You may have heard the term “webtoon” a lot lately.
What are the differences between webtoons, which originated in Korea, and manga, which originated in Japan?
This article will explain the differences between cartoons and webtoons from three perspectives.
Cartoons and Webtoons: Stylistic Differences
For cartoons
Manga is a form of pictorial storytelling that developed primarily in Japan and is basically in black and white, although color works also exist.
In black-and-white works, the artist uses shading and line thickness to bring out the expressive power of the line, and the density and thickness of the line changes according to the scene and emotion.
In addition, tones, mosaics (mosaics to prevent spoilers), and lines of effect are used to establish a unique manga expression.
Color works use vivid colors and gradients to provide attractive visuals.
For webtoons
Webtoons are pictorial stories for digital media that developed primarily in South Korea and are mostly color works.
It is designed to be viewed on devices such as smartphones and tablets, and features rich colors and bright tones.
In addition, the drawing style is often simple line drawings and deformed characters, creating a familiar atmosphere for readers.
Note that since the story progresses in a vertical scrolling format, the blank spaces between panels allow readers to follow the story as they scroll naturally.
Cartoons and Webtoons: Differences in Mediums
For cartoons
Manga is a comic book format originating in Japan that is serialized and published mainly in print and e-book format, where the story is told by turning the pages.
Various formats exist, including four-frame cartoons and story cartoons.
Typically delivered as a paper magazine or book, or as an e-book, readers follow the panels along a vertical and horizontal layout.
For webtoons
Webtoon is a digital comic book format originating in South Korea that is serialized and distributed on the Internet and features a vertically scrolling style of reading on devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Webtoons are designed from the start for digital distribution and are highly adaptable and interactive on the screen.
Cartoons and Webtoons: Differences in Reader Eye Movement
For cartoons
In comics, the reader’s eye moves horizontally and vertically along the page layout.
Japanese manga generally progresses from right to left and top to bottom, and the reader’s gaze is guided by the arrangement of panels and page structure.
For non-Japanese readers, they may not know how to read it.
The size, shape, and layout of the frames are important elements for expression and tension, and serve to convey the flow and emotion of the story.
Another appeal of manga in print and e-book format is the surprise effect of unpredictable developments and moments, as turning the page moves from one scene to the next.
For webtoons
In the webtoon, the reader’s eye moves along the vertical scroll.
The reading process is characterized by swiping the screen from top to bottom using a smartphone or tablet, and in this vertical scrolling format, the margins between frames and the vertical layout have a significant impact on guiding the eye and the tempo of the story.
Scrolling allows the story to progress continuously, making it easy for readers to transition smoothly to the next scene and immerse themselves in the story.
summary
In this article, we have described the differences between comics and webtoons from three perspectives: style, medium, and the reader’s eye movement.
Comics and webtoons have different characteristics and appeal. Both are unique styles and mediums, offering readers a new reading experience.
MangaAds Japan creates manga-based ads and LPs. One study reported that CVRs doubled after switching to manga-based ads, showing the tremendous effectiveness of manga ads.
If you are interested in learning more about marketing techniques using cartoons, please click the button below to request information.
