This study aims to compare and analyze the directing methods of print comics based on parallel panel structures and vertically scrolling webtoons, and to examine how changes in media structure influence narrative rhythm and scene composition. As comic...
This study aims to compare and analyze the directing methods of print comics based on parallel panel structures and vertically scrolling webtoons, and to examine how changes in media structure influence narrative rhythm and scene composition. As comics have expanded from print media to digital platforms, directing conventions have continuously evolved in response to changes in viewing environments and screen structures. In particular, vertically scrolling webtoons designed for smartphones have developed directing methods distinct from those of print comics.
This research first reviews previous studies to establish a theoretical framework regarding the formal characteristics of comics and webtoons, focusing on panel composition, visual arrangement, and reader gaze movement. Based on this framework, the study compares print comics and webtoons by analyzing differences in panel placement, screen composition, and narrative rhythm. While print comics construct meaning through spatial arrangement within a fixed page, webtoons create temporality and emotional flow through the control of panel length and spacing within a vertical scrolling structure.
Building upon this theoretical analysis, the study examines the creative webtoon *Orange Ball Story* as a case study, analyzing the directing changes and decisions that emerged during the transition from an initial parallel-structure storyboard to a vertical scrolling format. Considering the genre-specific characteristics of sports webtoons, the analysis focuses on the continuity of movement, pacing between panels, and the formation of tension and anticipation through scrolling. The findings demonstrate that the vertical scrolling structure can effectively convey temporal flow and emotional intensity in sports scenes.
This study is significant in that it verifies the differences between print comics and webtoons not only through theoretical discussion but also through practical creative analysis. By examining both the potential and limitations of vertically scrolling webtoons, this research is expected to serve as a useful reference for future studies and creative practices in webtoon directing.