Hellbound, Dr. Brain – how online comics, or webtoons, can make creators big money through Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+ adaptations
- Streaming services are adapting more webtoons, or online comics, into TV series and movies, drawing from tens of thousands of stories
- Ten to 20 webtoons from Korean service Naver’s platform are expected to be remade into other media in 2022
Hellbound, Netflix’s most-watched series in late November, might be making a splash on TV, but it first appeared on much smaller screens as an online comic, or “webtoon”, optimised for smartphones.
The webtoon format, which began in Korea two decades ago, has shaken up content creation for the movie industry around the globe.
With relatively few overheads, webtoons have grown to include tens of thousands of visual stories, with more adaptations on streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV+ and Disney+.
In South Korea alone, there are more than 14,000 webtoons by 9,900 creators, according to data provider Webtoon Analysis Service. Tech companies Naver and Kakao are facilitating adaptations and targeting global expansion through their webtoon units.
