What’s the one thing from K-content landscape that’s been overlooked for far too long? Korean games? Variety shows? No. It’s Korean animation. That is until the latest massive wave from “KPop Demon Hunters”sweep the entire movie and song charts. Yes, “KPop Demon Hunters” was not produced in South Korea, but the animation speaks K-content at its core, leaving massive impact for Korean animation studios, including Studio Mir (스튜디오 미르).
And now, Studio Mir is stepping into the spotlight, betting big that the world is finally ready for a Korean animation universe that’s fully its own.
So, does this mean a new era of Korean animation is finally coming? Because who knows? The brave move of Studio Mir might just rewrite the entire K-content playbook.
Studio Mir: Riding “KPop Demon Hunters” Wave Without Making
First thing’s first, let’s address the massive elephant in the room: no, Studio Mir was not the studio behind “KPop Demon Hunters”. That project came from Sony Pictures Animation and was distributed by Netflix.
However, the global shockwave it sent — a Billboard-dominating soundtrack, a viral fandom, a short film, and rumors of a sequel — has not only turned the whole K-content investment upside down but also opened doors for new chances, especially for Korean animation.
Korean animation studios have long powered hits from just behind the shadow. Now, with fan interest and industry attention shifting toward K-animation, Studio Mir sees its chance to lead. Not by copying the format, but by building something rooted in Korean storytelling, owned by Korean creators, and designed to grow beyond one show or one season.
From Global Collaborator to Original IP Creator
Studio Mir already has a history with major players — Netflix, Paramount, Disney, Warner Bros, and even Riot — as a trusted animation partner.
Its breakthrough came with “The Legend of Korra,” and since then it’s been known as a high-end production studio. Studio Mir’s latest production was Netflix’s animation based on the popular IP, “Devil May Cry.”
But now Studio Mir is pivoting.
In a recent interview, CEO Yoo Jae Myung confirmed that Studio Mir will launch its own IPs starting next year — beginning with “Gosu,” a webtoon-based animation produced with Studio N and Toei Animation.
But that is just the start. CEO Yoo Jae Myung also hinted at plans for theatrical releases and a step-by-step strategy to build an original content universe the studio can actually own.
“Starting next year, we’ll begin fully developing our animation business based on original IP. Building on the popularity of Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, we aim to lead a renaissance in K-animation.
We plan to acquire IPs that already have a solid fanbase — such as novels and webtoons — and develop them into series animations to build broad public awareness. Eventually, we’ll also produce theatrical animations based on the most successful titles.”
Yoo Jae Myung, CEO of Studio Mir.
K-Animation Identity: The Next Hallyu Frontier?
For fans, this is more than business strategy — it’s about what Korean animation feels like.
“KPop Demon Hunters” hit hard because it captured the emotional rhythm of K-dramas and the intensity of idol storytelling — even if it wasn’t Korean-made.
That is why fans expectations have now gone through the roof: can Korean animation studios like Studio Mir create stories that connect with fans the same way K-dramas and K-pop do? Or at least, close to how “KPop Demon Hunters” touched our hearts and healed our souls.
That’s the challenge — and the opportunity. If done right, it could create the first fandom-centered K-animation universe that truly and originally belongs to Korea.
What Studio Mir Needs to Get Right
Building a universe isn’t just about animation quality or IP rights. It’s about emotional architecture — giving fans reasons to care, cry, and come back.
Studio Mir has the technical chops. But this next step will test whether it can deliver that emotional experience fans crave: layered characters, K-culture nuance, heart-wrenching backstories, and storytelling that respects both the local and global audience.
After “KPop Demon Hunters”, Who Builds the Next Universe?
Yes, “KPop Demon Hunters” wasn’t made in Korea — but once again, it has always felt like it belonged there. And now, Studio Mir is trying to do what that film proved was possible: build a K-animation story that moves the world.
So, the wave is here, and the fandom is ready. The only question left is: can Studio Mir turn this moment into a legacy — and finally give Korea an animation universe it can truly call its own?
What do you think? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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