The following is an interview with co-writers Orson James and Roman Calais regarding the release of the series, Bad Influence, through WEBTOON Original. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with James and Calais about their shared creative process in bringing the story and its characters to life in collaboration with HiHi Studios and Otherly Productions, the themes that they hope will resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Bad Influence through WEBTOON Original! What made this project the perfect endeavor for your partnership with HiHi Studios and Otherly Productions?
Roman Calais: We’ve always been drawn to ambitious, lived-in worlds that feel unlike anything people have seen before. With Bad Influence, the starting point was: what if Disneyland was a violent dictatorship? That immediately threw up some crazy, unexpected ideas. In this world with living, breathing mascots, everybody is so enthralled by the spectacle that they ignore the very reality around them. We hope the end result feels like your favorite anime and video game world mashed together, but with a sharp emotional core. That made it a perfect match for what Valkyrae is building with HiHi. Rae immediately connected with Nel—she knew her fans would relate to a tough, messy character who’s being told to smile and stay quiet in a world that feels fake. The fit couldn’t have been more natural.
BD: Bad Influence’s story deftly weaves an emotionally raw narrative about defying systems larger than ourselves. How would you describe your shared creative process in working with artist Jor Ros to bring this world and these characters to life?
Orson James: We developed the whole story arc far into the future as a creative unit, so the writing and art should feel completely inseparable. Jor’s work isn’t just cool and stylish–it’s weird, soulful, full of tension and character. He’s a designer, a director, and, honestly, a bit of a mad inventor. He was constantly adding character quirks, props, and background details we hadn’t even thought of. We had to stage a couple of “put the pen down” interventions! But that obsessive attention to detail is what makes Bad Influence feel alive. Also, Roman and I met many years ago in the world of advertising, so it’s probably no accident that Weisshorn ended up as a media dictatorship selling happiness 24/7.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences. How do you feel that Nel’s story may connect with today’s readers?
RC: Nel’s not a chosen one. She’s a misfit: angry, insecure, a little reckless, and just trying to keep her head above water. But she knows something’s wrong, even when everyone else gaslights her into thinking she’s the problem. That kind of quiet rebellion feels deeply personal. She’s not trying to lead a revolution—she’s just done pretending things are fine. The story itself is relentless—full-throttle fight scenes, heists, and constant escalation—but I think Nel’s inward struggle to piece together who she is, and what’s been kept from her, hits just as hard.
BD: What makes WEBTOON Original the perfect home for this story?
OJ: The vertical scroll format is perfect for a world like Weisshorn. It lets us control rhythm, pacing, and immersion–like falling headfirst into a psychedelic theme park that’s cute and alluring on the surface, but dangerous underneath. WEBTOON makes that trip feel cinematic, while still keeping you eye-to-eye with the characters. You don’t get lost in spectacle. That helped us stay focused on what really matters: emotion, relationships, and character perspective. We’re especially proud of Nel’s relationship with her best friend, Bee, which feels like the emotional backbone of the series.
BD: Are there any additional projects–past or current–you’d like to highlight for our readers?
RC: This is our debut project, and it’s pretty much taken over our lives right now, but we’ve been building story worlds like this for over a decade. It started as a side project—just making maps, designing cultures, inventing characters for fun. If you’ve seen Jodorowsky’s Dune, that kind of obsessive worldbuilding is a pretty fair reflection of how it’s felt at times. But, through Otherly and our partnership with HiHi, there’s a lot more on the way. We believe we’re entering a moment where creators can finally hold onto the things they’ve poured their hearts into—and that’s the philosophy driving our whole team.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Bad Influence?
OJ: Bad Influence is live now on WEBTOON—free to read, with new episodes every Thursday. The first three are up, and you can unlock more early with Fast Pass. We’re sharing behind-the-scenes art, lore, and extras on socials, and Rae will be talking about it on stream. We hope it finds the kind of fans who want to dive deeper into the world, connect with us, and have fun with the chaos of Nel’s story—and the lives of the other citizens of Weisshorn.
