Summary
- Noblesse was a groundbreaking manhwa that paved the way for modern manhwa, especially on WEBTOON, but its significance has been overshadowed.
- The series had multiple animation adaptations, including an ONA and a TV anime, highlighting its success.
- Despite its iconic status, Noblesse failed to solidify its position in the industry, missing the chance for a long-running animation and even greater heights for the franchise.
Among the earlier manhwas published through Naver Corporation’s WEBTOON platform, and among the first to receive an official English translation at the launch of Line WEBTOON in 2014, is a series that many current fans of manhwa might not be familiar with unless they were avid followers during its peak popularity. In today’s era, when we can watch anime adaptations of numerous well-known manhwa titles, the name “Noblesse” may not grab much attention, but those who were fortunate enough to follow the series during its twelve-year run from 2007 to 2019 know about a beautifully illustrated dark fantasy manhwa that had the potential to become a generational classic; one that might have been an early example of Crunchyroll’s efforts to produce an anime based on a manhwa or webcomic.
Noblesse was among the initial trends in the ongoing surge of manhwa and webcomic anime adaptations, spearheaded by A-1 Pictures’ Solo Leveling, with Shunsuke Nakashige as its director. Despite being highly popular, Noblesse appears to have been overshadowed or overlooked. It seems that despite deserving more recognition, it didn’t receive the attention it should have.
About Noblesse
Plot and Background Information
Title Character Rai, a once-powerful noble vampire, stirs from an 820-year slumber in a deserted South Korean structure, only to discover that mankind has ascended and transformed the world with advanced technology. Befuddled by this new era, he can depend on his faithful servant, disguised as the Ye Ran High School’s headmaster, for guidance. Using this connection, Rai enrolls himself at the school undercover as a student.
In this setting, he encounters and forms friendships with Shinwoo – an athletic individual, Ikkhan – a tech-savvy person, Seo Yuna – whom Shinwoo has feelings for, and several others. However, being close to him puts them in contact with various perilous supernatural beings. As they join forces, they aim to discover the enigmatic intentions of an organization known as “The Union”, which is after Rai’s blood for some unspecified purpose.
| Noblesse Anime Adaptations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Studio | Runtime | Year | Director |
| Noblesse: Beginning of Destruction | Studio Animal | 38 minutes | 2015 | ? |
| Noblesse: Awakening | Production I.G. | 31 minutes | 2016 | Shunsuke Tada Kenichi Matsuzawa |
| Noblesse (TV) | Production I.G. | 13 episodes (23 minutes) | 2020 | Shunsuke Tada Yasutaka Yamamoto |
The series “Noblesse” was penned by Son Je Ho and brought to life by Lee Kwangsu, airing from December 2007 to January 2019. This popular series has undergone several animated adaptations. The initial adaptation came in the form of a 37-minute anime titled “Noblesse: The Dawn of Ruin“, produced by Studio Animal, South Korea, which was showcased at the 17th Bucheon International Animation Festival in 2015. This was later followed by a 31-minute ONA (Original Net Animation) from Production I.G., Japan, renowned for works like “Ghost in the Shell” and “Haikyuu!“, titled “Noblesse: Rousing“, which was made available on Crunchyroll and YouTube in 2016.
In this round, we delved into the first book of the manga series, making significant cuts and tweaking parts of the narrative. This adaptation functioned as a precursor to the 12-episode Noblesse anime that premiered on various platforms from October to December 2020. First introduced at Comic Con Seoul in 2019, this anime was produced by the same team at Production I.G., with Shunsuke Tada as the chief director and Yasutaka Yamamoto as the director. The events depicted in the Noblesse anime were based on the second volume of the manhwa (Korean webcomic).
A Glimpse into Korean Comics At The Time
Noblesse’s Significance to Modern Manhwa
When it became known that a television anime version of the popular manhwa “Noblesse” would be produced and licensed by Crunchyroll, this was an important announcement not just because “Noblesse” was one of the most significant manhwas at the time, but due to the fact that adaptations of manhwas into anime, specifically television series, were quite uncommon. While it’s true that manhwa adaptations into anime weren’t completely non-existent, as manhwa gained popularity in the early 2000s with “Blade of the Phantom Master” (2004) being one of the first examples, the concept of “webtoon manhwa” didn’t truly flourish until around 2007.
In the 2000s, there was a revival of traditional manhwa scenes. However, during this time, online manhwa also gained significance and popularity. The “scrolling format”, which was later common in webcomics, began to take shape. With Naver being established in 2005 and the simultaneous rise of online manhwa alongside traditional ones, both formats were experiencing long-lasting successes with popular hits.
In 2007, Jeon Geuk Jin’s renowned martial arts series for adults, titled “The Breaker“, was published in Daiwon C.I.’s Young Champ magazine. The black-and-white pages were designed to be read from left to right, mirroring the Japanese manga influence on the industry. Simultaneously, online, a popular title was gaining traction – none other than “Noblesse“.
In Korea, both The Breaker and Noblesse were extremely popular and symbolized the pinnacle of achievement within the growing comic industry. However, while The Breaker gained a cult following overseas, Noblesse achieved mainstream global success upon becoming the first manhwa to be officially translated into English when Line WEBTOON debuted in 2014.
What Do You Mean, “Failure to Launch”?
Once a Forerunner, Now in the Background
Despite being an influential comic in the Korean industry and digital comics scene, it was surprising that Noblesse didn’t have a long-running animation adaptation given its significance to modern manhwa and its vibrant art style. This battle between traditional and modern comics could be seen as a reflection of the larger “Battle Between Analogue and Digital” of the late 90s and early 2000s.
In a manner reminiscent of certain distribution strategies employed by the Japanese animation industry, a pivotal event in Korean animation stood out. This occasion had the potential to elevate Korea’s animation industry globally, given that it exports numerous professionals who contribute significantly to creating renowned animations across various industries worldwide. If successful, this event could solidify Korea’s position as a major hub for animation production.
In simpler terms, the fact that Noblesse didn’t solidify its undisputed greatness following its victory against traditional manhwa in a battle, could be seen as a missed opportunity. Since the 2020 airing of the Noblesse anime, there has been no announcement about a second season, and the unsatisfactory conclusion of the manhwa has left many disappointed. This gap now seems to be filled by titles like Solo Leveling, which have taken over the success path that was once trodden by Noblesse.
You can read Noblesse on WEBTOON, but if you’re interested in the Ona (Original Net Animation) or anime series, you’ll find them on Crunchyroll.
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2025-02-13 03:35