Webtoon Entertainment, the U.S. headquarters of Naver Webtoon, will integrate into a single platform the "Canvas" service that serves as a gateway for amateur webtoon creators worldwide.
Webtoon Entertainment said on the 27th that in the first half of this year it will begin work to integrate Canvas, which is currently operated separately in seven languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Indonesian, Thai, and Traditional Chinese), into one global platform. This will allow creators to meet more global readers, and users to enjoy richer content.
Canvas is a user-generated content (UGC) platform operated by Webtoon Entertainment. Many of the popular webtoons offered on Naver Webtoon's overseas services are titles discovered on Canvas, playing a key role in finding original content.
With this overhaul, Webtoon Enter will introduce a "selective translation program" that lets creators post works in multiple languages on Canvas, a "dashboard" that shows performance at a glance, and a "personalized recommendation feature" that helps with the consolidation of Canvas works that match users' tastes with more users.
The selective translation program supports expanding and posting Canvas works in up to seven languages. It covers all languages offered by Canvas, excluding Korea's separate amateur platform "Challenge Comics" and Japan's "Indies."
When a Canvas creator selects whether to translate and the desired languages for each work, artificial intelligence (AI) technology automatically translates it, making immediate viewing in other languages possible. Individual amateur creators can expose their works to Canvas readers worldwide without investing additional time and expense, broaden their activity scope, and build a global fandom.
Webtoon Enter plans to start a pilot with select English Canvas works in the first half of this year and expand it step by step to other language services within the year. It will operate in a "selective" format in which creators directly decide whether to translate and the desired languages, and they can withdraw if they wish.
A dashboard that shows performance indicators such as views and subscribers at a glance will also be provided. Based on these data, authors can take a more strategic approach to creation, and they can also manage their fandom efficiently with tools that let them view and manage comments posted in multiple languages at a glance.
The personalized recommendation feature helps with the consolidation of Canvas works across multiple languages with readers across regions and languages. Users will be able to explore and experience Canvas works that match their personal tastes more easily.
Kim Yong-su, president of Webtoon Entertainment, said, "Canvas is more than a platform; it is the starting point of a career where someone's idea becomes a great story and grows into a massive fandom," adding, "Webtoon Entertainment will be a reliable partner that helps creators fully showcase their talent on the world stage."