Crunchyroll has officially announced television anime adaptations for two of South Korea’s most popular webcomics, The Remarried Empress and The Boxer. The exciting news was unveiled during the Crunchyroll Showcase at New York Comic Con on October 8, highlighting the continued global expansion and mainstream success of WEBTOON-backed digital media.
The announcements form part of a major new co-production partnership between HAYATE (a subsidiary of WEBTOON Entertainment), LINE Digital Frontier Corporation, and Crunchyroll. Under this multi-title agreement, the companies plan to co-develop roughly 15 select webcomic titles into world-class anime franchises, with Crunchyroll securing exclusive streaming rights in select global territories.
The Remarried Empress Headed to Screen in 2027
Alphatart’s smash-hit romantic fantasy webcomic, The Remarried Empress, is officially scheduled to receive its television anime adaptation in 2027. The source material has accumulated an astonishing 2.97 billion global views, cementing its status as an international powerhouse.
The story follows Navier, the brilliant and devoted empress of the Eastern Empire, who has spent her life ruling side-by-side with her husband, Emperor Sovieshu. However, their marriage collapses when Sovieshu falls for his mistress and moves to replace Navier as empress. Refusing to accept subjugation, Navier makes the shocking decision to accept a divorce and sets her sights on becoming empress of a neighboring realm.
Production and Staff for The Remarried Empress
Studio TROYCA has been tapped to handle the animation production for The Remarried Empress. The creative team spearheading the project includes:
- Director: Tetsuya Yanagisawa
- Series Composition & Script: Akiko Inoue
- Character Design: Jun Nakai
- Music: Yuuki Fukazawa
The Boxer Reveals Cast and Crew
Alongside The Remarried Empress, the adaptation of JH’s gritty sports drama webcomic The Boxer also took center stage at NYCC 2026. Surpassing 1.06 billion global views, the webtoon explores the complex psychological depths of elite sports and human endurance.
The narrative centers on K, a legendary boxing trainer who has forged multiple world champions and is searching for one final disciple. He encounters Yu, a battered back-alley boy who endures relentless physical punishment without a trace of anger or fighting spirit. Recognizing unfathomable, monstrous potential, K guides Yu into the boxing ring, where they cross paths with rivals and champions who have pushed past the natural limits of human talent.
Production Details and Voice Cast
The Boxer is being brought to life through a collaborative animation effort between Muneki Ogasawara’s newly established studio, breccia, and Korea-based Studio Jemi. Key production and cast members include:
- Directors: Takehiro Kubota and Won Yeong Kang
- Character Design: Masahiro Suwa
- Series Scripts: Toshiya Ono
- Creative Producer: BLUE RIGHTS
- Main Cast: Toshiyuki Toyonaga as J
Expanding the Global Anime Footprint
The partnership between HAYATE, LINE Digital Frontier, and Crunchyroll arrives during a period of massive global growth for the anime sector. According to data from The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), the overall industry reached a record market size of $25.36 billion in 2024, driven heavily by international markets expanding past $14.33 billion.
With massive properties like The Remarried Empress and The Boxer leading the charge alongside other announced titles like Teenage Mercenary, the collaboration aims to transform digital webcomics into long-lasting, globally recognized animation franchises when they debut in 2027.
