Launched in 2020, the Animated Web Series competition received a total of 63 episode submissions for this year’s competition. This is a section with endless possibilities and countless potential viewers that may have yet to be discovered. As video content moves toward a trend of shorter running times, this is also a section that must contend with countless thumbnails vying for our attention.

It is difficult to condense the best material into the short span of one minute, but the effort and care poured into each work was evident, so the committee required long deliberation and many conversations around the table. “What is web animation?” This question was at the beginning of our considerations, and over time, we narrowed our opinions about the common values of the works in this section.

The committee ultimately selected 12 works that exemplified the novel originality freely explored by solo-creators of the future, while considering whether each creator’s approach made their work more accessible to a wide audience. Each of these works was selected not only for its high quality but also for showing the possibilities and potential of animated content in the online environment.

There were many works that explored contemporary concerns with humorous sensibilities and presented characters with charm and personality. These works were also meant to be viewed in diverse ways. Some stories are paced for multiple episodes in a series, and others are episodic with each installment telling a complete story. And still others felt like watching a painting in motion. 

While web animations are made by creators to be enjoyed and appreciated by viewers, they can take on new meanings depending on the viewer’s point of view. Therefore, it is up to creators to not only concern themselves with the production of their works but also consider ways to gather a wider audience or find spaces where their works can reach more viewers.

There are submissions that unfortunately will not have the opportunity to be screened at this year’s festival, but these works have a special quality of their own and an audience waiting to be discovered. We hope to see more of these talented creators building their own platforms and creating their own unique brands. We wish to send our encouragement and acknowledge the hard work and passion of all the creators that submitted their work.

Comments written by KWON Seoyoung on behalf of Animated Web Series Preliminary Selection Jury Members: KWON Seoyoung, OH Seoro, HONG Junpyo