WEBTOON Teams with Warner Bros. Animation to Turn Hit Webcomics into Global Series
If you've been waiting for your favorite webcomic to make the jump to TV, here's the moment that could make it happen. WEBTOON Entertainment has struck a strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Animation to develop and distribute a slate of animated series based on top titles from its English and Korean platforms.
That means more webcomics headed for screens, and a bigger pipeline for animation teams looking for IP with built-in fans. Projects will be sourced from both platforms, with development support from WEBTOON's U.S.-based WEBTOON Productions and its Japanese IP business teams. Global distribution is part of the plan.
"WEBTOON has become one of the most exciting sources of original storytelling in entertainment today," said Yongsoo Kim, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global WEBTOON. "Our Creators are building franchises that Gen Z audiences love, and working with Warner Bros. Animation gives us an incredible opportunity to take those stories further alongside one of the most respected names in animation."
And from the other side of the table: "Bringing together the world-class artistry of Warner Bros. Animation and the vibrant storytelling of WEBTOON creates an awesome combination and opportunity to build something special," said Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. "I cannot wait to get started!"
First Projects on Deck
The initial development slate taps four fan-favorite series, with more to come:
- The Stellar Swordmaster (by Hong Dae Ui, juno, and Q10) - In Schoarra, a prosperous northern trading town with a rotten core, orphan Vlad watches his world torn apart by a disgraced knight. He chooses the blade (movies and tv series), chasing power and survival in a city ruled by five crime bosses.
- Hardcore Leveling Warrior (by Sehoon Kim) - Ethan, once the top player in Lucid Adventure, gets knocked back to level 1 by a mystery attacker. He'll claw his way up with new allies, old enemies, and a past that won't stay buried.
- Down to Earth (by Pookie Senpai) - Kade's quiet, solitary life gets flipped when a sweet, bewildered alien crash-lands in his backyard. He opens his home… and maybe his heart.
- Elf & Warrior (by AC Stuart, Victor Rosas II) - A young half-elf hits the road with his uncle's band of lovable outlaws and learns heroism lives in the gray areas.
Why This Matters
Look, this deal is about speed and scale. WEBTOON has a massive pipeline of proven stories; Warner Bros. Animation has the teams to build series that travel. Put them together and you get IP that can move from panels to pilots without losing the fan energy that made it pop.
Here's what this could mean: more cross-language adaptations, faster development cycles, and a steadier flow of projects that come with global audiences already attached. And yes, it gives animation buyers and streamers more ready-to-go titles in a market that's hungry for recognizable franchises.
It also comes on the heels of WEBTOON's August multi-year deal with Disney to bring more than 100 titles to the platform as classic comic series, graphic novels, and original vertical-scroll webcomics from Disney, Marvel, 20th Century Studios, and Star Wars. Different deal, same signal - the pipeline from big brands to webcomics and back to screens is getting wider.
No release dates yet - this is the development slate, not the premiere calendar. But the message is clear: beloved webcomics are being lined up for animation, with serious muscle behind them.
If you want to keep tabs on the companies behind the deal, start here: WEBTOON and Warner Bros. Animation.
