School Bus Graveyard and more: The webtoons and manhwas that will revolutionize 2025
Anime Expo 2025 made it clear that the next generation of webtoons is loaded with innovation. Ink Pop stole the spotlight with the announcement of School Bus Graveyard, a supernatural thriller that promises to be the spiritual successor to Tower of God, along with two independent manhwas (I Shall Master This Family and Marionetta) that are redefining the visual standard of the genre. The best part: all of them use hybrid 2D/3D techniques to create their immersive worlds. 🎨🚌
"When your characters have more layers than an unnamed Photoshop file... you know you're dealing with next-generation webtoons"
The three breakout titles
1. School Bus Graveyard (WEBTOON)
- Genre: Supernatural thriller
- Style: Dark and cinematic
- Hook: Students trapped in a dimensional graveyard
2. I Shall Master This Family (Manhwa)
- Genre: Political fantasy
- Style: Period designs with magic
- Physical edition: Planned for 2026
3. Marionetta (Manhwa)
- Genre: Steampunk psychological drama
- Style: Mechanical puppets + 3D backgrounds
- Physical edition: 2027
Digital techniques behind the magic
These productions use:
- Blender for:
- Complex scenarios
- Impossible perspectives
- Reference lighting
- Clip Studio Paint EX for:
- Manual tracing over 3D renders
- Limited animation of effects
- Massive layer management
Why they mark a before and after
These titles stand out for:
- Cinematic narrative: Shots and sequences inspired by cinema
- Visual depth: Strategic use of 3D for backgrounds
- Character design: Costumes with realistic variations
- Innovative transitions: Effects between panels
While many webtoons follow established formulas, these works play with genre expectations. The result is a reading experience that feels as immersive as watching an anime. 📱✨
Technical details for artists
If you want to emulate this style:
- Model base scenarios in Blender
- Export camera views to Clip Studio
- Add manual tracing with organic textures
- Use adjustment layers to unify the style
- Implement dynamic paneling effects
The future of webtoons
These trends suggest that:
- 2D/3D hybridization will become standard
- Physical releases will gain importance
- Costume design will be more elaborate
- Narrative depth will compete with traditional media
So the next time you read a webtoon and marvel at its detailed backgrounds, remember: there was probably an artist rotating that scenario in 3D before drawing over it. Though if you prefer the classic method of drawing every brick by hand... more power to your wrist. ✍️
Where to follow these works
- School Bus Graveyard: Available on WEBTOON
- I Shall Master This Family: Coming soon to Korean platforms
- Marionetta: Serialization starting on Tapas
One thing is certain: 2025 will be an exciting year for digital comic lovers, with productions that blur the line between traditional art and innovative technology.