Collaboration between K-pop and webtoons
K-pop is rewriting the rules for animated entertainment, with idols jumping from the stage straight into beloved cartoon universes. What started as playful collaborations-like BTS’s ‘BT21’ or NewJeans x ‘The Powerpuff Girls’-has morphed into a tidal wave of high-profile team-ups, signaling a boom for fans and cartoon studios alike. Yonhap News reports that this cross-industry momentum isn’t slowing down, and insiders say the juiciest projects are still to come.
Streaming hits and Billboard chart domination
Industry whispers attribute much of the craze to the global streaming hit ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ The film features a fictional K-pop trio front and center-and fans responded in droves. The movie racked up over 300 million global views and stayed in the platform’s top 10 for weeks, while the hit song ‘Golden’ dominated the Billboard Hot 100 and scored multiple Grammy nominations. Yonhap News highlights this as a clear turning point-no longer are K-pop idols just lending likenesses or a catchy theme song. Now, they’re the main act, fueling animation’s massive global comeback.
Classic cartoons reinvented with K-pop flair
The fusion extends beyond new properties: global icons like ‘Tom and Jerry’ are getting a K-pop makeover. In honor of the mischief duo’s 85th anniversary, BoyNextDoor contributed ‘Say Cheese!’-a track that boldly mixes English, Japanese, and pure K-pop attitude, proving old-school franchises are up for reinvention. Fans can expect more: ‘Tom and Jerry: The Forbidden Compass,’ the franchise’s first 3-D film, will debut in Korea this January with more BoyNextDoor collaborations.Meanwhile, ‘Pokemon’ is riding the K-pop wave with ILLIT’s ‘Secret Quest’ as the latest ending theme for ‘Pokemon Horizons: The Series.’ With Pokemon’s under-10 fanbase in mind, Yonhap News reveals industry giants are banking on idols’ fame and image to make familiar brands feel fresher and connect with global viewers.
Smurfs, beyblades, and homegrown heroes
Forget borders-K-pop’s cartoon invasion is global. Girl group i-dle performed ‘Invincible’ for ‘Beyblade X,’ and Tomorrow X Together previously kicked off the series with ‘Rise.’ The blue Smurfs have joined in too: boy band Seventeen will soon debut a Smurf-themed music video for ‘God of Music,’ followed by limited-edition goods with each member’s signature twist. Merch sales are expected to soar, with prices converting to INR reflecting the Korean market’s size.Even domestic animation franchises like ‘Catch! Teenieping’ are using idol power. Liz from IVE lends her unmistakable voice to the series’ new main theme, and merchandise collaborations with aespa-branded “aespaping”-have already hit shelves. The craze isn’t one-sided: studios see this as a shortcut to transcending generational gaps and unlocking new revenue streams. SAMG Entertainment and academic experts suggest these crossovers turn K-pop idols into storytelling super IPs, unlocking webtoons, games, and global marketing potential once reserved for only the biggest character brands. Go to Source
