The Painted Soul, a 10-episode animated series co-produced by Rakuten Viki and South Korean studio Imaginus, premieres exclusively on Viki on October 21 in select international markets.
The series, which openly used AI-assisted production, marks Viki’s boldest push into animation yet — and a signal that the streaming platform wants a bigger slice of the anime and animated-content market.
A Fantasy Romance With AI Behind the Scenes
Directed by Junbae Choi, best known for Mouse and Stealer: The Treasure Keeper, The Painted Soul is a fantasy romance centered on Yun Hwa, an apprentice spirit painter who accidentally frees Seol Jin — a mysterious man sealed inside a painting for decades.
The hook is pure fantasy melodrama: legend says anyone who meets Seol Jin’s gaze is doomed. As Yun Hwa grows closer to him, she must decide whether what she feels is fear or something far more dangerous.
What sets the series apart is its production story. Rakuten Viki said the concept and storytelling were developed by a creative team at Imaginus who used AI and other technologies to bring the story to life in an impactful way. Imaginus chief creative officer Hyunjung Lee added that the team used new technologies to strengthen the storytelling — positioning the show as a test case for AI-assisted animation in mainstream K-content.
Where to Watch The Painted Soul
The Painted Soul will be available exclusively on Viki in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India, and Southeast Asia — notably excluding Korea itself and Japan from the announced rollout.
Viki chief content officer Jaehee Hong confirmed the platform plans to add more animated content in the future, suggesting The Painted Soul is the first of several animated projects rather than a one-off experiment.
With K-dramas dominating Viki’s catalog, the move into animation — especially AI-assisted animation — is one of the most interesting gambles in streaming right now. Whether audiences embrace a series openly built with AI will be the real story to watch.
The Painted Soul (Credits: Rakuten Viki)
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Source: Anime News Network — read the full story there.
