SEK Studio

Scientific Educational Korea or SEK Studio (Korean: 조선4·26만화영화촬영소; lit. "Korean April 26 Animation Film Studio") is a North Korean animation studio, based in Othan-dong, Central District, Pyongyang.[3]

SEK Studio
Native name
조선4·26만화영화촬영소
Chosŏn 4.26 Atong Yŏnghwa Ch'al-yŏngso
IndustryAnimation
FoundedSeptember 7, 1957 (1957-09-07)[1]
HeadquartersOthan-dong, Central District,
Pyongyang
,
North Korea
Key people
Jun Ok Kim
Number of employees
900 (2014)[2]
SEK Studio
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선4·26만화영화촬영소
Revised RomanizationJoseon 4.26 Adong Yeonghwa Chwal-yeongso
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn 4.26 Atong Yŏnghwa Ch'al-yŏngso

History

The studio started operations in September 1957, as April 26 Children's Film Studio.[1] Around 1985, it began to outsource animation for European television.[4] It was registered as the SEK Studio in 1997 in order to take part at an animation festival in France.[5] SEK Studio participated in "Shijiazhuang International Animation Exhibition" on September 30, 2014.[6] SEK Studio is expected to introduce a new science fiction genre animation.[7] Since 2010s, SEK studio has contracted with many animation studios in China and outsourced in Chinese TV series, web animations, game graphics and commercials. SEK is currently pursuing large-scale projects with Chinese animation companies. It relates to web animated series that will be produced in China.[8]

History of names
  • Chosun National Film Studio – Puppet Animation Film Research Institute (1957~1959)
  • Chosun National Film Studio – Animation Film Studio (1959~1960)
  • Chosun National Film Studio – Animation Film Production (1960~1964)
  • Chosun Children's Film Studio (1964~1971)
  • Chosun Science Education Film Studio – Animation Film Production Team (1971~1980)
  • Chosun Science Education Film Studio – Children's Film Production Team (1980~1996)
  • Chosun 4.26 Children's Film Studio (1996~2013)
  • Chosun 4.26 Animation Film Studio (2013~)

Corporate size

As of 2003, SEK Studio employed over 1,500 people[5] and subcontracted work for over 70 companies from around the globe, including Europe, South Korea, China, Canada and the United States. After the introduction of advanced equipment, the number of employees was reduced to about 500.[9] There are 11 animation production teams in SEK Studio, 9 production teams are responsible for overseas animations subcontracting, and the 2 production teams produce domestic animations.[10] According to Animation Career Review, SEK is the 85th most influential animation studio of all-time. SEK Studio's staff is mostly from Pyongyang Art Academy, and SEK Studio has established an animation training institute to teach young students.[11]

In 2014, SEK Studio cooperated with Chinese companies to establish an office in Beijing. SEK Studio also invested $70,000 in Chinese companies.[12]

Filmography

SEK has provided animation for the following works:[13]

Television

SEK Studio has produced over 300 Animations.

English titleOriginal titleYearNotes
Gojumong고주몽2016-
The Boy General (Series 2)소년장수 (2부)2015-201950 episodes, ended in 2019.
Two Boys who Found the Answer답을 찾은 두 소년2015
The Awangnyeo Who Found Fire불씨를 찾은 아왕녀2012
Ants to Suri Mountain수리봉으로 간 깜장이2012
Ant and Big Centipede개미와 왕지네2012
Byeolnam and Rubber Ball별남이와 고무공2011
Singsing's Golden Fleece씽씽이의 금빛털옷2011
The Bustle Caused by Scale Brothers저울형제가 일으킨 소동2010
Long Long Sunday긴긴 일요일2009
The Enchanted Mountain금강산 팔선녀2008A film based on the Korean fairy tale "The Fairy and the Woodcutter"
A Greedy Dog욕심많은 개​2008Based on the Aesop Fable The Dog and Its Reflection.
Heungbu and Nolbu흥부와 놀부2008A film based on the Korean fairy tale Heungbu and Nolbu
Photographed by Chalkak찰칵이가 찍은 사진2008
Stonefish Brothers쏠치형제들2007
The Oriole’s Song꾀꼴새가 부른 노래2007
Squirrel and Hedgehog (Series 2)다람이와 고슴도치 (2부)2006-2012?The show was discontinued after episode 32 in 2012 for reasons unknown.
The Lazy Pig놀고 먹던 꿀꿀이2006Remake of the 1969 film
A Butterfly and a Rooster나비와 수탉2006Remake of the 1976 film
A Boy Defeats Robbers도적을 쳐부신 소년2006Remake of the 1983 film
Two Friends Drinking Spring Water샘물을 마신 두동무​2006
Tong Tong's Story통통이가 들려준 이야기2006
Let's Keep the Traffic Order교통질서를 잘 지키자요2006-Traffic Safety Animated Series for Kids
A Chodong and Father초동이와 아버지2005
A Cat and Kids야웅이와 꼬마들2004
A Little Squirrel in Tolbaegol돌배골의 꼬마 청서2004
Grandpa's Mirror할아버지가 준 거울​2003
The Bell방울소리1999-20057 episodes, ended in 2005.
Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang호동왕자와 락랑공주1990
Clever Raccoon Dog령리한 너구리1987-2012[14]
Welcome to Pyongyang Festival평양 축전에 오신걸 환영합니다1989
Monkey Brothers원숭이 형제1985
Three Friends세 동무1985
A Winged Horse날개달린 룡마1983
A Hedgehog Defeats a Tiger호랑이를 이긴 고슴도치1983
A Boy Defeats Robbers도적을 쳐부신 소년1983
The Boy General소년장수1982-199650 episodes, ended in 1996.
Gun Shooters포쏘기 선수들1978
Squirrel and Hedgehog다람이와 고슴도치 (Series 1)1977-200526 episodes, ended in 2005.
Raccoon Dog's Height Measurement너구리의 높이재기1976
A Butterfly and a Rooster나비와 수탉1976
Why did the dog cry?멍멍이는 왜 울었나?1974
A Little Tree and Sudong애기나무와 수동이1972
The Lazy Pig놀고 먹던 꿀꿀이1969
Time Bomb시한폭탄1967Anti-USA Propaganda Film
Pig's Pumpkin Seeds꿀꿀이의 호박씨196?
Dog and Cat멍멍이와 야웅이1965
Little Red Star꼬마붉은별1961
Swallow Brothers제비 삼형제1961
Our Hill우리 동산1959SEK Studio's First Animation Film

Animation services

SEK Studio has subcontracted over 250 Foreign Animations. They mainly work on subcontracting Russian, Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese animation. American animation is outsourced in an indirect way.[15]

SEK has done work on several animated series with Mondo TV, including Pocahontas: Princess of the American Indians[16] and Simba the King Lion,[17][18][19] (due to this two, it has been repeatedly misinformed that SEK has worked for The Walt Disney Company). SEK also has produced features such as the French science fiction epic Gandahar (The Light Years) and Empress Chung.[20]

According to DVD commentary and IMDB, 2007’s The Simpsons Movie was the most prominent US project that SEK helped with. Other projects include Futurama: Bender’s Big Score and even an episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Therefore, it’s highly possible that millions in America and beyond have unknowingly experienced the handiwork of North Korean animators.[21]

According to the Korean Film Council, SEK Studio outsourced episode 72 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series).[22]

The list below is a part of the works outsourced by SEK studio.

TitleYearNotes
Bu-Bum! La strada verso casa2016With Rai Fiction
Sissi The Young Empress2016
Egyxos2015With Rai Fiction and Musicartoon
Flower Angel2014With Shanghai Taomee Network, Chinese Magical girl animated series
Stan Lee's Mighty 72014
Star Key2014Italian television animated series, With Gama Movie Animation and Rai Fiction
Le straordinarie avventure di Jules Verne2013
Il sogno di Brent2013With Rai Fiction and Lucky Dreams
Baskup Tony Parker2011French television animated series, With Télé images kids and The Walt Disney Company France
Spike Team2010Italian series
Giovanni e Paolo e il Mistero dei Pupi2010
Chumballs2009
Romance of the Three Kingdoms2009Chinese-Japanese Co-produced animated series based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Angel's Friends2008Produced by Mondo TV
Avatar: The Last Airbender2007Episode "The Awakening", outsourced by MOI Animation Studio
Jurassic Cubs2007
Padre Pio2006
Foot 2 rue2005Italian-French series
La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants2004French series
The Boy (TV series)2003
The Spaghetti Family2003Italian series produced by Mondo TV
Pororo the Little Penguin2003Season 1 (26 episodes); credited as Sam-Cheon-Ri
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 TV series)2003Episode 72 (1 Episodes); uncredited
Raindrop, water is adventure2002Produced by Motion Pictures, S.A., TVE, TV3 and TVV
The Bellflower Bunnies2001Season 1 (4 episodes)
Lazy Cat Dinga2001With Hanaro Telecom; credited as Sam-Cheon-Ri
Prudence Petitpas2001
Marcelino Pan y Vino (anime)2001Japanese series
Bécassine et le Trésor viking2001French series
Narigota2001
Les enfants de Toromiro2000
Les Aventures outre-mer2000
La Princesse du Nil19991999 Animated Series
Sophie's Misfortunes1998
Dragon Flyz1996French-American television animated series
Princess Sheherazade1996
Papa Beaver's Storytime19931999 episodes; credited as Studio SEK
Pocahontas: Princess of the American Indians1998Television animated series, Produced by Mondo TV, Directed by Orlando Corradi
Simba the King Lion1997Television animated series, Produced by Mondo TV
Davy Crockett1994
Les Misérables1992
Pif and Hercules1989Credited as Studio S.E.K.
Ernest Le Vampire1989
Bamboo Bears1995

Film
TitleYearNotes
Futurama Bender's Big Score2007Outsourced by Rough Draft Studios
The Simpsons Movie2007Outsourced by Rough Draft Studios
Little Soldier Zhang Ga2005
Le petit Wang2005
Tentacolino2004Produced by Mondo TV[4]
Corto Maltese, la cour secrète des arcanes2002
Gandahar (Light Years)1988[4]
How Wang-Fo Was Saved1987

Canadian animator and cartoonist Guy Delisle documented his experiences whilst working at the SEK Studio in his graphic novel, Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea.[23] because SEK studio subcontracted the Corto Maltese animation.

gollark: I had to add some horrible hacks to the VFS redirection logic to mmake it work at all.
gollark: Excitingly, the new potatOS thing actually incorporates a lisp interpreter for some reason I forgot.
gollark: Slightly.
gollark: I had to update some URLs.
gollark: Exciting news: PotatOS has been updated. This will be rolling out globally soon. None can escape.

See also

References
  1. Yonhap News (December 26, 2001). 北`4.26아동영화촬영소` 아동영화 다수 창작 (in Korean). Tongil News. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  2. A Short History of North Korea’s Animation Industry
  3. "Korea SEK Company". Naenara. Archived from the original on February 13, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  4. "Korean-made Cartoon Films Win Popular Acclaim among Animation Film Fan[s] in Europe". PK Report from Pyongyang. The People's Korea. December 26, 2001. Archived from the original on February 23, 2002. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  5. Susan Kitchens (March 3, 2003). "Axis of animation". Forbes. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  6. "북한 애니메이션 산업 육성, 해외진출 확대 전망" (in Korean). Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  7. "북한 "SF애니 과학기술 역군 육성위한 중대한 과업"" (in Korean). April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  8. "韩媒:朝鲜动画达国际水准 用动画片教育孩子" (in Chinese). Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  9. "북한의 비교우위 산업은?...애니메이션!" (in Korean). Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  10. "북 대표적인 아동영화 제작소 '조선4.26아동영화촬영소'" (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  11. Fronczak, Tom. "Top 100 Most Influential Animation Studios of All-Time". Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  12. "中 북한 대중투자 금지 조치의 영향은?" (in Korean). Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  13. "SEK Animation Studio [kp]". IMDb. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  14. "Title not available" (PDF) (in Korean). Korea Culture & Travel Institute. 2012. pp. 138–39. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  15. "North Korean animation industry, Expansion into overseas markets" (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  16. "Mondo tv S.P.A - LIBRARY Pocahontas".
  17. Khorsand, Solmaz (April 2007). "Knuddelachse". Datum (in German). Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  18. Park Chan-Kyong (February 5, 2007). "North Korea supplies laughs as well as lethal weapons". North Korean Economy Watch. AFP.
  19. "Mondo tv S.P.A - LIBRARY Simba the King Lion".
  20. Russell, Mark (August 31, 2005). "Uniting the Two Koreas, in Animated Films at Least". The New York Times.
  21. "A Short History of North Korea's Animation Industry".
  22. "North Korean animation industry, Expansion into overseas markets" 남북 애니메이션 교류 백서 (PDF) (in Korean). Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  23. Delisle, Guy (2004). Pyongyang: A Journey into North Korean. Montreal: Drawn and Quarterly.
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