10 iconic webtoons that deserve their own anime now
Credits: YouTube by The Black Mastadonte
Webtoons have exploded worldwide, and studios are racing to tap their built-in fanbases. LINE Webtoon's CEO even announced that 'at least 20 more anime series based on webtoons will be announced this year'.
Many of these digital comics boast hundreds of millions or even billions of reads – yet some of the most popular titles in action, romance and fantasy still have no official anime. Here are 10 such fan-favorites (each with global followings and strong storytelling) that we believe deserve the animated treatment.
1. SubZero – Fantasy Romance
This sweeping dragon-fantasy romance has been read over 375 million times on Webtoon. In
SubZero
, the last dragon princess Clove is forced into a political marriage with her enemy, Prince Kyro. The enemies-to-lovers plot is packed with magic, action and steamy tension – elements already praised by reviewers. As Oni Press editor Grace Scheipeter notes,
SubZero
combines 'dragons, love triangles, danger and magic' and is ideal for fans of
Lore Olympus
or
A Court of Thorns and Roses
. With its huge readership and lush artwork,
SubZero
has the visual spectacle and passionate fanbase to make a hit anime.
2. unOrdinary – Action
u
nOrdinary* is a high-school saga set in a superpowered world, and it's one of Webtoon's biggest hits. The series has 1.1 billion views and 5.7 million subscribers on Webtoon. It follows an ordinary teen in a school hierarchy of heroes and villains, with a dark secret that upends the status quo. Fans praise its blend of explosive powers and emotional depth. In tone it's like a darker
My Hero Academia
– exactly the kind of character-driven superhero story that could soar in anime form. The enormous global audience (on the order of billions of pageviews) shows how eager fans would be to see
unOrdinary
animated.
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3.
Weak Hero
– Action/Drama
A gritty school fight drama,
Weak Hero
has over 242 million reads and 1.6 million subscribers. It centers on Gray, a quiet new student who appears weak but quickly becomes a fearsome fighter against school bullies. The series is known for its tense, well-choreographed fight scenes and its themes of bullying and justice (a Netflix live-action drama has already made it a global trend). Its page counts demonstrate a strong following. With its raw action and emotional story,
Weak Hero
would translate well into a thrilling anime – bringing its intense fights and anti-bullying message to a wider audience.
4. Cursed Princess Club – Fantasy Comedy/Romance
This charming fantasy series turns the 'princess curse' trope on its head. It follows Gwendolyn, a princess cursed with extreme ugliness despite her royal status, who seeks help from a mysterious club of misfits.
Cursed Princess Club
has 288 million views and 2.3 million subscribers, making it one of the platform's top fantasy romances. Its humor, heart and themes of self-acceptance have won fans worldwide. An anime adaptation could highlight the story's whimsical art and heartfelt humor, appealing to viewers who love fairy-tale magic and strong messages.
In short, its proven popularity and upbeat tone make it a natural fit for animation.
5. The Boxer – Sports Drama
A compelling sports drama,
The Boxer
is about a young boxing prodigy who seems defeated until a mysterious coach recognizes his talent. With 176 million reads and 1.7 million subscribers, it's already a Webtoon hit. The series is praised for its gritty, psychological take on boxing – exploring themes of talent, hard work and mindset. Given the popularity of boxing/anime crossovers (
Hajime no Ippo
, etc.), an anime
The Boxer
could showcase high-intensity fight animation and emotional depth.
Its built-in audience of millions proves there's demand to see these underdog boxing matches come to life on screen.
6. The Greatest Estate Developer – Fantasy Isekai
This inventive isekai comedy follows an engineering student reincarnated into a fantasy world as a debt-ridden nobleman. On Webtoon it has 172.7 million views and 1.2 million subscribers. The hero uses his modern knowledge (and a giant hamster sidekick) to build machines and change destiny. Fans love its clever mix of everyday science and adventure.
An anime could amplify its humor and world-building – mechanical contraptions and fantasy battles would play great in animation.
Since isekai series like
Dr. Stone
have done well,
Estate Developer
's unique twist and strong fanbase make it ripe for adaptation.
7. The Remarried Empress – Fantasy Romance
One of Webtoon's most-read series,
The Remarried Empress
has over 2.6 billion reads. It's a sweeping palace drama about Navier, an empress whose husband leaves her for a slave, only for Navier to boldly ask to remarry another emperor. The story features political intrigue, romance and a strong heroine. (It's already a hit K-drama, but
no anime adaptation has been announced
.)
With its epic scope and loyal global following, it's a perfect candidate for anime. The massive readership shows how invested fans are in Navier's journey, and animation could bring even more drama and spectacle to the story's stunning palace settings.
8. Not Even Bones – Dark Fantasy Thriller
This gritty thriller has 147.5 million views and 1.9 million subscribers. It follows Nita, the teenage daughter of a monster-selling mortician, who helps her cruel mother sell supernatural body parts — until she must decide if she'll become the monster herself.
The series is praised for its dark twists, gore and moral complexity. There's nothing quite like it in anime yet, and its popularity shows fans love its unique angle.
An animated
Not Even Bones
would bring its horror-action to life – the dramatic fights and shocking turns would make it stand out in the anime landscape, just as the Webtoon did online.
9. Your Throne – Fantasy Drama
This intense fantasy drama (also known as
I Want To Be Queen
) has 181.1 million views and 1.9 million subscribers.
It centers on Medea, a noblewoman who lost her throne and plots to reclaim it from her rival, the crown princess. The series is packed with palace intrigue, revenge and shifting loyalties, and its gothic art style is very striking. In just a few hundred chapters it's built a huge following. Anime fans could enjoy its melodrama and strategizing – think of it as a dark Cinderella story with swords.
With that many readers, an anime would satisfy a major fan demand for more cinematic storytelling of Medea's revenge saga.
10. Midnight Poppy Land – Romantic Thriller
Blending romance and suspense,
Midnight Poppy Land
has 261.6 million reads and 2.6 million subscribers. It tells the story of a book editor whose life becomes entangled with a young mafia boss and his bodyguard after she stumbles on a murder. The series offers a sexy enemies-to-lovers plot and a noir atmosphere. Its popularity reflects how well fans react to the mix of love and danger. In anime form, viewers could immerse themselves in the city's underworld and the chemistry between characters.
Given its thriller vibes and strong fanbase,
Midnight Poppy Land
would attract both romance and action lovers if animated.
Conclusion: These ten Webtoons span action, romance and fantasy, but they share one thing: massive global fanbases and rich stories that beg for animation. From superheroes and martial-arts fights to royal intrigue and supernatural romance, each series has all the ingredients for a hit anime – compelling characters, stunning visuals, and proven popularity. With studios eagerly seeking new IPs from Webtoon, it's only a matter of time before some of these beloved titles get their anime break.
Fans around the world will certainly be cheering for these series to make the jump from digital comic to animated series – and when they do, their existing readerships guarantee an eager audience.
Check out our list of the
latest Hindi
,
English
,
Tamil
,
Telugu
,
Malayalam
, and
Kannada movies
. Don't miss our picks for the
best Hindi movies
,
best Tamil movies,
and
best Telugu films
.
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