Korean Visual Effects Continue to Expand Global Frontiers

Mr. Go (2013) 

Top Korean VFX house Dexter Studios has signed a contract to provide visual effects for the upcoming Hollywood live-action adaption of the Japanese manga Knights of the Zodiac (aka Saint Seiya). 

Originally published in 1986, the manga tells the story of warriors known as the ‘Saints’ who draw their power from the stars and help to defend the goddess Athena from other celestial beings who intend to take over the earth.

The film is being directed by Tomasz Baginski, the Polish illustrator who recently executive produced the Netflix series The Witcher, and the cast includes Mackenyu, Madison Iseman, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Nick Stahl, Diego Tinoco and Mark Dacascos. 

Founded ten years ago by director Kim Yonghwa to provide visual effects for his 2013 film Mr. Go, Dexter Studios quickly rose to become the top visual effects company in Korea. They have been responsible for the effects behind films such as the Along with the Gods series and Space Sweepers, while they have also expanded their activities by becoming a production company in addition to a major post-production services provider. As both a producer and VFX company, they have worked on ASHFALL (2019) and last year’s Escape from Mogadishu. 

In addition to their many Korean projects, Dexter has also been active as a VFX provider for international productions, notably on several hit major Chinese projects such as The Monkey King 3 and The Wandering Earth.