The worldwide popularity of anime and K-dramas has grown rapidly in recent years, and there’s a surprising amount of crossover between the two. During the 1990s, both anime series and K-dramas began gaining the attention of audiences across the globe, as well as other parts of Japanese and Korean culture, including manga and K-pop.
Like anime, K-dramas cover a wide range of genres, most notably fantasy and romance, meaning there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. It also makes sense for anime fans to gravitate towards certain K-dramas, as many series are adapted from manhwa, or Korean comics. These live-action series bring to life the stories originally told through illustrations and have become quite successful and beloved adaptations.
My First First Love
Cast
My First First Love follows Yun Tae-o and his friends who move into his house for personal reasons. Together, they navigate a journey through love, friendship, and the complexities of young adulthood. Released in 2019, this series explores the dynamics of relationships and self-discovery among its characters.
As its name implies,My First First Loveis all about its characters' first encounters with true romance. Acting as a reboot of the 2015 seriesMy First Time,the coming-of-age K-dramafollows Yun Tae-o (Ji Soo) and hisfriends after they move in with one another during their early years in college. With so many distinct personalities living under one roof, chaos and conflict are inevitable.
Still, the friends provide the necessary emotional support for one another during the growing pains associated with early adulthood. Additionally, romantic feelings begin to develop between the housemates, resulting in a messy and relatable depiction of young love. These romantic connections produce some of the more beloved romance tropes in K-dramas, such as friends-to-lovers and love triangles.
Weak Hero
Weak Hero Class 1 is a drama film released in 2022, focusing on a gifted yet introverted student who faces bullies and adversaries with the help of newfound friends. As he navigates a perilous environment, the challenges reveal the increasing dangers of his world.
There’s plenty of fun to be had when rooting for an underdog like Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon) inWeak Hero Class 1. Though Si-eun is among the smartest in his class, his penchant for studying makes him an easy target for bullying. Soon, Si-eun teams up with two of his classmates, the timid Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung) and Ahn Su-ho (Choi Hyun-wook), the strongest fighter at school. Together, the three friends defend themselves from the toughest bullies.
Like many anime series,Weak Hero Class 1is fast-paced and has an abundance of mesmerizing action sequences.
Like many anime series,Weak Hero Class 1is fast-paced and has an abundance of mesmerizing action sequences. Additionally, the solid performances and well-written character development of the series' leading trio ground the show in reality. Touching on the effects of bullying and the unavoidable cycle of violence,the K-drama’s characters are relatable figures in which audiences can see themselvesor their peers.
My Love From The Star
My Love From The Star is a South Korean television series that follows the story of Do Min-joon, an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. As he nears his return to his home planet, he encounters Cheon Song-yi, a top Hallyu star, and begins to develop feelings for her. The series explores themes of love, destiny, and the inevitable clash of two very different worlds.
The premise ofMy Love from the Staris silly at times, and thankfully, the K-drama is aware of this and often plays into it. The series follows Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun),an extraterrestrial alien who gets stranded on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty. Forced to wait 400 years for the next opportunity to get back home, Min-joon spends his time adopting the lives of several individuals, including a doctor, a lawyer, and an astronomer.
As Min-joon’s chance to get back home inches closer, he finds himself falling in love with a famous actress, Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun).My Love from the Staris considered one ofthe best fantasy K-dramas, and it’s largely due to the sensible romance between Min-joon and Song-yi and the palpable chemistry between Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun.
W
W is a South Korean television series that blends romance and fantasy. It stars Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo as characters who navigate between the real world and the fictional universe of a popular webtoon. The plot unfolds through a series of dramatic events as the protagonist seeks to uncover the truth behind their intertwined destinies. Directed by Jung Dae-yoon, the show captivates with its unique narrative structure and compelling performances.
W: Two Worlds, also known simply asW, is a fascinating series that blends elements of thriller, romance, and fantasy genres. The K-drama sees two worlds come together after Oh Yeon-joo (Han Hyo-joo),a surgeon in the real world, is transported into an alternate universe that exists in the webtoonW. In this alternate reality, Yeon-Joo meets Kang Cheol (Lee Jong-suk),W’s lead character, saving his life, and eventually falling in love with him.
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While the merging of the two worlds is pulled off well in the live-action series, the events ofW: Two Worldsare certainly something that would transpire in an anime series as well. The genre-bending series earned consistent praise and high ratings during its run, and its popularity propelled its stars to a higher degree of fame. In the years following its success, multiple remakes ofW: Two Worldswere made across the globe, including one in development at The CW, titledAngel City.
The Uncanny Counter
The Uncanny Counter is a South Korean television series that follows a group of demon hunters called Counters, who disguise themselves as employees in a noodle restaurant to track down and banish evil spirits.
Combining aspects of the fantasy and thriller genres,The Uncanny Counteris an entertaining series full of action and fun characters. The K-drama revolves arounda group of demon hunters known as the Counters. These individuals are tasked with capturing mischievous spirits that have escaped the afterlife. The Counters' latest recruit is So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu), a high school student who is left physically disabled following a car accident.
After living through some form of a near-death experience, each member of the Counters is granted a unique supernatural ability, including superhuman strength, exceptional speed, and psychometry. These abilities come in handy during the Counters' confrontations with the evil spirits, which can get quite intense at times.The Uncanny Counterhas its fair share of thrilling action sequences, and it’s nearly impossible not to be charmed by the series' offbeat team of paranormal hunters.
Strong Girl Bong-Soon
Strong Girl Bong-Soon is a South Korean television series released in 2017, starring Park Bo-young as Bong-soon, a woman born with superhuman strength. She navigates the challenges of concealing her powers while working as a bodyguard for a CEO, played by Park Hyung-sik. The series delves into themes of justice, romance, and self-discovery, creating a compelling narrative that balances humor and action.
Strong Girl Bong-soonhas a bit of everything, from a dark criminal investigation to a lighthearted love triangle involving its protagonist. The K-dramafollows Do Bong-soon (Park Bo-young), who is born with superhuman strengthand is initially ashamed of her abilities. Believing she’d gain the attention of her crush if she were graceful instead, Bong-soon tries her best to hide her strength from others.
At first,Strong Girl Bong-soonpresents itself as a K-drama comparable toTrue Beauty, where its protagonist learns to embrace what makes them different. Though the series does have its comedic elements and Bong-soon is given an appreciated amount of character development, there is also a suspenseful subplot involving a string of local kidnappings, where Bong-soon and her strength are of great service.
Yumi’s Cells
Yumi’s Cells is a South Korean television series based on the popular webtoon of the same name. The show follows Kim Yumi, a ordinary office worker, and her brain cells, which are personified as individual characters, as they navigate her emotions, thoughts, and relationships. The series explores themes of self-acceptance, love, and personal growth.
Based on a webtoon of the same name,Yumi’s Cellsis a live-action series that is interspersed with adorable 3D animated cartoons meant to represent the emotions of its protagonist. Kim Go-eun leads the series as the titular character, who lives an ordinary life as an office employee. Due to her troubled love life, Yumi’s love-cell is shut down, and much of the series' first season sees Yumi, and consequently the remaining cells, navigating a new romance.
Yumi’s Cellscould have easily been another standard romantic comedy series that sees its protagonist fall in love after a devastating heartbreak. However,the K-drama is wonderfully elevated thanks to its animated sequencesthat give audiences a rare peek inside the mind of its lead character. Though the animation inYumi’s Cellsmay not beat the quality of that found inthe best anime series of all time, it is certainly unique and irresistibly charming.
True Beauty
True Beauty is a South Korean television series based on the Line Webtoon of the same name. The show follows high school student Im Ju-kyung, portrayed by Moon Ga-young, who masters the art of makeup to overcome her insecurities about her appearance. Cha Eun-woo and Hwang In-yeop star as her romantic interests. The series delves into themes of self-esteem, beauty standards, and the impact of outward appearance on personal identity.
There are a handful of K-dramas that don’t shy away from harsh examinations of societal expectations, including the intense beauty standards under which many young individuals are scrutinized. A popular K-drama that addresses such beauty standards isTrue Beauty. Based on the webtoon of the same name, the series is centered around high school student Lim Ju-kyung (Moon Ka-young). After being tormented over her looks for much of her life, Ju-kyung is looking for a fresh start.
Transferring to a new school and mastering the art of cosmetology,Ju-kyung is admired for her new appearance, and she even finds herself in a complicated love triangle. The obsession with beauty and acceptance inTrue Beautymay sound outdated on the surface, but the K-drama does an excellent job at emphasizing the harm such beauty standards have on young people. The series fosters necessary conversations about impossible standards but is also lighthearted and plenty of fun.
All Of Us Are Dead
All of Us Are Dead is a South Korean series that centers on a high school overrun by a zombie virus outbreak. The students, facing an unprecedented crisis, must navigate survival while combating the threat of becoming part of the undead horde.
Starting as a manhwa series by Joo Dong-geun,All of Us Are Deadis a captivating horror show that’s likely to satisfy fans of anime.The K-drama is action-packedand revolves around a group ofhigh school students who band together in an attempt to survive a growing zombie apocalypse. With just one season to its name so far,All of Us Are Deadhas managed to thrill both audiences and critics.
All of Us Are Dead ranks high among the best zombie TV shows, as it features an appreciated balance of gritty action and strong character development.
All of Us Are Deadranks high amongthe best zombie TV shows, as it features an appreciated balance of gritty action and strong character development. Though some criticisms have been given regarding the series' long runtime, the K-drama’s quick action keeps the show moving along. The high stakes and gradual tension established throughout the series will keep audiences fully engaged and on the edge of their seats.
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God is a 2016 South Korean television series following the lives of a modern-day goblin and his human bride. Portrayed by Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, the show delves into themes of immortality and destiny as the goblin seeks to end his eternal existence. The series blends romance, fantasy, and drama, winning acclaim for its unique storyline and strong performances.
Turning into a massive hit in South Korea and earning high amounts of critical acclaim,Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, also known asGoblin, tells the story of an immortal goblin (Gong Yoo). Once a celebrated military general,Kim Shin is cursed with immortality as punishment for all the lives he took. Much of Kim Shin’s life is filled with grief, and the only way he’s able to end his immortality is by having his bride pull a sword out of him.
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Goblinpulls off its ambitious narrative well and is unexpectedly moving as Kim Shin begins to fall in love with Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun). Finding a purpose after living an aimless life for so long, the choice between life and death is no longer as simple as Kim Shin once believed it would be. The K-drama is well-rounded and finds the ideal balance between melancholy and humor, making great sense of its success.
