Story and Display: Reader Experience of Cuttoons Compared to Webtoons and Comics

Abstract

The power of the platform, which determines the form of content creation and consumption, plays a greater role in narrative styles that are inherently platform-dependent, such as webtoons. The ecosystem of webtoons changes depending on which formats are supported and recommended by the platform. The cuttoon format introduced by the Naver platform in consideration of the increase in the number of mobile users is based on a narrative principle different from that of the existing webtoon. Cut-toon allows the reader to experience the story through the segmental unit of story called cut. These characteristics are the basis for having compatibility with existing published comics, while also having affinity with video media through the possibility of using cuts such as montages for cinematic purposes. The space for readers' comments is also segmented, creating an environment for more immediate but more conscious comment participation on the one hand. Therefore, cuttoon can be said to be an evolved form of webtoon that can provide attractive content to both readers familiar with the existing publishing and video media and those familiar with web and mobile culture. Lee Dong-gun's is a representative webtoon that adapts to the cut-toon format while retaining the charm of traditional comics and it shows narrative potential of cuttoons through the use of features of them.