It has been two years since Lookism Season 1 was released on Netflix, and there has not been any update on Season 2 since then.
Lookism Season 1 did really well, especially in Southeast Asia. Plus, the webtoon has over 900 million views, with even more on Naver Webtoon. The official synopsis of Lookism:
In a society that favors good looks, a high school outcast leads a double life switching between his two bodies that are polar opposites in appearance.
Lookism Success on Netflix
When Lookism came out on Netflix in December 2022, it did really well at first. It hit 8.05 million hours viewed in the first week and went up to 9.96 million hours in the second week.
That is huge for a non-English webtoon adaptation. But by the third week, it dropped out of the Top 10 Non-English TV Shows on Netflix.
Netflix’s silence has fans assuming the anime may have been canceled. No updates, no teasers, nothing.
It makes you wonder if something is going on behind the scenes. Maybe it is time for Netflix to pass the project to a different studio instead of keeping us hanging.
Studio Mir is Busy With Other Projects
The main issue seems to be that Studio Mir is super busy. They are working on other big shows for Netflix, like the new Devil May Cry and The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. Netflix seems to be focused on adaptations of video games. Studio Mir no longer even tweets Lookism clips anymore.
Lookism. pic.twitter.com/RotMj1Q6Fd
— Studio Mir 스튜디오미르 (@StudioMir2010) June 14, 2024
We all know that Studio Mir has a strong relationship with Netflix, but with their packed schedule, there is no clear timeline for when or if they will get back to Lookism. Waiting for them might not be the best move for Netflix.
Another reason Netflix might be holding back is because Lookism’s audience isn’t huge in the U.S. Netflix tends to focus more on shows that perform well in the Western market since that’s where they make the most money.
But Lookism’s fanbase is huge in Asia, and with the rising popularity of Korean content globally, there’s still a strong case for a second season. Netflix should not ignore that just because it is not a U.S. hit.
Why Netflix Needs to Consider Other Studios for Lookism Season 2
If Netflix wants to keep the momentum going, they should think about handing Lookism over to another studio.
There are plenty of studios out there with experience in webtoon adaptations, like Studio N (behind Tower of God) or Red Dog Culture House, which already worked alongside Studio Mir on other Netflix projects.
I know switching studios could be risky for animation style, tone, and pacing might change. But if Netflix picks the right studio, this could be huge.
Alot of fans are asking for more Lookism Season 2, and waiting on Studio Mir might not be the best move anymore. Netflix has options. It is time to explore them.
At the end of the day, we fans just want Season 2. Whether it is Studio Mir or another solid studio, Netflix needs to act. The Lookism story is far from over, and there is still a huge demand.
Right now, there are 531 chapters released. 80 arcs are done, and the 81st arc, ‘Busan’ just started.
The first season only covered up to chapter 27, ending with the Festival Arc. Last year, Netflix dropped the Opening Sequence Trailer for Season 1, and it got 1.5M views.
I am quite sure, that even Netflix didn’t expect this much hype from a Webtoon. The anime blew up with just 8 episodes.
But honestly, that was just the beginning. There is so much more to cover, and each arc only gets better.
Lookism’s Netflix Global Exclusivity Deal
Now, as for Lookism’s current situation at Netflix, Netflix probably has a global exclusivity deal with PTJ and WEBTOON.
This means Netflix holds the streaming and production rights, and no other platform can touch it until the deal ends.
We have seen this with shows like Daredevil and The Punisher, Netflix had the exclusive rights until they expired.
This exclusivity is likely why Netflix hasn’t let go of the series. We have seen another PTJ webtoon, Viral Hit (How to Fight), succeed, it should at least give Netflix a signal.
It premiered in April 2024 and is streaming on Crunchyroll thanks to a partnership with Fuji TV’s +Ultra programming block.
Unlike Lookism, Viral Hit was handled by a different studio, showing that PTJ’s works can thrive outside Netflix. But Lookism is stuck with Netflix for now.
If Netflix is not moving forward with Lookism Season 2 anytime soon, it might be time to loosen its grip on the series and let any other platform do the second season or Netflix should just simply collaborate with another studio since they are using Studio Mir for other projects right now.
