Director Heo Pyung-gang: 'I'm a successful fan, and for Korean animation to succeed...'

Director Heo Pyung-gang, a veteran animator with two decades of experience in the Japanese animation industry, is making his South Korean directorial debut with "Why Pilgrims Don't Come Back." The film, which opened on June 3, is an adaptation of the short story of the same name from Kim Cho-yeop's bestselling novel "If We Can't Go at the Speed of Light."

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I am literally a 'successful fan.' When I directed 'Detective Conan' in middle school, I thought, 'I'm really a successful fan.'

Heo, who describes himself as a "successful fan" having directed episodes of "Detective Conan," was drawn to the project by 21 Studio shortly after the novel's publication. He chose this particular story for its suitability for 2D animation and its focus on female protagonists. The project began script development in 2019, initially planned as a 30-minute short but expanded to 60 minutes to enrich the spatial details and emotional narratives within budget constraints. The film has already received an official invitation to the 50th Annecy International Animation Film Festival, often referred to as the Cannes of animation.

Reflecting on his career, Heo entered the animation field in South Korea when the industry was largely limited to subcontracting for Japanese and Hollywood productions. He pursued animation at Sungkyunkwan University, being the only student in his cohort to major in the field. After an exchange program at Japan's Waseda University, he secured a position at the renowned animation studio Madhouse, where he honed his skills as a storyboard artist and director on over 40 productions, including "Death Note," "Haikyuu!! To the Top," and "Japan Sinks 2020."

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The original work was published not long ago when I received the proposal from 21 Studio. I was recommended four works from the collection, and I chose this one because it seemed to fit the 2D animation I wanted to do the most. I also liked that it was a story about female protagonists.

Heo credits director Masaaki Yuasa, with whom he co-directed "The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl," for inspiring his artistic philosophy. Yuasa's encouragement to "show me the traces of your struggle to create your own direction" pushed Heo to embrace imperfection and continuous effort in his work. This philosophy is evident in "Why Pilgrims Don't Come Back," which features a simple, unadorned art style and characters with relatable flaws, contrasting with the sleek, idealized designs common in contemporary Japanese anime.

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Show me the traces of your struggle to create your own direction. The traces themselves are not beautiful, but you have to go through this process to do something new.

Looking at the South Korean animation landscape, Heo sees potential in the greater creative freedom available compared to Japan's highly structured industry. However, he stresses the need for sustained investment and production, free from the fear of failure, to cultivate a strong lineage of talented directors and elevate the industry's status. He believes that if animation is recognized as a viable field, exceptional talents currently drawn to live-action film and drama will shift towards animation, leading to greater success.

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I could make a sleek, sharp ball that no one criticizes, but I wanted to make a lumpy mud ball.