Chapter 3 – The Age of Dreams
1994.
A bold animated film about a young lion who overthrows his murderous uncle became a worldwide phenomenon.
It wasn't just successful.
It became a global blockbuster, earning more than 760 million dollars at the box office.
Its impact reached far beyond the film industry.
Many animators were left speechless by its extraordinary quality.
Others were stunned that an animated movie could generate such unimaginable revenue.
In South Korea, however...
The government saw something entirely different.
They saw opportunity.
"Korea's future lies in knowledge-based industries."
"We must create our own animation, comics, and games."
"We must build Korean content that can compete with the world."
With that vision, enormous government funding poured into the animation industry.
New studios sprang up everywhere.
Countless venture companies appeared overnight.
Unfortunately...
So did countless scammers hoping to exploit government subsidies.
Among the few positive results of that movement was the birth of Korea's first Animation High Schools.
Schools created to nurture future artists, animators, and comic creators.
Their mission was simple:
To train the next generation of creators who would someday lead Korea's entertainment industry.
The curriculum borrowed heavily from internationally respected animation schools before being adapted to fit Korea's education system.
Promotional videos promised ambitious dreams.
• Come to Animation High School.
• Create world-class animation.
• Become Korea's next legendary creator.
Students across the country rushed to apply.
Everyone believed Korean animation was entering a golden age.
Until...
Everything changed.
One ambitious animated feature—hailed as the future of Korean animation—was released with enormous expectations.
It was supposed to challenge Japan's dominance in animation.
Instead...
It collapsed.
Not merely a disappointment.
A complete commercial disaster.
The failure devastated the industry.
People openly declared:
"Korean comics are finished."
Young artists suddenly faced a harsh reality.
If they wanted to survive...
They had only a few choices.
Draw educational comics to pay the bills.
Find stable factory jobs.
Or stubbornly continue chasing comics despite knowing they might never earn a living.
By 2005, the Korean comics industry was experiencing one of its darkest periods.
Animation.
Comics.
Games.
None of them inspired much confidence.
Parents discouraged their children from pursuing artistic careers.
Animation High Schools became easy targets.
"Do you really want to go there?"
"It's just a factory that produces unemployed artists."
The dreams that had once surrounded those schools were fading.
Faculty members worried constantly.
What they needed...
was someone capable of reigniting hope.
***
Daehan Animation High School
Faculty Conference Room
Bang!
A thunderous fist slammed against the conference table.
The room fell silent.
A middle-aged man stood abruptly.
His face was bright red.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
He looked as though he could split mountains with sheer anger.
"How can everyone be so complacent?!"
Several teachers immediately tried to calm him.
"P-Professor Yoon, please calm down."
"Let's sit down and discuss this rationally."
He ignored them.
Another fist struck the table.
Bang!
"Don't you understand?"
"Korean comics are dying!"
The man was Professor Charles Yoon.
Forty-five years old.
Single.
A celebrated cartoonist.
Three-time winner of the Korean Cartoon Award.
And recently appointed head of Daehan Animation High School's Comic Creation Department.
He glared around the room.
"We're being paid to educate the future of Korea's comics industry!"
"We're supposed to raise the next generation of creators!"
Silence.
Naturally...
The other teachers had their own thoughts.
"I'm just here for the paycheck."
"I'm in the Animation Department..."
"Please don't drag me into this..."
Nobody dared say those words aloud.
Professor Yoon looked around again.
"So?"
"Does anyone have an idea?"
The room instantly became even quieter.
Everyone knew one thing.
If they answered carelessly...
their summer vacation would disappear.
One by one, the teachers lowered their heads.
Anything...
As long as they weren't chosen.
Finally—
A young woman slowly raised her hand.
She had a petite frame.
Large, determined eyes.
The kind of person who looked gentle...
until she opened her mouth.
***
Professor Evelyn Choi.
A rising comic artist.
Winner of the 2004 New Artist Cartoon Award.
In other words...
Another passionate idealist.
"I have an idea."
Several teachers immediately became nervous.
"Professor Choi..."
"The preparation time is too short."
"It won't be effective."
They desperately tried to stop her.
Summer vacation had already begun.
No one wanted additional work.
Professor Yoon leaned forward.
"A competition?"
"What kind?"
He had taken the bait.
The vice principal quickly intervened.
"We already held competitions before."
"They weren't particularly successful."
"There's no reason to repeat them."
Professor Evelyn nodded.
"Exactly."
"Those contests only tested entrance-exam drawing skills."
"They didn't identify students who could actually create comics."
The vice principal smiled with relief.
"Right."
"So we can simply leave things as they are—"
She interrupted him.
"Let's make them draw an actual comic."
Silence.
Everyone stared.
"A sixteen-page comic."
"..."
The vice principal blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"A sixteen-page comic."
"Completed in one day."
"We'll discover who truly has talent."
The room froze.
Someone silently wondered if she'd lost her mind.
The vice principal nearly shouted.
"That's impossible!"
"They're only middle school students!"
"What middle school student can complete a sixteen-page comic in a single day?"
Professor Yoon suddenly burst into laughter.
Bang!
"Exactly!"
"That's perfect!"
"If the challenge is insane..."
"Only truly insane geniuses will survive!"
The other teachers simply sighed.
The vice principal made one final attempt.
"Even if we hold such a competition..."
"What if nobody enters?"
Professor Yoon grinned.
"Then we'll give them a reason."
"We'll offer the winner..."
"Special admission."
"...Into our school."
The room fell silent again.
The vice principal rubbed his forehead.
"...And the prize money?"
Professor Yoon answered without hesitation.
"I'll pay for it myself."
"...What?"
"I'll personally donate ten million won."
Another long silence.
The teachers could only stare.
There was no stopping him anymore.
***
Later That Evening
Johan returned home from Ethan's house just before sunset.
Sitting on his bed, he opened a notebook and reviewed everything he had written down.
Daehan Animation High School Comic Contest
Grand Prize: 5 million won
Special Admission to Daehan Animation High School
Create a 16-page comic within eight hours
Contest theme announced on the day of the event
A smile slowly appeared on Johan's face.
"It's like fate is helping me."
He had been searching desperately for a way into Animation High School.
Now...
One had appeared.
Without improving his grades.
Without taking the regular entrance examination.
He simply had to win.
Honestly...
As a former professional webtoon artist...
Anything less than first place would be embarrassing.
Although he'd spent years working digitally...
His experience still far exceeded that of ordinary middle school students.
More importantly—
The prize money was exactly what he needed.
Five million won.
Even after taxes...
It would easily cover his tuition and living expenses for a long time.
Win the contest.
Enter Animation High School.
Solve his financial problems.
One victory would accomplish everything.
Johan clenched his fist.
"I've still got nearly three weeks."
More than enough time to prepare.
Everything seemed perfect.
Except...
One obstacle remained.
"...How am I supposed to tell Mom?"
He sighed.
The face that immediately came to mind belonged to Alysa Seo.
The woman who had sacrificed everything to raise him alone after his irresponsible father abandoned them.
She worked tirelessly every single day.
She had never approved of comics as a career.
If he couldn't convince her...
None of this mattered.
Contest.
Animation High School.
Dreams.
Everything would end before it even began.
In his previous life...
He had already tried.
And failed.
***
"Johan..."
"You can draw when you're older."
"Life is already difficult enough for us."
"Please don't make it harder."
He still remembered the sadness in her eyes.
Back then...
He had surrendered.
And he regretted that decision for the rest of his life.
But things were different now.
He wasn't the frightened fourteen-year-old who had given up so easily.
He carried the mind and experience of a thirty-four-year-old man.
A former department manager.
A professional webtoon artist.
Someone who had already fought countless battles in life.
The boy from the past couldn't persuade Alysa Seo.
But this version of Johan...
Could.
He crossed his arms confidently.
"This time..."
"I'm not backing down."
He waited.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Click.
The front door opened.
"I'm home."
Alysa's familiar voice echoed through the apartment.
Johan slowly stood.
It was time to change his future.