WEBTOON Entertainment is leveling up its animation ambitions in a major way. The digital comics giant has announced a landmark partnership with Warner Bros. Animation to co-produce 10 animated adaptations based on some of WEBTOON’s most beloved Korean and English-language series.
The collaboration marks a significant expansion of WEBTOON’s growing animation pipeline, with projects selected from across its global platforms. Development will be supported by WEBTOON’s U.S.-based Webtoon Productions team as well as its Japanese IP division. While it’s too early for release windows, the adaptations may take the form of either series or feature-length projects.
WEBTOON creators will retain ownership of their original IP and receive a share of revenue from any resulting animation, reaffirming WEBTOON’s creator-first model.
Yongsoo Kim, Webtoon Entertainment’s chief strategy officer and head of global, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, saying, “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.”
Warner Bros. Animation—home to legendary brands like DC, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, and more—views the partnership as a natural fusion of powerhouse storytelling and modern digital fandom. Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation, noted the potential of the deal: “Bringing together the world-class artistry of Warner Bros. Animation and the vibrant storytelling of Webtoon creates an awesome combination.”
WEBTOON Entertainment has already seen several of its titles adapted for platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and Disney+. With more than 155 million monthly active users worldwide, the company continues to expand its reach across global entertainment.
Sinbae Kim, chief growth officer of LINE Digital Frontier and a key architect of the deal, highlighted WEBTOON’s talent pipeline: “From hits like ‘True Beauty,’ ‘Clevatess,’ and ‘Tower of God,’ we’re proving that great stories can start on a phone screen and grow into global entertainment phenomena.”
First Titles in Development
WEBTOON revealed four of the ten titles currently in development under the new partnership:
- The Stellar Swordmaster (Hong Dae Ui, juno, Q10): A gritty tale set in the trading town of Schoarra, where an orphan named Vlad seeks power and vengeance after a violent betrayal.
- Hardcore Leveling Warrior (Sehoon Kim): The No. 1 player in the massive game Lucid Adventure loses everything after being mysteriously knocked back to level 1—and will do anything to reclaim his throne.
- Down to Earth (Pookie Senpai): A slice-of-life romance begins when a sweet alien girl literally crashes into Kade’s backyard, turning his quiet life upside down.
- Elf & Warrior (AC Stuart, Victor Rosas II): A half-elf embarks on a chaotic journey filled with questionable heroes, moral gray areas, and a whole lot of mischief.
More series will be announced as the slate develops.
With WEBTOON and Warner Bros. Animation joining forces, fans can expect a robust new wave of adaptations bringing some of the platform’s most beloved stories to screens worldwide.
Source: Variety
