If you are a bit of curiosity in public transport, with a stealthy eye on the smart phone or tablet of the neighbor, you can sometimes see a displacement of the comic strip from the bottom up. This genre has a name: Webtoons.
Webtoons, these digital comics, have become only a few years in a real phenomenon that has found their followers. With global successes such as Solo levelingThe genre, which was born in South Korea in the early 2000s, emerged in France and Europe in 2010.
Essentially use on a smartphone
The principle of these comics is simple: they are available through an application for smartphones and can be read in the form of chapters available for readers during the weeks and months.
Several Platforms Have Emerged With The Years, Including The Best Known, Webtoon, Of The Giant Naver, WHO HAS WON THE BET, AND OCCUPIES A PACA OF CHOICE EACH YEAR WITHIN Always Vary Enthusátic, Confirmg The Rise of the Webto in France, “Explains Yeojung Kim, Head of the Webtoon Application in Europe, in Tech & Co.
One thing is true: Webtoons particularly attract young readers, accustomed to consuming digital content.
French creators have also begun to adopt this format, publishing their own webtoons and participating in international competitions. This has allowed a diversification of available content and greater recognition of local talents: “The Webtoon is still in the development phase in France and must strengthen its notoriety,” says Yeojung Kim.
In Europe, webtoons have also gained popularity, especially in countries such as Germany, Spain and Italy. Webtoon platforms have translated into several European languages, facilitating their adoption.
Despite their success, webtoons face several challenges in Europe. The competition with traditional comics and manga is strong. In addition, the monetization of Webtoons remains a challenge, with economic models based mainly on advertising and microtransactions: “Between 2017 and 2023, more than 2.3 billion dollars were paid to the authors,” says the webtoon platform. “Our economic model is mainly based on the sale of paid episodes, advertising income and the adaptation of webtoons in the form of films, television series, games or sweets.”
A western market still difficult to benefit
Many actors have broken their teeth in recent years, especially in France. Webtoon Factory, a creation of Dupuis editions, finally migrated in 2022 on the media participation platform, Ono, due to lack of being profitable. The same observation for Mytoon and Piccoma, which also tried to make a place for themselves, without achieving it: “Webtoons are based on specific consumption habits, such as vertical displacement and optimized reading for mobile devices. Therefore, additional efforts must provide to adapt this model,” says Yeejung Kim.
However, there are many opportunities. Webtoons offers a platform for new talents and allow great creative freedom. This is the case with Webtoon that has a “canvas” section, open to amateur designers or in search of recognition.
“The amateur authors are the series distinguished by their quality and their popularity can offer a contract and publish their work as a niginal,” says the platform, adding that a financial endowment can be donated to the authors of series acclaimed by readers.
The digital format in webtoons essence also allows regular updates and direct interaction with readers, creating a compromised community. However, we observed the launch, in the physical version, of certain very popular series, in particular in Michel Lafon for Webtoon, which cites success in bookstores, but also on the screens, of certain adaptations such as Peter murderer EITHER Viral blow.
With an innovative format and an economic model away from traditional comic habits, webtoons have attracted a large audience, while offering new opportunities for creators. As their popularity continues to grow, webtoons are asking them to play an increasingly important role in the world’s comic industry.
For webtoon number 1, the format is still in full development. The platform provides “new initiatives” in 2025 and beyond to always establish its domination a little more.
Source: BFM TV
