Animation work has been outsourced to various countries for several years, with companies like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon outsourcing animation work to Asian countries like South Korea and Japan for shows like Steven Universe and Korra. However, recent discoveries have shed light on a more controversial aspect of animation outsourcing: the involvement of North Korea in the process.
Documents found on a North Korean server suggest that US studios may have unknowingly outsourced animation work to North Korea. The files found on the server include sketches and videos that resemble work for popular US and Japanese cartoons, such as Invincible and Iyanu: Child of Wonder. This revelation has sparked concerns about the potential exploitation of North Korean labor and the implications for the entertainment industry.
The North Korean animation industry is known for its propaganda and as a means of earning foreign currency. The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned the Pyongyang-based SEK Studio, also known as April 26 Animation Studio, for its connection to the illegal employment of North Korean illustrators in China. The studio has been accused of using forced labor, which is a violation of international law and a breach of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The involvement of North Korea in animation outsourcing is not a new phenomenon. In 2013, a report by the US-Korea Institute at SAIS revealed that North Korea's state-owned animation studio, Animation Studio 22, had been producing cartoons for Chinese TV stations. The studio has also been involved in producing animations for video games, such as the popular game World of Tanks.
The discovery of animation work being outsourced to North Korea raises several questions. How did US studios not know that their work was being outsourced to North Korea? How can the entertainment industry ensure that it is not inadvertently supporting human rights abuses? And what steps can be taken to prevent this from happening in the future?
As the animation industry continues to grow and evolve, it is crucial that it operates ethically and responsibly. This includes being transparent about where work is being outsourced and ensuring that workers are treated fairly and humanely. The involvement of North Korea in animation outsourcing is a reminder that the entertainment industry must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these issues.
The discovery of animation work being outsourced to North Korea has sparked concerns about the potential exploitation of North Korean labor and the implications for the entertainment industry. Experts have weighed in on the issue, offering their views on the matter.
Martyn Williams, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, analyzed the files found on the North Korean server and concluded that they looked like part of a work order. He noted that the North Koreans have a lot of software companies set up in China that act as fronts and send information back to Pyongyang, where the work is done[1].
The Stimson Center's 38 North project, which focuses on North Korea, published a report that found no evidence to suggest that the American companies were aware of the activity. They suspect that the contracting arrangement was several steps downstream from the major producers, as the editing comments on the files were written in Chinese[1].
The U.S. government has taken a stance on this issue, with the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioning the Pyongyang-based SEK Studio, also known as April 26 Animation Studio, for its connection to the North Korean regime. The studio has been accused of using forced labor, which is a violation of international law and a breach of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights[3].
The discovery of animation work being outsourced to North Korea raises several questions. How did US studios not know that their work was being outsourced to North Korea? How can the entertainment industry ensure that it is not inadvertently supporting human rights abuses? And what steps can be taken to prevent this from happening in the future?
As the animation industry continues to grow and evolve, it is crucial that it operates ethically and responsibly. This includes being transparent about where work is being outsourced and ensuring that workers are treated fairly and humanely. The involvement of North Korea in animation outsourcing is a reminder that the entertainment industry must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these issues.
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