North Koreans Secretly Animated Popular Amazon and Max Shows, Study Reveals

North Korean Animators Secretly Working on Global Projects, Researchers Uncover

A recent discovery by researchers has shed light on the surprising involvement of North Korean animators in various international projects, including popular shows like Amazon’s Invincible and Max and Cartoon Network’s Iyanu: Child of Wonder. The findings, uncovered by Nick Roy and his team, who have been monitoring North Korean IT companies and their outsourcing practices for nearly a decade, reveal a complex network of hidden collaborations.

Exposed Cloud Server Reveals North Korean Involvement

The researchers stumbled upon an exposed cloud server that was being regularly updated, likely serving as a platform for North Korean animators to send and receive work. Martyn Williams, a senior fellow on the 38 North Project who assisted in analyzing the server’s contents, noted that while the server remains active, it mysteriously ceased being used at the end of February. Surprisingly, the server’s contents were accessible without any login credentials.

Workflow Details and Project Clues

Inside the server, the researchers discovered files containing editing comments and instructions in Chinese, which were then translated into Korean. These files included spreadsheets detailing the workflow, with notes for the authors and date stamps on various files. In one instance, an animator was asked to refine the shape of a character’s head. The documents and drawings allowed the researchers to identify some of the shows and projects the North Koreans were working on, including Invincible season 3, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, and a Japanese anime series.

Sanctions and Potential Implications

The involvement of North Korean animators in these projects raises concerns about potential violations of sanctions placed upon the North Korean regime due to its ongoing human rights abuses and nuclear warfare programs. These sanctions prohibit US companies from working with DPRK companies or individuals. However, the researchers believe it is highly unlikely that the companies involved were aware of North Korean animators working on their shows, and there is no evidence suggesting any violations of sanctions or other laws.

“We do not work with North Korean companies, or Chinese companies on Invincible, or any affiliated entities, and have no knowledge of any North Korean or Chinese companies working on Invincible,” a spokesperson for Skybound Entertainment says. “We take any claims very seriously and have commenced an investigation into this.”

Growing Concern over North Korean IT Workers

The discovery highlights the increasing presence of North Korean IT workers in various industries. These workers constantly change their tactics to avoid detection, making it challenging for companies to identify them. Experts recommend that businesses verify their remote workers’ devices and ensure no remote software is connecting to company laptops or networks. Additionally, companies should train their HR staff to detect possible IT workers during the hiring process.

The findings also suggest a growing overlap between North Korean IT workers and individuals associated with known hacking groups or classified as advanced persistent threats (APTs). As the focus on IT workers intensifies, researchers are observing a blending of APT operators and efforts, making North Korea one of the most adaptable and quick-learning nation-states in this regard.