Major Entertainment Studios Unknowingly Employ North Korean Animators, Violating Sanctions
Investigations reveal North Korean animators worked on popular U.S. and Japanese shows without the knowledge of hiring studios.
Overview
- Documents on a North Korean server indicate subcontracting to North Korean animators for shows like Amazon's 'Invincible' and HBO Max's 'Iyanu: Child of Wonder'.
- Cybersecurity firms and think tanks suspect North Korean studio April 26 Animation, under U.S. sanctions, is involved.
- No evidence suggests major studios were aware of the North Korean subcontracting.
- Subcontracting likely occurred through Chinese intermediaries, complicating oversight and compliance with sanctions.
- Calls for increased due diligence in animation outsourcing to prevent sanctions violations and security risks.