Following the release of the anime adaptation of his webtoon, the creator of Lookism has a message for fans.

Taejun Park, writer and artist of the popular high school fantasy manhwa Lookism, shared a new piece of artwork on Webtoon’s official Instagram. Standing front and center is the protagonist Daniel Park (Park Hyung Suk in Korean), staring intensely at fans. On his right is Vasco, looking like he’s seconds away from starting a fight, and on his left is Zach Lee, a former bully who has changed to wanting to protect the weak, cracking his knuckles. The creator added the message, “Lastly, a huge thanks to my fans[.] I couldn’t have done it without you.”

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Park recently revealed that the idea for Lookism came when he was lying in bed and wondered what it would be like if the mind had the ability to move between bodies through sleep. He confessed that he had too many favorite characters and in the interest of making room for new characters, he was often forced to kill off others. When asked which character was the most impressive from the anime, Park said Vasco and his fighting stance stood out for him. While Vasco is someone who stands up against injustice, Park said a class bully in high school inspired Vasco’s pose.

Lookism’s Origins

Produced by Studio Mir (Legend of Korra and DOTA: Dragon’s Blood) and directed by Kwang Il Han, the eight-episode first season of the anime adaptation of Lookism released on Dec. 8 after getting delayed due to the Itaewon tragedy. Eight-member K-Pop band ATEEZ performed the opening song, “Like That.” Although there has not yet been an announcement for a second season, many fans are hoping this isn’t the last they’ll see of Daniel on screen.

Lookism examines the way people’s attitudes change based on appearance. The manhwa introduces Daniel Park as an overweight, bespectacled young man who moves schools, hoping to escape from the bullying and harassment he endured at his old school. One night, he wakes up to find himself in a new body that is slimmer, taller and much more handsome and has a chance to see how differently people treat him. While the theme of lookism is still prevalent in the manhwa, Lookism has since evolved into including other themes such as the importance of family and friends.

Lookism is now streaming on Netflix. The webcomic is currently ongoing on Webtoon.

Source: Instagram, YouTube