Audiences may find healing in slow pace of sincerity in 'Your Letter,' says director

 Director Kim Yong-hwan sought to translate the original comic version’s emotional impact into a unique animated experience in his debut feature film, “Your Letter.”

"When I first read the original work, a beautiful resonance remained," Kim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Thursday. "The sincerity contained in the letters and the characters' kind actions created a powerful emotional echo. Translating that unique sensibility into the animation was crucial."

Adapted from the webtoon of the same title, the film follows transfer student So-ri as she embarks on a nostalgic scavenger hunt, guided by a series of mysterious letters she finds in her desk.

Though he considered various plot approaches in the early stages, Kim thought maintaining the core of the original was essential.

"Our primary mission was to effectively translate the webtoon's emotional strength into animation," he said. The team expanded on the 10-episode source, adding new settings and story layers to create a distinct cinematic version.

Kim believes the central role of the letter is what helps the film stand out in the age of instant messaging.

"The letter, which is delivered much slower than a text message or a phone call, is the core of this animation," the director explained. "This slowness, this sense of space and time and the sincerity embedded in the written word may offer healing and comfort to contemporary audiences."

Capturing Korea on screen

Kim emphasized that one of the film’s defining qualities is its faithful portrayal of Korea’s landscapes and everyday atmosphere.

"We tried to capture Korean settings and actors naturally and realistically," he said.

To enhance that realism, Kim paid special attention to the film’s opening sequence.

"We poured a lot on the opening, which depicts So-ri's journey to her new school," he said. "We actually scouted and filmed real locations, including Dongho Bridge, a country village in Hadong and areas in Wonju, to use as the basis for our animation backgrounds."

Regarding the visual style, Kim aimed to maintain the gentle aesthetic of the original webtoon while elevating it for the big screen.

"We focused on delivering the story's emotion, designing the visuals around Korean settings and school uniforms," he said. "To fit the big screen, we used computer graphics to improve the drawing quality and clearly show character feelings."

 The film intentionally weaves in elements of magical realism.

"We pursued a fantasy tone that makes audiences question whether the events of ‘Your Letter’ are truly magic or not," the director explained. "We made the fantastical elements more dynamic than in the original, ensuring audiences could fully enjoy the scale on the big screen."

Kim is also optimistic about the film's global appeal, citing a positive reception at the Ottawa International Animation Festival last year.

"Even though it tells a Korean story, we received a standing ovation, and some viewers cried. At that time, I thought this kind of Korean narrative could resonate well globally,” the director recalled.

He also expressed gratitude to singer Su-hyun of vocal group AKMU who performs the voice of So-ri, as she clearly delivers the character’s nuance as he intended. Lee was initially cast only for the voice role, but the film's music director later asked her to sing for the soundtrack.

"Su-hyun’s clear voice was a great fit for So-ri," Kim said. "She prepared extensively with the voice director and showed a deep understanding of the character. Her love for the animation genre and her ability to use her voice freely were great advantages.”

As a 2D animated feature, "Your Letter" inevitably draws comparisons to Japanese animation. Rather than seeing this market expectation as a challenge to overcome, Kim said he views it as an opportunity to highlight the film's unique selling points.

"We have our own differentiating factors," the director said. "It is important for Korean animators to create works that successfully convey the distinctive emotions of Korea."

He added the film offers a different kind of viewing experience compared to the fast-paced, high-intensity animations currently trending.

"Our film might not be aggressive, but it offers a new kind of 'dopamine' based on emotion," he said. "I hope audiences feel that emotional rush when they watch the movie."

“Your Letter” will hit theaters on Oct. 1.

​By Baek Byung-yeul (The Korea Times) (CLICK)