Netflix has another K-drama set for release this May 6, and this time, the series will be a musical fantasy! Titled The Sound of Magic, this new drama follows a struggling teen whose life is changed when she meets the mysterious magician living inside an abandoned theme park.
Director Kim Sungyoun launched the project intending to preserve the original webtoon’s message. He was moved by how the original story depicted the characters wavering between dreams and reality and how “magic” alleviated their hardships. Kim first proposed this live series adaptation to the original webtoon writer Ha Ilkwon, and after a decade, they’re now ready to present it to global audiences!
Kim says working on the hit series Itaewon Class gave him a better understanding of the rift between a webtoon and live series. He involved writers Kim Minjeong and Ha Ilkwon from the early planning stages to share ideas and set the right direction and tone. He said, “I thought integrating music into the magic theme could effectively convey the story’s message.” By weaving in music, choreography, and CG to the original narrative, he created attractive visuals and a compelling narrative that can eventually drive emotional impact.
Writer Kim Minjeong focused on bridging the gaps between the webtoon and the live series, paying close attention to details to suit the overall production. She commented, “The necessary process of revising detailed elements was not easy. It simultaneously required matching the song lyrics to the plotline context, convincingly depicting the character’s emotions, and aligning the right kind of magic for the character Ri-eul.”
#The Message in Sound of Magic: From the eyes of the Creators
Both director Kim Sungyoun and writer Kim Minjeong agreed that they needed to preserve the message of the original webtoon. And through the story, they focused on delving into the question of what it means to dream and become a true adult. Writer Kim MinJeong hopes viewers can see the different types of adults from Ah-yi and Il-deung’s perspectives and reflect upon what it means to be a “good” grown-up.
The original webtoon writer Ha Ilkwon praised the newly reborn fantasy music series saying, “I was excited and truly happy watching the adaptation of my original story.” He added, “The Sound of Magic is a story about dreams and the reality of the young people and adults. Languages and cultures may differ, but I believe these key themes can resonate with everyone”.
Director Kim Sungyoun echoed the sentiment, “The series conveys a message about what it means to become a proper grown-up. I hope this message can become a gift for young and old alike during this delightful season of May!”
For more details, check out the show’s official page on Netflix.
