Korean animation hits foreign TV screens

Animated works that were planned and produced by local manufacturers have been making inroads into the United States, Japan and European countries. The animations, mostly 3-D productions, were not produced under contract. Rather, local manufacturers took full responsibility for the productions from planning to drawing, while foreign firms handled their overseas distribution.

``Cubix`` and ``RUN=DIM`` are to be broadcast in the U.S. and Japan. The 26-episode ``Cubix`` series will be aired through Kids Warner Brothers, a U.S. TV firm, from Mar. 24.

Cinepix, Korean producer of ``Cubix,`` signed a contract with ``4Kids Entertainment,`` distributor of the Japanese animation ``Pokemon,`` in January last year. The pact calls for worldwide distribution on condition that it get $3.5 million of the total $5.2 million production cost in advance and 13 percent of the profits from various marketing campaigns, including the sale of character products.

``RUN=DIM,`` about a robot that opposes environmental destruction, will be televised from Apr. 1 on TV Tokyo, a Japanese animation channel. The show will replace the U.S. cartoon ``Tom and Jerry`` on Sunday mornings.

Seo Jeong-Bo suhchoi@donga.com