Contemporary Korean art is emerging from the shadows this winter with an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD). And starting this Friday, a mini-festival of Korean anime is being presented in the museum’s recently restored mid-century modern auditorium.

Screen shots from A Coffee Vending Machine and Its Sword, directed by Hyung-Yun Chang.

Though Japanese anime has become hugely popular in the West, Korean animation or han-guk manhwa aenimeisyeon has been obscured by major productions created for American TV. Its 260 animation studios, mostly based in the capital Seoul, are responsible for the hand-drawn animation of hit series like The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Family Guy among others.

In celebration of Korea’s home-grown talent, MAD will present a selection of largely unknown and rarely screened examples by top artists. From post-apocalyptic worlds to children's fables and warriors reincarnated as vending machines, this series provides a fascinating glimpse into Korea's wildly imaginative animation studios.

Unbridled Energy: Korean Animation runs from December 2 to December 16 in conjunction with the exhibition Korean Eye: Energy and Matter, on view through February 19, 2012. All animation screenings are $10 General, $7 MAD Members and Students with Valid ID. Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, NY, NY.

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