SEK Studio


Scientific Educational Korea or SEK Studio is a North Korean animation studio, based in Othan-dong, Central District, Pyongyang.

History

The studio started operations in September 1957, as April 26 Children's Film Studio. Around 1985, it began to outsource animation for European television. It was registered as the SEK Studio in 1997 in order to take part at an animation festival in France. SEK Studio participated in "Shijiazhuang International Animation Exhibition" on September 30, 2014. SEK Studio is expected to introduce a new science fiction genre animation. 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.

History of names

As of 2003, SEK Studio employed over 1,500 people 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. 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. 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.
In 2014, SEK Studio cooperated with Chinese companies to establish an office in Beijing. SEK Studio also invested $70,000 in Chinese companies.

Filmography

SEK has provided animation for the following works:

Television

SEK Studio has produced over 300 Animations.
English titleOriginal titleYearNotes
Gojumong고주몽2016-
The Boy General 소년장수 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
다람이와 고슴도치 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
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 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.
SEK has done work on several animated series with Mondo TV, including Pocahontas: Princess of the American Indians and Simba the King Lion,. SEK also has produced features such as the French science fiction epic Gandahar and Empress Chung.
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. Therefore, it’s highly possible that millions in America and beyond have unknowingly experienced the handiwork of North Korean animators.
According to the Korean Film Council, SEK Studio outsourced episode 72 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The list below is a part of the works outsourced by SEK studio.
TitleYearNotes
:it:Bu-Bum! La strada verso casa|Bu-Bum! La strada verso casa2016With Rai Fiction
Sissi The Young Empress2016
:it:Egyxos|Egyxos2015With Rai Fiction and Musicartoon
:zh:小花仙|Flower Angel2014With :zh:上海淘米|Shanghai Taomee Network, Chinese Magical girl animated series
Stan Lee's Mighty 72014
:it:Star Key|Star Key2014Italian television animated series, With Gama Movie Animation and Rai Fiction
:it:Le straordinarie avventure di Jules Verne|Le straordinarie avventure di Jules Verne2013
:it:Il sogno di Brent|Il sogno di Brent2013With Rai Fiction and Lucky Dreams
:fr:Baskup - Tony Parker|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
2007Episode "The Awakening", outsourced by MOI Animation Studio
Jurassic Cubs2007
Padre Pio2006
:fr:Foot 2 rue|Foot 2 rue2005Italian-French series
:fr:La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants|La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants2004French series
The Boy 2003
The Spaghetti Family2003Italian series produced by Mondo TV
Pororo the Little Penguin2003Season 1 ; credited as Sam-Cheon-Ri
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003Episode 72 ; uncredited
Raindrop, water is adventure2002Produced by Motion Pictures, S.A., TVE, TV3 and TVV
The Bellflower Bunnies2001Season 1
Lazy Cat Dinga2001With Hanaro Telecom; credited as Sam-Cheon-Ri
Prudence Petitpas2001
Marcelino Pan y Vino 2001Japanese series
:fr:Bécassine et le Trésor viking|Bécassine et le Trésor viking2001French series
Narigota2001
Les enfants de Toromiro2000
:fr:Les Aventures outre-mer|Les Aventures outre-mer2000
:fr:Princesse du Nil |La Princesse du Nil19991999 Animated Series
Sophie's Misfortunes1998
Princess Sissi1997
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.
:fr:Ernest le vampire|Ernest Le Vampire1989
Bamboo Bears1995

Film

In popular culture

Canadian animator and cartoonist Guy Delisle documented his experiences whilst working at the SEK Studio in his graphic novel, . because SEK studio subcontracted the Corto Maltese animation.