Seoul, South Korea — The hit webtoon “ELECEED,” crafted by writer Jeho Son and illustrated by ZHENA, will transition to the small screen with an anime adaptation expected to debut in 2026. A teaser promotional video and a key visual have been released, sparking excitement among fans worldwide.
The anime will be produced by DandeLion Animation Studio, renowned for their Oscar-nominated work on “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK” and the short film “Magic Candies.” The creative team behind this adaptation includes director Hiroshi Nishikiori, who has experience with titles like “Toaru Majutsu no Index III,” character designer Minami Sakura, and series composer Yosuke Kuroda, known for “My Hero Academia.”
In a statement celebrating the adaptation, Jeho Son expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It feels surreal to share that ‘Eleceed’ is being adapted into an anime. This is made possible by our amazing readership who have supported the series from the beginning. I hope the anime opens the world of ‘Eleceed’ to even more fans.”
Sinbae Kim, Chief Growth Officer at LINE Digital Frontier, emphasized the series’ compelling narrative and thrilling action. He noted that the upcoming adaptation offers a valuable opportunity to present this dynamic story to an even wider audience, marking a significant milestone in global storytelling.
The official storyline follows Jiwoo Seo, a high school student unaware of the hidden world around him. Living in fear of his own mysterious abilities, Jiwoo keeps his powers hidden. Everything shifts when he rescues a battered stray cat, who unexpectedly reveals a human-like consciousness after a dramatic encounter. This cat, named Kayden, is no ordinary feline; he is a powerful Awakened being who has been forced to adopt a cat’s form to survive serious injuries.
As Kayden recuperates in Jiwoo’s home, an unlikely partnership develops between him and the timid boy. The duo is soon drawn into a realm filled with formidable Awakened organizations and dangerous plots, setting the stage for a narrative filled with twists that could alter the course of their world.
To celebrate the announcement, ZHENA shared a vibrant illustration, exuding enthusiasm for the adaptation with, “I’m thrilled! It’s amazing to see ‘Eleceed’ getting its own anime.”
Kazuhiro Nishikawa, the president of DandeLion Animation Studio, will be attending Anime Expo 2025 in Los Angeles on July 6, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the production process. An exclusive video commemorating the adaptation will also be showcased at the WEBTOON booth during the event, promising fans a glimpse into what’s to come.
Since its serialization on Naver Webtoon in October 2018, “Eleceed” has garnered immense popularity, amassing over 1.4 billion views globally and being translated into ten languages. This anime adaptation adds to the growing catalog of adaptations from WEBTOON Entertainment, which includes notable titles like “Tower of God” and “True Beauty,” further highlighting the increasing influence of webtoons in mainstream media.