Villains Are Destined to Die Gets TV Anime Adaptation as Webtoon Main Story Concludes

The popular villainess-isekai manhwa Villains Are Destined to Die is getting a TV anime adaptation. The announcement arrived alongside the conclusion of the webtoon's main story at Chapter 214, marking the end of a five-year serialization run that began in 2020.

A Webtoon Milestone

Written by Gwon Gyeoeul and illustrated by SUOL, Villains Are Destined to Die launched as a web novel before receiving its webtoon adaptation. Published by D&C MEDIA, the series has been serialized on Kakao Page in South Korea and on Piccoma in Japan, where it has built a substantial readership over half a decade.

The story follows a university student who is transported into an otome game, awakening as the villainess Penelope Eckhart on hard mode. To survive, she must navigate treacherous romance routes, raise affection levels with potential love interests, and avoid multiple death endings baked into the game's punishing difficulty. The premise blends isekai mechanics with romantic fantasy storytelling in a way that resonated broadly with readers across multiple markets.

With Chapter 214 serving as the main story's finale, the creative team has indicated that a spinoff is planned following a hiatus period.

TV Anime Adaptation Confirmed

The anime adaptation was officially announced as part of the celebrations surrounding the webtoon's conclusion. The series recently won the SMARTOON category at the Piccoma AWARD 2026, further cementing its status as one of the platform's flagship titles.

Details remain scarce at this early stage. No animation studio, production staff, voice cast, or release window has been disclosed. Given the title's strong performance across multiple territories, further production details are likely to surface in the coming months.

Massive Reader Numbers

The franchise's popularity is well documented in its viewership metrics. The original web novel has surpassed 1.7 million views and 145,000 likes, while the webtoon adaptation recorded an impressive 14.8 million views and over 1.5 million likes. These figures underscore the built-in audience that the anime adaptation will be able to draw from.

The series has also expanded its physical footprint significantly. Kadokawa publishes the Japanese manga edition, with the 12th volume scheduled for release on November 17. In English-speaking markets, print editions of the webtoon are available through Ize Press, with the ninth webtoon volume arriving on August 18 and the fourth novel volume following on September 15.

What Comes Next

To promote the conclusion, a special campaign offering B2-sized posters featuring newly drawn illustrations by SUOL ran through August 15, with ten winners to be selected. The promotional push signals that the franchise is far from winding down despite the main story reaching its endpoint.

Villains Are Destined to Die joins a growing wave of Korean webtoon properties receiving anime adaptations, a trend that has accelerated in recent years as Japanese and international publishers invest more heavily in manhwa IP. With a proven reader base numbering in the millions and strong print distribution already in place across Japan and English-language territories, the anime adaptation arrives with significant momentum behind it. Fans can follow official Piccoma channels for future casting and production reveals.