
Synopsis
This is a drama short film about the conflict between a creator and a publishing house. Once a promising artist who gained some recognition with his debut work, the cartoonist found himself unable to produce work that satisfied his publisher after signing a contract. In the final year of the agreement, the publisher lost patience with him and threatened to take back the company-provided apartment.
As the contract was nearing its end, the cartoonist confidently submitted a new piece. However, the publisher dismissed it, expressing disinterest in superhero themes and a preference for works addressing social issues, catering to the market’s appetite for “critical” content. Despite reluctantly making changes, the cartoonist inadvertently depicted the antagonist as a caricature of the publisher. This misstep led the publisher to terminate their collaboration and evict him.
Faced with creative failure and a crumbling reality, the cartoonist’s mental state deteriorated, ultimately leading to his tragic suicide. Witnessing this, the publisher’s assistant, Mr. Kim, turned the artist’s story into a comic titled The Death of a Cartoonist, which ironically became a favorite of the publisher.
Original/Alternative Title: 한 만화가의 죽음