Webtoon and K-Pop fans are in for another treat, as 7Fates: Chakho, the newest webtoon series featuring pop band BTS and co-created by HYBE, has finally been released. Due to the mere idea of combining the band with a webtoon series, many manhwa fans would likely be enticed already. For those on the fence, however, the other creators behind the series have a great legacy of their own.
7Fates is produced by Redice Studio, a webtoon production company that's been behind such illustrious hits as the beloved series Solo Leveling. This quickly puts a bit of respect upon the series' name and raises it above a mere boy band tie-in, promising a story that's sure to please all kinds of fans.
7Fates and Redice Studio
As of this writing, the initial few chapters of 7Fates have been released through the WEBTOON app. This was the second webtoon series to be produced for BTS, as the band had a 2019 series titled Save Me that was based on an album concept. Although this series is more original in its premise, it's sure to include much of what webtoon and BTS fans loved about the first series, especially given the pedigree of who's behind it.
7Fates is produced by Redice Studio, who were also behind Solo Leveling. That series, along with Tower of God, is easily the biggest global success story of WEBTOON and manhwa. The WEBTOON version of Solo Leveling recently came to an end, but it's still incredibly popular, to the point where many are demanding an animated adaptation. The fact that Redice is involved was actually a surprise, as it was only "announced" by way of the last panel of the first chapter of 7Fates. In most marketing material, the involvement of HYBE and WEBTOON were instead emphasized, although this new information about the series' development will certainly attract readers who might have otherwise not checked the series out.
How 7Fates Compares to Solo Leveling
There are some striking similarities between the plots and concepts in both 7Fates: Chakho and Solo Leveling outside of just Redice Studio's involvement. Their art styles and designs are very similar, which makes sense given that the CEO of Redice illustrated Solo Leveling.
They are also both fantasy stories, as Solo Leveling features a world wherein magic-using hunters protect humanity from unearthly monsters. Likewise, in 7Fates, the BTS stand-ins of the series are themselves supernatural hunters, using their skills and connections to mythology to eradicate tiger-like monsters. The series' protagonist Jungkook, in being a potentially hated human hybrid, is evocative of Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling, who was weak and despised by his peers. This all furthers the potential to bring in fans of both BTS' music and other webtoons such as Solo Leveling, creating a sort of multimedia synergy that could make 7Fates into the next big international hit.