(Continued from Interview①) 'King of Kings' has surpassed a cumulative revenue of $60.3 million (approximately 82 billion KRW) in North America, surpassing 'Parasite' to become the highest-grossing Korean film of all time in K-animation.
This work is particularly noteworthy for being funded 100% by pure domestic capital with a production cost of 36 billion KRW. Why did director Jang Seong-ho insist on 'pure domestic capital' despite receiving investment offers from the U.S.?
"Having worked in the U.S., I became familiar with their production system. The investors are the top priority, and they exercise all rights. They send producers and manage everything from A to Z. There is definitely interference in the creative process. After much consideration, I decided to forgo U.S. investment to protect copyright and avoid interference, opting for domestic investment only."
As 'King of Kings' approaches its domestic release, it is gaining word-of-mouth as "the Korean film that surpassed 'Parasite' in North America." Regarding this title, director Jang Seong-ho stated, "It is an honor just to be mentioned in comparison."
"While it may appear that we surpassed it in numbers, I don't think we can compare the achievements in terms of artistic quality or direction. The works are fundamentally different in nature and character."
While it has created a box office sensation in North America, its success in its home country of Korea remains uncertain. Director Jang also expressed, "I was calm about the U.S. release, but I have mixed feelings about the Korean release."
"Korean animation, aside from major studio works, is mostly small-scale and typically targets a limited audience of children. In the U.S., we achieved success through wide releases, but in Korea, even the theater chains seem unsure. The subject matter doesn't fit neatly into K-content, and it can't simply be categorized as animation or religious content."
Director Jang admitted that he is also uncertain about the release in Korea, sharing, "I have mixed feelings of both expectation and concern."
As a first-generation VFX (visual effects) artist, 'King of Kings' is director Jang Seong-ho's debut as a film director. What led him to choose animation over live-action films?
"I thought to myself, 'Would I stand out in live-action films?' and concluded that I wouldn't. I can't be Park Chan-wook or Bong Joon-ho. I felt there would be significant resistance to a live-action film. However, it may sound a bit arrogant, but I was confident that I could excel in animation. I felt that more than half of the people would agree."
As the film highlights the life of Jesus across all age ratings, there were concerns about the brutally depicted parts in the Bible. In this process, director Jang established a standard: "It should not be difficult for children to watch, but it also shouldn't be too simple or childish for adults."
"The goal was to create something that people of all ages could enjoy and be moved by. I believe the core message of Jesus is 'love,' and I focused on expressing that feeling. I did not depict direct suffering. I even consulted an expert who worked for 30 years in a rating organization and retired to get prior confirmation."
Having achieved great success with his debut film, when asked about his next project, director Jang Seong-ho replied, "I am currently too preoccupied to think about my next project." However, he expressed a strong pride in animation.
"Until now, only the U.S. has been able to produce Hollywood-quality animation. In that context, 'King of Kings' has created an incredible situation. It may sound like self-praise, but I think this is why I need to continue working in animation. It has been very difficult to break into Hollywood with animation, but we have achieved that 'gate open.' I am confident in making live-action films, but in this situation, it seems more meaningful to continue creating animation."
Director Jang Seong-ho predicts that 'King of Kings' will score between 320,000 viewers for the Christian-themed film 'Son of God' and 2.5 million viewers for 'The Passion of Christ' in Korea.
"The number of theater audiences has significantly decreased compared to before. It seems like a reality that cannot be viewed optimistically, but isn't that something we cannot know?"
A K-animation depicting the life of Jesus with Hollywood quality is set to land in Korean theaters. This work has been completed over a production period of 10 years. Following its success in North America, it remains to be seen whether it will receive a warm response from audiences of all ages in its home country.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
