Increasing Number Of Koreans Map Out A Career Path In Hollywood Animation

More and more South Koreans are choosing a career path in Hollywood animation as it emerges as a huge cultural craft in the country.

According to Korea Times on Tuesday, American animation director Steve Martino visited South Korea on Oct. 15 to talk about the upcoming Charles Schulz's famed animated feature "Peanuts" comic strip and advised his audience to keep "their dream big and work hard."

"What I learned from Charles Schulz is he did the work," said 56-year-old Martino at Ewha Womens University in Seoul. "He went to his drawing table every day for 50 years."

Steve Martino is well-known for directing the 3D animated movie of 2012 "Ice Age: Continental Drift" and co-directing the 2008 computer-animated comedy adventure "Horton Hears a Who!" based on the Dr. Seuss' children's book.

"There's going to be a time when you fail, and those failures will be things you learn more from than your successes," emphasized Martino. "So when something doesn't work out, you just look at it, study it, build upon that and keep going like Charlie Brown. That's what I did."

In 2013, the culture ministry of South Korea announced that they will be allotting a bigger budget in 2014 for animation and character licensing industry, noted The Hollywood Reporter on Dec. 16, 2013.

Two years ago, the government allotted $16.35 million for animation and character licensing businesses with plans to increase the budget to $21.3 million the following year.

"The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will strengthen support for animations and provide multilateral funding channels to help develop it into one of Korea's representative industries," said the culture ministry.

The ministry aims to focus their funding on family animations, such as the 2014 American animated film "The Nut Job" to be able to touch a wider market.

The animation industry in South Korea is reportedly the third-largest in the world, just behind U.S. and Japan.

The Guardian noted on Jan. 22, 2013 that South Korea may have the talent needed for the animation industry, but may lack patrons due to the limited animation success stories.

"I know more Koreans have submitted their resumes to the U.S. studios with a dream to become an animator," noted Sung Ji Yeon, lightening supervisor of Blue Sky Studios known for her work in the 2013 animated feature "Epic." "But only a small number of them know the exact part they can contribute to the making process. They should be more specific when applying."