‘Guardians of the Video Game’ Lands Finecut for International Sales Ahead of Toronto Market

Seoul-based sales agent Finecut has picked up international sales rights to "Guardians of the Video Game," a 3D animated feature adapted from the Naver Webtoon of the same name, ahead of its debut at the Toronto market. The deal is significant given the source material's popularity and its journey across multiple platforms, from webtoon to mobile game and now to a full animated film, with first footage set to be unveiled through Finecut in Toronto.

The webtoon, created by Gasfard, has racked up 345 million views and was previously adapted into a mobile game on Google Play before this screen adaptation. The film follows a guardian exiled from sleek 3D gaming worlds who lands in an old-fashioned pixel-based RPG, secretly guiding its hero while uncovering a threat to both himself and the game. It is directed by Uhm Young-sik, whose credits include "Running Man: Revengers" and "Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs," and produced by Locus Animation, known for webtoon adaptations such as "Barkhan" and "Denma." The film is in post-production and due for release in the fourth quarter of 2026, alongside other Finecut Toronto titles including "Long Long Night," Hong Sangsoo's award-winning "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes," July Jung's "Dora" and Park Hoon-jung's "Tristes Tropiques."