptations.{{Cite web|url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/wattpad-and-webtoon-merge-studio-divisions-to-create-wattpad-webtoon-studios-a-fully-funded-fan-driven-global-entertainment-powerhouse|title=Wattpad and WEBTOON Merge Studio Divisions to create Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, a Fully Funded, Fan-Driven Global Entertainment Powerhouse|website=wattpad}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90855805/korean-webtoons-comic-industry-creators|publisher=Fastcompany|title=How Korean webtoons are changing the comic industry—and the careers of creators|date=March 2, 2021|author=Ifeanyi, KC|access-date=July 26, 2023}}{{Cite web|url= https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/wattpad-webtoon-studio-production-financing-1235003965/|publisher=Variety|title=Wattpad and Webtoon Merge Studio Divisions, Parent Company Commits $100M in Development and Production Financing|author=Spangler, Todd|date=June 23, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
In August 2021, it was announced that Webtoon would be partnering with DC Entertainment to create standalone webcomics that "will appeal to all fans, without the need to know or read any previous stories."{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2021-08-17|title=DC Characters Are Coming to Webcomics Through Deal With Webtoon|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/dc-is-coming-to-webcomics-through-deal-with-webtoon-1235041296/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Variety}} The series is being adapted by Webtoon creators instead of established DC creators.{{Cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2021-08-17 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/dc-webtoon-webcomics/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} Line Webtoon founder and CEO Junkoo Kim put it this way: "DC has allowed us to create content with their characters and world. The writers of Webtoon are creating content based on DC characters."{{Cite web |last=Salkowitz |first=Rob |title=Webtoon CEO Sees Massive Growth And New Opportunities In U.S. Market |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2021/11/02/webtoon-ceo-sees-massive-growth-and-new-opportunities-in-us-market/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
The first announced DC collaboration was a Batman-oriented title, Batman: Wayne Family Adventures. Additional series within this partnership, Vixen: NYC, Red Hood: Outlaws, and Zatanna & the Ripper, were announced in April 2022.{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/dc-webtoon-new-vixen-red-hood-zatanna-series/ |publisher=Comicbook|title=DC and Webtoon Announce New Vixen, Red Hood, and Zatanna Series|author=Anderson, Jenna|date=April 6, 2022|access-date=July 27, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-comics-of-2021-1848298433|publisher=AV Club|title= The best comics of 2021|author=Carter, Justin, M.L. Kejera, Caitlin Rosberg, Oliver Sava|date=January 14, 2022|access-date=July 27, 2023}}{{cite news |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/2022-eisner-awards-nominations-announced-led-by-dc-and-image/|newspaper=The Beat|title=2022 Eisner Awards Nominations Announced, led by DC and Image|author=MacDonald, Heidi|date=May 18, 2022|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
In November 2021, Webtoon announced a series of upcoming webcomics created in collaboration with BTS-management company Hybe and various artists from the label, including BTS, TXT, and Enhypen. These series, 7Fates: Chakho, Dark Moon: The Blood Altar, and The Star Seekers, launched on January 15, 16, and 17, 2022, respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/k-pop-stars-bts-txt-enhypen-webtoon-wattpad-webcomics-webnovels-collaboration-1234867666/|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|title=K-pop Stars BTS, TXT, Enhypen Headline Original Webcomics And Webnovels In Webtoon, Wattpad, HYBE Collaboration|author=Harling, Bruce|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
Webtoon has also partnered with Rewriting Extinction, the global 12-month comic storytelling campaign supporting seven charities involved in biodiversity conservation and the climate crisis, featuring comics from the likes of Jane Goodall. The adapted, celebrity-created comics from the campaign launched on Webtoon on December 23, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/cara-delevingne-taika-waititi-webtoon-rewriting-extinction/|title=Cara Delevingne, Taika Waititi and More Fight Climate Crisis With WEBTOON Comics (Exclusive)|author=Adans, Timothy|date=December 27, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
Marvel Entertainment partnered with Webtoon in January 2022 to create the seven-part miniseries Eternals: The 500 Year War, which launched in tandem with the Eternals' arrival for at-home viewing.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/marvel-eternals-500-year-war-digital-comics-webtoon-1235152100/|title=Marvel's Eternals Superheroes Get New Digital Comics Series|publisher=Variety|author=Spangler, Todd|date=January 12, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
The popular video game PUBG: Battlegrounds joined Webtoon's growing slate of partnerships in January 2022 with the creation of three new digital comics based on the fantasy world in the Krafton video game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/webtoon-pubg-battlegrounds-comics/|publisher=Comic Book Resources|title=WEBTOON, PUBG: Battlegrounds Team Up for Three New Comic Series|author=Desir, Dylan|date=January 28, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
In May 2022, Webtoon and McDonald's USA partnered to celebrate Asian and Pacific American voices through a webcomic series called Drawing on Heritage.{{Cite web|url= https://www.adweek.com/creativity/mcdonalds-webtoon-aapi-community-diversity-comics/|publisher=Adweek|title=McDonald's and Digital Comics Platform Webtoon Highlight the AAPI Community's Diversity |author= Moustakas, Tiffany|date=June 6, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
In April 2023, Webtoon announced a creative partnership with Ubisoft on Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple, an original webcomic set in the Assassin's Creed universe. The series is published by Redice Studio.{{Cite web|url= https://www.polygon.com/23679353/assassins-creed-forgotten-temple-webtoon-release-date-announcement|publisher=Polygon|title=Assassin's Creed is coming to webcomics giant Webtoon|author=Egan, Toussaint|date=April 12, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
Webtoon teamed up with Discord in May 2023 and announced a dedicated Webtoon Discord server as well as a content collaboration for the original webcomic miniseries Wumpus Wonderventures, created in partnership with Merryweather Media.{{Cite web|url= https://aiptcomics.com/2023/05/10/webtoon-discord-wumpus-wonderventures/|publisher=AIPT|title=WEBTOON and Discord team up for webcomic 'Wumpus Wonderventures'|author=Brooke, David|date=May 10, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
In June 2024, following reorganizations, Webtoon Entertainment Inc. went public.{{Cite web |title=WEBTOON Entertainment Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering |url=https://about.webtoon.com/press-release/147 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=about.webtoon.com |language=en}}
In March 2025, Webtoon partnered with Dropout to launch a comic adaptation of Fantasy High, the first campaign of the actual play webseries Dimension 20.{{Cite web |last=Polo |first=Susana |date=2025-01-29 |title=Dimension 20's Fantasy High is polymorphing into a webtoon series |url=https://www.polygon.com/news/515802/dimension-20-fantasy-high-comic |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=2025-01-29 |title=Dropout's 'Dimension 20' Sets 'Fantasy High' Webcomic at Webtoon |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/dimension-20-webtoon-comic-fantasy-high-dropout-1236289009/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
Userbase
The userbase of Webtoon grew rapidly after the service was released globally, with 10 million people reading on the platform daily and 35 million people monthly. In Asia, several webtoons receive 5 million views per week.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/30724-inside-line-webtoon-its-35m-readership.html|work=Newsarama|title=Inside LINE Webtoon & Its 10 Million Daily Readers|last=Arrant|first=Chris|date=August 22, 2016}} In 2016, 42% of the webtoon creators on Line Webtoon were female, as were 50% of its 6 million active daily readers.{{cite news|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/line-webtoon-readership-is-50-female/|work=Comics Beat|title=LINE Webtoon: readership is 50% female|last=MacDonald|first=Heidi|date=February 29, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/02/29/42-of-line-webtoons-comic-creators-are-female-and-half-are-read-by-women/|work=Bleeding Cool|title=42% Of WEBTOONS's Comic Creators Are Female – And Half Are Read By Women|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=February 29, 2016}} 75% of the users in North America are 24 or younger, and 64% are female.{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3074326|title=[Sponsored Report] Naver Webtoon riding high on the Korean Wave|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/81073-webtoon-builds-an-audience-for-webcomics.html|title=Webtoon Builds an Audience for Webcomics|website=Publishers Weekly|language=en|access-date=April 4, 2020}}
Between 2020 and 2021, Webtoon paid out more than $27 million to its base of more than 120,000 creators who publish in English. In Korea, top creators earn an average of $250,000 per year. The top creator earned around $9 million in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90855805/korean-webtoons-comic-industry-creators|publisher=Fast Company|title=How Korean webtoons are changing the comic industry—and the careers of creators|author=Ifeanyi, KC|date=March 2, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
As of March 2023, Webtoon had grown to receive more than 125 billion views annually. It has 85.6 million monthly active users worldwide and has become the top webcomic platform in the United States, with 12.5 million monthly active users.{{cite web|url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2022/04/south-koreas-webtoon-completes-acquisition-of-ebook-initiative-japan/|publisher=Publishing Perspectives|title=South Korea's Webtoon Acquires Ebook Initiative Japan|author=Anderson, Porter|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-09/webtoons-are-south-korea-s-latest-viral-cultural-export#xj4y7vzkg|publisher=Bloomberg|title=Webtoons Are South Korea's Latest Viral Cultural Export|author=Min Jeong Lee, and Sohee Kim|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
Coins
Webtoon uses coins as a currency that readers can purchase in the app. Currently, the currency is exclusive to readers using the Android or iOS versions of the app.{{Cite web |last=WEBTOON Support |title=What Are Coins? |url=https://webtoon.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051125932-What-are-Coins- |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=WEBTOON SUPPORT}} Readers can utilize coins to support their favorite creators and access completed series or Fast Pass content, allowing them to read ahead. The number of coins required to unlock an episode varies depending on the series being read. In addition, coins can be utilized to unlock Daily Pass episodes. For every Daily Pass series, you have the option to unlock one episode for free each day. Once unlocked, each Daily Pass episode remains accessible for 14 days. Alternatively, you may use coins to unlock these episodes, which allows you to access them for as long as the series is available on Webtoon.{{Cite web |last=LINE |title=Help center {{!}} WEBTOON |url=http://help2.line.me/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=help2.line.me |language=en-US}}
Contests
Naver Corporation has held various comics competitions through its Webtoon service. In 2015, Line launched the "Challenge League", a recurring competition where amateur artists have the chance to become "official Line webtoon artists", as well as win tens of thousands of US dollars. Over 19,000 people joined the first English-language Challenge League in February 2015, which was won by Stephen McCranie's Space Boy.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/line-webtoon-announces-winners-of-50000-contest-celebrating-the-launch-of-challenge-league-300028989.html|work=PR Newswire|title=LINE Webtoon Announces Winners of $50,000 Contest Celebrating the Launch of Challenge League|date=February 2, 2015}} Local Challenge Weeks were also held; the first Thai Challenge League was held in April 2015 and had a grand prize of 1 million baht.{{cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/local-news/521971/line-webtoon-allows-cartoonists-users-to-win-big|work=Bangkok Post|title=Line Webtoon allows cartoonists, users to win big|author=Akin|date=April 8, 2015}}
In June 2015, Naver Corporation hosted the Science Fiction Comics Contest, a global competition with a grand prize of US$30,000. JunKoo Kim called science fiction, the theme of the competition, "both the broadest and fastest-growing area in comics and entertainment, [and thus] a natural fit as the genre for our second comics contest." This contest had over 800 entrants and was won by Srinitybeast's Overdrive.{{cite web|url=http://www.themarysue.com/sci-fi-comics-contest/|work=The Mary Sue|title=This Science Fiction Comics Contest May Be Relevant to Your Interests|last=Cox|first=Corolyn|date=June 9, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2015/08/04/line-webtoon-reveals-science-fiction-comics-contest-winner/|work=ComicBook.com|title=Line Webtoon Reveals Science Fiction Comics Contest Winner|last=Steinbeiser|first=Andrew|date=August 4, 2015}}
In November 2018, Webtoon hosted their Discover Creator Contest. The winner, Kris Nguyen's Cape of Spirits, received a grand total of US$80,000 and an exclusive contract for the series.{{cite web|url=https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/11/09/webtoon-discover-creator-contest-final-four/|title=Webtoon Discover Creator Contest Final Four!|date=November 9, 2018|website=Graphic Policy}}
On February 28, 2020, "The Short Story Contest" was announced. Running from April 30 to June 30, the contest was split into two categories: "heart" and "brain". The grand prize winners of each category would get US$15,000, an animated short, and a featured contract,{{cite web|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/contest/us-contest-2020|title=SHORT STORY CONTEST|website=www.webtoons.com}} with the subsequent winners being Marvin W.'s The Monster Under My Bed for "Heart" and Kotopopi's and Kibbitzer's The Ladder for "Brain".{{cite web|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/notice/detail?noticeNo=1250|website=www.webtoons.com|language=en|title=Notice :: WEBTOON }} The grand prize, silver, and bronze contest winners were published in two anthologies: the Heart Anthology, which was released in September 2020,{{cite web |title=HEART Anthology |url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/heartwarming/heart-anthology/list?title_no=2191 |website=WEBTOON |access-date=8 November 2020}} and the Brain Anthology, which was released in October 2020.{{cite web |title=BRAIN Anthology |url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/horror/brain-anthology/list?title_no=2207 |website=WEBTOON |access-date=8 November 2020}}
Between April 2020 and July 2020, Webtoon ran an interactive contest series titled Webtoon GREENLiGHT, wherein nine titles were selected and pitched to readers. The readers then voted (by liking the series' episodes) on which series would be "greenlit" as a new original series. Within one week, each series had to reach a record threshold of 60,000 likes on its third episode in order to be "greenlit" for publication.{{cite web|title=WEBTOON GREENLiGHT|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/webtoon-greenlight/list?title_no=1988|access-date=2021-03-24|website=www.webtoons.com|language=en}} All nine series succeeded and were released in 2021.{{cite web|title=WEBTOON GREENLiGHT|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/webtoon-greenlight/whats-coming-up-on-webtoon-and-goodbye-from-wiggle/viewer?title_no=1988&episode_no=40|access-date=2021-03-24|website=www.webtoons.com|language=en}}
In the summer of 2022, Webtoon started a new contest for their users to create an action comic called Call to Action, where the winner got US$50,000 and a chance to be a Webtoon original.{{cite web|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/contest/call-to-action/participants |title=WEBTOON'S Call to Action Contest |publisher=Webtoons.com |access-date=2022-08-08}}
In August 2022, Webtoon announced a Valorant contest held in conjunction with Riot Games, having fans submit original artwork depicting their interpretations of the character Fade, with ten webcomics selected as winners.{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/riot-games-webtoon-to-host-valorant-webcomic-series/|publisher=Bleeding Cool|title=Riot Games & Webtoon To Host Valorant Webcomic Series|author=Sheehan, Gavin|date=August 16, 2022|access-date=July 26, 2023}}
In media
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=Other media into webtoons=
Some webtoons on the platform are adaptations of YA novels, including:
- Renée Ahdieh's The Wrath & the Dawn
- Rebecca Schaeffer's Not Even Bones
- Hanna Alkaf's The Weight of the Sky
- Victoria Lee's The Fever King
- Nicki Pau Preto's Crown of Feathers
- Patrick Flores-Scott's American Road Trip
- Rebecca Sullivan's Night Owls and Summer Skies
- Kate Marchant's Float
Many South Korean webtoons on the platform are adaptations of web novels, including titles such as:
- The Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is written by a Korean author duo under the alias Sing Shong and drawn by Sleepy-C from Redice Studios.
- The Remarried Empress (which also became a mobile game and audio drama and was collected and published in paperback format by Yen Press's Ize Press imprint){{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Remarried-Empress-Vol/dp/B0B5JSZTTB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+remarried+empress&qid=1673758876&sprefix=the+remarried+,aps,162&sr=8-1|title=The Remarried Empress, Vol. 1|date=November 22, 2022|publisher=Ize Press|via=Amazon}}
- So I Married the Anti-Fan (based on this novel, which also got adapted into both a Chinese film and a Korean TV series).
- Like Wind on a Dry Branch
On June 23, 2021, it was announced that the 2018 film On Your Wedding Day will be adapted into a webtoon, to be serialized on webtoon platforms Naver and Kakao.{{cite news|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003745718|title=[공식]박보영X김영광 '너의 결혼식', 中영화 리메이크 이어 웹툰으로 제작|trans-title= [Official] Park Bo-young X Kim Young-kwang's 'Your Wedding', made into a webtoon following a Chinese movie remake |author=Lee Seung-mi |work= Sports Chosun |publisher= Naver|date=June 23, 2021|access-date=August 21, 2021|language=ko}}
A webtoon based on a TV series Our Beloved Summer is a prequel about the high school days of the two main characters of the TV series (Choi Woong and Kuk Yeon-su).{{Cite news|url=https://m.xportsnews.com/article/1457082 |title=이병헌 연출 '닭강정'→'백수세끼'…스튜디오N, 차기 라인업 |trans-title=Directed by Lee Byung-hun 'Dakgangjeong' → 'Three hundred lives'..Studio N, the next lineup|author=Hwang Soo-yeon|work= Export News|date=August 4, 2021 |access-date=August 8, 2021 |language=ko}}
The Korean drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo has also been adapted as a webcomic on Webtoon.{{Cite web|url= https://www.cbr.com/webtoon-originals-must-read-our-beloved-summer-eaternal-nocturnal/?newsletter_popup=1|publisher=Comic Book Resources|title=New Must-Read Webtoon Originals, From Our Beloved Summer to Eaternal Nocturnal|author=Markle, Christian|date=December 20, 2021|access-date=July 27, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/6243447/rise-of-webtoons-k-dramas/|title=Why So Many Of Your Favorite K-Dramas Are Based on Webtoons|author=Kim, Regina|date=December 29, 2022|access-date=July 27, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.webtoons.com/en/drama/extraordinary-attorney-woo/list?title_no=4867&page=1|title=Extraordinary Attorney Woo|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, a series based on the Batman family from DC Comics, began serialization in September 2021.{{cite web|date=2021-11-04|title=WEBTOON and Wattpad Unveil a Slate of HYBE Original Content Featuring BTS, TXT and ENHYPEN|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211103006352/en/WEBTOON-and-Wattpad-Unveil-a-Slate-of-HYBE-Original-Content-Featuring-BTS-TXT-and-ENHYPEN|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}
Eternals: The 500 Year War, a series based on the Eternals from Marvel Comics and prequel to the 2021 film, released on January 20, 2022.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2022 |title=Marvel and WEBTOON Present 'Eternals: The 500 Year War' |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/eternals-500-year-war-webtoon-marvel-series-announcement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204220800/https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/eternals-500-year-war-webtoon-marvel-series-announcement |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2024 |website=Marvel.com}}
=Webtoons into other media=
==Published format (English)==
- Space Boy was published in paperback by Dark Horse Books.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1506706487|title=Stephen McCranie's Space Boy Volume 1|first=Stephen|last=McCranie|date=July 3, 2018|publisher=Dark Horse Books|via=Amazon}}
- Hooky was published in paperback by Clarion Books.{{cite book | isbn=978-0358468295 | title=Hooky | last1=Tur | first1=Míriam Bonastre | date=September 7, 2021 | publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt }}
- Lore Olympus was published in paperback by Random House Worlds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593160290?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_thcv_0&storeType=ebooks&qid=1673758876&sr=8-6|title=Lore Olympus: Volume One|first=Rachel|last=Smythe|date=November 2, 2021|publisher=Random House Worlds|via=Amazon}}
Yen Press, via its imprint Ize Press, has collected and published several other of Webtoon's titles as paperbacks, including:
- 7Fates: Chakho{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/147655/7Fates__Chakho | title=7Fates: Chakho }}{{cite web | url=https://yenpress.com/2022/04/yen-press-announces-new-imprint-ize-press/ | title=Yen Press Announces New Imprint: IZE Press | News | Yen Press }}
- Dark Moon: The Blood Altar{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/147653/Dark_Moon__The_Blood_Altar | title=Dark Moon: The Blood Altar }}
- My Gently Raised Beast{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/143627/My_Gently_Raised_Beast | title=My Gently Raised Beast }}
- The Boxer{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/141120/The_Boxer | title=The Boxer }}
- The Remarried Empress{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/123475/The_Remarried_Empress | title=The Remarried Empress }} (see above)
- The Star Seekers{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/147654/The_Star_Seekers | title=The Star Seekers }}
- The World After the Fall{{cite web | url=https://myanimelist.net/manga/147217/The_World_After_the_Fall | title=The World After the Fall }}
Rocketship Entertainment has collected and published several of Webtoon's titles, including:
- #Blessed{{Cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Heidi|date=2021-03-22|title=Newsmaker Interview: Tom Akel on publishing webcomics with Rocketship|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/newsmaker-interview-tom-akel-on-publishing-webcomics-with-rocketship/|access-date=2021-03-22|website=The Beat|language=en-US}}
- 1000
- Adventures of God{{Cite web|last=Alverson|first=Brigid|date=2022-03-22|title=Rocketship Entertainment Lines Up 17 Graphic Novels for 2022|url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/50749/rocketship-entertainment-lines-up-17-graphic-novels-2022|access-date=2022-03-22|website=ICv2|language=en-US}}
- Assassin Roommate
- Brothers Bond
- Cupid's Arrows{{Cite web|last=Keith|first=Jed|date=2020-08-25|title=Thom Zahler Talks Couples & Comedy in His Cupid's Arrows Kickstarter!|url=http://www.freaksugar.com/thom-zahler-talks-couples-comedy-in-his-cupids-arrows-kickstarter/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=FreakSugar|language=en-US}}
- Darbi{{Cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Heidi|date=2021-03-22|title=Newsmaker Interview: Tom Akel on publishing webcomics with Rocketship|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/newsmaker-interview-tom-akel-on-publishing-webcomics-with-rocketship/|access-date=2021-09-03|website=The Beat|language=en-US}}
- Girls Have a Blog
- Late Bloomer
- Let's Play
- Live Forever
- Metaphorical Her
- Outrage
- Spirits: The Soul Collector
- Stan Lee's Backchannel
- The Croaking
- Urban Animal
- undeadEd
- Wolfsbane
Webtoon, after its acquisition of Wattpad, announced in 2021 a new imprint, Webtoon Unscrolled.{{cite web | url=https://company.wattpad.com/blog/wattpad-webtoon-studios-announces-webtoon-unscrolled-a-new-graphic-novel-imprint-for-leading-digital-comics-from-webtoon | title=Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Announces WEBTOON Unscrolled, a new Graphic Novel Imprint for Leading Digital Comics from WEBTOON }}{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005543/en/Wattpad-WEBTOON-Studios-Announces-WEBTOON-Unscrolled-a-new-Graphic-Novel-Imprint-for-Leading-Digital-Comics-from-WEBTOON | title=Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Announces WEBTOON Unscrolled, a new Graphic Novel Imprint for Leading Digital Comics from WEBTOON | date=November 18, 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/webtoon-unscrolled-print-edition-tower-of-god/ | title=Webtoon Launches Print Editions of Manhwa, Beginning with Tower of God | date=November 18, 2021 }} Through it, Webtoon will be publishing print editions of its own titles, including:
- Boyfriends
- Cursed Princess Club{{Cite web |last=Lacerna |first=Michael |date=2021-11-18 |title=Webtoon Launches Print Editions of Manhwa, Beginning with Tower of God |url=https://www.cbr.com/webtoon-unscrolled-print-edition-tower-of-god/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}
- Doom Breaker
- Everything Is Fine
- True Beauty
- Tower of God
- The God of High School{{Cite web |url=https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comics/browse/series?publisher=937|title=League of Comic Geeks Titles|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
- Freaking Romance
- GremoryLand
- Noblesse
- Lumine
- SubZero graphic novel from Oni Press{{cite web|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/junepurrr-sells-webtoon-series-subzero-to-oni-press-for-graphic-novels/|publisher=Bleeding Cool|title=Junepurrr Sells Webtoon Series SubZero To Oni Press For Graphic Novels|author=Johnston, Rich|date=July 9, 2023|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
- unOrdinary graphic novel from HarperCollins{{cite web|url= https://www.harpercollins.com/products/unordinary-volume-1-uru-chan?variant=41046799319074|title=unOrdinary Volume 1
|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
Webtoon has begun serializing other titles. In 2021, they announced that the popular webcomic Lore Olympus would be adapted as a series of print graphic novels, published by Del Rey Books. Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of the print adaptation were published on November 2, 2021, July 5, 2022, and October 11, 2022, respectively, with all three reaching No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. Volume 4 was published on June 6, 2023, and Volume 5 will be released on October 3, 2023.{{cite news|url= https://www.comicsbeat.com/lore-olympus-will-be-published-in-print-this-october|newspaper=The Beat|title=LORE OLYMPUS will be published in print this October|author=Kaplan, Avery|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
In October 2022, Webtoon launched Yonder, a serialized fiction app where readers can purchase and read one chapter at a time. At the time of launch, Yonder offered more than 700 titles as a part of a carefully curated collection.{{cite web|url= https://www.fastcompany.com/90795223/webtoon-launches-yonder-a-new-serialized-fiction-app|publisher=Fast Company|title=Webtoon launches Yonder, a new serialized fiction app|author=Melendez, Stephen|date=October 13, 2022|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
==Film and animation==
Various movies, Korean dramas, animated series, and video games have been produced based on webtoons released on Naver Corporation's service. According to JunKoo Kim in 2014, "a total of 189 books, videos, and games based on Naver webtoons have either been produced or are in the process of being made." However, Line Webtoon's first entry of video content in the United States came in 2016, in the form of an animated film based on Noblesse.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2016-02-05/line-webtoon-debuts-animated-adaptation-of-noblesse-on-crunchyroll/.98355|work=Anime News Network|title=LINE Webtoon Debuts Animated Adaptation of Noblesse on Crunchyroll|date=February 5, 2016}}
On November 7, 2016, Air Seoul announced that it had collaborated with Line Webtoon to produce pre-flight safety demonstration videos. Some of the works featured in these include Denma, The Sound of Heart, and Noblesse.{{cite web|url=http://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2016110708585077233|publisher=Money Today|title=에어서울, '웹툰 캐릭터 등장' 기내 안전영상 제작|date=November 7, 2016|language=ko}}
In July 2019, Webtoon produced their first promotional animated short series from one of their exclusive originals, My Giant Nerd Boyfriend.{{cite web | url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/07/09/my-giant-nerd-boyfriend-animated-webtoons-first-nerdtastic-animated-series/ | title="My Giant Nerd Boyfriend, Animated": WEBTOON's Nerdtastic First Series | date=July 9, 2019 }} A second set of promotions from the work Let's Play was released in September 2019.{{cite web |title=EPISODE 1: Let's Play, Promotional Animated Shorts! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs77j5v7lx8 |website=YouTube | date=September 2, 2019 |access-date=30 July 2020}}
In October 2019, Crunchyroll revealed on Instagram that it would be collaborating with Webtoon to release animated series based on selected webtoons as a part of its "Crunchyroll Originals" project. In February 2020, Crunchyroll announced that Noblesse, Tower of God, and The God of High School were chosen for later release.{{cite web|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/originals/en/index.html|title=Crunchyroll Originals – Launching 2020|website=www.crunchyroll.com}}
A growing body of Webtoon adaptations now regularly stream on Netflix, Disney+, Crunchyroll, and other platforms. In fall 2022, Netflix saw strong performances for an adaptation of Lookism, and Disney+ released an adaptation of Connect from acclaimed director Takashi Miike. Webtoon subsidiary Wattpad Webtoon Studios has multiple series in development, including an adaptation of A Rasen's Gremoryland with Vertigo Entertainment and an animated adaptation of Rachel Smythe's Lore Olympus in conjunction with The Jim Henson Company.{{cite web|url= https://time.com/6243447/rise-of-webtoons-k-dramas/|publisher=Time|title=Why So Many Of Your Favorite K-Dramas Are Based on Webtoons|author=Kim, Regina|date=December 29, 2022|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
Several webcomics that started on Webtoon have provided the source IP for popular TV and film adaptations launched by major streamers and distributors. For example, the Netflix hit series All of Us Are Dead, Hellbound, and Sweet Home.{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90850499/south-korean-comics-webtoon-content|publisher=Fast Company|title=How South Korean comics app Webtoon became a content powerhouse|author=Ifeanyi, KC|date=March 2, 2023|access-date=July 27, 2023}}
List of adapted webtoons
Below is a list of Naver Webtoon titles adapted into television series, web series, and films.
Awards and nominations
See also
- Kakao Webtoon
- Line Manga
- Studio N, a film studio that produces drama adaptations of Naver Webtoon series
- Tapas (website)
Footnotes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://comic.naver.com/index South Korean Version homepage]
- [https://www.webtoon.com/ International Version homepage]
- [http://xoy.webtoons.com/ja/ XOY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220074733/https://xoy.webtoons.com/ja/ |date=February 20, 2021 }}
{{Webtoon (platform)}}
Category:2004 establishments in South Korea
Category:Internet properties established in 2004