“Pororo’s Mom” Woo Ji-hee of OCON: “Adding Action and Comedy for the First Generation Fans. Planning Episodes with 20-something Characters and Pororo’s Adventures”
Woo Ji-hee, the CEO of OCON, the company that brought Pororo to life, discusses adding action and comedy to engage first-generation fans who are now in their 20s. The character, who debuted in 2003, remains unchanged even as he has become an iconic figure among children, affectionately known as “Pororo the President of Children.”
OCON has consistently produced Pororo TV series since 2003 and, except for a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, has released annual movie adaptations since 2013. Their latest film, “Pororo Movie: The Adventure of Sweet Castle,” debuts on the 11th and is a reboot of the 60-minute video animation “The Adventure of Christmas Cookie Castle” from 2004. The story involves Pororo and friends embarking on an adventure to save Christmas after Santa is turned into a doll by a witch rabbit.
Woo explained that former young fans of the VHS film are now in their mid-20s, which is why action and comedy were added to the new movie. They aim to continue creating works that resonate with these original fans and are planning future episodes featuring young adult characters going on adventures with Pororo.
OCON is also enhancing the theater experience with interactive events like rolling a giant Pororo-themed ball with the audience before screenings and operating a “dedicated theater” where Pororo appears on stage during the movie. A sing-along screening is planned for the following year.
Woo attributes Pororo’s enduring popularity to the “authenticity” resonating from the creators’ heartfelt intentions to connect with children. The character was initially modeled after staff members’ children.
Looking ahead, OCON aims to expand Pororo’s reach internationally, including into the Chinese market. Woo hopes that Pororo will become a representative character of Korea, akin to Japan’s Mario, indicating aspirations for global success.