SEK Studio
North Korean state-owned animation studio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Korean April 26 Animation Studio[3] (Korean: 조선4.26만화영화촬영소), also known as SEK Studio (an abbreviation of "Scientific Educational Korea"), is a state-owned North Korean animation studio. It is based in Ot'an-dong, Central District, Pyongyang.[4]
 | |
Native name | 조선4.26만화영화촬영소 |
|---|---|
| Company type | State-owned |
| Industry | |
| Genre | |
| Founded | September 7, 1957[1] |
| Headquarters | Ot'an-dong, Central District, , North Korea |
Key people | Jun Ok Kim |
| Owner | Government of North Korea |
Number of employees | ~900 (2014)[2] |
History
The studio was founded on September 1957 as April 26 Children's Film Studio (4.26아동영화촬영소).[1]
SEK Studio worked with foreign animators and companies with relative frequency for a North Korean operation during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Around 1985, it worked on outsourced animation for European television.[5] It worked on over 250 foreign animations. It mainly worked on subcontracted Russian, Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese animation, while working indirectly on outsourced American animation.[citation needed]
SEK worked on several animated series with Mondo TV, including Pocahontas: Princess of the American Indians[6][failed verification] and Simba the King Lion.[7][8] SEK also produced animated features such as Gandahar and Empress Chung.[9]
In 1997, in order to take part in an animation festival in France, it registered as the "Scientific & Educational Film Studio of Korea". SEK is an abbreviation of this name.[10]
According to Cinema Escapist, its most prominent US projects were The Simpsons Movie, Futurama: Bender's Big Score, and an episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender.[2] According to the Korean Film Council, SEK Studio worked on episode 72 of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.[11]
Recently, collaborations between SEK Studio and other nations have declined, with only China co-producing content. This can be attributed to rising tensions between North Korea and the West, especially the United States.[2]
As of 2003, SEK Studio employed over 1,500[10] or 1,600[12] people and worked for over 70 companies from around the globe, including Europe, South Korea, China, Canada and the United States. After the introduction of advanced equipment[clarification needed], the number of employees was reduced to about 500.[13] There are 11 animation production teams in SEK Studio. Nine are responsible for overseas animations, and two produce domestic animations.[14]
Since 2010s, SEK studio has subcontracted many animation studios in China and outsourced Chinese TV series, web animations, game graphics and commercials.[citation needed] In 2014, SEK Studio cooperated with Chinese companies to establish an office in Beijing. SEK Studio has invested $70,000 in Chinese companies.[15]
In December 2021, the US Treasury accused SEK Studio, and companies and individuals related to it, of exploiting North Korean workers to earn foreign currency and avoid sanctions on North Korea.[16] In April 2024, a server leak revealed that some Western television series, such as Invincible and Iyanu: Child of Wonder, as well as the Japanese anime series Dahlia in Bloom, had been worked on by SEK Studio, despite sanctions.[17][18] The official Twitter account of the anime issued a statement, saying that "neither the production committee nor the production studio were aware". The studio working on the anime, Ekachi Epilka, also posted on their homepage that their work files was used without their permission, and denied involvement with SEK Studio. They speculated that the leak came from a subcontracted company.[19]
SEK Studio's staff is mostly composed of Pyongyang Art Academy graduates, and SEK Studio has established an animation training institute to teach young students.[citation needed]
Much of the work produced by SEK Studio is considered to be propaganda for North Korean children, as SEK Studio is state-owned.[2]
Previous names
SEK Studio was founded in 1957 as April 26 Children's Animation Film Studio.[2]
- Korean National Film Studio – Puppet Animation Film Research Institute (1957–1959)
- Korean National Film Studio – Animation Film Studio (1959–1960)
- Korean National Film Studio – Animation Film Production (1960–1964)
- Korean Children's Film Studio (1964–1971)
- Korean Science Education Film Studio – Animation Film Production Team (1971–1980)
- Korean Science Education Film Studio – Children's Film Production Team (1980–1996)
- Korean 4.26 Children's Film Studio (1996–2013)
- Korean April 26 Animation Studio (2013–)[3]
Filmography
Source:[20][better source needed]
Television
SEK Studio has produced over 300 animations.
| English title | Original title | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang | 호동왕자와 락랑공주 | 2023–2025 | Updated to 8 episodes. Remake of the 1990 film. | |
| Last Match | 마지막 경기 | 2022 | ||
| Pine tree replanted | 다시 심은 잣나무 | 2021 | ||
| Diary of a Little Photographer | 꼬마촬영가의 일기 | 2021 | ||
| Oksoe Defeats a Devil[21] | 악마를 이긴 억쇠 | 2020 | First released December 2020, features 5.1 sound. | |
| Kimbap made by Hyuk | 혁이가 만든 김밥 | 2019 | ||
| A day of Camping | 야영의 하루 | 2018 | ||
| Our House Rabbit | 우리 집 토끼 | 2017 | ||
| Ko Jomung[3] | 고주몽 | 2016–2025 | 50 episodes (also transliterated as Ko Jo Mong)[22] | |
| The Boy General (Series 2) | 소년장수 (2부) | 2015–2019 | 50 episodes (51-100) | |
| Two Boys who Found the Answer | 답을 찾은 두 소년 | 2015 | ||
| Awangnyo Finds out Fire for Kindling[21] | 불씨를 찾은 아왕녀 | 2012 | ||
| Ants to Suri Mountain | 수리봉으로 간 깜장이 | 2012 | ||
| Ant and Big Centipede | 개미와 왕지네 | 2012 | ||
| Byeolnam and Rubber Ball | 별남이와 고무공 | 2011 | ||
| Singsing's Golden Fleece | 씽씽이의 금빛털옷 | 2011 | ||
| The Bustle Caused by Scale Brothers | 저울형제가 일으킨 소동 | 2010 | ||
| Young Warriors of Goguryeo | 고구려의 젊은 무사들 | 2010–2014 | 7 episodes | |
| An ant with wings | 날개를 단 개미 | 2009 | ||
| Long Long Sunday | 긴긴 일요일 | 2009 | ||
| The Enchanted Mountain | 금강산 팔선녀 | 2008 | A film based on the Korean fairy tale "The Fairy and the Woodcutter". | |
| The Red Star | 빨간별 | 2008–2012 | Stop-motion animation. 12 episodes. | |
| A Greedy Dog | 욕심많은 개 | 2008 | Based on the Aesop Fable "The Dog and Its Reflection". | |
| Heungbu and Nolbu | 흥부와 놀부 | 2008 | A film based on the Korean fairy tale Heungbu and Nolbu. | |
| Photographed by Chalkak | 찰칵이가 찍은 사진 | 2008 | ||
| Stonefish Brothers | 쏠치형제들 | 2007 | ||
| The Oriole's Song | 꾀꼴새가 부른 노래 | 2007 | ||
| Squirrel and Hedgehog (Series 2) | 다람이와 고슴도치 (2부) | 2006–2012 | The show was discontinued after episode 32 for unknown reasons. | |
| The Lazy Pig | 놀고 먹던 꿀꿀이 | 2006 | Remake of the 1969 film. | |
| A Butterfly and a Cock [3] | 나비와 수닭 | 2006 | Remake of the 1976 film. | |
| A Boy Defeats Robbers | 도적을 쳐부신 소년 | 2006 | Remake of the 1983 film. | |
| Two Friends Drinking Spring Water | 샘물을 마신 두동무 | 2006 | ||
| Tong Tong's Story | 통통이가 들려준 이야기 | 2006 | ||
| Let's Keep the Traffic Order | 교통질서를 잘 지키자요 | 2006–2023 | Updated to 24 episodes. Traffic safety animated series for kids. | |
| A Chodong and Father | 초동이와 아버지 | 2005 | ||
| A Cat and Kids | 야웅이와 꼬마들 | 2004 | ||
| A little Squirrel in Tolbaegol | 돌배골의 꼬마 청서 | 2004 | ||
| A little painter | 꼬마화가 | 2003 | North Korea's first computer-generated imagery animation. | |
| Grandpa's Mirror | 할아버지가 준 거울 | 2003 | ||
| Three friends in fantasy | 환상속의 세 동무 | 2002 | The first 3D animation by SEK Studio. | |
| The Bell | 방울소리 | 1999–2005 | 7 episodes | |
| Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang | 호동왕자와 락랑공주 | 1990 | ||
| Welcome to Pyongyang Festival | 평양 축전에 오신걸 환영합니다 | 1989 | Animation on the occasion of 13th World Festival of Youth and Students. | |
| Clever Raccoon Dog | 령리한 너구리 | 1987–2012, 2021–2026 | Updated to 87 episodes.[23] | |
| Monkey Brothers | 원숭이 형제 | 1985 | ||
| Three Friends | 세 동무 | 1985 | ||
| A Winged Horse | 날개달린 룡마 | 1983 | ||
| Pencil Bomb | 연필 폭탄 | 1983 | Anti-American propaganda. | |
| A Hedgehog Defeats a Tiger | 호랑이를 이긴 고슴도치 | 1983 | ||
| A Boy Defeats Robbers | 도적을 쳐부신 소년 | 1983 | ||
| The Boy General | 소년장수 | 1982–1996 | 50 episodes (1-50) | |
| Gun Shooters | 포쏘기 선수들 | 1978 | ||
| Squirrel and Hedgehog | 다람이와 고슴도치 (Series 1) | 1977–1982, 1997–2005 | 26 episodes | |
| Raccoon Dog's Height Measurement | 너구리의 높이재기 | 1976 | ||
| A Butterfly and a Cock [3] | 나비와 수닭 | 1976 | ||
| Whose Talent is Best? | 누구의 재주가 제일 일가? | 1976 | ||
| Brave Wild Goose | 용감한 기러기 | 1975 | ||
| The Rabbit with The Big Ears | 귀가 큰 토끼 | 1974 | ||
| Why did the dog cry? | 멍멍이는 왜 울었나? | 1974 | ||
| How Raccoon prepared for winter | 너구리의 겨울차비 | 1974 | ||
| A Little Tree and Sudong | 애기나무와 수동이 | 1972 | ||
| The Lazy Pig | 놀고 먹던 꿀꿀이 | 1969 | ||
| Time Bomb | 시한폭탄 | 1967 | Anti-American propaganda. | |
| Pig's Pumpkin Seeds | 꿀꿀이의 호박씨 | 1967 | ||
| Burned Squad of Flies | 불타버린 쉬팔리 부대 | 1966 | Anti-American propaganda. | |
| The Good Brother | 의좋은 형제 | 1966 | ||
| Dog and Cat | 멍멍이와 야웅이 | 1965 | ||
| Brother and Sister | 오누이 | 1964 | ||
| The Little Flower Pot | 작은 화분 | 1964 | ||
| Yawoong caught in fishing | 낚시에 걸린 야웅이 | 1962 | ||
| Deer and Tiger | 사슴과 호랑이 | 1962 | ||
| Merry Field | 흥겨운 들판 | 1962 | ||
| Little Red Star | 꼬마붉은별 | 1961 | ||
| Swallow Brothers | 제비 삼형제 | 1961 | ||
| The Greedy Pig | 욕심많은 돼지 | 1960 | ||
| Our Hill | 우리 동산 | 1959 | SEK Studio's first animation. | |
| Blue Spring[3] | 파란샘물 | 2004 | ||
| A Gold Nugget and Maize Cakes[3] | 황금덩이와 강낭떡 | Made sometime in the 80s-90s. | ||
| Slug Raccoon[3] | 느렁뱅이 너구리 | Believed to have been made in the 80s-mid 90s. | ||
| Bears' Village and Hares' Village[3] | 곰동산과 토끼동산 | Made sometime during 1996-2004. | ||
| The Story of Two Generals[3] | 두 장군 이야기 | Made sometime during 2003-2005, remake of 1976 short. |
Outsourced animations
This is a partial list of the works outsourced by SEK Studio.
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Invincible | 2024 | [17] |
| Iyanu: Child of Wonder | 2024 | [17] |
| Dahlia in Bloom | 2024 | [18] |
| Anatane et les enfants d'Okura | 2019 | Project started on 2006, halted until 2019, Studio SEK credited on first episode, credits removed depending masters[incomprehensible]. |
| Bu-Bum! La strada verso casa | 2016 | With Rai Fiction |
| Sissi The Young Empress | 2016 | |
| Egyxos | 2015 | With Rai Fiction and Musicartoon |
| Flower Angel | 2014 | With Shanghai Taomee Network, Chinese magical girl animated series |
| Stan Lee's Mighty 7 | 2014 | |
| Star Key | 2014 | Italian television animated series, with Gama Movie Animation and Rai Fiction |
| Le straordinarie avventure di Jules Verne | 2013 | |
| Il sogno di Brent | 2013 | With Rai Fiction and Lucky Dreams |
| Baskup Tony Parker | 2011 | French television animated series, with Télé images kids and The Walt Disney Company France |
| Spike Team | 2010 | Italian series |
| Giovanni e Paolo e il Mistero dei Pupi | 2010 | |
| Chumballs | 2009 | |
| Romance of the Three Kingdoms | 2009 | Chinese-Japanese co-produced animated series based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. |
| Angel's Friends | 2008 | Produced by Mondo TV |
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | 2007 | Episode "The Awakening", outsourced by MOI Animation Studio |
| Jurassic Cubs | 2007 | |
| Padre Pio | 2006 | |
| Foot 2 rue | 2005 | Italian-French series |
| La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants | 2004 | French series |
| The Boy | 2003 | |
| The Spaghetti Family | 2003 | Italian series produced by Mondo TV |
| Pororo the Little Penguin | 2003 | Season 1 (26 episodes); credited as Sam-Cheon-Ri |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 2003 | Episode 72; uncredited |
| Raindrop, water is adventure | 2002 | Produced by Motion Pictures, S.A., TVE, TV3 and TVV |
| The Bellflower Bunnies | 2001 | Season 1 (4 episodes) |
| Lazy Cat Dinga | 2001 | With Hanaro Telecom; credited as Sam-Cheon-Ri |
| Prudence Petitpas | 2001 | |
| Marcelino Pan y Vino | 2001 | Japanese series |
| Bécassine et le Trésor viking | 2001 | French series |
| Narigota | 2001 | |
| Les enfants de Toromiro | 2000 | |
| Les Aventures outre-mer | 2000 | |
| La Princesse du Nil | 1999 | |
| Sophie's Misfortunes | 1998 | |
| Dragon Flyz | 1996 | French-American television animated series |
| Princess Sheherazade | 1996 | |
| Papa Beaver's Storytime | 1993 | 1999 episodes; credited as Studio SEK |
| Pocahontas: Princess of the American Indians | 1998 | Television animated series, produced by Mondo TV, directed by Orlando Corradi |
| Simba the King Lion | 1997 | Television animated series, co-produced by Mondo TV |
| Bamboo Bears | 1995 | |
| Davy Crockett | 1994 | |
| Les Misérables | 1992 | |
| Pif and Hercules | 1989 | Credited as Studio S.E.K. |
| Ernest Le Vampire | 1989 |
Film
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Futurama: Bender's Big Score | 2007 | Outsourced by Rough Draft Studios |
| The Simpsons Movie | 2007 | Outsourced by Rough Draft Studios |
| Little Soldier Zhang Ga | 2005 | |
| Le petit Wang | 2005 | |
| Tentacolino | 2004 | Produced by Mondo TV[5] |
| Corto Maltese, la cour secrète des arcanes | 2002 | |
| The Legend of the Titanic | 1999 | Produced by Mondo TV[5] |
| Gandahar (Light Years) | 1988 | [5] |
| How Wang-Fo Was Saved | 1987 |
In popular culture
Canadian animator and cartoonist Guy Delisle documented his experience working at SEK Studio in his graphic novel, Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea.
