Rakuten Viki and Imaginus to Co-Produce New Animated K-Drama, The Painted Soul

 New Series from Director Choi Junbae to Debut Exclusively on Viki Globally this Month

SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rakuten Viki announced today the premiere of a new original Korean animated series The Painted Soul, which blends fantasy and romance with Eastern inspiration. Directed by Choi Junbae (Mouse, Stealer: The Treasure Keeper), the 10-episode series will arrive exclusively on Viki starting October 21 in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Oceania, India, and Southeast Asia. The Painted Soul is a co-production between South Korean production company Imaginus and Viki.

The Painted Soul follows apprentice spirit painter Yun Hwa, who accidentally frees Seol Jin, a mysterious man sealed inside a painting for decades. Legend says anyone who meets his gaze is doomed. But as Yun Hwa is drawn closer to the stranger, she must decide whether what she feels is fear or something more.

Under Junbae's direction, the renowned creative team working on The Painted Soul is on the cutting edge in driving content forward by leveraging new filmmaking techniques. The concept and storytelling for The Painted Soul was developed by a team of creatives at Imaginus who utilized AI and other technologies to bring the story to life in an impactful way.

"Our fans have told us they want more animated content, and they're going to love The Painted Soul, a fantasy romance with a visual style unlike anything else on Viki," said Jaehee Hong, chief content officer at Viki. "We're always looking for new stories from Korea and beyond to share with our audience. We plan to bring more animation to our platform, and this is just the start."

Hyunjung Lee, chief creative officer at Imaginus, said, "At their core, our team of artists always wants to tell the most compelling stories. We worked hard to make The Painted Soul an intriguing watch for viewers, and with the use of exciting new technologies, we were able to enhance our storytelling in meaningful ways. We are looking forward to the debut of The Painted Soul on the Viki platform."

The pioneering production company Imaginus was established in December 2021 by Jinnie Choi, the former CEO of Studio Dragon, a subsidiary of CJ ENM. The company previously worked on popular series including Cinderella at 2AM, which is also available on Viki.

Viki is the leading global destination for Asian entertainment, bringing a diverse line-up of content including dramas, animation, variety shows, movies, and more to a global audience in over 190 countries and territories.

Viki is available to watch for free (with advertisements) or without advertisements through tiered subscriptions of Viki Pass Standard and Viki Pass Plus, and is available on web and several platforms via desktop, mobile, streaming devices, and connected TVs.

For more information, visit: www.viki.com. Follow Viki on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and X.

About Rakuten Viki

Rakuten Viki is a leading global destination for Asian entertainment, attracting audiences worldwide with an extensive library of dramas, variety shows, movies, and Viki Originals from across Asia. With more than 127 million registered users in 190+ countries and territories, Viki's personalized streaming experience allows fans to discover and watch stories they love, brought to life through curated content and high-quality subtitles. Part of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global powerhouse in e-commerce and internet services, Viki and its entertainment news site Soompi connect a global community of passionate fans through Asian entertainment.

Media Contact:
Beth Mellow: [email protected]

SOURCE Rakuten Viki