The animated fantasy film Frozen has captured the hearts of many young mothers here in Korea,” So-yeon, a veteran voice actress, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. She noted that “Frozen” has become the highest grossing animated film and the second-highest grossing foreign film in Korea, drawing more than 10 million viewers here since its release on Jan. 16.
So-yeon plays Elsa, one of the characters of the hit film, in the Korean language dubbed version. She attributed much of its success to its neoteric plotline and musical-like elements. “Many go to the theaters just for their children, but soon find themselves immersed in the film,” she said. “Frozen” tells the story of a princess, Anna, who goes in search of her estranged sister, Elsa, whose spell has trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
The film’s original song “Let It Go” has been the most downloaded tune on music charts including Melon and Mnet for the last two months, and is thought to have played a significant role in the film’s success on the local market. And though So-yeon didn’t sing the radically popular song herself, she acknowledged she has benefited from having played Elsa, who sings “Let It Go.” “Elsa wasn’t the main character, but she attracted viewers with compassion,” she said. “She’s the one with the tragic story.”
So-yeon, who entered the state-run broadcaster KBS in 1999 as a voice actress, has done voice-overs in radio and television commercials, as well as in dubbed foreign language films and audio dramas. When So-yeon, now a freelance artist, was first cast as Elsa, she turned down the offer to sing “Let It Go,” because she wasn’t sure she could pull it off. She had no idea the film would become such a hit, considering local animated films have not profited at all here, including the 2011 animated film “Leafie, a Hen into the Wild,” which received widespread critical acclaim but failed to draw viewers.
“And it’s not like we don’t have the technology to produce films like ‘Frozen’ here in Korea, because we do,” she said. “Now that Frozen has dominated the local market, I’m hoping many have realized that animated films are not just for children.” To make matters worse, Korean audiences prefer subtitled versions, as opposed to dubbed versions, of films, which is uncommon in a non-English speaking country, she said. “It’s unfortunate, but inevitable,” she said. “Mothers want their children to learn English by watching subtitled versions of films. It’s understandable.” She added, “But it would be great if Korean voice artists could become the original dubbing artists and draw such audiences. I really hope one day to feel truly proud to be a voice actress.”
So-yeon stressed the importance of naturalness in a voice when voice acting. “That’s why children take on the voices of children in animated films,” she said. In fact, So-yeon’s daughter auditioned to play the younger Elsa, but wasn’t offered the part. “I think she was really nervous,” So-yeon said with a smile. Her role in “Frozen” has definitely brought awareness to the job of voice acting, but So-yeon admits the country has a long way to go. “There have been no animated films since Leafie,” she said. “If we produced more animated films, voice actors would truly benefit.”
