[동아일보] AI-Rendered Baek Seok’s Poetry Reaches Global Stage

K-content production company MooAm (CEO Harry Hyun) has unveiled Natasha's Story, an animation produced using generative AI technology.

The animation begins with Natasha, a white-haired girl, singing alongside her pet donkey, Donki. It offers a fresh interpretation of Baek Seok’s iconic poem Natasha, the White Donkey, and Me, bringing a new perspective to modern Korean poetry. The entire production—including singing, illustrations, animation, and sound effects—was completed in just two weeks using generative AI technology.

Premiering at the AI Content Festival 2024, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), this seven-minute animation has been praised for capturing the lyrical essence of Baek Seok’s poetry and breathing life into its characters.

CEO Harry Hyun shared, “In reinterpreting traditional Korean fairy tales and literary works with generative AI, I wanted to explore lyrical musical animation rather than live-action.” She continued, “While there are still areas for improvement, such as movement consistency and character development, the very attempt to reinterpret Korean literature through AI is groundbreaking. It’s astonishing that such a project is possible without traditional animators or illustrators.”

The work has been selected as a finalist at the Neu Wave AI Film Festival in the United States and is set to be screened at Emerson College in Los Angeles on November 23.

Additionally, in December, MooAm will showcase Korean AI content at a special promotional booth at the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) in Singapore, Asia’s largest broadcasting and content market, which attracts media representatives from over 60 countries.

MooAm was recently selected by the Korea Communications Agency (KCA) for its 2024 Broadcasting and OTT Planning and Development Support Project with its AI Dark Fairy Tales project, demonstrating its commitment to using AI technology in content creation. The company is currently collaborating with leading Korean AI authors to transform six traditional Korean fairy tales and poems into AI-generated visual works.

CEO Harry Hyun emphasized, “The fusion of literature and AI harbors infinite possibilities. We are entering an era where individuals can manifest their creative visions without needing specialized personnel or expensive equipment.” She added, “Challenges such as copyright and character originality still remain, but this field holds incredible promise for young creators.”