Press Releases06/21/2023

WEBTOON Kicks Off 2023 Summer Convention Season with Can’t-Miss Programming at Anime Expo, SDCC, and France’s Japan Expo

- The world’s largest digital comics platform to bring top creators to premier entertainment and fan events throughout July

- Global WEBTOON sensation Rachel Smythe to appear as a guest of honor at San Diego Comic Con, participating in multiple signing sessions and panel discussions

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WEBTOON, the world’s largest digital comics platform, today announced a slate of can’t-miss programming at leading international entertainment and comic fan conventions. This July, WEBTOON creators and executives will appear in a dynamic lineup of panels, industry discussion, signings, and brand experiences at Anime Expo (Los Angeles), France’s Japan Expo (Paris), and San Diego Comic-Con.

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Anime Expo

Kicking off the summer convention season, WEBTOON will be at Anime Expo in Los Angeles (July 1-4) as part of a McDonald’s brand activation. This year, the Golden Arches is throwing a classic McDonald’s birthday party for WEBTOON at Anime Expo, celebrating nine years of WEBTOON in the US. The interactive booth will immerse fans into a nostalgic slice-of-life meetup scene that will make fans feel like they are having a birthday party with their favorite WEBTOON characters.

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WEBTOON’s VP of Content, David Lee, will also appear on a series of panels hosted and moderated by Mangasplaining host and Publishers Weekly contributor Deb Aoki, exploring webcomics and how they are transforming global entertainment. Panels include:

  • Horizontal to Vertical: Webtoon Storytelling from Screen to Page (Saturday, July 1 at 11:30am; Room 403 AB)

  • Manga (and Webtoon!) Publishing Roundtable (Sunday, July 2 at 10:00am; Room 402 AB)

  • ​You Gotta Read This Webtoon! (Monday, July 3 at 11:30am; Room 402 AB)

For full Anime Expo panel descriptions, visit https://www.anime-expo.org/.

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San Diego Comic Con

WEBTOON will once again bring a line-up of signings, creator appearances, and panels to San Diego Comic Con (July 20-23), including:

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  • Building the DC Universe on WEBTOON, featuring WEBTOON creators CRC Payne (Batman: Wayne Family Adventures) and Patrick Young (Red Hood: Outlaws) alongside David Lee (WEBTOON) and Marie Javins (DC).

  • A Golden Age for Women in Comics, featuring WEBTOON creators CRC Payne (Batman: Wayne Family Adventures), Instantmiso (Eaternal Nocturnal) and Rachel Smythe (Lore Olympus), in conversation with Jamila Roswer (Wash Day Diaries) and Rosie Knight (Den of Geek).

  • D&D Enters the World of WEBTOON - An Exclusive First Look!, featuring WEBTOON creator Purpah (Suitor Armor), David Lee (WEBTOON), and Paul Morrissey (Wizards of the Coast).

  • How A Greek Myth Became the World’s Biggest Comic: A Fireside Chat with Rachel Smythe featuring Jo Rochelle (Girl Wonder Podcast).

  • A New Kind of Romance, featuring WEBTOON sensation Rachel Smythe (Lore Olympus).

  • Bobbie Chase, executive editor of WEBTOON Unscrolled, will also take part in the Manga Publishing Industry Roundtable panel alongside Aoki.

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In addition to WEBTOON’s panel programming and appearances at SDCC, WEBTOON creators and series are nominated for multiple 2023 Eisner Awards. 2022 Eisner Award winner for Best Webcomic, Lore Olympus, is once again nominated in the same category, while the print edition of WEBTOON’s Hellbound, by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok, translation by Danny Lim (Dark Horse) is nominated for Best U.S. Edition of International Media - Asia. WEBTOON CANVAS series and creators picked up an additional five 2023 Eisner nominations, including Best Webcomic nominees Spores (Josh Barkman) and The Mannamong (Michael Adam Lengyel). The print edition of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper Vol. 4 (Scholastic Graphix) is nominated for Best Publication for Teens, while Sarah Andersen picked up nominations for Best Writer/Artist and Best Humor Publication for Cryptid Club.

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Final dates/times and locations for WEBTOON programming and signings will be available in July at https://www.comic-con.org/. Eisner Award winners will be announced at a gala ceremony during SDCC on the evening of July 21.

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Japan Expo Paris

From July 13–16, WEBTOON will appear at France’s Japan Expo in Paris, with booths, brand activations, and creator signings. Fans will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in their favorite WEBTOON series, pick up exclusive merch, and meet with 12 top French creators for signing sessions throughout the weekend.

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For a full schedule of Japan Expo appearances, visit: https://www.japan-expo-paris.com/en/.

With its innovative, mobile vertical scroll format, WEBTOON has transformed the global comic industry, making it possible for anyone to become a creator and share their stories with a global audience. WEBTOON was named one of Fast Company’s 2023 World’s Most Innovative Companies, and was spotlighted at “The Grill at SXSW” in March.

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More than 900,000 creators around the world publish webcomics on WEBTOON, alongside some of the world’s biggest gaming, music, and entertainment brands. Recent partnerships and content collaborations include work with Atlantic Records, Ubisoft, DC, Archie Comics, Marvel, Riot Games, and HYBE. Webcomics from WEBTOON have also been adapted for several recent smash hit streaming series, with recent adaptations including Netflix’s “All of Us Are Dead,” “Bloodhounds,” “Black Knight,” and many more.

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