INTERVIEW | A Behind the Scenes Look with the Creators of ‘A Day Before Us’

LIFE IS COMIC!, or LICO for short, is a Korean Animation/Webtoon studio created back in 2017 by NAVER. LICO is responsible for several popular webtoons, and as of late, the YouTube anime series ‘A Day Before Us’. A Day Before Us is a sweet shoujo series following four main characters; Yeo Reum, Ha Eun, Wook, and Yeon Woo. In the interview down below, LICO discusses their thoughts on the series and the animation industry in South Korea, as well as a few go-to dating tips!

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Hello! Thank you for doing this interview with us. As a start, please say hello to OneHallyu and the readers of OH! Blog, and then introduce yourselves.
Hello, we are LIFE IS COMIC! LICO. We at LICO test and produce various digital contents focusing mainly on animation, videos, and images. We also take lead in the minute by minute changing trends, and we are a professional contents company that is the lead in its market.

We started with the short animation ‘A Day Before Us’, and from now on, we plan to produce even better contents for our viewers. From now on, we ask for lots of support and interest. (Homepage)

Now, when making an anime, there are many different roles that take part in this process. In your production team, how many of you are there, and what is it that you do?
Our production team is made up of about 20 people. The different jobs they participate in are planning, setting, production, animation, sound, and editing.

Well, I have watched ‘A Day Before Us’ myself, and I really enjoyed it!. The drawings are so pretty, so I wanted to ask: How long have you been drawing?
Thank you for watching and enjoying ‘A Day Before Us’. ‘A Day Before Us’ is a romantic story about the dating lives of 4 young men and women, told through an emotional color. Just like its title, it tells about the day before the thrilling moment that you start dating, and I think that the charm of ‘A Day Before Us’ is its watercolor style of painting.

We started publishing in October 2017 through the Korean platform Naver Webtoon, and currently, since March 2018 through a YouTube channel, we started to release them for global users.

People who are good at drawing have many different career options that they can choose from. Some become graphic designers, and some draw webtoons, but when did you first get that ambition to make an anime?
We at LICO are not just people who draw. You could say that we are people that have gathered together to create interesting contents. With a shift in direction, we have the capability to make movies, dramas, comics, or even work as illustrators or graphic designers.

Not only have we made ‘A Day Before Us’, but we have also started to make the comics ‘Refund High School‘ and ‘Ghost Teller‘. Currently, we also publish on LINE WEBTOON. Please also give webtoons lots of love ^^ (Homepage)

As far as I know, the Korean anime world hasn’t fully developed. Was it difficult getting into the Korean anime scene? Were there people around you who negatively thought, “Oh this isn’t going to work?”
To be honest, Korean Animation is really developing at a high scale. But it is true that it is not as well known as much as America or Japan. A large part of that is it’s not being financially supported by the Korean government like K-pop and other entertainment are.

Until animation contents are produced, lots of manpower and skill is required, so not losing ambition is the hardest and most difficult part. We at LICO will try our best and work hard to show all the new possibilities of Korean Animation.

When you saw the amount of views, the many comments left, and reactions from the subscribers of your channel, how did it make you feel?
We were surprised because there was a bigger response than we expected there to be. There were many positive opinions and much support, but there were also some negative opinions. Because all opinions help us to make better works, we are carefully and deeply observing them. No matter whatever is said, we gratefully accept them..

‘A Day Before Us’ Season 2 started to air on YouTube not too long ago. If this season has good reactions, do you plan on releasing another season, or maybe an entirely new show?
Of course. We have already finished talks in relation to season 3, and we are currently modifying the actual production plans and its details. Also, we are preparing to make various contents under the theme of A Day Before. We ask that you stay subscribed to our YouTube and give it lots of love and attention.

The length of each episode of ‘A Day Before Us’ is relatively short. Out of curiosity, do you have plans to produce longer episodes, or are you satisfied with the current length of the episodes?
Firstly, we tried to match our running time with a mobile setting. We probably will keep the base series of A Day Before Us to fit with the current format of “Snack Culture,” but we are considering extending through other concepts and various themes.

I’m just asking this because I’m curious, but the personalities of your characters are really cute and bright! What were the inspirations for these character’s bubbly personalities?
We gained a lot of ideas for the characters of A Day Before Us from our friends and our personal stories. Everyone has at least once felt butterflies, loved, had a one-sided love. That is exactly the inspiration we felt. So don’t you think that the characters would come out as bright and cute as we are? ^^

Alright, so since today’s topic is dating, how about I ask a question related to dating?! Do you have any sort of sweet tips related to dating? If so, please let us know!
A: I want to say you have to do things for them. Just as Yeonwoo did something for Haeun, even if it’s something small, I think that doing something for that person becomes the thing that moves their heart.

B: If you are someone who listens well to others and always has a lovely smile, then I think that no one will be able to not love or resist you.

This question is also related to dating, what is your dream first date?
I think it’s the date with the person in which you fell in love with at first sight. Or even if you don’t just fall for them, I think that the word ‘first date’ itself is like a dream. And it feels the most exciting too. The most dreamlike date is probably a date like in the movies or anime, but doesn’t everyone long to have an unrealistic seeming date or romance?

Out of the couples in ‘A Day Before Us’, is there a couple that you each individually like the most and want to support? If so, which couple, and why?
We support all characters, but I would like to support Wook and Yeo Reum a bit more because Wook’s love for Yeo Reum started long before we even knew. We support Wook’s one-sided love! In the upcoming episodes, you will be able to see Wook and Yeo Reum’s unfinished love story!!

I am wondering if maybe there is someone like you reading this article that would like to try and make an anime. Let’s say that this person is having doubts about themselves or their abilities, what are some words of encouragement that you would like to say to them?
I would like to say that if you love animation and want to make them, from now on, don’t doubt your skills but keep running. Obviously, you will be even better than you were yesterday. Also, more than anything, people continuously want interesting stories so don’t give up and give it a try!

And in closing, thank you for taking the time to participate in this interview! On a final note, is there anything that you would possibly like to say to your international fans?
Thank you for loving ‘A Day Before Us.’ From now on, please give constant attention to the contents that LICO releases!

Life is Comic 🙂

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Thank you LIFE IS COMIC! for taking the time to answer all of these questions while on a busy schedule!

Was there anything new that you’ve learned more about the studio, did you enjoy season 2 of ‘A Day Before Us,’ and are you looking forward to a possible 3rd season? Write your comments down below!