Translation result
Aiming at Generation Z, who favor mobile content
Two original series to debut on its English service
Partnerships with Blizzard, Xbox and Disney among recent collaborations
Naver Webtoon has signed on as a partner for the 60th‑anniversary campaign of the iconic U.S. sci‑fi franchise Star Trek. The move underscores growing interest in the platform as franchise owners seek to reach younger audiences.
On May 18, Naver Webtoon said it will roll out two original series, Stargazers and Recollection, sequentially on its English service as part of the Star Trek anniversary campaign.
Star Trek has already branched into films, novels, games and animation. But this will be the franchise’s first presentation in a webtoon format optimized for smartphones.
Amy Zarashaw, head of Paramount Global Publishing, said the webtoon format will give readers a distinct, immersive experience on a new platform. “This represents an exciting evolution for the franchise and a powerful way to connect with both longtime fans and new readers,” she said.
Global franchise holders have increasingly turned to webtoons to capture younger users. With fanbases aging and the influx of new users slowing, companies see webtoons as a way to broaden touchpoints with Generation Z, who primarily consume content on mobile devices.
About 75% of Webtoon’s North American users are Generation Z.
Synergies between franchise IPs and webtoons are showing results. In March, Naver Webtoon partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to release a full‑length original webtoon, Overwatch: Undivided, commemorating the game’s 10th anniversary. The 40‑episode series attracted more than 10,000 readers on its first day.
A webtoon based on the Xbox game Sea of Thieves also became a hit, reaching No. 1 on the English service’s popularity chart during its launch week.
Partnerships are expanding beyond simple IP licensing to platform‑level collaborations. Naver Webtoon is preparing a new digital comics platform with The Walt Disney Company that will offer roughly 35,000 Disney‑owned titles.
An industry source said companies that own global franchise IPs are increasingly using Naver Webtoon as a platform to grow fandoms and extend their universes.
© Dailian Co., Ltd. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
- Samsung labor and management meet again — union holds firm despite pressure from the president and company owners
- Embarrassing moment for a woman — revealing leggings drew attention, but another issue stood out
- At Samsung Electronics, talks shift after emergency mediation is mentioned; no agreement reached on rollback plan
- Second round of applications for the “high fuel price” relief payment opens tomorrow — who qualifies?
- Poll in Busan’s northern district: Ha Jung‑woo 41.7%, Han Dong‑hoon 32.2%, Park Min‑sik 21.1% [Poll]
Most Commented