![]() “Our ecosystem and the way Webtoon is built is all about reaching a global audience. Animalians is only available in Spanish, but True Beauty and Lore Olympus can be read in 10 languages. The decision to translate webtoons into other languages also varies. It really varies from case to case, like sometimes we get super excited about a project after only a few episodes.” “Our main goal is to deliver the most captivating stories to our audience. ![]() Lee says there are no set criteria to turn a Canvas into an Original. In other cases, the company reaches out to creators who catch its eye. GlitchMP3 moved to Original status by winning an award. In October 2022, the company temporarily suspended the Canvas creator rewards program, which was initially implemented to complement advertising revenue. Original creators have more revenue-sharing opportunities, while Canvas creators can only profit from advertising. Webtoon focuses on promoting Originals to reach wider audiences. With Canvas, creators can earn income from advertising by achieving a certain level of subscribers and visits.Īccording to Lee, a cartoon transitioning from Canvas to an Original doesn’t necessarily imply an improvement - it’s more about different ways of relating to the company. Creators upload their content whenever they feel like it and can start and finish their story whenever they want,” said Lee. “This open platform works kind of like YouTube. For instance, Alice Oseman, the creator of Heartstopper, published the comic on two other platforms simultaneously. On the Spanish platform, you call the shots and do whatever you want with your comic.”Ĭanvas offers even more artistic freedom - any creator can upload their work, and the content doesn’t have to be exclusive to Webtoon. “The team can suggest something to you, but ultimately, you have the final say. GlitchMP3 says artistic freedom is one of the main advantages of Webtoon. Piaras Ó Mídheach (Sportsfile via Getty Images)Īccording to Lee, some titles may have 10 or 15 people working on them, but in many cases, the artist collaborates with just one assistant. David Lee, Webtoon's head of content, at the Collision 2022 technology event in Toronto, Canada. “They have more direct support and are monetized,” said David Lee. Creators are paid a salary and have dedicated editors, assistants and marketing support. Originals, like GlitchMP3′s Animalia, are created under the company’s umbrella. Webtoon has two categories of digital comic production: Originals and Canvas. Webtoon’s success is not unique - other digital comic platforms like Kakao Webtoon have also had international success by producing content in various languages. Users browse over 10 billion pages monthly. With a user base of 85.6 million, 75% of which are from Generation Z and millennials, Webtoon offers nearly 1.5 million titles for users to enjoy on their website and apps. Webtoon has an application specifically for Korea and another version that can be customized for different languages across the world. However, the majority of the comics that are adapted into TV series are still created by Korean artists. Webtoon expanded to the United States in 2014, ten years after its inception, and its headquarters are now in California, not Seoul. “Traditionally we’ve seen a lot of Korean creators, but nowadays, we’ve got even more creators from all around the world,” said the platform’s vice president of content, David Lee. Naver, the company behind Webtoons, offers its service in 100 countries and 10 languages, a global reach made possible by the translations and contributions of 900,000 creators worldwide. Webtoons have become a cornerstone of hallyu, the so-called Korean cultural wave spreading throughout the world. Webtoons (the term was coined in 2000), known for their vertical strip format, became easily accessible on new tech devices and illustrators could make their creations reach every corner of the world. With the rise of the internet and high-speed connectivity, users could share comics online, providing cartoonists an opportunity to reach a wider audience. It emerged amid challenges in the comics industry after the 1997 financial crisis in Southeast Asia. Naver, the South Korean tech giant, started Webtoon in 2004. Webtoons are vertical comic strips meant to be read on smartphones and tablets. Soon after, the Webtoon company spotted her talent and began supporting new episodes of her digital cartoon. “Anyone can make a Webtoon,” said GlitchMP3, the Spanish illustrator who created Animalians and won an award in the 2021 Webtoon Challenge.
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