The iconic Korean animation series ‘Pororo’ is making its debut in the U.S., marking the first time ever that a Korean children’s animation is released in the U.S. market.
Pororo The Movie: Superstar Adventure, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the animation’s inception, will be released in Los Angeles and Orange County on December 8. It will also premiere in seven other major North American cities, including Houston and Atlanta, on December 15. The movie is directed by Je-wan Yoon, and Sung-min Kim, produced by OCON, and distributed by CJ CGV.
In an interview with the Korea Daily, Woo Ji-hee, CEO of OCON, discussed the movie’s entry into the U.S. market.
-Pororo turns 20 this year. What’s the secret to its popularity?
“Honestly, it’s simply adorable. Many factors contribute to its popularity, including being the first Korean animated movie for children and its engaging storyline. But beyond that, it’s the characters themselves that make a lasting impression. Their endearing actions and charming facial expressions captivate audiences. People’s fondness for the characters does not easily fade. Therefore, our commitment is to continue crafting compelling stories that honor these beloved characters.”
-What motivated the decision to expand into the U.S. market?
“For over a decade, we’ve observed a consistent demand in both the U.S. and Europe. Pororo’s English YouTube channel has almost as many views as our Korean channel. The U.S. is an animation powerhouse with Disney, Pixar, and many others. While there’s a plethora of content for various age groups, there’s a noticeable gap in programming specifically tailored for 2 to 6-year-olds. Pororo’s success in many countries can be attributed to its simplicity, fun nature, and universally relatable storylines. We thought it was time to enter the U.S. market in earnest, and this is our first foray to collect data and learn from other animations in the country.”
-What kind of feedback have you received regarding the movie so far?
“We premiered the movie on December 2 and we are receiving an overwhelming amount of reactions to our social media feeds. ‘When will you do it again?,’ ‘When will you come to other states?’ and so on. The premiere was a full house, with all 150 seats occupied. We’re grateful and excited for the upcoming premieres.”
-Have you made any specific changes or adaptations to the original content to cater to the U.S. mainstream market?
“Nothing in particular. We are going to take the competitiveness of the content itself. ‘Fun’ is universal. Educational philosophies may differ, but in terms of entertainment, it’s more important to be entertaining than recognizable. The power of content has already been demonstrated in Korea and the Korean-American community, so I think it will be similar in the US.”
-Do you believe the rising popularity of K-pop will have any effect on the success of your project?
“The time is perfect for us. Korean cultural content is being recognized in the U.S., so Korean animation is also gaining the public’s favor. I believe that the influence of K-animation can spread just like K-pop.”
-Why is Pororo a penguin?
“The way the penguin waddles on its short legs and the way it’s trying to do something was similar to how babies do. Also, I wanted to portray the penguin’s dreams by wearing an aviator’s outfit with a helmet and goggles although it can’t fly.”
-If there is any wish for the future of this project, what would it be?
“The children who grew up watching Pororo have now become adults, yet Pororo remains a topic of conversation among them. Because the audience grew up with Pororo, its competitiveness continues to make it fun, and that’s how we could expand the market. I hope we do well in the U.S. and become a K-anime with global competitiveness, and that Pororo becomes a character that lasts for over 100 years like Disney.”
Website: ocon-us.com/Instagram:@pororo_movie_us
Pororo The Movie: A Superstar Adventure is the eighth movie in the Pororo theatrical series, and it depicts the extraordinary adventures of the Pororo Band, formed by Pororo and her friends, as they challenge the Blue Doll Superstar Competition, an open audition in space to find the best superstar. The movie delivers an educational message to parents and children alike that winning is not the goal, but rather is the process of trying. CGV LA will host a ‘Pororo’ photo session on December 8 from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by a screening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. CGV Buena Park will hold the event on December 9th from 1 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m.
BY SUAH JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
