Behind the Scenes of a Korean Webtoon Studio

[Hodge]

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=272863

Thought this was neat!

Any thoughts? Think these sort of on site independent production studios could open for english-speaking artists? How do you feel about this novel to webtoon adaptation pipeline that's becoming increasingly popular? Would you ever want to work at a studio like this?

Discuss~

[starless]

Don't DC and Marvel already use such divisions of labor? Writers, pencilers, inkers and colorists. If they focus on their online comics more than now they do, it'll probably look like those studios in the article I guess.

Btw, "with one person doing everything, the job was tough physically and mentally." hahaha couldn't agree more.

[Mallory]

I mean... this "pipeline" is the same exact pipeline that American comics employ - writer, editor, penciller, inker, colorist, letterer. The output format is different, but the breakdown of the work is almost identical. It's probably also long hours and sorta crummy pay.

Personally... I've given some thought to it, but at the end of the day, I don't think I can do art for someone else. I've done client work before and it was soul-sucking every time (no matter how nice the client). I'd rather work my current brainless (well, not that brainless - we do get a fair bit of leeway in making decisions, but it's nowhere near as hard as writing/art) but well-paying government job for survival money, and spend the rest of my time drawing what I want. I can MAYBE do contract writing or vis dev or something but then, like, everyone else wants those jobs too so... Why even bother competing for something I don't 100% want?

[Kaydreamer]

As a few people have already stated, this is the same pipeline the big American comic houses have used since the mid-century to divide labour between artists according to their speed and strengths. I'd be a colourist in that paradigm. I have a friend who'd make an amazing inker. Others who'd be pencillers, based on their command of anatomy + composition.

I wouldn't mind working at such a studio short-term, but I'd definitely get bored just staying in my 'colourist' box after a while. I like the holistic approach of one creator to a project. It's less efficient, but it seems more soulful in many ways.

Also, I get the feeling that the hours, pay, and potential exploitation would be absolutely abysmal. It's not terrible in the western comic book industry, but that's owing to them having been around for decades, and they're still coasting on the tails of 20th century labour movements. Conditions for artists are certainly far worse in Japan, and I imagine Korea skewing a lot more toward the latter conditions.

[Hodge]

Ikr it really is hard doing it all by yourself.

Tapas has been releasing a lot of these studio made webtoons lately, so I'm sure its tough for independent creators who want to compete.

[Hodge]

Yeah these jobs are probably competitive and the pay is still low lol

And I understand~ doing art as a job or drawing other people's ideas isn't quite the same. I still get nervous whenever I make art for money lol.

[Hodge]

Hmm yes labor regulations are kinda sparsely acknowledged in comics lol

And yeah I agree, unless you're like the lead artist or something, probably wouldn't want to do it for very long. Like I enjoy doing assistant work, its also good practice, but eventually would like to do more of my own thing. There's something special about a creator putting their heart and soul into a project, its what drew me to manga and webcomics in the first place.

[M.ComicFan]

I thought about something like this. You know, a studio for webcomics or webtoons (depending on what you want to call them). It doesn't surprise me that they actually did it.

I do kinda wish we had something like this for American-made webcomics as well.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

There's some artist and writer combos in Marvel and DC that have worked together for so long that they're inseparable, and they make a cohesive unit.

I think it really depends on what your passion is. I love my webcomic, and controlling every aspect of it, but I highly doubt I'll make it big unless I was able to make connections in the art industry.

One good example is Todd Macfarlane, he built up a reputation in the 80s through his work on multiple titles with Marvel. And eventually he was able to split off and make his own comic label, Image Comics and created one of the most iconic western comic characters ever: Spawn.

I guess what I'm saying is, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. I'd love to be a big name, and have Dragon Sparking be something. But I lack the acumen and resources to do it on my own. Something has to change, and I feel like it might be taking a job in the art industry so that I can make connections. That means taking on projects that aren't exactly what I want to do.

Though I doubt my art style would work well with a studio like this XD. But regardless, my intention here is to say, sometimes...to make my own work widely known, I may have to cede a little creative control with my art to other companies for a time.

How hungry am I to succeed? What lengths am I willing to go, because certainly at the rate I'm going...it's not enough. I have to do more. A lot more. That's what I'm pondering constantly these days.

[Hodge]

Honestly I just want there to be a place where I can mingle with other comic creators in person haha

And hmm even if something like this was to form in the states it would probably be in California since thats where the publishers are, which might be a deal breaker for some.

[Hodge]

I know the feeling~

Its alot to balance, hobbyist vs professional, artistic integrity vs reliable craftsmanship, passionate life purpose vs "its just a job," dreams vs responsibilities, ambition vs humility . . . And the more you commit the more it feels like a crazy gamble on whether or not you'll ever "make it" . . . Idk if any of that made sense lol

I think it would be really cool to see how much Dragon Sparking and your work could grow. A lot of the people here on the forum are already long time fans~

Working in "the industry" may mean making compromises, but that could also be seen as growth. Some really want to preserve their individuality, but learning and being influenced from others isn't necessarily a bad thing. Personally, I realized it was mostly running away from other's expectations and judgements out of being super insecure. But after learning to take criticism and getting countless rejection emails lol, its not so bad.

Sorry for sounding all preachy~ guess this kind of thing is still on my mind too

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Nah you made great points!
I wouldn't really view an industry job as selling out. I'd see it as gaining experience and learning new techniques. Individuality is determined by the person, not the job, at least that's how I view it.

Not sure where I'm at exactly in terms of readiness. I need to look up some different types of art jobs and see if I can even qualify at this point. I may need to go to school first, as I don't have any formal training. But, I still need to decide if this is the path I want.