The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is spotlighting South Korean projects for the first time in its 47-year history.

In a presentation today, Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Seoul-based marketing agency PILabs will showcase five kids series. It’s a significant first for the Canadian festival, which has seen increased interest from attendees for international co-production and business opportunities with Korean companies.

Canada has a memorandum of understanding with Korea for TV co-pros, which covers animated projects. And animation has been the core of Canada-Korea co-productions, says a Telefilm Canada spokesperson. Successful past kids TV co-productions to come from the countries include Cookie Jar Entertainment and Sunwoo Entertainment’s Metajets (for Teletoon in 2010) and Cookie Jar and Daewon Media’s Magi-Nation (for CBC in 2007).

However, there haven’t been any animated TV co-pros between Canada and Korea since 2011, according to Telefilm. OIAF is looking to change this—and meet attendees’ growing desire to connect with Korean producers—by bringing the countries together during a pitching event. Plus, Korea is a hot market now, thanks in part to popular Korean dramas like Squid Game and teen series All of Us Are Dead, which have garnered international audiences on Netflix.

“As co-productions, especially between Korea and Canada, become more popular, it’s important to acknowledge the strength of collaboration and how it’s shaping the industry,” says Kelly Neal, OIAF’s managing director.

For Lee Hojin, CEO of Seoul-based Studio TNT, pitching at OIAF represents an opportunity to connect with companies that can give its new project Seapups international legs. Studio TNT has been successful in Korea, where local pubcaster EBS has run its seven- to 13-skewing series Hero Circle for two seasons. Now, like other Korean studios seeing demand for more K-kids content outside the country, TNT is looking to create a worldwide hit.

“Many studios in Canada have a lot of experience in producing successful content in the global market,” says Hojin. “That’s why I believe I can use this pitching opportunity to meet a good partner who can upgrade this project to global content.”

KOCCA selects 18 early-stage projects every year for its six-month Animation Boot Camp program, where it supports projects through planning and completing a bible. Its five Boot Camp projects at OIAF, which are at the early planning stages, are optimum for co-pro discussions and partnerships, adds Kim Rak-kyun, KOCCA’s deputy director of strategy and planning.

Here are some details on the KOCCA projects being presented today:

Hana and Molly – 3 to 5

Producer: 5Bricks Animation Studio (Seoul, Korea)
Representative: Eunji Lee (producer)
Style: 2D animation
Format: 40 x seven minutes
Status: Pre-production

This blend of adventure and education revolves around the colorful emotions of four-year-old Hana and her friend Molly, who just happens to be a magical sock.

The Headers in Wonderland  – 3 to 5

Producer: AroundEffect (Incheon, Korea)
Representative: Baek JongSeok (CEO)
Style: CG animation
Format: 52 x five minutes
Status: In production

The Headers are small creatures who end up far from home after a typhoon hits. Now they must make the journey back home, while singing songs and learning empathy along the way.

Seapups – 6 and up

Producer: Studio TNT (Seoul)
Representatives: Dong ah Seo and Hojin Lee (producers)
Style: 2D and CG animation
Format: 52 x five minutes
Budget: US$6.5 million
Status: In development

A dog gets transferred to an academy for sea animals in this comedy/adventure series.

Coney Circus – 3 to 7

Producer: Circus Image Works (Seoul)
Representative: Sejin Han (CEO)
Style: 2D and CG animation
Format: 52 x five minutes
Status: In development

Coney and members of her floating circus perform extravagant feats while using their crafting skills to resolve problems in their town.

FoodRANGERS – 4 to 6

Producer: MOnE Animation (Seoul)
Representative: Jinyong Kim (CEO)
Style: CG animation
Format: 26 x 11 minutes
Status: Pre-production

These rangers are on a mission to introduce kids to delicious and healthy food from around the world. Young chef Luna and her transforming food truck travel the globe in search of the next awesome recipe.