WEBTOON Entertainment’s Japanese unit LINE Digital Frontier invested in manga publisher No. 9 Inc., expanding its content pipeline in the world’s largest comic book market. The financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The deal gives LINE Digital Frontier a board seat at No. 9, known for titles like “Savior of Divine Blood” and “I Am the Strongest Transcendent.” These comics have been translated into six languages including Korean, English, and French for WEBTOON’s global platforms.
The investment comes as WEBTOON’s LINE Manga app topped Japan’s overall app revenue rankings multiple times this year, outperforming gaming applications, according to SensorTower data. Japan’s webcomic sector reached approximately 50 billion yen ($335 million) in 2022, representing 10% of the country’s digital comic market.
WEBTOON is also pushing into anime adaptations through partnerships with major studios. The company is working with Aniplex and Crunchyroll on “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint,” while collaborating with Toei Animation, the studio behind “Dragon Ball” and “One Piece,” to develop “GOSU.”
CEO Junkoo Kim said Japan represents a key growth market for the company’s global expansion, citing the country’s rich manga heritage.
