SEK Studio


Korean April 26 Animation Studio, also known as SEK Studio, is a state-owned North Korean animation studio. It is based in Ot'an-dong, Central District, Pyongyang.

History

The studio was founded on September 1957 as April 26 Children's Film Studio.
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. 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.
SEK worked on several animated series with Mondo TV, including Pocahontas: Princess of the American Indians and Simba the King Lion. SEK also produced animated features such as Gandahar and Empress Chung.
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.
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. According to the Korean Film Council, SEK Studio worked on episode 72 of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.
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.
As of 2003, SEK Studio employed over 1,500 or 1,600 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, the number of employees was reduced to about 500. There are 11 animation production teams in SEK Studio. Nine are responsible for overseas animations, and two produce domestic animations.
Since 2010s, SEK studio has subcontracted many animation studios in China and outsourced Chinese TV series, web animations, game graphics and commercials. In 2014, SEK Studio cooperated with Chinese companies to establish an office in Beijing. SEK Studio has invested $70,000 in Chinese companies.
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. 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. 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.
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.
Much of the work produced by SEK Studio is considered to be propaganda for North Korean children, as SEK Studio is state-owned.

Previous names

SEK Studio was founded in 1957 as April 26 Children's Animation Film Studio.
  • Korean National Film Studio – Puppet Animation Film Research Institute
  • Korean National Film Studio – Animation Film Studio
  • Korean National Film Studio – Animation Film Production
  • Korean Children's Film Studio
  • Korean Science Education Film Studio – Animation Film Production Team
  • Korean Science Education Film Studio – Children's Film Production Team
  • Korean 4.26 Children's Film Studio
  • Korean April 26 Animation Studio

    Filmography

Source:

Television

SEK Studio has produced over 300 animations.
English titleOriginal titleYearNotes
Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang호동왕자와 락랑공주2023–2025Updated to 8 episodes. Remake of the 1990 film.
Last Match마지막 경기2022
Pine tree replanted다시 심은 잣나무2021
Diary of a Little Photographer꼬마촬영가의 일기2021
Oksoe Defeats a Devil악마를 이긴 억쇠2020First released December 2020, features 5.1 sound.
Kimbap made by Hyuk혁이가 만든 김밥2019
A day of Camping야영의 하루2018
Our House Rabbit우리 집 토끼2017
Ko Jomung고주몽2016–202550 episodes
The Boy General 소년장수 2015–201950 episodes
Two Boys who Found the Answer답을 찾은 두 소년2015
Awangnyo Finds out Fire for Kindling불씨를 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
Young Warriors of Goguryeo고구려의 젊은 무사들2010–20147 episodes
An ant with wings날개를 단 개미2009
Long Long Sunday긴긴 일요일2009
The Enchanted Mountain금강산 팔선녀2008A film based on the Korean fairy tale "The Fairy and the Woodcutter".
The Red Star빨간별2008–2012Stop-motion animation. 12 episodes.
A Greedy Dog욕심많은 개2008Based 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 다람이와 고슴도치 2006–2012The show was discontinued after episode 32 for unknown reasons.
The Lazy Pig놀고 먹던 꿀꿀이2006Remake of the 1969 film.
A Butterfly and a Cock나비와 수닭2006Remake of the 1976 film.
A Boy Defeats Robbers도적을 쳐부신 소년2006Remake of the 1983 film.
Two Friends Drinking Spring Water샘물을 마신 두동무2006
Tong Tong's Story통통이가 들려준 이야기2006
Let's Keep the Traffic Order교통질서를 잘 지키자요2006–2023Updated to 24 episodes. Traffic safety animated series for kids.
A Chodong and Father초동이와 아버지2005
A Cat and Kids야웅이와 꼬마들2004
A little Squirrel in Tolbaegol돌배골의 꼬마 청서2004
A little painter꼬마화가2003North Korea's first computer-generated imagery animation.
Grandpa's Mirror할아버지가 준 거울2003
Three friends in fantasy환상속의 세 동무2002The first 3D animation by SEK Studio.
The Bell방울소리1999–20057 episodes
Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang호동왕자와 락랑공주1990
Welcome to Pyongyang Festival평양 축전에 오신걸 환영합니다1989Animation on the occasion of 13th World Festival of Youth and Students.
Clever Raccoon Dog령리한 너구리1987–2012, 2021–2025Updated to 86 episodes.
Monkey Brothers원숭이 형제1985
Three Friends세 동무1985
A Winged Horse날개달린 룡마1983
Pencil Bomb연필 폭탄1983Anti-American propaganda.
A Hedgehog Defeats a Tiger호랑이를 이긴 고슴도치1983
A Boy Defeats Robbers도적을 쳐부신 소년1983
The Boy General소년장수1982–199650 episodes
Gun Shooters포쏘기 선수들1978
Squirrel and Hedgehog다람이와 고슴도치 1977–1982, 1997–200526 episodes
Raccoon Dog's Height Measurement너구리의 높이재기1976
A Butterfly and a Cock나비와 수닭1976
Whose Talent is Best?누구의 재주가 제일 일가?1976
Brave Wild Goose용감한 기러기1975
The Rabbit with The Big Ears귀가 큰 토끼1974
Why did the dog cry?멍멍이는 왜 울었나?1974
How Raccoon prepared for winter너구리의 겨울차비1974
A Little Tree and Sudong애기나무와 수동이1972
The Lazy Pig놀고 먹던 꿀꿀이1969
Time Bomb시한폭탄1967Anti-American propaganda.
Pig's Pumpkin Seeds꿀꿀이의 호박씨1967
Burned Squad of Flies불타버린 쉬팔리 부대1966Anti-American propaganda.
The Good Brother의좋은 형제1966
Dog and Cat멍멍이와 야웅이1965
Brother and Sister오누이1964
The Little Flower Pot작은 화분1964
Yawoong caught in fishing낚시에 걸린 야웅이1962
Deer and Tiger사슴과 호랑이1962
Merry Field흥겨운 들판1962
Little Red Star꼬마붉은별1961
Swallow Brothers제비 삼형제1961
The Greedy Pig욕심많은 돼지1960
Our Hill우리 동산1959SEK Studio's first animation.
Blue Spring파란샘물
A Gold Nugget and Maize Cakes황금덩이와 강낭떡
Slug Raccoon느렁뱅이 너구리
Bears' Village and Hares' Village곰동산과 토끼동산
The Story of Two Generals두 장군 이야기