The K-Anime 'King of Kings' (directed by Jang Seong-ho), which swept North America, is returning home.
Set to be released domestically on the 17th, 'King of Kings' depicts the journey of Charles Dickens, the great British author, and his youngest son Walter as they embark on an adventure into the greatest story of 2000 years ago.
This is the culmination of a decade-long effort by director Jang. After its release in the U.S. last April, it achieved sales of 81.6 billion won within just 17 days, surpassing Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite'. This marks the highest box office score for a domestically produced film in North America.
Such achievements in the U.S., where renowned animation studios like Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks abound, are remarkable.
As previously introduced by director Jang, the work is evaluated as a "story that anyone can relate to, regardless of age or faith," focusing on universal values of 'love', 'family', and 'growth'. The visual beauty reminiscent of live-action films and the use of Unreal Engine-based virtual production technology have enhanced its quality.
Director Jang, who is responsible for the screenplay and main direction, is a first-generation VFX artist in Korea and a veteran who has led films, dramas, and global projects for over 30 years. Joining him as co-director and cinematographer is Kim Woo-hyung, a representative cinematographer of Korea known for works like 'Assassination', '1987', and 'The King', while music is composed by Kim Tae-sung, who has worked on over 70 projects including 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' and 'The Drug King', adding emotional depth.
It has already received critical acclaim with a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an A+ CinemaScore, and has confirmed its release in 120 countries worldwide before landing in Korea.
The American dubbed version features Hollywood stars like Kenneth Branagh and Uma Thurman, while the Korean dubbing includes prominent domestic actors such as Lee Byung-hun, Lee Ha-nee, Jin Seon-kyu, and Yang Dong-geun.
With the wave of excitement already building in Korea, a new chapter in K-Anime history can be experienced in theaters on July 17.
