Anime based on non-Japanese properties have become a steadily increasing trend, and spring 2020 will see the practice continue. Tower of God, a Korean comic, will be receiving an anime adaptation this year. Though its a huge hit in South Korea, the series isn't nearly as well known outside of its home country.
The series is a webtoon manhwa (Korean manga) that is published online. This format and publishing method has actually seen printed manhwa decline in popularity, as well as making it easier to release the official translations in different languages. So far, there are three volumes of Tower of God, and chapters are referred to as episodes.
For those looking to get up to speed with Tower of God ahead of its anime version, here's a primer on what the comic is about, as well as how it's gotten popular enough to be adapted into a Japanese series.
What is Tower of God?
Tower of God began in 2010 and is written and drawn by SIU (real name Lee Jong-hwi). The series follows a young boy named Twenty-Fifth Bam, who has spent his life beneath a gigantic tower. The only other person in his life is a girl named Rachel, who finds her way into the mysterious tower. Determined to be reunited with his friend, Bam also enters the tower. This tower is filled with magical energy Shinsu, as well as a variety of different species and people groups. The tower also has a strict caste system and hierarchy, with progression among its ranks determined by strength and intelligence.
These groups include Regulars, who are the normal everyday citizens of the tower, the high powered Rankers, who govern the average class, and the 10 Great Families, who are led by King Jahad and rules all of the tower. King Jahad is effectively immortal, having struck a deal with the people of the tower long ago. Irregulars, including Bam, operate outside of these rules, however, and thus pose the threat of actually killing Jahad.
Along the way, Bam forms a team to make his way to the top of the tower and find Rachel. These include Khun Aguero Agnes, a member of the 10 Great Families who accompanied Bam simply because he found him interesting, and Rak Wraithraiser, a gigantic spear-throwing man with reptilian features.
What Makes Tower of God Popular?
Featuring a somewhat complex battle system, as well as intense fights to go along with it, one of the most obvious causes for Tower of God's popularity is its action. Its art style and status as a webtoon further highlight the stylization of these fights, so fans are likely looking forward to seeing it get a full animated adaptation.
The "Korean Wave" that is still a huge part of popular culture could also be a big reason why the series was picked up to become an anime. Korean media gained immense popularity in Japan before ever getting big in the West. There is also a noticeable similarity in storyline between Tower of God and the 2013 South Korean film, Snowpiercer -- made by the now-Oscar winning director, Bong Joon-ho -- which also featured a downtrodden group making their way through a structure to strike back at the elite, as well as reunite with loved ones. The series' time jumps and ability to see the characters grow is also a nice change from the seemingly unchanging protagonists of some anime.
Tower of God has, of course, been immensely popular for years, with Webtoon stating that by 2015, its weekly installments had five million readers. 2013 also saw the series get a mobile game on Google Play, which is incredibly popular to this day. Not too long after its original release, the Tower of God mobile RPG had already acquired over 100 million players. There have also been several action figures for the series, including higher-priced limited run products. Needless to say, if any manhwa deserved to be in the running for an anime, it's Tower of God.
Tower of God is scheduled for release this April, with a simulcast in South Korea, Japan and the United States. The series is being produced by Rialto Entertainment, a subsidiary of Aniplex.