Animation Industry Veteran Charts the Future in Suncheon
Studio Animal garnered enthusiastic responses from domestic and international buyers at the '2025 Suncheon Global Cultural Content Industry Fair' held in Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do from October 16 to 18, 2025, demonstrating the prowess of Korea's animation industry. Led by CEO Cho Kyung Hun, Studio Animal is a 2D animation production specialist with 24 years of history. The studio was assigned Baramro 10-dong Cabin House at this industrial fair, where it conducted active business consultations with overseas buyers from 10 countries.
Participating as one of 23 excellent cultural content companies carefully selected by Suncheon City, Studio Animal further solidified its position in the global market based on three core values: "Vivid Fun," "Superb Quality," and "Commercial Achievements." Overseas buyers from France, Poland, China, India, Indonesia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Mongolia showed particular interest in Studio Animal's diverse portfolio and proven production capabilities.
"Vivid Fun, Superb Quality, Commercial Achievements" - 24 Years of Consistent Philosophy
Since its establishment in 2001, Studio Animal has created numerous animations that satisfy animation enthusiasts over 24 years. CEO Cho Kyung Hun stated, "Vivid fun, superb quality, and commercial achievements are the core values we pursue in our animation work," adding, "With various ongoing animation projects based on high-profile IPs, we are dedicated to playing a key role in the global IP business."
This philosophy is consistently applied to all of Studio Animal's projects. The company goes beyond simply creating technically sophisticated animations, focusing on developing content that provides clear and enjoyable experiences to viewers while achieving market success.
Differentiated Business Model Centered on High-Quality 2D Animation
Studio Animal's business core consists of two main pillars. The first is the 'Animation Projects' business, which plans and produces animations based on original IPs and external original IPs. Through this, the company has established diverse revenue models including video sales, licensing business, and production and services of associated content.
The second is 'Animation Production Services' that deliver high-quality animations meeting client demands, including advertisements, game cinematics, and OTT animation series. The company produces and delivers high-quality, high-value videos across a wide range of areas, from CF and music video animations to game PV and in-game cinematics, and series and feature films.
Studio Animal is also active in original IP development. 'Medical Island,' produced as a mobile animation series in 2003, proved its potential in the global market by being sold to Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures. 'Ghost Messenger,' theatrically released in 2014, was successful enough that a sequel feature film is being planned.
50 Experts and Systematic Production Pipeline
Studio Animal's strength lies in having top-tier experts in each production stage for IP-based animation creation. The company operates 50 in-house artists and technicians with extensive experience and skills across all stages, from pre-production such as scriptwriting, storyboarding, and artwork, to the final production stage through a 2D digital animation-centered pipeline.
The organization consists of a Producing Team (7 members), Pre-Production Part (Creative Team of 5, Design Team of 7), Main Production Part (Animation Team of 17, BG Artwork Team of 3, Composition/3D Team of 6), and R&D Part (2 members) under the CEO. Additionally, through collaboration with over six external professional production companies, the studio has established a system capable of stably executing large-scale projects by expanding production capacity.
Experience and Techniques in Every Stage of Pre-Production
One of Studio Animal's core competencies is its specialized capabilities in the pre-production stage. The company demonstrates producing competence focused on enhancing the completeness of enjoyment from the concept and scenario development stages, and possesses producing insight that responds sensitively to current trends in the content market.
The company also excels in content development that maximizes the synergy between the core concepts of original IPs and different media, backed by diverse experience. In particular, the powerful talent network built through collaborative development experiences with writers, designers, and directors serves as an element that further enhances project quality.
The company selects trendy IPs and conducts animation producing optimized for the market, and through character design and artwork development in various styles and high-quality storyboard production, sets creative and high-completion standards for main production across all pre-production processes.
Main Production Pipeline with Diverse Production Methods Established
Studio Animal is a company centered around a 2D animation pipeline, but depending on project characteristics, has successfully completed all projects by building new animation pipelines such as cut-out and 3D toon shading. The studio freely utilizes various production methods including 2D digital animation using TV Paint and Clip Studio, digital cut-out animation using Animate and Toonboom, and 3D toon shading animation combining Maya/Blender with Unreal Engine.
With its strong foundation in 2D animation capabilities, Studio Animal continuously conducts R&D on new production technologies and applies them to main production, delivering even higher-quality production services. This technical flexibility serves as competitiveness that meets diverse client requirements while rapidly responding to market changes.
Production Capabilities Proven Through Representative Works
Studio Animal's portfolio itself proves the company's capabilities. 'Hang on!!,' broadcast on KBS and Tooniverse from 2014 to 2015 and recording the highest viewership rating in Korea at the time of broadcast, is a family comedy animation consisting of 119 episodes of 7 minutes 30 seconds each. It subsequently succeeded in overseas expansion by being sold to Cartoon Network Asia and Youku Tudou.
'One day, I woke up and found myself a bagel girl,' produced in 2018, is a romantic sexy comedy genre OTT series animation of 15 episodes, 12 minutes each. This work is available on VOD services such as IPTV and Laftel, and is streaming on six global OTT platforms including Amazon Prime and VIKI.
'Beauty Water,' a feature-length animation produced in 2019, is the work that established Studio Animal's international reputation. As an 85-minute 3D horror thriller, it was invited to 25 international film festivals including the Annecy Festival in France, setting a record for the most invitations ever received for a Korean animation. It won Best Animation at the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival and received the Presidential Award in the Animation category at the Korea Content Awards. It also achieved commercial success by being pre-sold to 13 countries including Taiwan, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand.
'Welcome to Jungle School,' produced in 2021, is a school-life comic sitcom set in a school attended by various animals, consisting of 61 episodes of 7 minutes each, broadcast on Tooniverse and available on various OTT and IPTV services.
In 2024, the company produced the fantasy adventure animation 'Magical PANG' and broadcast it on KBS and Tooniverse. This work, consisting of 30 episodes of 5 minutes each targeting ages 6 to 10, is available on various OTT and IPTV services, with Season 2 in planning.
Leader in Global Production Services
Studio Animal stands out not only in developing its own IPs but also in production services. The company has successfully executed collaboration projects with overseas renowned production companies and platforms, including TOEI Animation's 'My little 3 daughters' from Japan, and Titmouse and HBO Max's 'Scavengers Reign' from the United States.
'Scavengers Reign' in particular received great acclaim when Season 1 was broadcast on HBO Max, with its artistic quality recognized by winning the Second Jury Award for a TV Series. Representative projects in which Studio Animal participated in production also include CJ E&M and Woongjin Junior's 'Noblesse – the beginning,' and the "John & Sunhee" episode from Titmouse and Amazon Prime's 'The Boys: Diabolical' series.
The company is also active in game PV and CF fields. It has produced promotional videos for major domestic and international game companies including Netmarble's 'God of Highschool' and 'Pride of Eden 2,' Nexon's 'Closers' and 'Maple story - Kanna,' Blizzard Entertainment's 'Hearth Stone,' and Riot Games' 'Dungeon & Fighter.'
The company has also participated in producing various CFs and pilot videos, demonstrating production service capabilities by meeting diverse client demands for 'SaeRo Soju,' '1 dollar Lawyer,' 'Five Stars,' 'Ggesukang,' and 'Happy Toongather.'
Why Overseas Buyers Take Notice
There are several reasons why Studio Animal continues to receive attention from overseas buyers. First is the production know-how accumulated over 24 years and proven quality management system. The trust built through successfully completing numerous projects makes buyers recognize the company as a stable partner.
Second is the flexibility in mastering various genres and production methods. The company can handle a wide range of genres from family comedy to horror thriller, fantasy adventure, and occult horror, and can apply various production techniques including 2D digital, cut-out, and 3D toon shading according to project characteristics.
Third is abundant global collaboration experience. Collaboration experience with world-class platforms and production companies such as HBO Max and Amazon Prime from the United States, and TOEI Animation from Japan proves the ability to meet international quality standards.
Fourth is comprehensive production capability covering all stages from pre-production to post-production. The company can cover the entire process from IP development, scriptwriting, character design, and artwork to final completion, not simply producing animation, providing clients with a one-stop solution.
Fifth is a producing mindset that emphasizes commercial achievements. Studio Animal places commercial achievements as a core value along with artistry, focusing on developing content that can actually succeed in the market. This is an attractive element for buyers who value return on investment.
Achievements at Suncheon Industrial Fair and Future Plans
At this Suncheon Global Cultural Content Industry Fair, Studio Animal conducted intensive consultations with overseas buyers for two days at Baramro 10-dong Cabin House. During the business consultation sessions held on October 16 and 17, Studio Animal introduced the company's production capabilities and diverse portfolio, exploring possibilities for overseas market entry.
Buyers showed particular interest in new projects currently in production. 'Another World Gukbap Master,' scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026, is an OTT series comedy action animation with Season 1 consisting of 52 episodes of 11 minutes each. This work, dealing with the story of heroes summoned to another world every month, received great attention from buyers for its unique setting and entertaining story.
'Nine Mountain-Paraghost,' scheduled for completion in the first half of 2025, is a 90-minute feature-length 3D occult horror animation. This work, targeting adults aged 20–30 and global horror movie fans, has already completed investment attraction and production is in full swing.
CEO Cho Kyung Hun stated, "This Suncheon Industrial Fair was a valuable opportunity to directly present Studio Animal's 24 years of know-how and production capabilities to global buyers," adding, "Overseas buyers showed great interest in our diverse portfolio and production services, and we discussed various specific cooperation plans."
He continued, "Studio Animal will continue to lead in raising the status of Korean animation in the global market based on our core values of 'vivid fun,' 'superb quality,' and 'commercial achievements,'" adding, "In particular, through various ongoing IP-based animation projects, we will play a key role in the global IP business."
Leading the Future of Korea's Animation Industry
Studio Animal's success is a representative case showing the potential of Korea's animation industry. The quality-centered production philosophy consistently pursued for 24 years, technical capabilities to handle various genres and production methods, and business capabilities utilizing global networks are elements that enable Korean animation to have competitiveness in the world market.
Suncheon City's webtoon and animation cluster development project is a strategic approach to revitalize the cultural content industry ecosystem by attracting excellent companies like Studio Animal to the region. The successful business achievements of the 23 companies participating in this industrial fair demonstrated the possibility of Suncheon City establishing itself as a new hub for Korean cultural content.
Studio Animal plans to proceed with follow-up meetings and specific contract negotiations with overseas buyers through the network formed at this Suncheon Industrial Fair. In particular, the company plans to focus on global distribution and discovering co-production partners for new projects currently in production, including 'Another World Gukbap Master,' 'Nine Mountain-Paraghost,' and 'King's Maker.'
The challenges of Studio Animal, led by CEO Cho Kyung Hun, are expected to lead to strengthening the global competitiveness of Korea's entire animation industry, beyond just one company's growth. Through 24 years of accumulated know-how and future innovative projects, Studio Animal will write a new history of K-animation.
[Major Works and Projects]
- Medical Island: Comic horror mobile animation series (2~4 minutes x 20 episodes) - Sold to Warner Bros., Sony Pictures
- Ghost Messenger: SF fantasy feature film (78 minutes) - 2014 theatrical release, novel/mobile game release
- Hang on!!: Family comedy TV series (7 minutes 30 seconds x 119 episodes) - Broadcast on KBS/Tooniverse, sold to Cartoon Network Asia
- One day, I woke up and found myself a bagel girl: Romantic sexy comedy OTT series (12 minutes x 15 episodes) - Streaming on 6 global OTT platforms including Amazon Prime, VIKI
- Welcome to Jungle School: School-life comic sitcom TV series (7 minutes x 61 episodes) - Broadcast on Tooniverse
- Beauty Water: Horror thriller feature film (85 minutes) - Invited to 25 international film festivals including Annecy Festival in France, Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival Best Animation Award, Korea Content Awards Presidential Award
- Magical PANG: Fantasy adventure TV series (5 minutes x 30 episodes) - Broadcast on KBS/Tooniverse, Season 2 in planning
- Scavengers Reign: HBO Max original series - Second Jury Award for a TV Series
- The Boys: Diabolical "John & Sunhee": Amazon Prime original series
- My little 3 daughters: Collaboration with TOEI Animation
- Noblesse – the beginning: Collaboration with CJ E&M / Woongjin junior
- Another World Gukbap Master: Comedy action OTT series (11 minutes x 52 episodes) - Scheduled for completion in first half of 2026, investment in progress
- Nine Mountain-Paraghost: Occult horror feature film (90 minutes) - Scheduled for completion in first half of 2025, investment completed
[Contact]
Studio Animal
CEO: Kyung Hun, Cho
TEL: +82-70-4286-3218
Website: www.studioanimal.co.kr
Email: jango-25@hanmail.net
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