Paris-based animation house Passion Pictures and European streamer ADN have officially greenlit an animated TV series adaptation of “Hero Killer” — one of Naver Webtoon’s most successful action titles — unveiling the project this week at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, according to Variety (Kevin Giraud, June 24, 2026). The series will be directed by David Pagaille, the filmmaker behind “Moonlit Bamboo Forest.”
“Hero Killer” is based on the hit action-fantasy webtoon published by Jaedam Media, created by writer Kkulbeol and illustrator Beolkkul. Per Variety, the webtoon is available in 10 languages worldwide and spans more than 250 published episodes, putting it among the most successful action titles on Naver Webtoon, South Korea’s largest digital comic platform.
The companies didn’t undersell their enthusiasm. “‘Hero Killer’ immediately captured our imagination,” Caroline Audebert, managing director of Passion Paris, told Variety. “It’s a bold, emotionally charged story with a fascinating heroine at its centre… ‘Hero Killer’ offers a rare combination of cinematic action, compelling characters and an expansive universe.” Bastien Guetta, head of content development at ADN, added that the webtoon’s “spectacular battles and unique visual identity” combined with “a compelling heroine and a rich cast of characters” had “captivated millions of readers worldwide.” To mark the announcement, the production released a new illustration from original creators Kkulbeol and Beolkkul and launched the project’s official site and social channels.
The “Hero Killer” deal didn’t happen in isolation — it’s part of a noticeably bigger Korean push at this year’s Annecy market. Gwangju’s Information and Content Agency (GICON) brought five regional Korean studios to Annecy’s new Korea Business Showcase this year, the first time the agency has made the trip, according to a separate Variety report (Kevin Giraud, June 24, 2026). Projects ranged from edutainment series to a shamanism-themed horror-comedy (“Ghost Delivery,” from 38°C Animation Studios) to a webtoon romance-fantasy adaptation (“Elixir of the Sun,” from Studio G.BABA) — all looking for international co-production partners, distributors, and platforms.
Whether or not those five Gwangju projects land deals of their own, the pattern is hard to miss: Korean webtoons supplying source material for animation studios well outside Korea, then premiering the results at Europe’s biggest animation festival rather than waiting for a domestic green light first.
Sources: Kevin Giraud, “Passion Paris, ADN Team Up on Hit Webtoon ‘Hero Killer’ Animated Series (EXCLUSIVE),” Variety, June 24, 2026; Kevin Giraud, “5 Promising TV Animation IPs Brought to Annecy Market From Korea’s Gwangju,” Variety, June 24, 2026.
