Taking Horror from Comics to Stage and Screens: Joo Dong-geun's Shift in Storytelling Mediums
In an informal chat, we asked webtoonist Joo Dong-geun about his memories surrounding the screen adaptation of his hit series "All of Us Are Dead." Joo didn't recall the exact moment of the offer but admitted that he initially faced a hurdle with folks proposing budget cuts and confusing ideas about the zombie genre.
Breakthrough came in 2016 following the massive success of "Train to Busan," boosting investor's interest in zombie-related content. This spark led to a fresh opportunity for "All of Us Are Dead," resulting in its creation with Netflix in early 2022 [1].
Curious about his thoughts on the Netflix rendition, we asked: "Did you watch the Netflix version? What did you think of it?" To which he replied, "I thought it captured the essence of the webtoon well and kept the excitement in every episode."
Regarding the rising trend of webtoon adaptations, he shared his views on whether it enhances the industry or brings competition among creators: "It's a double-edged sword. On one hand, it helps bring more recognition to webtoons; on the other, it's challenging since there's more competition to stand out."
As webtoons transition into video formats, we wanted his insights on genres that perform best in this medium. Joo speculated that genres rich in emotions and action, like romance, thriller, comedy, and horror, tend to excel when adapted into videos.
On the brink of his dreams coming true with a printed book, we asked about his aspirations: "Now that I achieved one dream, I'm looking forward to creating new content that can connect with different audiences around the world."
With "All of Us Are Dead" garnering widespread acclaim, it's no secret that Joo is working on a new project to keep the momentum going. Stay eager, folks – there's more fun to be had!
[1] KoreanHerald (2022) Creator of All of Us Are Dead shares stories behind the wildly popular webtoon-turned-Netflix series. [Accessed: 2022-02-01]. https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220118000678
- Joo Dong-geun expressed his thoughts on the Netflix version of "All of Us Are Dead," stating, "I thought it captured the essence of the webtoon well and kept the excitement in every episode."
- JooDong-geun believes that the transition of webtoons into video formats, such as movies and television, can be both an opportunity for increased recognition in the industry and a challenge due to increased competition among creators.
- Regarding genres that perform best in the video format, Joo Dong-geun speculated, "Genres rich in emotions and action, like romance, thriller, comedy, and horror, tend to excel when adapted into videos."
- Moving forward after the success of "All of Us Are Dead," JooDong-geun shared his aspirations, saying, "Now that I achieved one dream, I'm looking forward to creating new content that can connect with different audiences around the world."
