MN_ISSFCS

Disney Icons Go Vertical: Naver Webtoon Brings Marvel, Star Wars, and More to Mobile

PDF Download

Summary

Disney Icons Go Vertical: Naver Webtoon Brings Marvel, Star Wars, and More to Mobile
Type	Other	Genre	Comics/Webtoons

Disney Icons Go Vertical :

Naver Webtoon Brings Marvel, Star Wars, and More to Mobile

This deal marks a landmark moment for Korean webtoons breaking into U.S. mainstream markets.

It shows global buyers how vertical-scroll storytelling can successfully reimagine iconic franchises

while opening new premium content monetization models.

♦ Landmark Disney-Naver Webtoon Partnership

• Naver Webtoon’s U.S. subsidiary signed a multi-year global partnership with Disney after a year of

negotiations, beating other competitors

• Over 100 series from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and 20th Century Studios will be adapted into

vertical-scroll webtoons for a new “Disney Zone” in the English app

♦ Iconic IP in Mobile-First Format

• First titles include “The Amazing Spider-Man”, “Avengers”, “Star Wars”, “Alien”, and “A Long Time Ago”

• Webtoon-exclusive original stories will expand classic characters into new plots and genres,

using a freemium model with free initial episodes

♦ Strategic Partnership Validation

• Disney chose Naver Webtoon based on its LA headquarters, Nasdaq listing, and proven global

leadership

• All adaptations will use traditional artistry with no AI-generated artwork, following Naver’s aggressive

global partnerships including Netflix and ongoing Spotify talks

♦ Strong Business Performance

• Q2 2025: operating loss narrowed ~90% YoY to $8.76M while revenue grew 8.5% YoY to $348M, driven by

paid content, ads, and IP business

• Japan revenue grew 13.2%, supporting overall profitability improvements and validating the global

expansion strategy

Source

MK Economy. (2025. 8. 13)

Source

MK Economy