Can American audiences relate to a supernatural thriller about South Korean spies tasked with protecting their superpowered children from harm by malicious government agencies? Disney is about to find out.
“Moving,” a slick drama that blends themes of espionage, conspiracy and fantasy, debuted over the summer as the first global hit in Korean on Disney+. The series stars Ryu Seungryong, Lee Jungha, Go Younjung, Zo Insung, and Han Hyojoo, and has also debuted in Japan, Hong Kong, and other Asia-Pacific markets. Starting December 13, Disney will test the waters for the show in the US by showing English-dubbed episodes of “Moving” on Hulu. Episodes are also available on Hulu with English subtitles for those who prefer.
Disney is among several Western media conglomerates exploring South Korea’s vibrant media market by producing local language series. As it builds out Disney+ and related platforms, the Mouse House powerhouse is investing in original series in key territories including Asia-Pacific, the UK, Australia, Western Europe, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The goal is to develop specific local shows that complement the high-end original productions provided by Disney’s in-house companies such as Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, Nat Geo and other content sources. Disney must be selective in distributing its content dollars at a time when the industry is generally belt-tightening. But the company’s streaming strategy outside the U.S. is rooted in offering families a mix of high-powered Disney TV shows and movies, mixed with enough local content for kids and adults to make the service a must-have for subscribers in large target markets.
“We’re trying to make the content really local for locals. It has to appeal to the local market. If it’s great, it will travel and that’s what we’re finding with ‘Moving,'” says Eric Scherer, president of Disney Television Studios and global original TV strategy for Disney Entertainment. diverse.
“Moving” premiered last August and quickly became the most-watched original series on Disney+ in the Asia-Pacific region. The show has become a classic sleeper hit, drawing strong reviews as one of the best active superhero sagas on television, regardless of language. There’s no escaping the comparisons to “Squid Game” and the global sensation the dystopian K-drama has created for Netflix in 2021. Disney has high hopes that “Moving” will be part of a larger universe of characters and series franchise.
Carol Choi, Disney’s executive vice president of original content strategy for Asia Pacific and managing director of Japan, sees “Moving” as a family show.
“On the surface, you see it as a superhero-type show, but it connects on a human level,” Choi says. diverse. “It’s more about family ties than great powers.”
“Moving”
Choi noted that “Moving” came to fruition after a few years of Disney working to develop content in the Asia-Pacific region in Tokyo and Seoul. The show is based on a successful webtoon, a popular content medium in Asia that blends the look and feel of graphic novels and comic books with digital video into an online presentation. The story and characters were well known to fans of Korean popular culture. But Disney was still pleasantly surprised by the popularity of “Moving” in Japan and other countries. It’s part of a wave of Korean-produced dramas that have caught fire on Netflix, Amazon and regional streaming companies. As Disney looks to boost Disney+’s international subscriber base, the appeal of Korean dramas cannot be ignored.
“There is a lot of competition with a lot of studios that produce series,” Choi says of working with Korea’s creative community. “There are a lot of famous directors. The infrastructure was there, the talent was there. The infusion of capital and demand helped [Korea] Building a very strong infrastructure.”
Disney primarily commissions local-language shows from regional producers rather than creating its own in-house production entities. The slate ranges from the fantasy costume drama “Renegade Neil” for the UK, Europe and Middle East markets, to “Gannibal”, a suspense thriller for Asia Pacific audiences that revolves around a small town in Japan filled with dark events. Then on to “El Encargado,” a drama for Latin American audiences about an abusive construction supervisor with secrets to hide from a determined female tenant who challenges him.
Shearer’s role in leading Disney’s original television content strategy around the world has led to a stockpile of frequent flyer miles — and an overwhelming admiration for the talent and work on display.
“International television for American audiences has always felt a little fickle,” says Schrier, who was an FX Networks veteran before being hired as a senior assistant to Disney Entertainment co-president Dana Walden in September 2022. Five to ten years is how great global filmmaking is. “We’re trying to foster that kind of creativity and storytelling on Disney+.”
(Pictured above: “animated”)
Fans of Korean dramas have something new to look forward to as Disney+ announced that some of their popular Korean dramas will be getting an English dub for streaming on Hulu. This exciting news comes as a great opportunity for those who have been curious about the world of Korean dramas but may not speak Korean fluently. The addition of English dubs will make these beloved shows more accessible to a wider audience, bringing the captivating storytelling and unique cultural insights of Korean dramas to viewers all over the world. Whether you’re a seasoned K-drama fan or a newcomer to the genre, the arrival of English-dubbed Korean dramas on Hulu is sure to be a delightful treat.