Korean animation
Encyclopedia
The art of Korean animation, or Han-guk Manhwa Aenimeisyeon
(한국 만화 애니메이션), has gone from hand-held flip book
s in early times to studios that produce most of the work for major American
and Japan
ese animation companies. Notable examples of Korean animation
include many episodes of The Simpsons
, Family Guy
and Justice League Unlimited
, which were made and drawn in Seoul
, South Korea
. While it is mostly firms in South Korea that contract with Western studios, some of the work is reported to be subcontracted to North Korea
as well.
Major players in the industry describe Korean animation industry as in a period of crisis and transition. During the 1990s, a period of explosive growth for the industry, Korean studios made most of their profits from OEM animation
, mostly from the United States. Although some studios, such as DR Movie
, remain busy, Korean OEM deals have been on the decline in the past half decade, leaving Korean studio heads without work.
Many animators see the salvation of the industry in original projects; however, efforts to make up the shortfall in orders with original works have been mixed. Some Korean animators blame the booming Korean game industry for draining the animation industry's talent pool.
Manhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
(한국 만화 애니메이션), has gone from hand-held flip book
Flip book
A flip book or flick book is a book with a series of pictures that vary gradually from one page to the next, so that when the pages are turned rapidly, the pictures appear to animate by simulating motion or some other change. Flip books are often illustrated books for children, but may also be...
s in early times to studios that produce most of the work for major American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese animation companies. Notable examples of Korean animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
include many episodes of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
and Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
, which were made and drawn in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. While it is mostly firms in South Korea that contract with Western studios, some of the work is reported to be subcontracted to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
as well.
Major players in the industry describe Korean animation industry as in a period of crisis and transition. During the 1990s, a period of explosive growth for the industry, Korean studios made most of their profits from OEM animation
OEM
OEM means the original manufacturer of a component for a product, which may be resold by another company.OEM may also refer to:-Computing:* OEM font, or OEM-US, the original character set of the IBM PC, circa 1981...
, mostly from the United States. Although some studios, such as DR Movie
DR Movie
Dr. Movie is very well versed in the theory behind motion picture production and frequently works with Japanese companies on anime titles. Since 1991, he has been in an exclusive partnership with the Japanese animation studio Madhouse, and in 2001, Madhouse became a partial owner/investor. In 2006,...
, remain busy, Korean OEM deals have been on the decline in the past half decade, leaving Korean studio heads without work.
Many animators see the salvation of the industry in original projects; however, efforts to make up the shortfall in orders with original works have been mixed. Some Korean animators blame the booming Korean game industry for draining the animation industry's talent pool.
Selected List of Korean animation
- Hong Gildong (홍길동) (1967)
- RagnarökRagnarok The AnimationRagnarok the Animation is an anime and aenimeisyeon series based on the MMORPG Ragnarok Online, produced in the first quarter of 2004 and was broadcast on TV Tokyo of Japan. In 2005, it was broadcast on SBS in Korea. It has 26 episodes...
(라그나로크, Japanese and Korean co-producer) (2004) - Aachi & SsipakAachi & SsipakAachi & Ssipak is a 2006 animated South Korean film, directed by Jo Beom-jin and featuring the voices of Ryoo Seung-beom, Lim Chang-jung, and Hyeon Yeong...
(아치와 씨팍) (2006) - Apple Candy Girl
- ArkArk (2004 film)Ark is a 2004 computer-generated imagery movie, directed by Kenny Hwang, animated by Digital Rim, and produced by John Woo. It is an anime-style film similar in appearance to the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, and is also the flagship project for both the director and the studio...
(2004) - Armageddon (1986)
- BASTof Lemon / BASToF Syndrome
- Black Rubber ShoesBlack Rubber ShoesBlack Rubber Shoes is a Korean animated television show for children. The stories take place in the city of Seoul in the sixties/seventies of the 20th century...
(검정고무신) - Blue Seagull (1994)
- Diatron-5 (다이아트론 5)
- Doggy PooDoggy PooDoggy Poo is a 30-minute stop motion-animated film from South Korea, directed by Kwon Oh-sung, based on Kwon Jung-saeng's 1968 children's book Doggy Poo, illustrated by Annie Rose Godsman. There are both English and Korean-language versions of the film.-Plot:After being "created" by a dog, Doggy...
(2003) - ElysiumElysium (film)Elysium is an upcoming 2013 American science fiction film written and directed by Neill Blomkamp. The film stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, and Wagner Moura. Elysium is scheduled to be released on , 2013.-Premise:...
(2003) - Empress ChungEmpress ChungEmpress Chung is a 2005 North and South Korean animated film directed by Nelson Shin. As a personal project, Shin spent eight years getting the project off the ground, including three and a half years of pre-production...
(왕후 심청) (2005) - The Fourth KingThe Fourth KingThe Fourth King is a 2005 German / Swiss / Swedish film directed by Michael Ekbladh and Ted Sieger.- Plot summary :...
(work-in-progress) http://www.fourthking.com/ - Golden Iron Man (1968)
- The Great Pig Pirate Mateo (2004)
- Guardian Fairy Michel
- Olympus GuardianOlympus GuardianOlympus Guardian is a 2005 South Korean animated film based on Greek mythology.- External links :* at the Korean Movie Database* at HanCinema...
(2005) - Hammerboy (2004)
- Hamos: The Green Chariot
- Hey Yo Yorang
- If You Were Me: Anima Vision (2005)
- Jang Geum's DreamJang Geum's DreamJang Geum's Dream is a Korean animation. It is a production by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. The animation was done by Sonokong and Heewon Entertainment. The animation centers on Jang Geum , who enters the Royal Kitchen as an apprentice court lady...
(장금이의 꿈) (26-episode series) (2006) - Ki-Fighter Taerang (기파이터 태랑) (26-episode series) (1998)
- Kimchi Pong
- The King (2001)
- Life is CoolLife is CoolLife is Cool is a 2008 South Korean romance animated film, and is the first rotoscoped film from that country. This film's visual style was influenced from Richard Linklater's two films, Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly...
(그녀는 예뻤다) (2008) - Dooly the little dinosaur (아기공룡 둘리)
- Mad Monkey (Director Jo Beom-jin of Aachi & SsipakAachi & SsipakAachi & Ssipak is a 2006 animated South Korean film, directed by Jo Beom-jin and featuring the voices of Ryoo Seung-beom, Lim Chang-jung, and Hyeon Yeong...
) - Maskman
- Mazinger 3 (1982)
- Mazinger 7 (1983)
- Mix MasterMix MasterMix Master is a Korea - Japan co-produced anime series, also known by the name Mix Master King of Cards. It is a co-production by Nippon Animation of Japan and Sunwoo Entertainment and KBS of Korea. The story centers on the fantasy and adventure card game, Mix Master...
- Mug TravelMug TravelMug Travel is a 2007 South Korean computer-animated film, directed by Lim Ah-ron and based on his animated TV series, Backkom.- Plot :...
(빼꼼의 머그잔 여행) (2007) - My Beautiful Girl, MariMy Beautiful Girl, MariMy Beautiful Girl, Mari is a critically successful South Korean animated film. It follows the story of a young boy during summer vacation and ascends into flights of surrealistic fantasy, which may or may not be dream sequences.-Plot:Kim Nam-woo struggles through life as people around him...
(마리이야기) (2002) - Oseam (오세암) (2003)
- Petit Petit Muse
- Phantom Master: Dark Hero from Ruined Empire (2004)
- Phoenix-bot Phoenix KingPhoenix-bot Phoenix KingPhoenix King is a South Korean animated feature film. It was later dubbed into English and released in America and Europe as Defenders of Space and parts of its footage was used to create Space Thunder Kids...
(피닉스킹) (1985) - Pororo the Little Penguin
- Restol, The Special Rescue SquadRestol, The Special Rescue SquadRestol, The Special Rescue Squad is a 1999 Korean animated film created by Seoul Movie.- Plot :In 2034, the future world experienced serious natural disasters. In 2035, GEONOID was established as a company in order to protect the earth against natural calamities...
(레스톨 특수 구조대) (26-episode series) (1999) - Robot Taekwon VRobot Taekwon VRobot Taekwon V is a South Korean animated film directed by Kim Cheong-gi and produced by Yu Hyun-mok, the prominent director of such films as Obaltan . It was released on July 24, 1976, immediately becoming a mega-smash hit in the late 1970s, and consequently inspired a string of sequels in...
(로보트 태권브이) (1976) - Run=Dim (2001)
- Solar I II III (초합금 로보트 쏠라 원, 투, 쓰리) (1983)
- Solar Adventure
- Sorry, I Love You (2006)
- Space Gundam VSpace Gundam VSpace Gundam V , is a South Korean animated series directed by Kim Cheong-gi, released on July 1983. Despite its title, the series is not related to Mobile Suit Gundam...
(스페이스 간담 브이) (1983) - Youngsim (영심이) (1990)
- Spheres (2003)
- There she is!!There she is!!There She Is!! is a Flash cartoon series produced by a three-person team and hosted on the Korean website SamBakZa. The cartoons became particularly popular during the spring of 2004 when they were exposed to American and European audiences. The series is noted for its classic manhwa style...
- Turtle Hero (2001)
- UniminiPet
- Wonderful Days / Sky BlueWonderful DaysWonderful Days is a South Korean animated science fiction film, released in 2003, written and directed by Kim Moon-saeng...
(원더풀 데이즈) (2003) - Yobi, the Five Tailed FoxYobi, the Five Tailed FoxYobi, the Five Tailed Fox is a 2007 animated Korean film by Lee Seong-gang, the director of My Beautiful Girl, Mari. The film loosely draws upon the Korean folk tales of the kumiho.- Plot :...
(천년여우 여우비) (2007) - Leafie, A Hen into the WildLeafie, A Hen into the WildLeafie, A Hen into the Wild is a children's story written by Hwang Sunmi. The story depicts the freedom, will and instinctive motherly love of a hen....
(마당을 나온 암탉) (2011)
See also
- Korean artKorean artKorean art is art originating or practiced in Korea or by Korean artists, from ancient times to today. Korea is noted for its artistic traditions in pottery, music, calligraphy, and other genres, often marked by the use of bold color, natural forms, and surface decoration.-Introduction:The earliest...
- Korean culture
- List of Korea-related topics
- ManhwaManhwaManhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
External links
- Animation Museum in Chuncheon, South Korea
- History of Korean animation (long English article)
- History of robot anime of South Korea (in Japanese, with images & video clip)
- Korea & Animation blog
- information on South Korean knock-off films of the 70's- mid 90's