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Time of India
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From webtoons to anime hits: Solo Leveling leads Korean comic adaptation trend
Credits: Crunchyroll In recent years, a new wave has emerged in anime: hit Korean webtoons are being turned into animated series. These digital comics, which have exploded in popularity globally, are finding fresh life on screen. As one report notes, webtoons have become 'a global cultural and economic phenomenon, similar to K-dramas and K-pop', capturing young audiences with unique storytelling and art styles. Leading the charge is Solo Leveling, a fan-favorite webtoon whose anime adaptation was produced by A-1 Pictures. Premiering in January 2024, Solo Leveling's first season was a worldwide simulcast, and a second season followed in early 2025. Other major titles quickly followed: Tower of God , Noblesse , and The God of High School were all adapted into anime by top Japanese studios (Telecom Animation Film, Production I.G., MAPPA, etc.) in partnership with Crunchyroll and Naver's Webtoon platform. This marks a significant shift in anime sources – Korean creators and studios are now sharing the stage with traditional Japanese manga. Solo Leveling: The trailblazer Credits: Crunchyroll Solo Leveling's anime set the tone. Based on Chugong's webtoon, it aired in Japan January–March 2024 (with Season 2 in Jan–March 2025). Crunchyroll secured global streaming rights, bringing the show to its 15+ million international subscribers. Fan response was immediate: by March 2025 Solo Leveling had 614,300 user reviews on Crunchyroll – surpassing even One Piece , which had 600,500 reviews accumulated over 12 years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40대 이상이고 PC가 있으세요? 그럼 이 게임을 정말 좋아하실 거예요! Sea of Conquest 플레이하기 Undo In other words, a one-year-old series overtook a long-running classic in fan ratings, demonstrating the intense enthusiasm for this adaptation. Its high production values (music by Hiroyuki Sawano, dynamic animation by A-1 Pictures) and a story about an underdog 'hunter' getting superpowers resonated worldwide. This success has proved that Korean webtoon IP can launch blockbuster anime – and it has drawn even more eyes to the genre. Other webtoon anime hits Credits: Crunchyroll Following Solo Leveling, several other Korean comics made the jump to anime. Tower of God (by SIU) debuted in April 2020 as a co-production between Webtoon and Telecom Animation Film. The anime streamed simultaneously in Korea, Japan, and worldwide (Crunchyroll carried it under its 'Originals' label). The source material was already a juggernaut – the Tower of God webtoon has over 4.5 billion views globally – and the anime earned praise for its faithful storytelling and rich world-building. A second season ran in 2024 due to popular demand. Noblesse was next: adapted by Production I.G., its 12-episode anime aired Oct–Dec 2020 on Crunchyroll. And The God of High School , animated by MAPPA, ran July–Sept 2020. Each show brought its own fanbase (often mobilized on Crunchyroll and social media) and helped introduce anime viewers to these Korean comics. In fact, Crunchyroll's own announcements highlighted these partnerships: all three series were explicitly listed as Webtoon co-productions. Together, these adaptations showed that Korean stories – from fantasy to modern-day action – can shine on screen just as much as manga originals. Studios and streaming power players These anime are backed by industry heavyweights. Solo Leveling came from A-1 Pictures (known for Sword Art Online, etc.); Tower of God Season 1 by Telecom Animation Film; Season 2 by The Answer Studio; Noblesse by Production I.G.; and The God of High School by MAPPA. All were partnered with Line Webtoon/Naver and often branded as 'Crunchyroll Originals'. On the distribution side, Crunchyroll has been especially pivotal. As of 2024 it had over 15 million paying subscribers worldwide and carried roughly 1,800 anime titles – vastly more than Netflix's anime catalog. This massive platform puts new series like Solo Leveling front-and-center to global fans. (Netflix has been expanding its anime too, but its focus has often been on exclusive series; Crunchyroll remains the primary home for many of the webtoon adaptations.) In short, high-profile studios are bringing in the stories, and streaming giants are broadcasting them to viewers in India and around the globe. Driving factors behind the webtoon wave Several cultural and technological trends explain why webtoon adaptations are booming: Mobile, digital format: Webtoons are designed for smartphones, using vertical scrolling panels in full color. A market report notes the industry's 'explosive growth' thanks to this convenient format. With smartphones and social media, digital comics have become mainstream entertainment. Korean pop-culture boom: Webtoons ride the crest of the Korean Wave. Just as K-pop and K-dramas enthrall global youth, webtoons have 'rapidly gained international popularity' and are seen as a Korean soft-power export. This cultural cachet makes anime producers eager to adapt stories that might already have buzz among young audiences worldwide. Streaming demand: Services like Crunchyroll and Netflix are hungry for fresh anime content, and webtoon IP provides proven hits. Crunchyroll's subscriber growth (from 5M in 2021 to 15M in 2024) and its vast anime library make it an ideal launchpad. (Crunchyroll's 1,800 titles vs Netflix's ~240 highlights its dominance in anime distribution.) Built-in fanbases: Many webtoons already have huge followings. For example, Tower of God had billions of reads before it became an anime. Solo Leveling's fan enthusiasm was evident from the start – its anime earned 614,300 Crunchyroll reviews in one year, showing a ready audience. These built-in fan communities generate buzz and viewership immediately upon release. Together, these factors create a feedback loop: webtoons gain popularity online, studios spot their potential, and global streams deliver the anime to even wider audiences, who then dive back into the comics. READ MORE: Manhwa vs Manga: Why South Korea's Manhwa are winning digital race Implications for anime and comics Credits: Crunchyroll The webtoon-to-anime trend signals a new phase for both industries. Anime studios and streamers now tap a larger pool of international stories, while Korean comics gain richer production and monetization opportunities. This cross-border synergy blurs old lines: Japanese and Korean creators increasingly collaborate, and fans worldwide benefit from a more diverse anime lineup. As Crunchyroll and others invest in co-productions, more webtoon titles (and even non-Korean digital comics) may find their way to screen. Observers believe this will help anime reach new audiences and give the global comics market a boost. In conclusion, the success of Solo Leveling and its peers shows that anime is not just for manga anymore. Fueled by smartphones, streaming platforms, and the Korean cultural wave, webtoon adaptations are reshaping entertainment. For Indian and international fans alike, the result is exciting: a steady stream of fresh shows that combine the best of digital comics with animated spectacle. Industry analysts say the trend will likely continue, further entwining the futures of anime and webtoons in the expanding world of digital storytelling. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Broadcast Pro
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Crunchyroll now available on Yango Play
As part of the agreement, Yango Play subscribers can now stream popular anime titles ad-free, featuring newly added Arabic subtitles and available in both Japanese and English audio. Yango Play has entered a major content partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Crunchyroll to deliver the world's most extensive anime library to viewers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This agreement marks a significant step in expanding the region's access to high-quality, global entertainment content. As part of the deal, Yango Play subscribers now enjoy ad-free streaming of top anime titles such as Tower of God and Welcome to Demon School, Iruma kun!—all available with fresh Arabic subtitles and Japanese or English audio options. The collaboration also introduces a new Crunchyroll channel on Yango Play, allowing fans to watch blockbuster series like Solo Leveling, Fire Force, Shangri-La Frontier, and The Rising of the Shield Hero directly on their TVs via the Yango Play app. This launch is just the beginning of a broader rollout. Yango Play plans to expand its anime selection throughout the year with more iconic series from Crunchyroll's catalogue. Notable upcoming additions include fan-favourite titles like Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, further cementing the platform's position as a go-to destination for anime in the region. Khalid El Sergany, Head of Acquisition at Yango Play, said: 'Our collaboration with Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures marks a major milestone in Yango Play's mission to expand access to world-class entertainment in the MENA region,' he said. 'This isn't just about adding anime—it's about recognising the cultural appetite for it and meeting fans where they are, in Arabic, on TV, on-demand.' Ziad Yaghi, SVP, Distribution & Networks, MENA and Turkey, Sony Pictures Television, added: 'We're pleased to team up with Yango to announce this exciting deal. Coupling the vast breadth of anime on Crunchyroll and the power of SPE's film library, this comprehensive package will see a wealth of quality content coming to Yango Play's audiences across the region.' In addition to anime, the partnership enhances Yango Play's offerings with an array of blockbuster films from Sony Pictures' extensive library. Viewers can now stream acclaimed titles such as The Equalizer and The Equalizer 2, Venom, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Blade Runner 2049, The Amazing Spider-Man series, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, Django Unchained, The Social Network, Hancock, and Bad Boys II and Bad Boys. Yango Play is currently available across the Middle East and Egypt and supports streaming on all devices. The platform is offering a one-month free subscription for a limited time, giving new users a chance to explore its diverse and exclusive library, designed to cater to the varied tastes of the region's viewers.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Three anime like Solo Leveling that have an overpowered MC
Anime like Solo Leveling Solo Leveling is an anime that will leave you craving for more. However, there are only two seasons of the show. Now, if you are someone who has fallen in love with Sung Jin Woo as a character, then we know that you are looking for more shows like Solo Leveling that can offer you the same level of adrenaline rush and, of course, an overpowered MC. Without any further ado, here we have listed down three anime that you can watch to get the same vibe as Solo Leveling and see the main character in action, wreaking havoc over the universe. Operation Sindoor Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal Sirens, explosions in border districts after Pak breaks deal: What we know so far 'What happened to ceasefire?' J&K CM after explosions heard across Srinagar Three anime like Solo Leveling that you need to watch right now Tower of God - Imagine a weak protagonist who gets driven by a motive and then goes on a journey to take on the world, sounds like Solo Leveling, but we are talking about Tower of God. The show revolves around 25th Bam, who is a boy living in a melancholic world. The only friend he has is Rachel and she wants to climb the Tower - a place that grants any wish to the individuals who reach the top. When Rachel goes on the journey, Bam follows in her footsteps in the world of gods and powers. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest - This is the story of Hajime Nagumo, who is a below-average high school student. Now, things change for him when his whole class goes into a fantasy world. His classmate gets some amazing powers and abilities, and our protagonist comes out as a glorified miner. However, in a raid, he is betrayed by his classmates and left to die. The story after that unfolds in a way that we get to see a basic high school student becoming an antihero. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Mashle: If you are looking for a light-hearted anime revolving around an overpowered MC, then Mashle is for you. It tells us the story of Mash Burndead, who lives an isolated life. Now, his life takes a comic turn when he enters the Easton Magic Academy and starts competing for the title of Divine Visionary. Also Read: These are the three best anime shows like Wind Breaker that you should give a try to
Business Upturn
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Is ‘Tower of God' returning for season 4? Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on May 8, 2025, 17:03 IST Tower of God has captivated anime fans with its intricate storytelling, vibrant characters, and thrilling action sequences. Adapted from SIU's popular South Korean manhwa, the series has garnered a massive following since its anime debut in 2020. With three seasons already released, fans are eagerly asking: Is Tower of God Season 4 happening? Here's everything we know so far about the potential continuation of this beloved series. The Current Status of Tower of God Season 4 As of May 2025, no official announcement has been made by Crunchyroll, Telecom Animation Film, or SIU regarding Tower of God Season 4. However, the absence of confirmation doesn't mean the series is over. The Tower of God manhwa, serialized on Webtoon, has a wealth of content beyond what the anime has covered. Season 3, which concluded in 2024, adapted portions of the manhwa up to roughly Chapter 337 (Season 2, Chapter 257 in the Webtoon numbering). With over 600 chapters currently available and the manhwa still ongoing, there's ample material for multiple seasons. Tower of God Season 4 Potential Release Date If Season 4 is approved soon, production could take 1.5 to 2 years, pointing to a potential release in late 2026 or early 2027. Factors like animation quality, studio scheduling, and alignment with the manhwa's progress could influence the timeline. For now, fans should temper expectations but remain hopeful for updates. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
