# SEK Studio

Korean April 26 Animation Studio (Korean: 조선4·26만화영화촬영소; Hanja: 朝鮮4·26漫畵映畵撮影所; lit. Korean April 26 Animation Film Studio), also known as SEK Studio (abbreviation of "Scientific Educational Korea"), is a state-owned North Korean animation studio, based in Ot'an-dong, Central District, Pyongyang.

## History

The studio started operations in September 1957, as 4.26 Children's Film Studio (4.26아동영화촬영소).
SEK Studio worked with foreign animators and companies with relative frequency for a North Korean operation throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Around 1985, it began to outsource animation for European television. It has also done subcontracting work on over 250 foreign animations. They mainly worked on subcontracting Russian, Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese animation, with American animation being 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, (due to these two, it has been repeatedly misinformed that SEK has worked for The Walt Disney Company). SEK also has produced features such as the French science fiction epic Gandahar (The Light Years) and Empress Chung.
It was registered as the SEK Studio which stands for Scientific Educational Korea in 1997 in order to take part in an animation festival in France.
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 outsourced episode 72 of the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.
Recently, international collaborations between SEK Studio and other nations has declined significantly, with only China co-producing content. This can largely be attributed to rising tensions between North Korea and the West, notably the United States. 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.
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.

### 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-)

## SEK Studio today

As of 2003, SEK Studio employed over 1,500 or 1,600 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. Most employees are in their twenties.
Much of the work produced by SEK Studio is considered to be propaganda for North Korean children, with SEK Studio being state-owned and creating animation intended for a young audience.

## Filmography

SEK has provided animation for the following works:

### Television

SEK Studio has produced over 300 Animations.
| English title | Original title | Year | Notes |
| Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang | 호동왕자와 락랑공주 | 2023-2024 | Updated to 6 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 Devil | 악마를 이긴 억쇠 | 2020 | First 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 | 2016-2024 | Updated to 46 episodes, also translated as Ko Jo Mong. |
| The Boy General (Series 2) | 소년장수 (2부) | 2015-2019 | 50 episodes (51-100), ended in 2019. |
| 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, ended in 2014. |
| 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 Film. 12 episodes, ended in 2012. |
| 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 | |
| Squirrel and Hedgehog (Series 2) | 다람이와 고슴도치 (2부) | 2006-2012... | The show was discontinued after episode 32 in 2012 for reasons unknown. |
| 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 | |
| A Cat and Kids | 야웅이와 꼬마들 | 2004 | |
| A little Squirrel in Tolbaegol | 돌배골의 꼬마 청서 | 2004 | |
| A little painter | 꼬마화가 | 2003 | North Korea's first CGI (computer-generated imagery) Animation Film. |
| Grandpa's Mirror | 할아버지가 준 거울 | 2003 | |
| Three friends in fantasy | 환상속의 세 동무 | 2002 | The first 3D Animation Film by SEK Studio. |
| The Bell | 방울소리 | 1999-2005 | 7 episodes, ended in 2005. |
| Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang | 호동왕자와 락랑공주 | 1990 | |
| Welcome to Pyongyang Festival | 평양 축전에 오신걸 환영합니다 | 1989 | Animation film on the occasion of 13th World Festival of Youth and Students. |
| Clever Raccoon Dog | 령리한 너구리 | 1987-2012, 2021-2024 | Updated to 82 episodes. |
| Monkey Brothers | 원숭이 형제 | 1985 | |
| Three Friends | 세 동무 | 1985 | |
| A Winged Horse | 날개달린 룡마 | 1983 | |
| Pencil Bomb | 연필 폭탄 | 1983 | Anti-USA Propaganda Animation Film. |
| A Hedgehog Defeats a Tiger | 호랑이를 이긴 고슴도치 | 1983 | |
| A Boy Defeats Robbers | 도적을 쳐부신 소년 | 1983 | |
| The Boy General | 소년장수 | 1982-1996 | 50 episodes (1-50), ended in 1996. |
| Gun Shooters | 포쏘기 선수들 | 1978 | |
| Squirrel and Hedgehog | 다람이와 고슴도치 (Series 1) | 1977-1982, 1997-2005 | 26 episodes, ended in 2005. |
| 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-USA Propaganda Animation Film. |
| Pig's Pumpkin Seeds | 꿀꿀이의 호박씨 | 1967 | |
| Burned Squad of Flies | 불타버린 쉬팔리 부대 | 1966 | Anti-USA Propaganda Animation Film. |
| 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 Film. |
| Blue Spring | 파란샘물 | | |
| A Gold Nugget and Maize Cakes | 황금덩이와 강낭떡 | | |
| Slug Raccoon | 느렁뱅이 너구리 | | |
| Bears' Village and Hares' Village | 곰동산과 토끼동산 | | |
| The Story of Two Generals | 두 장군 이야기 | | |

### Animation services

The list below is a part of the works outsourced by SEK studio.
| Title | Year | Notes |
| Invincible | 2024 | |
| Iyanu: Child of Wonder | 2024 | |
| Dahlia in Bloom | 2024 | |
| Anatane et les enfants d'Okura [fr] | 2019 | Project started on 2006, halted until 2019, Studio SEK credited on first episode, credits removed depending masters. |
| Bu-Bum! La strada verso casa [it] | 2016 | With Rai Fiction |
| Sissi The Young Empress | 2016 | |
| Egyxos [it] | 2015 | With Rai Fiction and Musicartoon |
| Flower Angel [zh] | 2014 | With Shanghai Taomee Network [zh], Chinese Magical girl animated series |
| Stan Lee's Mighty 7 | 2014 | |
| Star Key [it] | 2014 | Italian television animated series, With Gama Movie Animation and Rai Fiction |
| Le straordinarie avventure di Jules Verne [it] | 2013 | |
| Il sogno di Brent [it] | 2013 | With Rai Fiction and Lucky Dreams |
| Baskup Tony Parker [fr] | 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 | Episode "The Awakening", outsourced by MOI Animation Studio |
| Jurassic Cubs | 2007 | |
| Padre Pio | 2006 | |
| Foot 2 rue [fr] | 2005 | Italian-French series |
| La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants [fr] | 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 (1 Episodes); 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 |
| Bécassine et le Trésor viking [fr] | 2001 | French series |
| Narigota | 2001 | |
| Les enfants de Toromiro | 2000 | |
| Les Aventures outre-mer [fr] | 2000 | |
| La Princesse du Nil [fr] | 1999 | 1999 Animated Series |
| 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 SEK |
| Pocahontas: 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. |
| Ernest Le Vampire [fr] | 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 |
| Corto Maltese, la cour secrète des arcanes [fr] | 2002 | |
| The Legend of the Titanic | 1999 | Produced by Mondo TV |
| Gandahar (Light Years) | 1988 | |
| How Wang-Fo Was Saved | 1987 | |

## In popular culture

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