Aeni (애니) is just the Korean word for animation — the local equivalent of "anime" in Japan. In recent years, a wave of webtoon adaptations has produced titles that hold their own globally, both visually and narratively. Here are 8 of the best, ranked roughly by popularity and adaptation quality.
1. Lookism
The most recognizable name for anyone new to Aeni. Adapted from the wildly popular webtoon of the same name, Lookism follows Daniel Park, a bullied high schooler who wakes up one day with a second body — tall, athletic, and the complete opposite of his own. The show doesn't shy away from heavy topics like school bullying and harassment, raising sharp questions about how society judges people by appearance. Produced by Studio Mir and DR Movie.
2. There She Is!!
A completely dialogue-free short film that still manages to hit hard emotionally, telling the forbidden love story between Doki, a cheerful rabbit, and Nabi, a quiet cat. Without a single spoken line, There She Is!! conveys everything it needs to through expressive animation and music, courtesy of SamBakZa Animation.
3. Ghost Messenger
Carrying a supernatural atmosphere reminiscent of Death Note, the show follows Kang Lim, a dutiful Ghost Messenger who guides lost spirits to the afterlife, and Little Kang, a boy who accidentally becomes bound to his device. Underneath its shonen-action surface is a much more emotional story about the loneliness of wandering souls and the fear of being forgotten. Produced by ANIMAL.
4. Blade of the Phantom Master (Shin Angyo Onshi)
A dark political tale following Munsu, a Phantom Master on a mission to restore justice, traveling through fallen kingdoms while confronting corruption and his own troubled past. Adapted from the comic by Youn In-wan and Yang Kyung-il — previously published both as a manga in Japan and as a webtoon on Naver in 2017. Produced by DR Movie.
5. Seoul Station
A zombie horror film set just before the events of Train to Busan, opening with a dying homeless man who suddenly turns into a zombie in the middle of Seoul. Produced by Dadashow, the film captures the chaos as authorities lock down the area, trapping survivors inside the outbreak zone.
6. Beauty Water
A dark story about beauty obsession: Yae-ji, an aspiring streamer insecure about her looks, discovers a mysterious cosmetic product that lets her reshape her face and body at will. Beauty Water digs into the darker side of chasing physical perfection, as her newfound fame curdles into something far more consuming. Co-produced by Animal and LICO.
7. Kai: Geoul Hosu-ui Jeonseol (Kai: The Legend of Mirror Lake)
A film with a storytelling warmth close to Studio Ghibli, following Kai, a young warrior from a village protected by a magical mirror lake, as he sets out to face dark forces — including the Snow Queen herself. The film blends Korean folklore with classic fantasy adventure, made by Meditation With a Pencil.
8. Lost in Starlight
Closing out the list is a gentle sci-fi romance: Nan-young, a soon-to-launch astronaut bound for Mars, and Jay, a musician who stays behind in a 2050 Seoul, waiting for her. Their love is tested not just by distance, but by space and time itself. Produced by Climax Studio and Netflix Animation.
Source: Animehunch. This list was researched and written independently by OtaHub, not translated verbatim.