Manhwa

For Chinese comics, see Manhua.
Manhwa
Hangul 만화
Hanja 漫畫
Revised Romanization manhwa
McCune–Reischauer manhwa

Manhwa (Korean pronunciation: [manhwa]) is the general Korean Chinese term for comics and print cartoons (common usage also includes animated cartoons). Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics.[1]

The first woodcut manhwa, published in 1908.

Manhwa has been influenced by the dramatic modern history of Korea, resulting in a diversity of forms and genres, including a mainstream style akin to manga. Distinctive manhwa can be found in editorial comic strips, artistically oriented works, and webcomics serials.

History of the term

Linguistically, 漫画 (manga), 漫畫 (manhua), and 만화 (漫畫 manhwa), 漫筆畫(Manbilhwa) all mean comics in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean respectively. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua. Complications arise because in these languages the terms manga/manhua/manhwa can all mean comics in general. The author of a manhwa is called a manhwaga.

Adaptation of term

The relative obscurity of Korean culture in the Western world has caused the word "manhwa" to remain somewhat unknown in the English-speaking world. Instead, English translations of manhwa have achieved success by targeting the manga and anime community, to the extent that manhwa are often marketed as "manga."

Development of Korean webcomic

After 2003, Webtoon, the term used as Korean webcomic, is having notable development as setting the form of its platform distinctive from webcomics of other regions.[2]

Korean Manhwa Publishers

Manhwa in the United States

Sanho Kim was the first artist manhwa published in the States, during the 60s and 70s, he worked for publishers Charlton Comics, Warren Publishing Iron Horse Publishing, Skywald Publications and Marvel Comics.[3]

According to journalist Paul Gravett, in 1987 Eastern Comics published the first original manhwas in the United States.[4]

Due to the explosion of manga's popularity in the Americas, many of the licensed titles acquired for the American market seek to emulate the popular elements of other successful series.[5] Recently, long-running webcomics serialized via Internet portal sites (e.g., Media Daum) and personal homepages have become both the creative and popular basecamp among the younger generation in Korea.

Direction of text

Manhwa is read in the same direction as English books, horizontally and from left to right, because hangul is normally written and read horizontally, although it can also be written and read vertically from right to left, top to bottom.

North American Manhwa Imprints

Animation and live-action adaptations

Animation based on Korean comics is still relatively rare (though there were several major hits in the late 1980s and early 90s with titles such as Dooly the Little Dinosaur and Fly! Superboard). However, live-action drama series and movie adaptations of manhwa have occurred more frequently in recent years. Full House in 2004 and Goong ("Palace" or "Princess Hours") in 2006, are prominent examples as both have been counted as the best dramas of their respective years.

In 2007, The Great Catsby, an award-winning Korean webcomic, was adapted into a live-action drama, after a run as an on-stage musical in 2006. The title was also planned to be adapted into a feature film in late 2007.[6]

In 2006, SamBakZa produced There she is!! which is about the developing relationship of a rabbit and a cat.

Priest, a manhwa that has been translated to English, was adapted into the 2011 American horror film of the same name by Screen Gems. Released in 2011,[7] it was produced by Michael DeLuca, directed by Scott Stewart, and stars Paul Bettany as the title character.[8][9]

War of Money is another dramatized manhwa that has become immensely popular in South Korea, garnering much attention for its soundtrack and actors.

In 2004, Blade of the Phantom Master, a popular manhwa, was adapted into an animated film by a joint Korean-Japanese animation team.

In 2013, a film based on a manhwa webcomic - Secretly, Greatly - became a top grossing film.[10][11][12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Glossary of Manga-Related Terms
  2. ↑ "Webtoon, Why So Popular?". Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  3. ↑ Kim entry, Lambiek's Comiclopedia. Accessed June 9, 2011.
  4. ↑ Paul Gravett. Make Mine Manhwa!: Exporting Korean Comics
  5. ↑ Arnold, Andrew D. (2006-01-25). "Life and Literature Without Robots". Time. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  6. ↑ "The Great Catsby: Hit Korean Internet Comic Drama-tized into TV form debuts in 4 days". Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  7. ↑ Paul Bettany to Join Screen Gems' Priest?
  8. ↑ Olsen, Kevin Noel (January 25, 2007). "Amityville Director Set to Direct Priest Film Based on Tokypop Graphic Novel". Silver Bullet Comics.
  9. ↑ Fischer, Martha (June 26, 2006). "Butler to Priest". Cinematical.com.
  10. ↑ http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/news/secretly-greatly-becomes-top-grossing-manhwa-to-film-101400409.html
  11. ↑ http://twitchfilm.com/2013/06/korean-box-office-not-so-secret-secretly-greatly-break-records.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TwitchEverything+%28Twitch%29
  12. ↑ http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/06/10/2013061001331.html

External links

Manhwa information

Popular manhwa artists

Festivals

Manhwa on mobiles

Associations

Information and studies

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