{"id":261192,"date":"2026-05-21T01:32:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T16:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/uncategorized\/2026\/05\/21\/naver-webtoon-partners-with-star-trek-what-this-means-for-gen-z-and-ip-expansion\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T01:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T16:32:41","slug":"naver-webtoon-partners-with-star-trek-what-this-means-for-gen-z-and-ip-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/entertainment\/2026\/05\/21\/naver-webtoon-partners-with-star-trek-what-this-means-for-gen-z-and-ip-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Naver Webtoon Partners with Star Trek: What This Means for Gen Z and IP Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Translation result<\/p>\n

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Aiming at Generation Z, who favor mobile content<\/p>\n

Two original series to debut on its English service<\/p>\n

Partnerships with Blizzard, Xbox and Disney among recent collaborations<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\\"Naver\"\n<\/div>\n

Naver Webtoon has signed on as a partner for the 60th\u2011anniversary campaign of the iconic U.S. sci\u2011fi franchise Star Trek. The move underscores growing interest in the platform as franchise owners seek to reach younger audiences.<\/p>\n

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On May 18, Naver Webtoon said it will roll out two original series, Stargazers and Recollection, sequentially on its English service as part of the Star Trek anniversary campaign.<\/p>\n

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Star Trek has already branched into films, novels, games and animation. But this will be the franchise\u2019s first presentation in a webtoon format optimized for smartphones.<\/p>\n

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Amy Zarashaw, head of Paramount Global Publishing, said the webtoon format will give readers a distinct, immersive experience on a new platform. \u201cThis represents an exciting evolution for the franchise and a powerful way to connect with both longtime fans and new readers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Global franchise holders have increasingly turned to webtoons to capture younger users. With fanbases aging and the influx of new users slowing, companies see webtoons as a way to broaden touchpoints with Generation Z, who primarily consume content on mobile devices.<\/p>\n

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About 75% of Webtoon\u2019s North American users are Generation Z.<\/p>\n

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Synergies between franchise IPs and webtoons are showing results. In March, Naver Webtoon partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to release a full\u2011length original webtoon, Overwatch: Undivided, commemorating the game\u2019s 10th anniversary. The 40\u2011episode series attracted more than 10,000 readers on its first day.<\/p>\n

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A webtoon based on the Xbox game Sea of Thieves also became a hit, reaching No. 1 on the English service\u2019s popularity chart during its launch week.<\/p>\n

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Partnerships are expanding beyond simple IP licensing to platform\u2011level collaborations. Naver Webtoon is preparing a new digital comics platform with The Walt Disney Company that will offer roughly 35,000 Disney\u2011owned titles.<\/p>\n

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An industry source said companies that own global franchise IPs are increasingly using Naver Webtoon as a platform to grow fandoms and extend their universes.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Dailian Co., Ltd. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited<\/p>\n