As is well known, the word animation derives from the Latin ANIMA, meaning “soul,” “life,” or “breath.” Much like this layered etymology, the act of setting still images into motion—endowing them with life—is akin to granting each image its own rhythm of breath.

'The Breath of Images: From Shorts to Features in Korean Animation' spotlights a new generation of creators at a time when Korean animation, rooted in local contexts, is gaining unprecedented international attention. The works presented here employ a wide range of techniques, from sketches and cel animation to puppets, clay, 3D, and stop motion. Some directors expand the horizons of their practice by constantly experimenting with new methods, while others delve deeper into a single technique, refining its expressive potential. Together they remind us that what matters most is not the choice of method itself, but how it is used to build a distinctive voice.

Each section pairs a director’s debut short—often raw yet essential—with a feature film that consolidates their artistic vision. In this juxtaposition, audiences can trace both transformation and continuity, discovering the rhythm with which each creator has shaped their imagery. Debut works, often born out of a sense of urgency as if they might be the last, paradoxically carry the distilled essence of a filmmaker’s craft; far from the stereotype of a “clumsy beginning,” some reveal a maturity rivaling later works.

Through the interplay between shorts and features by eight directors, this program seeks to illuminate the unique breath of each artistic world and to reaffirm the enduring potential of Korean animation on the global stage.