By Kim Tae-gyu
Times Correspondent
JEJU - The Asian animation markets have been dominated by a slew of Japanese studios thanks to stewardship of such prominent directors as Hayao Miyazaki and Toshihiro Kawamoto.
Korean animators are challenging this Japanese leadership based on cooperation with their European peers, who are also struggling to stay afloat due to the all-out attack of such products from the United States.
Toward that end, they convened at the Korea-European Union Cartoon Connection, which brought scores of animation studios from Korea and the EU together Wednesday for a three-day meeting here.
"The U.S. and Japan have dominated the world's animation markets on the strength of their huge domestic markets," Harry Yoon, vice president of local studio SAMG Animation, said.
"But they have downsides of sticking to just their own markets. By contrast, Korean studios have turned their eyes abroad because of the small local market. In the end, that might prove to be a blessing in disguise."
Yoon said that the Korean makers retain unparalleled competitiveness in producing animation, which he expects will help them surge in the global scene.
"The main work is carried out by Korean artisans even for Japanese animations. But up until now, we have lacked the capacity for planning and marketing well-made features. These made us languish," Yoon said.
"Things will be different in the future as our companies continue to develop their own capacity in planning and marketing with the partnership of European producers." SAMG has already produced four features together with a French maker.
Chey Lee, a director at Korean studio Vooz Club, points out that Korea will be able to chalk up success on the back of its expertise in three-dimensional animation movies.
"In two-dimensional animation, Japan has been unrivaled. But in the forthcoming three-dimensional products, we have a competitive edge compared to our Japanese rivals," Lee said.
"Coordination with European producers will open up our opportunities in South American nations, which speak the same languages as Spain or Portugal. Then, the top-notched U.S. market will also be available."
Marc Vandeweyer, the general director at the European association of animation film dubbed CARTOON, also stressed the significance of the partnership of Korea and the EU.
"This is the first time that such a big group has come from Europe in order to meet professionals in Korea in the area of animation. We will be able to organize this event as the starting point of new cooperation between Europe and Korea," he said.
The state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) organized the Cartoon Connection, which 40 European and 53 Korean studios participated in. It aims to hold the event every year with more participants.
"We hope to host this event every year with the participation of other Asian producers. Then Korea will become a hub for the whole Asian animation industry," KOTRA executive vice president Park Ki-sik said.
In response, Vandeweyer said that he is fine with the idea.