"Spirit FingerS" has been receiving high praise from global viewers as a drama that perfectly captures the original work's message.
Since the 29th of last month it has been exclusively released on TVING (Tving), "Spirit FingerS" (directed by Lee Cheol-ha / written by Jung Yoon-jung·Kwon I-ji / produced by Number Three Pictures Co., Ltd.·MI·Kenaz) is a drama about the colorful healing romance of youths who set out to find their own colors.
Based on the 162-episode webtoon of the same name, "Spirit FingerS" is a high-teen youth story that follows timid high school student Song U-yeon (played by Park Ji-hoo), who could not freely express her opinions because she was conscious of those around her, as she discovers what it means to find something that makes her heart race, learns what happens when she raises her voice and loves herself, and goes through the process of change.
In particular, the original webtoon by Han Gyeong-chal has offered healing to many readers with its fairy-tale-like colors and warm atmosphere. It recorded a cumulative 1.3 billion views and received such global acclaim that it was reborn as a remake webtoon in Indonesia, so great expectations poured in over the drama adaptation of "Spirit FingerS."
Moreover, "Spirit FingerS" previewed episodes 1 through 6 ahead of its official release through a CGV special screening event. The original author Han Gyeong-chal, who attended the screening in person, said, "I had been waiting for this work for so long that I had high expectations, and it was far, far better than I expected," and praised, "It felt like the real 'Sping' members jumped out of the webtoon alive, and I watched it in a daze. The sync with the original was so good, the café set was so stylish, the direction was excellent, and above all, I was so happy to see the warm feeling of the Sping webtoon that everyone loved fully captured," and was moved to tears.
Amid such expectations, "Spirit FingerS" has received enthusiastic praise from viewers around the world beyond Korea. On the day of its first release it ranked No. 1 in the Korean drama category on the Japanese platform Remino, and it has held a Top 5 position on Viki. Ratings have also maintained record highs, proving its global influence.
The secret to "Spirit FingerS"'s success lies in faithfully preserving the original's emotional impact. While some dramas based on webtoons have diminished appeal due to adaptations that stray from the creator's intent and provoked backlash from original fans, the drama retains the original message that allowed viewers to immerse themselves in and empathize with the protagonist's story, to be comforted and to grow together. In addition, the vivid performances of actors including Park Ji-hoo and Jo Joon-young, and the warm direction that maximizes the webtoon's visual elements draw viewers into the work.
Global viewers have said, "It would not be an exaggeration to call this the best webtoon-based drama ever. It perfectly captured the charm, warmth and message that made the original special," "The eye-catching characters are wonderful. They make viewers empathize and root for them; they're truly charming," "Producers making dramas based on webtoons should watch and learn from 'Spirit FingerS'," "'Spirit FingerS' has rekindled my passion for Korean dramas," and "An astonishingly cute drama. It completely ended my K-drama slump," among other praises.
Meanwhile, "Spirit FingerS" is exclusively released every Wednesday at 4 p.m. on Tving. It is also being serviced simultaneously with Korea in about 190 countries, being released in Japan through Remino, in the Americas, Southeast Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East and India through Viki, and in Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus through ivi.
[Photo] Number Three Pictures Co., Ltd.·MI·Kenaz
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