AI-Assisted Animated K-Drama ‘The Painted Soul’ From ‘Mouse’ Director Sets Rakuten Viki Launch (EXCLUSIVE)

“The Painted Soul,” an original animated K-drama from “Mouse” director Choi Junbae, will launch exclusively on Rakuten Viki on Oct. 21 across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India and Southeast Asia.

The fantasy romance is co-produced by Viki and South Korean outfit Imaginus, whose creatives used AI and other technologies in developing the series.

The series centers on Yun Hwa, a trainee painter who unwittingly releases a stranger trapped inside a painting for half a century. Legend holds that anyone who looks him in the eye faces a grim fate. As the pair grow closer, Yun Hwa must decide if her feelings for him amount to fear or something deeper.

Choi’s previous credits include “Mouse” and “Stealer: The Treasure Keeper.”

“Our fans have told us they want more animated content, and they’re going to love ‘The Painted Soul,’ a fantasy romance with a visual style unlike anything else on Viki,” said Hong Jaehee, chief content officer at Rakuten Viki. “We’re always looking for new stories from Korea and beyond to share with our audience. We plan to bring more animation to our platform, and ‘The Painted Soul’ is just the start.”

Lee Hyunjung, chief creative officer at Imaginus, said the company’s artists always want to tell the most compelling stories. “We worked hard to make ‘The Painted Soul’ an intriguing watch for viewers, and with the use of exciting new technologies, we were able to enhance our storytelling in meaningful ways. We are looking forward to the debut of ‘The Painted Soul’ on the Viki platform.”

Choi Jinnie launched Imaginus in December 2021. She was previously CEO of Studio Dragon, a CJ ENM subsidiary. Imaginus’ earlier credits include “Cinderella at 2AM,” which also streams on Viki.

The news was unveiled ahead of the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market.

Viki is part of Rakuten Group and has over 127 million registered users across more than 190 countries and territories. It also runs the entertainment news site Soompi. Viewers can watch on a free ad-supported tier or choose one of two ad-free subscription plans, Viki Pass Standard and Viki Pass Plus.