Hive's original story webtoon "Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" is being adapted into an animation in Japan and will air on January 9th next year. This animation will be released on Japanese TV channels and animation platforms, with a preview screening held in Tokyo on December 28th.

The animation consists of a total of 12 episodes, all pre-produced, and will be broadcast on four TV channels including Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, as well as the global animation streaming platform Crunchyroll. Hive announced the animation production news on the 8th.

"Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" was announced for animation adaptation last September by Aniplex, a Sony Music subsidiary in Japan. Aniplex officials stated that this work, as a story IP linked with K-pop artists, features an interesting development and various character combinations, making it appeal to a broader audience than existing Aniplex works.

The preview screening will be held at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku in central Tokyo, where the audience will watch episodes 1 and 2 of the animation. All members of ENHYPEN and six popular voice actors who participated in dubbing the characters will attend and greet the audience on stage.

A Hive representative said, "The animation adaptation of 'Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon' is an example of a story IP originating from K-pop expanding into genres like webtoons and animation," adding, "It will provide a new experience for fans who have enjoyed the Dark Moon series through music and webtoons."

The webtoon "Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" is the first work in Hive's original story IP "Dark Moon" series, depicting the fateful story of seven vampire boys and one girl. This work belongs to the urban fantasy high-teen romance genre, is connected to ENHYPEN's musical story, and features an OST sung directly by ENHYPEN, enhancing the immersive experience.

The webtoon surpassed 200 million views and gained popularity, and it is expected to secure an even larger fan base through its animation adaptation. "Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" is a new form of content combining K-pop, webtoons, and animation, attracting attention in the global market as well.

Hive regards the "Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" animation as an example demonstrating the expansion potential of K-culture and plans to continue fusing K-pop and story IPs across various genres. This work offers fans the opportunity to enjoy music and story content simultaneously, breaking down the boundaries between K-pop and animation.

The airing of the "Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" animation is expected to further strengthen the influence of K-pop IP in the Japanese animation market. Through the animation broadcast, Hive aims to expand communication with global fans and provide new content experiences.

The success of the animation depends on fans' reactions after airing, and Hive plans to maximize the synergy of K-pop, webtoons, and animation through this. "Dark Moon: Altar of the Moon" will establish itself as an important case opening new possibilities for cultural content through the fusion of K-pop and animation.