WEBTOON Entertainment has announced a major new collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation, confirming that The Stellar Swordmaster and Hardcore Leveling Warrior will be among the first titles adapted under a new global animation initiative.
The partnership aims to bring ten hit webtoons to screens worldwide, marking one of WEBTOON’s most ambitious expansion efforts following the surge in interest driven by Solo Leveling’s breakout success.
The joint project will produce and distribute animated adaptations sourced from both the Korean and English versions of the platform. WEBTOON Productions in the United States and LINE Digital Frontier’s IP business team in Japan will oversee development.
The Stellar Swordmaster and Hardcore Leveling Warrior are popular titles in the progression fantasy space, a genre Solo Leveling recently catapulted into the global mainstream.
Similarly, The Stellar Swordmaster is a dark fantasy about Vlad, a streetwise orphan who pursues immense power with the help of a sentient sword, battling his way up a brutal social and supernatural ladder.
In addition to these two titles, Down to Earth and Elf & Warrior are also reportedly in their animation pipeline.
Yongsoo Kim, CSO and Global Head of WEBTOON Entertainment, said WEBTOON creators have become key drivers of original storytelling in modern entertainment, particularly among Gen Z. He added that partnering with a studio as established as Warner Bros. Animation represents an opportunity to further elevate these creators’ worlds.
LINE Digital Frontier Director and CGO Shinbae Kim noted that incorporating a globally focused animation project into their existing Japan-based production represents a major strategic step. According to him, the team is committed to supporting development efforts in Japan while expanding the discovery of IP suited for worldwide audiences.
Warner Bros. Animation President Sam Register added that the combination of WEBTOON’s vibrant storytelling and Warner Bros.’ global animation expertise creates “perfect synergy” for producing standout projects.
It’s hard to talk about this new deal without bringing up Solo Leveling. The 2024 anime adaptation was a massive game-changer for Korean manhwa, taking a popular webtoon and transforming it into a genuine worldwide hit.
The series reportedly crashed Crunchyroll’s servers upon its premiere due to overwhelming viewer demand. It went on to break multiple viewership and rating records on the platform, becoming one of its most-watched series of all time.
Source: Variety
