Rakuten Viki’s new animated K-drama The Painted Soul, a fantasy romance about a cursed man trapped in a painting, premieres Oct. 21. Its creators used AI tools to help develop it.
Rakuten Viki is getting into animated K-dramas.
The streamer announced The Painted Soul, a new original Korean animated series, on Oct. 9. All 10 episodes are directed by Choi Junbae, and the show premieres exclusively on Viki on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
It’s a fantasy romance with a spooky twist, just in time for Halloween season.
What is The Painted Soul about?
A painter, a painting, and a curse. The story follows Yun Hwa, an apprentice spirit painter who accidentally frees Seol Jin, a mysterious man who’s been sealed inside a painting for decades.
There’s a catch. Legend says anyone who meets his gaze is doomed.
As Yun Hwa gets closer to him, she has to figure out whether what she feels is fear or something more, according to Viki.
Where can you watch The Painted Soul?
Only on Viki. It streams there starting Oct. 21 in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, India, and Southeast Asia.
You can watch Viki for free with ads. Paid tiers called Viki Pass Standard and Viki Pass Plus remove the ads.
Viki didn’t say whether all 10 episodes drop at once or come out weekly.
Did The Painted Soul use AI?
Yes, in part. A team at Imaginus that “utilized AI and other technologies“ developed the show’s concept and storytelling, according to Viki’s announcement.
Viki didn’t say exactly which parts of the show used AI. Hyunjung Lee, chief creative officer at Imaginus, said new technology helped the team “enhance our storytelling in meaningful ways.”
AI in animation is a touchy subject for a lot of fans and artists, so people are likely to look closely at this one.
Who is behind The Painted Soul?
Director Choi Junbae has mostly worked in live-action K-dramas. His credits include the 2021 thriller Mouse and the 2023 action-comedy Stealer: The Treasure Keeper, both on Korea’s tvN.
The Painted Soul is a co-production between Viki and Imaginus, a South Korean studio founded in December 2021. Its founder is Jinnie Choi, the former CEO of Studio Dragon, the company behind many of Korea’s biggest dramas.
Imaginus also worked on Cinderella at 2 AM, a romantic comedy that also streams on Viki.
Why is Viki making animated K-dramas now?
Because fans asked for them, according to Viki. “Our fans have told us they want more animated content,” said Jaehee Hong, Viki’s chief content officer.
Hong said The Painted Soul has a visual style “unlike anything else on Viki.” She also said Viki plans to bring more animation to the platform, calling this “just the start.”
What is Rakuten Viki?
It’s a streaming service built around Asian TV and movies, including K-dramas, Chinese dramas, variety shows, and films. It’s part of Japan’s Rakuten Group.
Viki says it has more than 127 million registered users in more than 190 countries and territories. It’s known for its subtitles, many of them made by volunteer fans. It also runs the K-pop and K-drama news site Soompi.
Is The Painted Soul a good pick for Halloween?
It could be. A man trapped in a cursed painting with a deadly stare is pretty spooky for a romance.
If you like K-dramas but want something besides live action, give this one a try. All you need is a free Viki account, and the painting opens Oct. 21.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
Rakuten Viki via PR Newswire (Oct. 9, 2026), the series announcement, premiere date, regions, plot, AI use, Imaginus history and the quotes from Jaehee Hong and Hyunjung Lee
D-Addicts, Choi Junbae’s credits on Mouse and Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.