🌐 The Influence of Webtoons on Modern Anime | How Webtoons Are Changing the Industry
From Tower of God to Solo Leveling and Noblesse, webtoons have gone from digital comics to full-fledged anime hits — shaping the future of the industry. But how did we get here? And what makes webtoon-inspired anime so popular worldwide?
In this video, we explore the impact of webtoons on modern anime, analyzing how platforms like LINE Webtoon, KakaoPage, and Tapas have transformed storytelling, visuals, and global fandom culture. We’ll look at key titles, industry shifts, and why Korean webtoons have become a major competitor to Japanese manga in the digital age.
💡 In this video you’ll learn:
How webtoons are influencing anime style and pacing The rise of webtoon-to-anime adaptations Why global audiences connect with webtoon narratives How Korean creators and Japanese studios are collaborating The future of anime in a digital, mobile-first world
📣 Tell us in the comments: Which webtoon do you want to see adapted into anime next?
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00:00Webtoons are digital comics, manawas, originating in South Korea, designed to be read on mobile devices in vertical format.
00:09Unlike printed manga, which is read from right to left, Webtoons are read from left to right, optimized for smartphones.
00:16This new format and its growing global popularity have paved the way for animated adaptations that incorporate narrative and aesthetic elements typical of Korean comics.
00:26Since 2020, platforms such as Crunchyroll have been committed to turning successful Webtoons into original anime, thus expanding the influence of this emerging medium in contemporary animation.
00:40Among the first notable cases are Tower of God and The God of High School, both aired in 2020 as Crunchyroll originals.
00:48Tower of God, based on SIU's popular Webtoon, premiered in April 2020 to great acclaim.
00:54The press described it as the acclaimed anime series based on the Korean manwa.
00:59Despite consisting of only 13 episodes in its first season, it managed to captivate audiences and received high praise from critics and viewers alike.
01:09Its immediate success guaranteed a second season, scheduled for July 2024, co-financed by Crunchyroll.
01:17Similarly, The God of High School, produced by MAPPA, debuted in the summer of 2020 as another adaptation of a Webtoon manwa.
01:26This martial arts anime stood out for its dynamic action and Webtoon-inspired character designs.
01:32Crunchyroll distributed it globally, including a Spanish dub, consolidating its strategy of simultaneously releasing these Korean titles.
01:41These releases set a precedent.
01:44For the first time, digital narrative content from South Korea directly influenced Japanese anime production, introducing tournament-based plots, Asian mythology, and Korean protagonists to the anime landscape.
01:57Another iconic example is Solo Leveling, an adaptation released in early 2024.
02:03Also originating as a South Korean Webtoon manwa, Solo Leveling undoubtedly became a global anime phenomenon.
02:12The series reached massive audiences thanks to its video game style, leveling up, storyline, fast-paced action, and charismatic protagonist.
02:22Crunchyroll licensed the anime for worldwide distribution.
02:25And viewing figures are breaking records, according to Sony, it was the most-watched anime in Crunchyroll's history.
02:32Its success demonstrates how Webtoon-born content can appeal to both traditional anime fans and new viewers around the world.
02:41As one report describes, the combination of impressive animation, an action-packed plot, and an invincible protagonist catapulted Solo Leveling to the top of the popularity charts.
02:52Ultimately, this adaptation has reinforced the positive perception of anime toward Webtoons, demonstrating that the Korean digital medium produces stories that are highly appealing to global audiences.
03:06The success of these titles has sparked a wave of similar projects.
03:10Executives from Korean platforms have announced dozens of new Webtoon-to-anime adaptations in development for the second half of the decade.
03:18For example, the anime adaptation of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, a popular web novel-slash-webtoon, has been confirmed, and there are rumors of series based on titles such as A Returner's Magic should be special, Lookism, and Noblesse.
03:33These future adaptations promise to continue the trend of episodic storylines in the style of Webtoons, levels, competitions, virtual worlds, and a more comical and colorful visual aesthetic inherited from Korean digital comics.
03:49Overall, the industry anticipates that by the end of the 2020s, we will see a steady stream of anime based on Webtoons, creating synergies with Korean creators and mixing narrative styles.
04:01At the same time, China is becoming increasingly present in the world of anime.
04:06While Japan historically dominated Asian animation, in recent years Chinese companies have invested in anime-style studios and even hired Japanese talent.
04:16One article notes that several Chinese production companies have hired a large number of Japanese creators and voice actors for the projects, imitating the stories and aesthetics of traditional anime.
04:28In turn, the rise of Donghua, Chinese anime, has led to technical and artistic collaborations.
04:35For example, Pearl Studio, China, co-produced studio Ghibli Films, and smaller Chinese studios have participated in animation work for Japanese series.
04:45In short, the globalization of animation means that part of Japanese animation is outsourced or co-created in China.
04:52This phenomenon reinforces mutual Asian influence.
04:57Just as modern anime adopts Korean webtoons, Chinese animation incorporates narrative and visual approaches from Japanese anime.
05:05In recent years, Korean webtoons have made a notable mark on modern anime.
05:10Successful adaptations such as Tower of God, The God of High School, and Solo Leveling have shown that Korean digital stories can become global animated series, influencing plots, formats, and aesthetics.
05:23These works introduce new narrative formulas, such as level-based escalations or supernatural tournaments, and more colorful visual styles, enriching the variety of anime.
05:35In addition, the business model, with platforms such as Crunchyroll driving these adaptations, reinforces the trend.
05:43Looking ahead, a wave of new webtoon-based projects promises to continue transforming the animated landscape toward the end of the decade.
05:51At the same time, regional collaboration, with China lending animators or creating similar dong-wa, indicates that today's animation industry is increasingly transnational.
06:03Taken together, we can see how the webtoon, which emerged from South Korea's digitalization, now acts as a creative engine that shapes the narrative and aesthetics of contemporary anime.
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