The webtoon, web novel, and manga platform Manta is opening its doors to independent creators on November 16, while also throwing a lifeline to readers left stranded by the shutdown of rival platform Tapas.
Manta (Credits: Manta)
Independent Creators Get a New Home
Operated by RIDI, Manta announced on October 7 that it will launch a new section dedicated to independent comics and novel creators. Creators will be able to set up profiles, upload episodes through a creator studio, and publish their own series directly — while building communities with their readers through comments and interaction.
The company says the initiative is designed to help independent creators reach brand-new audiences and form fan communities of their own. Looking ahead, Manta plans to make it easier for creators to earn money from their work, and hopes to eventually promote standout independent series into its official lineup.
Existing Manta series will remain unchanged, with independent works appearing in a separate section starting November 16. Interested creators can register their interest through an online contact form — which the company stresses is not an application, just an expression of interest.
“Move Your Bookshelf” Rescues Tapas Libraries
In a separate move announced October 9, Manta launched “Move Your Bookshelf” (MYB), a program letting readers who unlocked episodes on Tapas rebuild their libraries on Manta for free. The timing is no accident: Tapas announced on October 1 that it is winding down after more than a decade, with March 31, 2027 at 23:59 PDT set as its final moment of service. Tapas stated that unlocked content cannot be transferred to another Kakao service.
Under the MYB program, readers can apply for select series in which they purchased at least 10 episodes on Tapas, with no limit on the number of series. Applicants submit a single uncut screen recording of their Tapas purchase history in its original file format, along with the episode ranges they own. Approved episodes are added to the reader’s Manta library in the same version as the original.
Manta also announced on October 5 that From the Burnt Ashes, a series by Jeung-ji Ma, launched as a Manta exclusive — the platform’s first “Global Release,” meaning episodes are published and serialized simultaneously on Manta and RIDI so readers worldwide can read each episode at the same time.
Also Read: Lezhin Entertainment Launches Teaz, an AI Chat Service to Talk to Your Favorite Webtoon Characters
Source: Anime News Network — read the full story there.
