Tag: Moving

Korean super powered drama “Moving” becomes most viewed Series Finale ever on Disney+ across APAC

After an exceptional seven-week run that captivated audiences across the world with its fresh take on the super powered genre, Korean series Moving has once again broken records to become the most viewed series finale ever on Disney+ across APAC including Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan.

First launched on August 9, 2023, Moving has enjoyed record breaking success since its debut, rapidly becoming the most viewed Korean original series across Disney+ and Hulu. Widely praised for breathing new life into the super powered genre, the epic twenty-episode serieshas also received critical acclaim for its daring narrative structure, dynamic action sequences and breathtaking storytelling.

Starring some of the biggest names in the Korean entertainment industry, including Ryu Seungryong, Han Hyojoo and Zo Insung in his long-awaited return to a drama series, Moving tells the story of a group of South Korean spies working to protect their super powered children from harm and exploitation at the hands of malicious government agencies. Initially recruited because of their extraordinary abilities, including flight, instant healing and enhanced senses, the spies disappeared without a trace after being tasked with carrying out increasingly dubious missions. Now with their children exhibiting similar abilities and a dangerous assassin rapidly picking off super-powered individuals, the parents must leave their peaceful lives behind to become the “monsters” they once were.

Hailed as “proving the power of quality K-content” by KBS Media; dubbed “a soaring superhero saga” with “an epic finale that moves us to tears” by the South China Morning Post, and “a superhero story with an emotional core” by Forbes, the series has quickly become one of the most beloved shows on Disney+.

Fans of Moving and other unmissable Korean storiescan now also enjoy the first three episodes of The Worst of Evil exclusively on Disney+. Set in 1990s Gangnam, The Worst of Evil is a fast-paced crime thriller that sees volatile police officer Park Junmo infiltrate a dangerous new gang in an attempt to bring them down from the inside. Headed up by Jung Gicheul, a shrewd, charismatic leader, the gang has taken control of the city’s drug trade, flooding the streets with a new drug called “Gangnam Crystal”. With the gang’s grasp on Gangnam getting ever tighter, the lines between right and wrong will begin to blur, forcing Junmo to choose between his mission and his wife.

Stream all episodes of Moving now exclusively on Disney+.

_{*Based on views in the first 5 days streaming on Disney+. A view is defined as total stream time divided by runtime.}

_{**Based on hours streamed in its first 7 days streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.}

October 6, 2023
Record-breaking drama ‘Moving’ becomes top Korean Original Series on Disney+ and Hulu

Featuring international espionage, super-powered spies and deadly assassins, Korean drama and tentpole series Moving has quickly captured the world’s attention, becoming the most-watched Korean original on Disney+ globally and Hulu in the U.S. based on hours streamed after 7 days.

In its first week since launch on August 9, the hit new series also became the most watched series on Disney+ across APAC, including Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia (such as the Philippines), Hong Kong and Taiwan (based on hours watched), and the biggest premiere on Disney+ in Korea to date, based on hours streamed in the first week since launch. Moving launched globally on Disney+ in 65 markets and countries and Hulu in the U.S.

“The global consumer response towards the first 11 episodes of Moving has exceeded our expectations,” said Carol Choi, Executive Vice President of Original Content Strategy, The Walt Disney Company APAC. “From the U.S. to all across APAC, it is fast becoming a breakout hit with its captivating storyline, world-class cast and incredible post-production effects — all coming together to deliver exceptional storytelling.”

Starring some of the biggest names in the Korean entertainment industry, including Ryu Seungryong, Han Hyojoo and Zo Insung in his long-awaited return to a drama series, Moving tells the story of a group of South Korean spies working to protect their super-powered children from harm and exploitation at the hands of malicious government agencies. Initially recruited because of their extraordinary abilities including flight, instant healing and enhanced senses, the spies disappeared without a trace after being tasked with carrying out increasingly dubious missions. Now with their children exhibiting similar abilities and a dangerous assassin rapidly picking off super-powered individuals, the parents must leave their peaceful lives behind to become the “monsters” they once were.

Hailed as “proving the power of quality K-content” by KBS Media, dubbed “a gripping new K-drama action series” by Newsweek, “a superhero story with an emotional core” by Forbes, and a “completely different and new hero story” by Max Movie, the first 11 episodes of Moving are available for audiences to enjoy today. Two new episodes are set to release every Wednesday, with a three-part series finale slated for September 20.

Moving joins a rapidly expanding library of Korean content now available on Disney+, including the Blue Dragon Series Award-winning Big Bet, starring legendary actor Choi Minsik as a serial entrepreneur who repeatedly breaks the law to help bolster his burgeoning casino business; The Zone: Survival Mission; Soundtrack #1 and much more.

Stream the first 11 episodes of Moving today, exclusively on Disney+

August 25, 2023
Inside Look: Disney+ ‘Moving’ Press Conference Reveals Superpowered Drama
ClickTheCity was invited to the global press conference for Disney+’s latest action-packed, super-powered Korean drama called ‘Moving.’ Based on the hit webtoon of the same name by Kangfull, the show is about teens and their parents, both of which have amazing superhuman powers and are hiding from the world. It’s a show that boasts of intense character relationships amidst secret agents, assassins, and paranormal gifts that include flight, super strength and speed, regeneration, and even electric powers.

It came out last August 9 and has been very popular since its release.

The show boasts of incredible special effects with over 60 studios involved in making all the special effects of the show’s 20 episodes. With each episode saving up some of its running time to show off some high-impact action sequences and super-powered fight scenes, ‘Moving’ is offering something completely different from your usual Kdramas; one that can rival all the superhuman shows of western television.

Prior to the show’s release, the cast and the creators met with the press to talk about their then-upcoming new series. The star-studded cast includes Ryu Seungryeong (who you might recognize in ‘Kingdom’ season 1 and 2 and the hilarious comedy ‘Extreme Job’), Han Hyo Joo (‘Happiness’ and ‘The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure’), Zo Insung (‘Escape from Mogadishu’), Kim Sungkyun (‘Reply 1988’), Chae Taehyun (‘The Producers’), Kim Hee Won (‘Misaeng: An Incomplete Life’) and young stars Lee Jungha, Go Younjung, and Kim Dohoon.

Here are some of the highlights from the press conference:
- From the way the cast talked and dealt with each other, you could see there’s a lot of love in that ensemble. They were all friendly and unguarded – not afraid at all to be silly. A lot of the actors playing parents would stay in character and talk about the actors playing their children as if they were really their kids. For example, Lee Jungha was very nervous as this is his first big lead role in a drama series. He was so nervous that Han Hyo Joo, who plays his mom in the show, cheered him on and spoke so highly of him “as his mom” whereas Zo Insung, who plays his father, apologised for his nervousness, and wished he “raised him better.”
- From the press conference, we discovered that webtoon writer and creator of ‘Moving’ wrote the show and was part of the casting process. Kim Sungkyun was cast as Lee Jaeman because he looked just like the character in the webtoon. Chae Taehyun’s character, Jeon Gye-do, on the other hand, is a character that doesn’t appear in the web toon. Kangfull wrote him into the show to help expand the world.
- They showed clips from the behind-the-scenes of the show and you can see the amount of work that was spent on the fight choreography, the wire-works (for the flying scenes and moments of super-strength), and the other practical effects.
- Kim Hee Won is just as funny as his persona in the variety show ‘House on Wheels.’ He jokes about being the only character in the show without superpowers and how, as a teacher, everyone learned from him.
- There’s a lot of love and respect that was given to Han Hyo Joo with Zo Insung even saying that Han Hyo Joo should also be recognized globally as an actress because the Korean entertainment industry is too small for her talent. Everyone in the cast agreed.
- Prior to the Q&A, all the actors were shot individually by the photographers and they were asked to do superhero poses and you could see who were very game to do so and who weren’t.
The press conference shed light on the series’ unique approach to superhuman abilities, its stellar cast chemistry, and the meticulous craftsmanship behind its action-packed sequences. As ‘Moving’ continues to captivate audiences, get ready for a genre-bending journey that embraces the extraordinary in the realm of Kdramas.

MOVING is now streaming on Disney+. Watch it here.
August 24, 2023
REVIEW: Disney+’s new series ‘Moving’ is the best of two worlds: Kdrama and Western superhero shows

While there are a good number of Korean dramas that feature supernatural abilities or paranormal powers (‘Strong Girl Bong Soon,’ ‘While You Were Sleeping,’ ‘He is Psychometric,’ amongst others), this is the first Kdrama I’ve ever encountered that really leans in to the world of comic book superheroes in a Western way. Based off of the webtoon of the same name by Kangfull, ‘Moving’ is a 20-episode Kdrama about people with superpowers and a dark history that has driven them into hiding.

Directed by Park Inje (Kingdom season 2) and written by the original webtoon creator Kangfull, the story of ‘Moving’ unfolds in an interesting way. It opens in the present day following the story of 2 teens – Kim Bongseok (Lee Jungha) and Jang Huisoo (Go Younjung) – who have powers and find themselves going to the same school. As they navigate senior year and confiding each other with their abilities, we also discover that their parents also have powers but are keeping theirs secret too.

What first seems like a coming-of-age story of two kids with superpowers, begins to unravel as a complex story that involves governments, secret agents, and assassins. The story of the parents are a lot more complex than what the first few episodes show us and by the time we reach closer to the midway point, we discover that the story needs to fork into two timelines – the present and the past.

‘Moving’ boasts of an expensive budget and incredible CGI work for a drama series. Within the first ten episodes, there are images and visuals of flying, of regeneration, of superhuman strength and speed, and effects involving electricity. The show is also relentless in its action and fight choreography. Director Park Inje is also quite adept at creating striking images of the characters using their powers and while it feels exciting when it’s shown in the context of a fight scene, it’s when he uses it in relation to the young kids’ experiences of everyday life that it really shines.

There’s a great scene when Huisoo discovers Bongseok’s power of flight for the first time, it’s so elegantly done and it covers all the wonderful emotions that the two young actors can display. There’s another scene, also involving Bongseok’s flying abilities, of him cleaning a bathroom in the throes of young romance that makes a great visual.

This is what makes the show really shine. Yes, there are superpowers in it – and to the point where it feels like an MCU series – but that’s the easy stuff. The best parts is when it stays within the realm of Kdramas and work on their characters and their relationships. Bongseok’s and Huisoo’s relationship is a very special, wonderful little storyline that keeps everyone engaged. Then, playing counterpoint to each other, you have the Bongseok with his mom (Han Hyo Joo) and Huisoo and her dad (Ryu Seungryong). Bongseok and his mom is a tenuous relationship, with Han Hyo Joo’s Lee Mihyun as being overprotective and extra cautious. The tiredness and exhaustion of her character is explicit in every move she makes but the love is there, buried inside. It’s a wonderful performance that brings some very touching scenes. On the other hand, Huisoo and her father, Jang Juwon, have a more loving relationship – one that has both characters always walking on eggshells with each other. It’s so wonderfully played out that I cannot wait until the moment when the teens find out their parents have abilities.

This is why the show loses out on its strength as it gets closer to the midpoint. The first four or five episodes are working with multiple characters and weaves a tapestry of persons of interest. How they connect each other and how they relate to each other makes the show so good. By the sixth or seventh episode, they start to focus on one character’s backstory (usually a parent) and it takes the whole episode (sometimes two episodes) and I start to miss the present day storyline.

I understand that ‘Moving’ is building a world and is expanding it because it needs the space to move when all the characters come crashing into each other (by episode 10, they are still in each other’s periphery but have yet to come together) but it has made the episodes close to the midpoint feel dragging. Yes, we eventually see the histories of Jang Juwon and Lee Mihyun, but I’ve already invested in the friendship (and maybe even relationship) of Bongseok and Huisoo. There are also other characters like Lee Ganghoon (Kim Dohoon) and Chae Taehyun’s Jeon Gye-do and the assassin Frank, played by Ryu Seung-bum. Regardless, the first ten episodes of ‘Moving’ is proving to be an engaging new series that has the flavor of a Western/MCU type of superpowered show but with all the heart and the precision writing and character development of a Kdrama. It has a great cast and an intriguing, rich storyline with a lot of ground to cover. I won’t be surprised if the show ends in a cliff-hanger by the end of the 20th episode.

My Rating:

MOVING is now streaming on Disney+. Watch it here.

August 9, 2023
Get Ready for Disney+ Exciting APAC Originals: The Ultimate 2023 Lineup!
Embrace an unforgettable journey through Asia as Disney+ introduces a powerhouse line-up of APAC originals, including the Korean headliner “Moving” and an array of compelling dramas, riveting music-documentaries from Korea, as well as captivating Japanese live-action and anime series.

Since its lauded 2022 Content Showcase, Disney+ has been the home of over 20 must-see APAC titles. But brace yourself, as this popular streaming service is set to redefine entertainment with a curated trove of new originals and quality storytelling, exclusively streaming from late 2023 through to 2024.

Promotional stills from left to right, top to bottom: “Moving”, “Soundtrack #2”, “The Worst of Evil”, “Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku Arc”, “BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star” and “Dragons of Wonderhatch”

Capturing Audiences with Exceptional APAC Originals

Disney’s APAC originals have garnered positive consumer response throughout the first half of the year. For instance, season two of the enthralling Korean crime-action series, Big Bet, starring the iconic actor Choi Minsik, replaced season one as the most-watched locally produced original series on Disney+ in Korea during its premiere week. Moreover, the captivating Korean drama series Dr. Romantic held the #1 spot in most APAC markets based on hours watched during its first month, while the live-action Japanese thriller Gannibal and anime Tokyo Revengers made it to the top five most-watched titles in Japan in their first week of launch.

Carol Choi, Executive Vice President of Original Content Strategy, The Walt Disney Company APAC, revealed, “With the success of our initial wave of APAC originals, we will continue to build on this momentum by delivering exceptional storytelling through the second half of 2023 and beyond. Thrillers, crime-action and fantasy, centered on strong storylines from Korea and Japan, are resonating with audiences and we look forward to continued collaboration with leading content creators and storytellers from this region.”

APAC Originals: Korea’s Contributions

In the second half of 2023 through 2024, Disney will be launching some of its most anticipated local APAC originals and stories, including:

From Korea:
- Moving – Adapted from the smash webtoon of the same name by famed Korean author Kangfull, Moving stars Ryu Seungryong, Han Hyojoo and Zo Insung in a captivating story about a group of superpowered individuals on the run from government forces and a mysterious assassin who has been dispatched to take them all out. Moving is slated to debut exclusively on Disney+on August 9.
- The Worst of Evil – In 1990s Seoul, a former DJ seizes control of a gang and begins pushing a potent new drug (nicknamed “Gangnam Crystal”) in the city’s nightclubs. With little known about the source of this drug, rural police officer Park Joonmo is recruited to bring down the trafficking triangle from the inside. Slated to debut later this year exclusively on Disney+, this new series stars Ji Changwook; Squid Game actor Wi Hajun, and Lim Semi.
- Vigilante – A star student at the police academy, Jiyong is a burgeoning martial arts master and a bookish academic who has spent over a decade haunted by the image of his mother being murdered in front of him by a stranger. Exacting his revenge on the non-repentant offender, Jiyong is set along a path that will see him target other offenders, using the knowledge gained at the police academy to avoid being caught in Vigilante
- Soundtrack #2 – In 2022, Soundtrack #1 captured audiences with its touching story of unrequited love and emotionally poignant score. With Soundtrack #2, this fan-favorite series returns late 2023 with a new storyline of two young sweethearts who break up after six years together, only to be reconnected again. Starring Keum Saerok and Steve Sanghyun Noh, Soundtrack #2 will also see the return of Kim Heewon, the director behind the show’s hit first series.
- BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star – An exclusive Disney+ original and part of Disney’s collaboration with HYBE, this music docu-series will chart the incredible journey of 21st century pop icons BTS. With unprecedented access to a vast library of music and footage over the past nine years, the series will feature the daily lives, thoughts and plans of BTS members, as they prepare for their second chapter.
- Han River Police – Starring Kwone Sangwoo and Kim Hiewon, this upcoming Korean fictional comedy action series follows the crazy antics of Seoul’s Han River Police Force as they patrol the waterways and respond to emergency situations including terrorist incidents, accidents and more.
From Japan:
- Dragons of Wonderhatch – A hybrid story set in both the “real world” and an anime land called Upananta where dragons and humans coexist, Dragons of Wonderhatch tells the cross-dimensional story of Nagi, a high school student who feels out of place; Thaim, a dragon rider who communicates with dragons in Upananta, and Aktha, a dragon rider hero. Dragons of Wonderhatch stars Sena Nakajima, Daiken Okudaira and Mackenyu.
- A Town Without Seasons – When the Nani disaster hit Japan 12 years ago, countless residents had their lives turned upside down and were bundled into temporary housing left to rebuild their lives. This Japanese live action original tells the story of Hansuke, recruited to spy on the remaining residents but ends up recognizing the makeshift town as his new home and coming to terms with the disaster that took almost everything from him.
- Tokyo Revengers: Tenjiku Arc – The popular anime series, part of Disney’s collaboration with Japanese publishing house Kodansha, returns with the fan-favorite Tenjiku Arc depicting the “Kanto Incident” and the last war between the Tokyo Manji Gang, led by Manjiro Sano; and the Tenjiku, led by Izana Kurokawa. Will Takemichi, the former bad boy turned time traveler, be able to stop a tragedy in the past to save the present? Tune in this October to find out!
- PHOENIX: EDEN17 – Produced by STUDIO4°C and based on the legendary manga “PHOENIX” by Osamu Tezuka, this series follows Romi and her partner as they flee the dystopian hellscape of earth in the hope of a better life on the planet Eden, only to discover that Eden no longer exists.
Wrapping up 2023 will be the music docu-series NCT 127: The Lost Boys, Japanese anime SYNDUALITY Noir, and an ice show performance by Japanese ice-skater Yuzuru Hanyu. As we step into 2024, viewers can anticipate more thrilling narratives such as Korea’s A Shop For Killers and Red Swan, and Japan’s House of the Owl and Murai In Love. This promises a future filled with an ever-expanding collection of gripping stories from APAC, ready to capture the hearts of audiences globally.

As we draw the curtain on this grand spectacle of upcoming APAC content, it’s clear that Disney+ continues to redefine our entertainment experience, delivering unmatched storytelling from every corner of the world. From heart-thumping Korean dramas, soul-stirring music documentaries, to the mesmerizing blend of Japanese live-action and anime, the thrill is only beginning. So why wait? Embark on an unforgettable journey of extraordinary tales and captivating characters. Head over to Disney + and start streaming now! It’s your turn to dive into a world where magic comes alive and dreams never end. Join Disney+ and become a part of the story that never stops unfolding.
July 11, 2023