Korean April 26 Animation Studio (), 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.
History The studio was founded on September 1957 as April 26 Children's Film Studio (4.26아동영화촬영소).
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 (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–)
Filmography Source:
Television SEK Studio has produced over 300 animations.
English title Original title Year Notes The Young Challengers 나어린 도전자들 2026–present Aired on 11 May 2026. Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang 호동왕자와 락랑공주 2023–2026 Updated to 12 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 Devil악마를 이긴 억쇠2020First 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 고주몽 2016–2025 50 episodes (also transliterated as Ko Jo Mong) 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 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 The Story of Two Generals두 장군 이야기2007Remake of the 1976 film. 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 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 New Friends새로 사귄 동무20052 episodes.Mysterious Land신비한 나라20044 episodes. A Cat and Kids 야웅이와 꼬마들 2004 A little Squirrel in Tolbaegol 돌배골의 꼬마 청서 2004 A story about Bat박쥐이야기2004 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 episodesThe Third's Kind Heart셋째의 착한 마음1999The Pond Frog of Spring Swamp샘늪의 참개구리1999 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 88 episodes. 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 Interesting Story재미있는 이야기19837 episodes The Boy General 소년장수 1982–1996 50 episodes (1-50)The Squid's Regret오징어의 뉘우침1982Brave Honeybee용감한 꿀벌19822 episodes 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 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 Spring파란샘물2004A Gold Nugget and Maize Cakes황금덩이와 강낭떡Made sometime in the 80s-90s.Slug Raccoon느렁뱅이 너구리Believed to have been made in the 80s-mid 90s.Bears' Village and Hares' Village곰동산과 토끼동산Made sometime during 1996-2004.
Outsourced animations
This is a partial list of the works outsourced by SEK Studio.
Title Year Notes Invincible 2024 Iyanu: Child of Wonder 2024 Dahlia in Bloom 2024 2019 Project started on 2006, halted until 2019, Studio SEK credited on first episode, credits removed depending masters. 2016 With Rai Fiction Sissi The Young Empress 2016 2015 With Rai Fiction and Musicartoon 2014 With , Chinese magical girl animated series Stan Lee's Mighty 7 2014 2014 Italian television animated series, with Gama Movie Animation and Rai Fiction 2013 2013 With Rai Fiction and Lucky Dreams 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 Season 3, Episode 1 "The Awakening", outsourced by MOI Animation Studio Jurassic Cubs 2007 Padre Pio 2006 2005 Italian-French series 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 2001 French series Narigota 2001 Les enfants de Toromiro 2000 2000 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 SEKPocahontas: 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. 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 2002 The Legend of the Titanic1999Produced by Mondo TV Gandahar (Light Years) 1988 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.
See also
Korean animation List of animation studios
References
US cartoons 'made in North Korea' (archived)