SEOUL | January 23, 2026 — HYBE has announced that its animated series DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, adapted from the company’s original story webtoon, has swiftly risen to prominence across major international platforms following its worldwide release.
Vampire Fantasy Meets K-Pop Power in Global Launch
Built around a compelling vampire narrative and developed in collaboration with K-pop powerhouse ENHYPEN, DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR expands HYBE’s transmedia storytelling universe. Since its debut on January 9, the series has drawn strong critical and fan acclaim across global streaming services and animation communities.
Strong Ratings and Rapid Chart Climb on Global Platforms
On Crunchyroll, the world’s largest animation streaming platform, the series has earned an impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating. Meanwhile, on MyAnimeList—the largest English-language anime and manga community—it debuted at No. 10 in both the “Now Watching” and “Trending” categories immediately after Episode 1 premiered.
Momentum continued with the release of Episode 2, which propelled the series to No. 7 in the “Trending” rankings, reinforcing its growing global popularity.
Crunchyroll Highlights Worldwide Fan Engagement
“Given the global popularity of the DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR webtoon, we were excited to present the anime series on Crunchyroll, with subtitles in nine languages and dubbing in eight languages for fans worldwide to enjoy,” said a Crunchyroll representative. “We hope fans will continue to tune in to this captivating series.”
Webtoon Sees Global Resurgence After Animation Premiere
The success of the animated adaptation has reignited interest in the original webtoon, more than two years after its conclusion. Shortly after the anime’s premiere, DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR reached No. 1 in the “Completed” category on WEBTOON in Japan, Latin America, Indonesia, and Germany. It also ranked No. 2 in France and No. 3 in Thailand and North America.
HYBE Eyes Global Expansion of Original Story IP
“A growing number of new fans are discovering the DARK MOON universe through the animation and continuing to explore it across diverse media formats,” HYBE stated. “Building on this strong response, we plan to actively expand HYBE’s original story IP and transmedia content across the global market.”
About HYBE
HYBE Corp., rebranded from Big Hit Entertainment in March 2021, is a global entertainment lifestyle platform company redefining the music and content industry through innovation and expansion. Operating across music, platforms, and technology-driven future growth businesses, HYBE delivers enhanced fan experiences and cultural impact worldwide. Its multi-label system includes BIGHIT MUSIC, BELIFT LAB, SOURCE MUSIC, PLEDIS Entertainment, KOZ ENTERTAINMENT, ADOR, and YX LABELS, alongside HYBE AMERICA’s BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP and Quality Control. HYBE also operates Weverse, a global superfan platform, and maintains offices across Korea, Japan, the U.S., Mexico, China, and India.
About HYBE ORIGINAL STORY
HYBE ORIGINAL STORY is an expanding ecosystem of story-driven IPs inspired by artists’ identities and musical messages. Extending beyond music into webtoons, web novels, animation, games, and more, the initiative enables immersive storytelling across formats. Launched in January 2022, titles include 7FATES: CHAKHO, THE STAR SEEKERS, and DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, linked respectively to BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and ENHYPEN. Newer stories such as CRIMSON HEART, DARK MOON: THE GREY CITY, and SUMMER MOON: THE QUPRIDS connect with LE SSERAFIM, &TEAM, and ILLIT. HYBE continues to expand these IPs globally, including animated adaptations.
About ENHYPEN
ENHYPEN, formed by BELIFT LAB, is a seven-member boy band comprising JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, and NI-KI. Debuting in November 2020, the group quickly rose to global prominence, achieving record-breaking sales and securing four Billboard 200 Top 10 albums. ENHYPEN has headlined major world tours, made a U.S. stadium debut, and appeared on leading global television programs. With powerful storytelling, dynamic performances, and a strong international fanbase, ENHYPEN continues to shape the global K-pop landscape.
Discussion about this post