Webtoon Entertainment will bring a batch of stories that originated on mobile phones to life as animated projects under a new deal with Warner Bros. Animation. The companies intend to enter into an agreement to co-produce 10 fan-favorite Webtoon webcomics series for global distribution.
The collaboration is a “significant expansion of Webtoon Entertainment’s animation pipeline,” according to the company. Projects are to be selected from the company’s Korean- and English-language platforms, with development support from Webtoon Entertainment’s U.S.-based Webtoon Productions and Japanese intellectual-property business teams.
The projects Webtoon plans to co-produce with Warner Bros. Animation could be films or series, but right now it’s early in the process — and no release dates have been targeted yet. The creators of the original Webtoon webcomics own the IP and, under their agreements with the company, will receive a share of revenue generated from the animation projects, said Yongsoo Kim, Webtoon Entertainment’s chief strategy officer and head of global.
“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,” said Kim.
Other Webtoon Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Sony’s Crunchyroll and other platforms. The company’s content partners include Disney, Discord, HYBE and DC Comics. Webtoon, a pioneer in the webcomic format, has about 155 million monthly active users globally.
Warner Bros. Animation is home to animated characters from the DC, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. WBA recently released original anime feature film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” with New Line Cinema and “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” released on March 14, 2025, with Ketchup Entertainment.
“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.
Sinbae Kim, chief growth officer of LINE Digital Frontier, leads Webtoon’s global animation efforts and was involved in inking the Warner Bros. Animation deal. According to Kim, Webtoon has a “unique ability to discover original voices, nurture global fandoms and build the next generation of franchise storytelling from the ground up… This partnership with Warner Bros. Animation is an exciting next step in that journey — one that expands what’s possible for our creators, our studios and our fans.”
“From hits like ‘True Beauty,’ ‘Clevatess’ and ‘Tower of God’ to many more adaptations in progress, we’re proving that great stories can start on a phone screen and grow into global entertainment phenomena,” said Kim. (Variety)
English