San Diego Comic-Con is back and with its return, a whole new list of panels grace the San Diego Convention Center once again! One morning panel jumped right into the thick of it with Variety film reporter Katcy Stephan moderating panelists Snailords (Freaking Romance), Aron Levitz (head of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios), journalist Kayli Burt, Glenn Geller (head of television Skybound Entertainment), and Halle Stanford (President of television, The Jim Henson Company) as they discussed what’s next for webcomic adaptations as panelists shared their experiences in the entertainment industry, including adapting webcomics into TV shows and films, and discussed the changes and opportunities within the industry.
Levitz was asked about the driving force behind this trend and why he thinks brands connect with it so much. He responded that anyone could write and tell their own story, allowing for unique perspectives. “To be able to hear something unique from a point of view from someone who didn’t go through the meat grinder of entertainment to get raw storytelling that you don’t get to see yourself because they didn’t see it themselves. We think that’s what drives this kind of storytelling.”
Webtoons are considered a non-traditional approach to getting someone’s work published. In this case, Snailords was the perfect person to talk to, having been originally published on a UGC canvas platform before moving to a professional creator.
“It’s pretty cool,” they said. “So I started on a canvas, I was in school at that time, and Webtoons hosted a contest for $30,000. I joined the contest, I didn’t win, but I was offered something better—to be hired as a full-time creator at Wattpad and Webtoon since 2015.”
Kayli Burt continued the conversation by digging into the influence that Korean content has had throughout the world, and most importantly, how webcomics fit into that. She mentioned how people who come to Comic-Con know a lot about the stories they’re consuming and are very active in sharing them and talking about them. She continued, “I’ve been a pop culture reporter for more than 10 years, so I’ve come to many Comic-Cons, both as a fan and press. For me, even before I was covering Korean pop culture and the rise of it in the US, I’ve just always been interested in stories that inspire this kind of passion and commitment.”
Burt didn’t stop there. She went on to mention how these people would travel across the world to come to an experience like this, something that a lot of Korean pop culture does well.
“Korean pop culture, whether it’s K-pop, K-dramas, or webtoons, does this really well. Many K-dramas are adapted from webtoons, and as someone who reports on both the fandoms and the stories, I see that pre-existing storytelling, which has already passed through the critical eye of the audience, often produces impressive content.”
Halle Stanford then spoke about The Jim Henson Company’s efforts to develop an animated series for Webtoon’s Lore Olympus.
“Well, first of all, it was a dream come true, because I’m a massive, massive fan of Lore Olympus,” Stanford responded. “So, a dream come true. At Henson, we were looking for the next labyrinth. We were looking for a fantasy romance. You know, Lore checked all the boxes: sexy King of the Underworld, Hades, Jericho, King David Bowie, you know, check!” She added that the series was bubbly, spunky, and filled with secrets. Most importantly, they had the support of Rachel Smythe, the creator, as well as her help as a creative consultant.
“That was the big draw, what was going to allow us to do this. Her art style is innovative, so different, colorful, and bold,” Stanford emphasized. She loved the idea of Lore Olympus smashing the patriarchy and toxic masculinity, running the underworld in Lore Olympus, and letting that reflect on our world, and seeing what they could do with the bubbly pink goddess doing what she does best and bringing it down.
Stephan then turned the direction of the panel to Glenn Geller, the head of television for Skybound Entertainment, asking him what appealed to him about adapting from the webcomic format and how they would approach that with Snailords’ Freaking Romance.
Glenn Geller’s answer was one of the most important parts of this panel. He mentioned their significant success in adapting their IP, especially with Robert Kirkman’s work, notably The Walking Dead and, of course, Invincible. He expressed:
“In terms of Freaking Romance, I mean, one, it’s great. I’m not just saying that because I’m on this panel. I mean, I love storytelling, I love fantasy. I love romance, ghosts, you know, and I understand why it’s such a huge hit on the platform. I also love that it’s so diverse, which I know we’ll probably get to in a moment when we talk about diversity in storytelling. But I think that it has all the ingredients that make it a great adaptation.”
He then added, “I met with David Madden, head of global entertainment at Wattpad Webtoon Studios, and we are in deep discussions for two more projects. I think when the audience finds out what these are, they’re going to be really excited. We’re super excited to be working with them.”
Towards the end of the panel Snailords response to a question put into perspective the point of this panel: “Okay, so, when I was little, I moved to the US, I really didn’t speak English. I didn’t have a lot of friends. So I sat alone at lunch, I started reading a lot of stories, and they have, kept me company through the years. So I thought, why not do the same for the other kids? Who knows sit alone at lunch? So that’s what drew me to making stories in the first place. Then the second thing is, absolutely, no, I didn’t ever think that there would be a film adaptation.”
The main focus of the panel was the discussion of the creative, diverse, and inclusive content that Webcomics provided. That’s why they wanted to involve fans and get their feedback while also keeping the content they produce fresh. How engaging with their fans would lower the risk for creators, while also creating engaging content. Since webcomics are non-traditional it allowed creators to connect with more fans and connect with that broader audience.
The webcomic revolution has been progressing steadily, and companies are beginning to understand why these stories attract such a dedicated fanbase. This panel highlighted the unique opportunities webcomics offer in terms of diverse, creative, and inclusive content. By engaging with their audience and incorporating feedback, creators can produce fresh and engaging material that resonates with a broad audience.
With over 55 million stories available on platforms like Webtoon, the fusion of storytelling, visuals, and audience interaction has never been more powerful. The ongoing success of webcomic adaptations in various media forms underscores their significance in contemporary entertainment.
In summary, the evolution of webcomics into mainstream media is not just a trend but a significant shift in storytelling. That shift is making waves, and more and more people are starting to notice. The revolution isn’t just beginning to be televised, it’s been.
Miss any of our earlier SDCC ’24 coverage? Find it all here!
