animation i n korea THE TALENT BEHIND LEAFIE LEAFIE, A Hen Into The Wild, is produced by Myung Films and Odoltogi, and is directed by Seong-yun Oh. Screenplay is by Eunjeong Kim, with world sales for Leafie by Seoul-based Finecut. Leafie was screened internationally in the market sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival in May while it was in post-production, but the screening at the MIPJunior closing party marks the first international bow of the film since production was completed.
Balloopo, the lead character, has a small elephant brain, but a big heart. Loyal and kind, with magical morphing powers as well, Balloopo lives in The Land Of Puff, where everything is made of balloons. Together with best friend Balloon Boy Paru , they have adventures growing and planting balloons, filling them, and perhaps, best of all, popping them. Paru and Balloopo work together in the Puffy Pumper Pump House, part-filling-station, part-repair-station, and a balloon hospital as well. They also travel around in their Vanaloon to repair punctures and restore order whenever trouble occurs. Princess Elpo, Hugpo, Needles, Poppy, Gordon and Slim are also stars in The Land Of Puff, and are all complex characters, even if they are filled with hot air. Paru is cheerful, playful, sensitive, an improviser and a catalyst for action. Not surprising, given her royal heritage, Princess Elpo is said to be fond of making proclamations when she doesn’t like the way things are going, but she’s also fiercely competitive and can’t stand losing. Poppy is Princess Elpo’s best friend, while Gordon and Slim are palace guards. Hugpo is big and grumpy and emotional but also given to extremes of joy, while Needles likes to think of himself as a fearless spy — but he’s really lazy, cowardly and given to easy solutions. Targeting three- to six-year-olds, the original concept came from POV founder and president Aiden Taehong Lee. Lee’s background includes both art and design, including a stint at the renowned Parson’s School Of Design in the US. Lee says: “I originally studied interior design but I’m also an artist, so when I started the animation business, I knew it required a great creative mind in the areas of both art and design. These industries are interconnected.” Balloopo is a co-production with Europe’s KidsPlant, which has offices in The Netherlands and France. KidsPlant is handling pre-production and production with post-production at Italy’s Connectoon. The series was developed by head writer and development editor Paul Dawson, who also spearheaded the adaptation of Vooz Co.’s Pucca. Lee says: “Each episode is a completely self contained story.” POV is handling distribution for all Asian territories as well as Australia,
Finecut’s director of international sales Yunjeong Kim says: “Leafie is an animation that shows the true meaning of being a family. And while it has a contemplative mood to it, it is entertaining for both children and adults, with a mix of the action, comedy, and heart-warming drama as well.” Myung Films was founded in 1995 and is considered one of the most successful film companies in Korea. It has produced such blockbuster titles as Joint Security Area, Forever The Moment and last year’s romantic comedy Cyrano Agency.
New Zealand and the Middle East. KidsPlant and Connectoon will distribute for other territories, with licensing as one of the major priorities for all three companies in Cannes during MIPJunior and MIPCOM. Balloopo got a major kickstart some four years ago when it was awarded in the Creative Idea category by KOCCA, giving it the seed money needed to make the pilot.
Balloopo, a co-production with Europe’s KidsPlant www.mipcom.com I Animation In Korea I Ocotber 2011 I 21