The Walt Disney Co unveiled its first slate of Asia Pacific local-language content for streaming on Disney+ today, with a focus on series from Korea, Japan and Indonesia.
Highlights from Korea include romantic melodrama Snowdrop, starring Jung Hae-in and Blackpink’s Jisoo, and action thriller Moving, based on the webtoon by Kang Full. The Japanese content is mostly anime, including the series Black Rock Shooter Dawn Fall, Summer Time Rendering and an anime adaptation of Disney mobile game Twisted Wonderland.
Indonesian content includes comedy drama series Bad Signal, co-produced with Indonesia’s Starvision, and Tira, created by Joko Anwar and produced with Indonesian character-based entertainment company Bumilangit. The slate also includes series from Greater China, Malaysia and one show from Australia (see highlights below).
Disney+ is currently available in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, with upcoming launches in South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan next month. The service is branded as Disney+ Hotstar in India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Luke Kang, president, Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, said the studio aims to greenlight more than 50 APAC originals by 2023.
Jessica Kam-Engle, Disney’s APAC head of content & development, said: “Our production strategy is centred on working with the best local storytellers in the region, leveraging our brand power, scale and dedication to creative excellence. We look forward to collaborating with award-winning and emerging creative talent in Asia Pacific and sharing authentic stories that reflect the unique cultural and social dynamics from this region to global audiences.”
Disney is also launching an initiative called the ’APAC Creative Experience Program’, which will connect Asian content creators with Disney filmmakers and creators through masterclasses, live panels and other activities.
Highlights of the new slate include:
KOREA
Moving – action thriller based on the webtoon by Kang Full about three teenagers discovering their unusual powers.
Snowdrop – romantic melodrama series starring Jung Hae-in and Blackpink’s Jisoo, from the creators of 2019 K-drama hit Skycastle.
Grid – mystery thriller by award-winning writer Lee Su-yeon.
Blackpink: The Movie – documentary about the K-pop group in commemoration of their fifth year anniversary, which will also be shown in theatres.
Rookies – coming-of-age romantic series set in Korea’s elite police academy, which marks K-pop idol Kang Daniel’s debut drama.
JAPAN
Tokyo MER (Mobile Emergency Room) – medical drama starring award-winning actors Ryohei Suzuki and Kento Kaku, which stems from a special collaboration with Japanese broadcaster TBS.
Black Rock Shooter Dawn Fall – reboot of popular Japanese franchise Black Rock Shooter.
Summer Time Rendering – animation based on a manga titles with a cumulative total of over 130 million page views on web manga app Shonen Jump +.
Yojohan Time Machine Blues (working title) – animated series and the sequel to The Tatami Galaxy, from award-winning writer Tomihiko Morimi and production studio Science Saru.
Twisted Wonderland – adaptation of Disney mobile game by Aniplex.
INDONESIA
Bad Signal (Susah Sinyal) – comedy drama series about a group of hotel employees managing a resort hotel in West Java, based on the hit movie of the same name.
Teluh Darah – horror series directed by Kimo Stamboel (Killers, DreadOut) and produced by Rapi Films.
Tira – series about a young woman who gets superpowers after accidentally stumbling upon an ancient force, created by Joko Anwar and produced by character-based entertainment company Bumilangit.
GREATER CHINA
Small & Mighty – legal drama directed by Xu Fuxiang and starring Chen Bolin, co-presented with Bilibili and produced by Jason’s Entertainment.
Delicacies Destiny – food-themed romantic comedy from Yu Zheng, whose credits include hit period drama Story Of Yanxi Palace.
AUSTRALIA
Shipwreck Hunters – Australian documentary about shipwreck mysteries on Western Australia’s vast coastline.
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