A new Netflix show has gone viral online - but not for the reason you'd expect. Sealook is a South Korean computer-animated, nonverbal comedy series, originally created in 2022.
It recently landed on Netflix this month and has quickly become a firm favourite among some unexpected four-legged viewers. Pet owners have taken to social media to share clips of their dogs being glued to the screen while Sealook is on.
Adorable reactions from pets
Adorable videos show the pets pawing at the characters or barking at any of the cartoon seals in the show that come a little too close. While some dogs and cats do appear to watch TV sometimes, it's highly unusual for so many of them to be interested in one specific show.
Sealook's plot is very simple. There are 100 animated seals and each episode features a different story of the antics among their colony. For example, one episode is about a seal catching a yawn from another seal. Another episode simply shows three seals lazing about on ice while singing together.
Why pets are drawn to the screen
However, the reason why it is drawing the attention of our furry friends is because of the programme's colours. Sealook began to garner attention outside of South Korea this summer when it came to light that almost all of the colours of the show are within the limited spectrum that dogs and cats can see.
It's also thought that as the seals speak in their own language in the show, the squeaking noises from their words is attracting curious pets to the screen. Dogs and cats are also particularly sensitive to movements and Sealook's simplistic settings combined with the strong blue and yellow colours may make the action easier to pick out for our pets.
Creators respond to viral fame
Since its release on Netflix this month, many social media users have been sharing videos of their beloved furry friends enjoying a good old binge watch of the cartoon series, causing the show to go viral.
However, the creators of Sealook insist that animals are not their target audience and engaging pets with the screen is not intentional. The Pinkfong Company, which co-produces Sealook, told The Guardian that their cat and dog fanbase fascinated them.
The cartoon had been created for young children with simple landscapes, bright colours and repetitive movements. A Communication Lead at The Pinkfong Company said: "We didn’t set out to make a show for animals. But it continues to be fascinating - and very amusing - to see it connect with this new audience."
