Acclaimed Korean animes

The Korean Manhwa market, that is, Korean comics, has been becoming increasingly popular among fans of manga and comic books.

Being a relatively new market compared to the Japanese one. However, it has been accumulating many fans who seek something new, escaping a bit from the famous clichés or fanservices that are often found in Japanese works.

One observation is that Manhwa was already popular in the mid-1950s, but it suffered a decline in the 1960s due to censorship laws in South Korea. However, it regained its popularity when South Korea launched its websites that published Manhwa as Webtoons, such as Daum Webtoon and Naver Webtoon, in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

In today’s content, we will be presenting some animes that also sometimes have adaptations of Manhwas. Works that have stood out among the general pop culture audience.

However, before that, let’s understand some differences between Korean Manhwas and the famous Japanese Mangas.

Traits and Reading

Japanese Manga often features characters with large eyes, detailed facial expressions, and a focus on smoother lines.

While Korean Manhwa tends to present a variety of styles, but often focuses on a more realistic line compared to mangas.

• Mangas: Are read from right to left, which can be a bit different for those used to Western comics.
• Manhwas: Are read from left to right, more similar to Western comics.

Culture and Themes

Korean culture differs in various elements; although the countries are close in some cultural aspects, in others they are completely different. This means that you will find themes being addressed within Manhwas that you would never find in a manga, perhaps because it is a taboo for the Japanese and vice versa.

• Mangas: Reflect Japanese culture and often address specific themes related to Japanese society and life.
• Manhwas: Reflect South Korean culture and can address specific themes of Korean society and life.
• Manhua: An additional curiosity is that Manhua are the version of comic stories from China.

If you want to understand more deeply, read our other article on the subject.

What is manhwa, manhua, and manga? What are their differences?

Next, we will see some works that have become animes, adapted by Japanese studios.

Noblesse

The narrative begins by telling the life of “Rai,” a Noblesse who is a noble and powerful figure. With his servant Frankenstein who enrolls him in a school so that he can stay hidden from an organization that seeks Rai’s blood.

Rai then tries to familiarize himself with the school environment, his new classmates, and the daily activities of a student. However, this beginning turns out to be anything but peaceful, as he needs to save one of his new friends from the hands of a Union that ends up kidnapping him.

During his stay, new problems arise; while all these events occur, Rai must be cautious and keep his identity a secret while trying to protect what is important to him.

• Studio: Production I.G
• Episodes: 13
• Release date: 2020
• Available on: Crunchyroll

The God Of HighSchool

A tournament called “God of High School” is initiated to find the best fighter among Korean high school students. The tournament allows the use of all martial arts styles, weapons, and methods to achieve victory, and the prize is the granting of a wish to the winner.

Jin Mo-Ri, a Taekwondo expert, is invited to participate in the tournament. During the tournament, he befriends Han Dae-Wi, a karate expert, and Yu Mi-Ra, a swordswoman, both participating for personal reasons.

Mo-Ri is aware that each opponent will be unique, and the fights will be the most relentless he has ever faced.

However, no matter how challenging it seems, Mo-Ri is excited about the prospect. As the tournament progresses, the participants discover that there is a secret behind the seemingly transparent facade of the combat skill test. Additionally, there is a Korean politician named Park Mu-Jin watching each fight with hungry, attentive eyes. Mo-Ri, Dae-Wi, and Mi-Ra are about to discover the true meaning of becoming the God of High School.

• Studio: Mappa
• Episodes: 13
• Release date: 2020
• Available on: Crunchyroll

Tower Of God

In this world, there is a tower that decides and summons chosen people, these called “regulars,” are invited with the promise of being able to fulfill their greatest desires. Be it wealth, fame, authority, or whatever it may be.

The twenty-fifth Bam was a boy who had nothing but dirty clothes and lived in a cave, with so little knowledge, guided by an unreachable light. When then, in the past, a girl known as Rachel came to him through this light and then the world that Bam knew changed.

He became a close friend of Rachel and with her discovered and learned a lot about the outside world. However, when Rachel shows interest in climbing the Tower, Bam sees his world fall apart. He promises that he would follow her to the ends, no matter the cost.

Bam fixes his gaze towards the tower and a miracle happens. And thus begins the journey of Bam, a young boy who was not chosen by the Tower but opened its gates by himself. They call his kind “Irregulars” – beings who shook the very foundations of the Tower every time they set foot there.

Semi Wa Magic Club

This narrative tells the tale of Semi, a brilliant and intelligent young woman who embarks on a magical time travel journey with the genius professor Wai. In order to prevent the evil X from using his malevolent powers from the magic cube,

During the journey, Semi and her friends from the math school encounter math and history problems that they need to solve using logic and intelligence.

The work has 2 seasons.

Honorable Mentions

Below we have another list of Korean anime works that are worth your attention:

• Element Hunters
• The Haunted House
• Ghost Messenger
• Hammerboy
• Seoul Station
• The True story of Mr.sorry
• Pucca

News for 2024 – Solo Leveling

In 2024, the anime version of the acclaimed Manhwa work Solo Leveling will be released, which already has 4 trailers and a premiere date.

Acclaimed Manhwas

If you are curious about acclaimed Manhwa works, below we leave an article where we present a list of successful Manhwas.

The 11 best manhwas worthy of Korean animes