God of High School: When a record-breaking webtoon got lost in anime translation

The God of High School started as a groundbreaking webtoon that took readers on a thrilling martial arts journey infused with mythology and emotional depth. However, its anime adaptation failed to capture the same magic, rushing through story arcs and losing the essence that made the original so loved. This article explores what went wrong and why fans still hold on to the webtoon.

The God of High School, created by Yongje Park, quickly became one of the most popular webtoons of all time. It blended high-octane martial arts, mythical powers, and deep-rooted lore into a story that captured readers across the globe. With unique characters like Jin Mori, Han Daewi, and Yu Mira, the series combined action with emotional storytelling, offering fans both thrills and heart.

The webtoon’s success was no accident. Its pacing allowed time to explore each arc, develop relationships, and slowly build its massive world filled with gods, demons, and ancient organizations. It broke readership records on platforms like LINE Webtoon and became a symbol of Korean webtoon excellence.

When Crunchyroll and MAPPA announced the God of High School anime in 2020, fans were thrilled. MAPPA’s reputation for stellar animation raised hopes. And visually, the anime delivered—fluid fight scenes, bold colors, and dynamic camera work. But sadly, the anime tried to cover too much, too fast.
Instead of pacing the story like the webtoon, the anime rushed through multiple story arcs in just 13 episodes. Crucial backstories, character motivations, and world-building were trimmed or cut entirely. What took hundreds of webtoon chapters to build was squeezed into a single cour.
This left viewers—especially those new to the story—confused and disconnected. Important emotional beats didn’t land, character development felt shallow, and the overall narrative became hard to follow. Despite the gorgeous visuals, the heart of the story was missing.

While the webtoon ended in 2023 after a long and impactful run, the anime has not received any updates or confirmations for a second season. Fans continue to recommend the webtoon as the best way to experience the full scope of the story.
The failure of the anime isn’t due to lack of potential—it’s a lesson in why adaptation needs time, care, and attention to the source material. With the rise of Korean webtoons in mainstream media, there’s hope that God of High School could someday return with a fresh take—one that does justice to the story millions fell in love with.
Until then, the webtoon remains the truest version of this epic tale, and a reminder that sometimes, slower storytelling wins the race.