CRUNCHYROLL and WEBTOON join forces

Crunchyroll and Webtoon are partnering to bring animated content based on the Webtoon catalog to screens everywhere.

In a press release posted on the Crunchyroll website, the company announced that the partnership with Webtoon would see both companies working together to produce and develop original animated series based on the properties that make up the Webtoon library.

Crunchyroll offers a platform for streaming animation to over 50 million worldwide users through the app of the same name, which is available on most streaming devices. The Crunchyroll app offers both free to view content supported by ads as well as a premium paid service that boasts more than 2 million subscribers.

With no word released on what properties might be first to be subject to adaptation under the new deal, there is no shortage of possibilities available on Webtoon. The online comics platform launched in South Korea in 2004 and in the United States in 2014, and the most popular series – which are free to read on both the website and the app – garner in excess of one million views per week.

This isn’t the only recent news about animated adaptations of Webtoon series. Just last week, a partnership with The Jim Henson Company was announced that will see Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe adapted into an animated show geared toward young adults.

Meanwhile, Crunchyroll has been forging other partnerships as well. In September, the global animation platform announced that it would be partnering with VIZ Media Europe Group to bring a wider catalog of content to viewers. Under the terms of the newly announced partnership with Webtoon, the available content catalog will be expanded even further.

What series do you hope to see adapted to animation? From True Beauty to Muted to Mage and Demon Queen to Soul on Hold, there are plenty of possible candidates. Tell us what Webtoon you want to see brought to life in the comments and on social media!