An original animated K-drama titled “The Painted Soul” is scheduled for an exclusive launch on Rakuten Viki on Oct. 21. Directed by Choi Junbae, known for his work on “Mouse,” the fantasy romance series will be available across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India, and Southeast Asia.
Production and technology
The series is co-produced by Rakuten Viki and South Korean production outfit Imaginus. According to the co-producers, creatives utilized artificial intelligence alongside other technologies during the development of the series to enhance the storytelling.
Lee Hyunjung, chief creative officer at Imaginus, stated that the studio’s artists aimed to craft an intriguing narrative and utilized new technologies to support that goal. Imaginus was launched in December 2021 by Choi Jinnie, the former CEO of CJ ENM subsidiary Studio Dragon.
Plot and platform strategy
“The Painted Soul” follows Yun Hwa, a trainee painter who accidentally releases a stranger who has been trapped inside a painting for half a decade. According to the show’s premise, anyone who looks the stranger in the eye faces a grim fate, leading Yun Hwa to question her growing feelings for him.
Hong Jaehee, chief content officer at Rakuten Viki, noted that audience demand for animated content prompted the platform to expand into the medium, identifying “The Painted Soul” as the starting point for additional animation offerings.
The announcement was made ahead of the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market. Rakuten Viki, a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, operates across more than 190 countries and territories with over 127 million registered users.
