1. How much prize money can be won in total? 

• Grand Prize Winner (1): a total of $150,000 

• Genre Winners (3): a total of $100,000 each

• Genre Finalists (up to 12): a total of $35,000 each

• Genre Runner-Ups (up to 24): a total of $5,500 each

In addition to monetary prizes, the Grand Prize Winner, Genre Winners, and Genre Finalists will join the WEBTOON Originals lineup, where their series will be developed into an ongoing title on the English-language platform. Winners in the Genre Runner-Ups category will have the chance to pitch their title to WEBTOON’s US Editorial Team for an opportunity to potentially join the WEBTOON Originals lineup.

Each winner is entitled to receive only one prize, for the highest prize obtained in the Contest, in lieu of any prize for any earlier stage or lower prize.

2. What are the submission requirements?​

The initial submission requirement depends on the genre you choose for your submission.  If your submission is selected to move forward in the Contest, you will be asked to submit an additional 2+ episodes (4+ for Comedy/Slice of Life) to advance to the next stage. The initial submission requirements for each genre are as follows:

• All episode content must be submitted in English. 

• Episodes must be in full color. 

• Episodes must meet the minimum requirements for the number of episodes and panels per episode.

• Episodes must be your original work (adaptations based on other works are not eligible)

• You must fully and completely own the rights to the episodes and have exclusive and direct control over those episodes.

• The copyright to the episodes must be held by the individual or team submitting it. 

• Must be no third-party agreements or engagements that prohibit its publication through WEBTOON or this Contest.

• Episodes must not have been published in print form or printed offline for circulation, including self-published stories.

• Must be self-published and not have been published, produced or distributed by a third-party publisher. 

• Must not be created using any form of generative artificial intelligence.

• Must comply with Official Rules for the Contest, along with the WEBTOON™ Community Policy and Uploading Guidelines and the WEBTOON Terms of Use.
  
   

 3. What are the file requirements for submissions? 

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• Only JPG, JPEG, and PNG formats are supported. The system will automatically slice and reduce image(s) that exceed the maximum dimensions, 800x1280px.

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• Images that exceed the maximum dimensions may be optimized in a number of ways. They may be sliced into multiple images, the image quality may be dropped, the image dimensions may be reduced, and/or the file size and format may be changed.

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• The maximum file size for all sliced, resized, and unchanged images is 2MB. You can upload up to 20MB, 100 images in total.

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• If you do not want your image to be optimized in any way, please make sure to upload an image within the maximum dimensions of 800x1280px, and within the total file size limit or 2MB per image, 20MB total.
   

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4. What is the submission period?

The initial submission period opens March 10, 2025, at 21:00 ET and closes May 15, 2025 at 21:00 ET!

Up to 10 stand-out titles from each category will be selected for a total of 40 Shortlisted titles, and each of these titles will submit an additional 2 episodes minimum (4 episodes minimum for Most Laughs - Comedy/Slice of Life) for the next stage of judging to determine winners across the Contest stages.

Submissions for the additional episodes are scheduled to open June 23, 2025, at 21:00 ET and close July 14, 2025, at 21:00 ET. 
 

5. How do I participate in WEBTOON 2025 Contest: Webcomic Legends?

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• Starting on March 10, 2025, upload your new series to CANVAS using the submission portal on the Webcomic Legends Contest homepage. Select your chosen genre from one of four categories.  

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6. Can one series qualify for two different genre categories?

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• A series can only compete in one genre category. The primary genre you pick for your series will determine the contest genre category. However, you can submit different series in other genre categories.  

7. How will the judging process work?

At the end of the applicable Submission Period, a panel of expert judges including WEBTOON editorial staff and select WEBTOON Originals creators, will review the submissions based on the following criteria:

• Artwork (20%): The quality and clarity of the visual images in the Webcomic. 

• Storytelling & Hooks (20%): The flow and readability of the narrative component of the Webcomic.  The narrative should lay the groundwork for character development and encourage anticipation in the reader to find out what happens next. 

• Impact & Satisfaction (20%): A clear, creative, and engaging narrative promise that understands the expectations of readers in the selected Genre. 

• Audience Appeal & Engagement (40%):  The potential appeal of the story to the target audience of genre, which is inclusive of user engagement of the submission. Audience appeal and engagement is measured by a combination of internal as well as external metrics, such as likes, comments, and read through rates.  While popularity is a factor, the level of engagement is a weighted measurement factoring in multiple data points.

8. Can I participate if I am/was an Originals creator on WEBTOON?

The Webcomic Legends Contest welcomes both new creators and former creators. Creators who currently have an ongoing or upcoming WEBTOON Original series (including those on hiatus), who are directly contracted with WEBTOON for work on a WEBTOON Original series, or Creators who have received an offer or are in negotiations for a WEBTOON Original series, are not eligible to enter the Contest. However, Creators who have worked on a concluded WEBTOON Original series are eligible. Please refer to the Official Rules for full eligibility criteria.
 

9. Can I submit a series that was previously published on CANVAS?

You may submit your existing CANVAS series by re-uploading the story as a “New” series using the contest submission portal during the submission period of March 10, 2025 to May 15, 2025.  Please ensure that your series meets the panel and episode guidelines.

10. Can I submit a series that was previously published elsewhere?

Yes, but for this contest we highly encourage new original content that has never been published. If creators would like to submit Episodes that were previously published online: 

• Episodes must be your original work (adaptations based on other works are not eligible). 

• You must fully and completely own the rights to the episodes and have exclusive and direct control over those episodes. 

• It must have been self-published and not have been published, produced or distributed by a third-party publisher. 

• It must not have been published in print form or printed offline for circulation including self-published stories.

• Must comply with Official Rules for the Contest, along with the WEBTOON™ Community Policy and Uploading Guidelines and the WEBTOON Terms of Use.   

11. Can creators who live outside the US enter? 

• Yes! Creators who meet the eligibility criteria in the Official Rules are welcome to enter their submission to the English language WEBTOON platform as long as their country is not listed as an excluded territory in the Official Rules and their participation is not otherwise prohibited by law.  
   

12. Can we enter the contest as a team?

• Contestants can enter as teams, so long as all team members meet the eligibility criteria defined in the Official Rules and each team member agrees to the Official Rules. If a team’s submission is chosen as a winner, the prize money will be paid out to whoever acts as the representative of the team. Teams must submit entries using only one account.   
   

13. What type of content is allowed in my submitted episode? Is Mature content allowed? 

• Your series must comply with the Official Rules for the Contest, along with the WEBTOON™ Community Policy and Uploading Guidelines and the WEBTOON Terms of Use. Please see the Official Rules for more details.

14. Are contest submissions made with generative AI allowed?

• No. Entrants are not permitted to use generative AI to create their submissions. Submissions that are found to have used generative AI will be disqualified.
   

15. Does my submission qualify for the Ad Revenue Sharing Program or the Super Like Program? 

Episodes submitted to this Contest will be eligible for the Ad Revenue Sharing Program and the Super Like Program once the contest period has concluded.​

16. Can I connect with WEBTOON Originals creators who are judging my material? 

Contestants are not permitted to contact WEBTOON Originals creators who are serving as judges for the contest. To ensure a fair and unbiased judging process, all communication related to the contest must remain through official WEBTOON channels.

Any attempts to pursue, contact, or harass WEBTOON Originals creators who are judges will result in immediate disqualification from the contest. WEBTOON has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of any kind, and we are committed to maintaining a respectful and safe environment for all participants and judges.

17. What are other WEBTOON titles that have been discovered through platform contests?

• Some of WEBTOON's most iconic series got their start in platform contests and have since become global fan favorites! 

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• Titles like unOrdinary by uru-chan and Cursed Princess Club by LambCat didn’t just win over the judges—they captured audiences worldwide, building devoted followings on WEBTOON and beyond. Other hits, including The Kiss Bet by Ingrid Ochoa, Love Advice From the Great Duke of Hell by unfins, and Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur, have gone on to reach millions of readers, showcasing the power of these contests to launch the next big stories in webcomics.

18. Can I update my submission during the contest period?​

No, Submissions should not be edited after they have been submitted, with limited exceptions.

 

There should be no substantive changes to your Submission (including to the key story elements and characters) after it has been submitted. Edits are permitted in limited circumstances (e.g., mistaken uploads, correcting typos, updating series or episode thumbnails, redistributing panels, or updating content to comply with our Community Guidelines), but timing is important. Please ensure your Submission qualifies and complies with the Official Rules before submitting it for consideration within the applicable Submission Period. Do not reupload or resubmit your Submission to make changes outside the scope of the limited circumstances mentioned above.

19. What happens if I miss the additional episode deadline?​

If you miss the deadline for submitting the additional episodes, your submission will not move forward to the next stage of judging. Deadlines are strict and must be adhered to in order to maintain fairness for all participants.
 

20. Will the judging panel provide feedback?​

No, the judging panel will not provide individual feedback on all submissions. Due to the high volume of entries, it is not possible to offer personalized critiques. However, creators are encouraged to use this contest as a learning experience and to continue refining their craft.

21. How old do I have to be to receive the prize money? 

To enter, you must be at least thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of entry.  Minors must get their parent or legal guardian’s permission to enter.  If you are a minor and are selected as a potential winner, your parent or legal guardian will need to co-sign certain Verification Documents to win the prize.  Further details are in the Official Rules. 

22. What is an Episode? / What defines an "Episode" for the Contest?

25. What counts as a panel? 

A panel is a frame or a single drawing. A panel can vary in size and complexity depending on its purpose. 

For example, a panel can be an establishing shot, a close-up, high angle shot, long shot, etc.

Title Cards at the beginning of episodes, End of Episode Statements, or additional content that is not part of the sequential story, does not count as a panel. 

Here are some examples of how we would count panels: ​

Figure A: 2 panels

 Figure B: 1 panel
                         

26. Is there a newsletter I can sign up for to keep updated on the contest? 

Yes, sign up using the link below to stay updated on all the latest contest news and updates: https://mailchi.mp/webtoon.com/webtoon-2025-contest-webcomic-legends-newsletter
 

27. I’m not finding the answer to my question, who can I contact?