How Webtoons Are Changing Movies and TV | Hyeonmi Kim | TED

TL;DR

In this content, the author discusses the democratization of storytelling through webtoons and its impact on the media industry.

Transcript

Transcriber: Leslie Gauthier Believe it or not, many of you are participating in one of the greatest democratizations of storytelling the world has ever known. And you’re probably doing this on a daily basis through the movies and TV shows you’re watching. This is a grand democratization that’s giving voice on a global scale to the bizarre, fantast... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 The democratization of storytelling through movies and TV shows is happening on a global scale, giving voice to unheard stories and expanding plot boundaries.
• 📺 Traditional closed networks of script writers in the mainstream media industry have limited the diversity of plots, leading to repetitive superhero and love story themes.
• 📱 Webtoons, which are serialized cartoon-like stories read on smartphones, are disrupting the industry by providing bite-sized entertainment with a narrative structure.
• 🌎 Webtoons are published on open platforms, allowing anyone from different backgrounds and countries to share their stories and find an audience.
• 💰 The web story platform market has reached almost one billion US dollars, with platforms like Naver Webtoon in the United States having over 15 million monthly users.
• 💡 Forward-thinking content producers are recognizing the potential of webtoons as a source for new and fabulous stories that can be turned into successful movies or TV series.
• 🎥 Popular TV series like "Hellbound," "Itaewon Class," and "Kingdom" started as webtoons, showcasing the success of adapting webtoon stories for mainstream media.
• 🌟 The interactive nature of webtoons allows real-time feedback and helps writers improve faster, while also addressing diversity issues in the media industry by opening up opportunities for anyone to become a storyteller.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is a webtoon and how is it different from other forms of media?

A webtoon is a story told through cartoon-like illustrations, published in short segments meant to be read on a smartphone. It is considered a storytelling media, unlike non-storytelling media platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Webtoons are published on open platforms, allowing anyone to share their stories and find an audience. Webtoons have become a global phenomenon, with platforms like Naver Webtoon in the United States amassing over 15 million monthly users.

Q: How are webtoons changing the traditional approach to movies and TV shows?

Traditionally, the mainstream media industry relied on a closed ecosystem of star scriptwriters who played it safe with plot boundaries, resulting in repetitive themes. However, webtoons have opened up opportunities to discover new and fabulous stories. Many popular TV series, such as "Hellbound" and "Itaewon Class," were originally webtoons that found success when adapted for television. This shift allows for a wider range of stories and characters to be explored.

Q: How are webtoon writers benefiting from this new model?

Webtoon writers have a lot to gain from the interactive nature of the platform. They receive real-time feedback from the audience, allowing them to improve and hone their craft faster. Additionally, webtoon writers can generate substantial income through the revenue split between themselves and the webtoon platforms. In Korea, webtoon writers can earn up to 150,000 US dollars per year, which is significantly higher than the average income.

Q: How does the utilization of webtoons help tackle the diversity issue in the media industry?

The use of webtoons as a source for movies and TV shows helps address the media industry's diversity problem. Anyone can be a web story author, regardless of their background or professional experience. This allows for a diverse range of writers to contribute their unique perspectives and stories. Beginners, housewives, and aspiring novelists all have a chance to be recognized and share their creative ideas.

Q: What are some potential future developments for the webtoon industry and streaming networks?

The webtoon industry is expected to see an increase in specialized drawing houses. These houses would assist writers in providing great stories by handling the designs and illustrations, eliminating the need for writers to be exceptional artists. As for streaming networks, they will continue to explore and adapt unique stories from various sources, including webtoons, web novels, classic novels, and even mythology. The competition to find the next big-hit drama is wide open, with possibilities from all corners of the world.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Webtoons are a form of storytelling that is changing the traditional way movies and TV shows are made by providing a platform for anyone to share their stories globally.

• The popularity of webtoons is growing rapidly, with platforms like Naver Webtoon reaching 15 million monthly users in the United States and the web story platform market exceeding one billion US dollars.

• Webtoons have already been successful in inspiring TV series like "Hellbound," "Itaewon Class," and "Kingdom," and webtoon writers can earn significant income through revenue splits and content crossovers.