Netflix’s Tokyo Showcase Spotlights Korean Animation Push and Genre Diversification

Netflix‘s ambitious strategy for Korean content took center stage at the streamer’s ongoing APAC showcase in Tokyo, where executives and filmmakers offered an in-depth look at their upcoming slate, with special emphasis on “Lost in Starlight,” the platform’s first Korean animated feature.

The animation milestone, arriving in Q2, represents a significant step in Netflix’s expanding Korean content universe, which continues to build on the global success of hits like “Revelations,” directed by Yeon Sang-ho, which topped Netflix’s Non-English film chart for two weeks across 65 countries.

Vincent Taewon Kim, director of content for Netflix Korea, spoke about the company’s strategic focus on “diversifying the genre, as well as enhancing the quality and entertainment value” for its seven-film 2025 slate, which spans animation, romance, thriller, sci-fi and action genres.

Director Han Ji-won, joining virtually from Seoul, detailed the painstaking five-year journey behind “Lost in Starlight,” which tells the story of “an emotionally scarred astronaut, chosen for a Mars probe, falls for a disheartened musician grappling with stage fright.” The film features voice performances from Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung.

“I have always loved animation films that dealt with outer space and love,” Han explained, noting how the project began as a short film before evolving into a feature with production company Climax Studio. “The subject matter of dream and also romance and love, I realize that these things are all very closely connected together.”

In crafting Seoul circa 2050, Han described her approach to world-building that balances futurism with nostalgia. “We try to create a future version of those elements like the film ‘Her,’ the things that are critical to our story,” she said. Han deliberately juxtaposed high-tech elements like holograms against retro settings like Euljiro, a neighborhood known for its nostalgic atmosphere.

Han expressed optimism about Korean animation’s global potential: “Korea has got this pool of talent… We have a lot of creators who are really good at storytelling. I think Korea is a country that has everything to make great animation work.”

The showcase also featured directors Kim Tae-joon and Namkoong Sun discussing their Q3 releases. Kim’s “Wall to Wall” (also known as “84 Square Meters”) explores housing anxieties central to contemporary Korean society through the story of Woo-sung, whose dream apartment becomes a nightmare due to mysterious noises.

“Over 80% of Korean residences are in apartments. And 84 square meters is actually the most common size,” Kim explained. “Apartment complexes are not just a place where people live, but it’s really a place where different interests and desires of people come into conflict and confrontation.”

Kim, whose previous Netflix thriller “Unlocked” reached the top 10 in 46 countries, drew from personal experience with noise complaints for his concept. The film stars Kang Ha-neul, Yeom Hye-ran, and Seo Hyun-woo.

Meanwhile, Namkoong’s “Love Untangled” offers a refreshing change of pace with its 1998 Busan-set youth romance featuring “the most sought-after young actors in Korea right now,” including Gong Myoung and Shin Eun-soo. The story follows a curly-haired high schooler determined to confess her feelings to her crush.

“Korean teens probably have their own dilemmas,” Namkoong reflected. “The world is changing so quickly and I think the teens are having a very hard time navigating their future. We need more joy, we need more love, we need more happiness.”

Vincent Kim also teased three additional films closing out 2025: “Mantis,” a spinoff from the hit “Kill Boksoon”; “Good News,” a 1970s-set hijacking drama; and “Great Flood,” a “sci-fi disaster blockbuster film.”

The showcase culminated with a first-ever global screening of “Lost in Starlight” for Tokyo attendees, signaling Netflix’s confidence in its expanding Korean genre portfolio.