What software do you need to make a manhwa recap?

Any editor that handles long timelines works. Premiere Pro and After Effects suit motion-heavy edits; DaVinci Resolve and CapCut work well for simpler ones.

How long does a manhwa recap take to make?

A one-hour recap means reading the chapters, writing a long script, recording an hour of voiceover and placing hundreds of panels. For one person that is often several days of work, which is why many channels hand it to a team.

Do manhwa recaps get copyright claims?

They can. Recaps use someone else's art, so claims are a real risk. Channels lower it with original scripts and narration and edits that transform the panels, but no method guarantees zero claims. Read YouTube's fair use guidance and follow your channel's own rules.

Can I hire someone to make manhwa recaps for me?

Yes. Media Magician writes, voices and edits manhwa recaps for YouTube channels, with thumbnails too. Message us on WhatsApp with your channel link.

G Guide

How to make a manhwa recap video, step by step.

Manhwa recap channels turn long webtoon stories into videos people watch for an hour. This is how we make them at Media Magician, from picking the story to the upload, so you can make your own or know exactly what to ask an editor for.

By Dipak Baranwal, founder of Media Magician · Updated 29 October 2026

01Pick a story that recaps well

Look for a manhwa with a clear hook in its first chapters, like a regression, a system or a revenge plot, and enough chapters for a long video. Check what fans already search for, and whether other channels have covered the same arc. If they have, find the angle they missed.

02Read it and plan the video

Read the chapters you will cover and note the turning points. Then decide the length. Plan each video around an arc, so it opens on a hook and ends on a natural cliffhanger that brings viewers back for the next part.

03Write the script

Open on the strongest moment, then go back and explain how it started. Write short sentences for the ear, name characters clearly, and drop side scenes that don't move the story.

Detailed scripts keep most of the dialogue, moderate scripts keep only what matters, and short scripts read like a summary. Mark where each chapter starts so the editor can follow. See our recap scripts.

04Record the voiceover

Use one consistent voice for the whole channel, so viewers recognise it. Many channels use an AI voice from ElevenLabs or PlayHT; others record their own. Clean the audio, cut long pauses and keep the pace steady.

05Prepare the panels

Manhwa is a vertical scroll and YouTube is 16:9. Save the chapters in the best quality you can, split each scroll into single panels, and keep tall panels whole so you can pan down them later. Name the files in reading order, so the edit stays in sequence.

06Edit the video

Put the voiceover on the timeline first, then place the panels on the narration, one panel for each line or beat. Add slow zooms and pans so the picture always moves, sound effects for hits and reveals, and background music that changes with the mood.

How much motion you add is the editing style: from Basic, panel by panel, to Advanced, with heavy motion work and effects. Watch our manhwa recap samples.

07Add subtitles

Burned-in subtitles help people who watch on mute and keep viewers reading along. Keep them to two short lines at most, and sync them to the voice.

08Design the thumbnail and title

One strong face, one clear emotion and a few big words. The title should promise the hook from your first thirty seconds, and the thumbnail should show it. See our recap thumbnails.

09Upload, then read the retention graph

Write a description that names the manhwa and its main characters, and add chapter timestamps. A few days after the upload, open the retention graph in YouTube Studio, find where viewers leave, and fix that part in the next video.