You’ve probably seen countless animated films and series on Netflix, with some made specifically for the platform. But have you ever noticed that the streaming giant has never produced an original Korean-language animated film before? Well, that’s all about to change with the recent announcement of “Lost in Starlight”.
The film marks Netflix’s first Korean-language original animated feature, starring actress Kim Tae-ri (김태리) and actor Hong Kyung (홍경). It tells the story of an astronaut dreaming of Mars and a musician with a broken dream who find each other among the stars, brought together by hope and love. Here are some fun facts about the project:
1. It’s Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung’s first voice-acting roles
Both actress Kim Tae-ri and actor Hong Kyung are acclaimed performers who previously co-starred in the 2023 series “Revenant”. While both have built impressive careers across various projects that brought them stardom, “Lost in Starlight” marks their first-ever voice acting roles. They voice the star-crossed lovers, Nan-young and Jay, respectively.
2. It’s directed by Han Ji-won (하지원)
If you’re not familiar with Han Ji-won, she’s a pioneering creator in the world of Korean animated cinema. Her most notable works include “Clearer Than You Think”, “The Sea on the Day of the Return of Magic”, and “The Summer”, all of which have earned her widespread recognition, including praise from fellow directors such as Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan).
3. It has earned praise from Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho (봉준호)
Bong Joon-ho, best known for “Parasite”, the film that earned him and South Korea their first Oscars at the 2019 Academy Awards, had the opportunity to preview the upcoming animated film before its official release. According to Netflix, the filmmaker praised “Lost in Starlight” as “a visual masterpiece that takes you around the universe”, highlighting Han Ji-won’s intricate and fantastical visual storytelling.
4. It will premiere on 30th May
Netflix Asia released the official poster and teaser earlier this week, unveiling the film’s artwork along with its official release date. Lost in Starlight is set to premiere on the streaming platform on 30th May 2025 (Friday). So, if you’re eager to see Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung in their first animated project, be sure to mark your calendars and catch the film on Netflix.
Check out the teaser below:
Sources: Netflix, Cartoon Brew, Allkpop
