Disney+ "Moving" Paves The Way For A New Era In K-Drama History
In the realm of entertainment, where storytelling and spectacle collide, Disney+ has once again proven its prowess with its latest blockbuster, "Moving" K-drama.
With a star-studded cast, mind-bending CGI, and a budget that's rewriting records, Disney+ "Moving"has captured the hearts and attention of audiences worldwide.
In this article, we delve into the staggering numbers behind "Moving" and explore how it has become the most expensive K-drama ever produced.
From its jaw-dropping visual effects to its high-profile ensemble, "Moving" has set a new standard for excellence in the world of streaming entertainment.
Moving K-drama
South Korea's Moving, directed by Park In-je in 2023, is a web series. Starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung, Cha Tae-hyun, Ryoo Seung-bum, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Jung-ha, Go Youn-jung, and Kim Do-hoon, it is an original production from Disney+.
Supernatural drama about three high school kids and their parents as they come to terms with the discovery of their superpowers; based on Kang Full's webcomic of the same name. On August 9, 2023, it made its debut.
After just seven days, it surpassed all other Korean original series on Disney+ and Hulu worldwide in terms of total hours seen.
‘Moving’ Is The Best Superhero Series
Moving, a South Korean drama about superpowered adolescents and their superpowered parents, has become the most-watched K-drama on Disney+ and Hulu. Disney not only distributes but also produces the series, which has spent a substantial amount of money to ensure the success of the multi-generational superhero story.
Moving is said to be the most costly K-drama of all time, with a budget of more than 60 billion Korean won ($45 million). This equates to almost $2.25 million every episode.
When the series' budget is divided among all 20 episodes, it is equivalent to, if not slightly less than, what Moving director Park In-je had to work with for the second season of Netflix's zombie historical drama Kingdom, which had just six episodes. The series requires approximately 60 VFX companies from nine different locations to work on the 7,000 CGI images.
While $45 million is still a lot of money by the standards of South Korean TV production, it pales in comparison to America's most expensive dramas. According to reports, Disney's MCU dramas cost up to $25 million every episode, whereas The Mandalorian costs roughly $15 million per episode.
On the broadcast TV front, The CW's first season of DC's Superman & Lois (filmed in Canada) allegedly cost over $6.3 million per episode, while a scaled-back third season cost around $5 million per episode.
The budget for Moving is equivalent to that of a mid-tier broadcast superhero drama, such as The Flash or Arrow from the now-largely defunct Arrowverse.
In this context, Director Park and his crew (including co-director Park Youn-seo) were successful in Moving, which follows a diverse cast of superpowered people through many places and historical periods. The majority of episodes include a dramatic stunt, action scene, or conflict between two superpowered characters.
Moving Cast
- Jang Ju-won (Ryu Seung-ryong)- Father of Hui-soo, who started a fried chicken business. He can feel pain while having superhuman strength and healing skills. Known by his secret name in the NIS, Guryongpo, he was Doo-sik's companion throughout his stint in the organization.
- Han Hyo-joo (Lee Mi-hyun)- Doo-sik's wife and Bong-seok's mom, who has superhuman senses and starts a tonkatsu restaurant. She used to work as an analyst for NIS intelligence.
- Bong-seok's dad, Zo In-sung, is Kim Doo-sik Mi-hyun. He has the ability to fly and works as a black operations operative for NIS under the code name Moonsan.
- A former stage actor turned bus driver with the capacity to create electricity, Jeon Gye-do (Cha Tae-hyun) is portrayed by Kim Joon.
- Frank (Ryoo Seung-bum)- Healer and assassin raised in the United States. Following CIA directions, he goes for the former operatives.
- The father of Lee Jae-man Kang-hoon (Kim Sung-kyun), who runs a convenience store. His mental health is now failing, but his strength and speed are extraordinary.
- Class 3-3 student at Jeongwon High School, son of Kim Bong-seok (played by Lee Jung-ha) and Mi-hyun (played by Han Chang-min), son of Doo-sik. He inherited his parent's superhuman senses and the ability to fly.
- Go Youn-jung (Jang Hui-soo Park Soo-ah)- She is the daughter of Jang Hui-soo and a third-year student at Jeongwon High School. From her father, she got her extraordinary healing skills and her father's superhuman strength.
- Kim Do-hoon (Lee Gang-hoon) - Kim Si-woo plays the role of Class 3-3 captain at Jeongwon High School and the son of Lee Gang-hoon Jae-man. His father passed on his superhuman abilities of strength and speed to him.
‘Moving’ K-drama Review
The level of chemistry has skyrocketed. It's not just that Han Hyo Joo and Zo In Sung have incredible chemistry; the chemistry between all of the actors is so natural and convincing that you'll find yourself immersed in THEIR world as you watch.
Despite the story's emphasis on extraordinary people endowed with superpowers, the struggles these heroes face in carrying out their objectives are shown in great detail. The history of the kids' parents was fascinating. The parents' prior difficulties, anguish, and tragedies were inspiring to see.
I'd start weeping whenever I saw Jang Joowon in Hulk moments. The parents' performances have taken us on an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end. They did professional-level acting that lets you feel every nuance.
The senior performers' displays of feeling were so well handled that you were immersed in their characters' experiences. The suspenseful wait for the next episode of this show was excruciating.
Leaving behind the difficulties, suffering, loneliness, challenges, social judgment, occupational hierarchy, and the discrepancy between living a normal life as persons with exceptional abilities is like leaving behind a piece of yourself.
With a stellar ensemble that includes both child performers and Hollywood heavy hitters, this drama is sure to grab your attention and keep it throughout.
The production values are just amazing. Every episode, while being 56 minutes long, is over in what seems like 20 because of how wonderfully the drama is handled and written.
Characters
It warms my heart to see the children and their parents get along so well. Despite the challenges, the parents tried their best to provide for and nurture their children. The kids' exemplary behavior—listening to their parents, showing empathy, and being understanding—illustrated the deep trust and love that existed among them.
Using flashbacks, and creative, and heartbreaking editing, the story expertly paced the growth of its characters. The audience became invested in the characters because of the individual messages conveyed by their backstories. We feel compassion for everyone involved because we can relate to their anguish and hardships, particularly the parents.
Each scene had a purpose, and every edit was deliberate. Take the meeting between the U.S. Ambassador and the NIS Director General, for instance. It was a rude and arrogant gesture on the American's part to sit down with his back turned to the Korean. The showdown of power between the two nations was fascinating to see.
Symbolism
The drama's symbolism was spot-on for each of the characters! There is no such thing as a meaningless scenario. The two gunshot holes on Joowon's arm, for example, have a lot of symbolic weight.
They stand for the commander and DooShik, the only two persons he saw on the field who treated him with genuine courtesy despite widespread mistrust.
He will never forget his two friends, and the boots and pocket knife he wears and carries with him every day are wonderful reminders of them. To him, they just cannot live without him. He is very honest and faithful to a fault.
It grieves us through his whole journey, from the times he was deceived, hunted, and stabbed to the times he fell in love and smiled, only to cry again when he lost the person who had been his rock and his love.
Action
The ACTION was so intense and unbelievable that it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The production values and quality were superb. It's impossible to overstate how invested is felt in the outcome of the characters' battle and how much we wanted them to succeed.
There was not a single jarring transition between the several viewpoints, camera shots, and vantage points. Amazing work by all of the performers and the crew behind the scenes!
Romance
Surprisingly, the drama's romantic subplot is a welcome change of pace. It's well-balanced and not at all trite or embarrassing. The slow-burn romance leaves viewers wanting more since the protagonists' personalities produce a scenario that captures their wonderful moment without haste.
That's what genuine romantic love is like, and I'm delighted the drama portrayed it accurately. Of all, nothing rivals the sight of two adults falling in love for the first time, especially when it's love at first sight.
Overall, this drama genuinely exemplifies every genre imaginable, from action to romance to melodrama to comedy to mystery to thriller to the supernatural to just excellent writing and acting. It's invigorating, interesting, and mind-boggling all at once!! A rare and compelling drama that you should not miss!
Moving Production
In January 2020, Studio & New announced that they would be adapting Kang Full's superhero webcomic Moving into a television series. Full is well known for his romantic webcomic Love Story and his superhero stories Timing and Moving. Over fifty to sixty-five billion yen were spent on making the series, which has over seven thousand CGI sequences.
It's Okay, That's Love (2014) star Zo In-sung has been given a part. In October of 2021, Disney+'s tentpole program Moving will debut throughout Asia. However, owing to disagreements between co-producers JTBC and Next Entertainment World, the joint production agreement was terminated in February 2021, and Park In-je was replaced by director Mo Wan-il. Filming started on August 26, 2021, and the cast was announced on October 29, 2021.
Moving Release And Viewership
On August 9, 2023, the opening episode of Moving, a Korean Disney+ original series, was made accessible on Hulu in 65 regions and countries, including the United States. Moving, after just seven days on Hulu in the United States, and Disney+ throughout the world, became the most-viewed Korean original series of both services.
South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia all ranked it as their top television show of all time. Based on the number of hours seen in its first week, the series launch on Disney+ in South Korea was the service's most successful ever.
The reaction "exceeded our expectations," according to Carole Choi, The Walt Disney Company's (APAC) executive vice president of original content strategy. In its sixth week of availability, the show's total viewership hit a record 196 million minutes.
Future Of 'Moving'
'Moving', a K-Drama series, has been gaining popularity due to its unique storyline and growing viewership. Fans are eagerly anticipating a second season, which could continue the lives of characters like Kim Bong-seok, Jang Hui-soo, and Lee Gang-Hoon as they navigate their unique abilities and challenges.
The show also features unresolved mysteries, such as the origins of the character's powers and the true identity of Frank. A new season could introduce new characters with their own abilities, adding complexity to the storyline. The show's unique universe, featuring superhuman abilities, could be explored further, affecting society and government agencies like the NIS.
The show's global perspective could be expanded, focusing on international conspiracies and espionage. Future seasons could focus on emotional and character growth, adding depth and relatability to the story.
The passionate fanbase of 'Moving' will likely shape the series' future, with their feedback and expectations influencing the storyline and character arcs. Despite no official announcements, fans can remain hopeful for more captivating episodes in this intriguing K-Drama series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does "Moving" Stand Out In Terms Of Budget Compared To Other K-dramas?
"Moving" boasts a reported budget of approximately 65 billion Korean won, making it the most expensive K-drama in history.
What Is The Premise Of "Moving"?
"Moving" is a webtoon adaptation that explores two generations of superpowered individuals.
How Many Episodes Does "Moving" Consist Of?
"Moving" comprises 20 episodes.
What Is The Significance Of The CGI In "Moving"?
Director Park In Je mentioned that he had never worked on a project that required as much CGI as "Moving." The series featured over 7,000 CGI shots.
Final Words
"Moving" is more than just a K-drama; it's a cinematic marvel that has redefined the boundaries of what's possible in television production.
With a budget that dwarfs its predecessors, a director who pushed the limits of CGI, and a cast that's nothing short of extraordinary, this series has achieved unparalleled success on Disney+.
Breaking records in both scale and viewership, "Moving" has left an indelible mark on the world of K-dramas.
As fans eagerly await the potential for a second season, one thing is certain: Disney+ has solidified its place as a powerhouse in delivering world-class entertainment to audiences around the globe.
