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T.O.P Reunites With ‘Squid Game’ Art Director Chae Kyung Sun for Animated ‘Stendhal Syndrome’ Music Video

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TOP Stendhal Syndrome Official Music Video Poster Art

Former BIGBANG member T.O.P, also known as Choi Seung-hyun, has returned with a visually ambitious new chapter from his solo era. His official music video for “Stendhal Syndrome” (연극이 끝나고 난 뒤) premiered on August 21, 2026, at 5 p.m. KST, bringing together music, animation, and visual storytelling in a production that runs for more than six minutes.

The video also reunites T.O.P with Chae Kyung Sun, the art director known for her work on Netflix’s Squid Game. After their previous collaboration on “Studio54,” the pair have taken a very different route this time, placing an animated character named Mojiri (Moji-ri) at the center of a story built around childhood innocence.

More BIGBANG News: T.O.P isn’t the only member keeping BIGBANG’s legacy alive this year. For more, read our story on BIGBANG’s 20th-anniversary comeback single “BiiiG”.

T.O.P “Stendhal Syndrome” MV brings Mojiri and childhood innocence to life

“Stendhal Syndrome” is one of the tracks from Another Dimension (다중관점), T.O.P’s first full-length solo album. The music video was released through TopSpot Pictures, T.O.P’s agency and production company, following its announced 5 p.m. KST premiere.

Watch T.O.P’s official “STENDHAL SYNDROME” music video on YouTube

Instead of going for the usual live-action performance format, the project dives fully into animation. At its heart is Mojiri, described by TopSpot Pictures as a representation of T.O.P’s childlike innocence.

That detail gives the video an intriguing emotional angle. Mojiri is not simply an animated version of T.O.P. The character is presented as a distinct figure connected to the innocence explored throughout the visual concept, creating a playful and imaginative world around the song.

The production was reportedly developed over several months by T.O.P and Chae Kyung Sun. With a runtime of more than six minutes, the video has enough space for its animated narrative and visual ideas to unfold rather than functioning simply as a short promotional clip.

More K-Pop Milestone Moments: Big, visually ambitious moments have been defining K-pop’s biggest names all year. Check out our story on BTS making FIFA World Cup history with their halftime show.

Chae Kyung Sun and T.O.P reunite after “Studio54”

The new T.O.P “Stendhal Syndrome” music video also extends a creative partnership that began with “Studio54” (완전미쳤어!), the title track from Another Dimension.

Chae Kyung Sun, known for her work as an art director and production designer, including her involvement with Netflix’s Squid Game, previously collaborated with T.O.P on the distinctive visual direction of “Studio54.”

This time, though, the creative language is much more animated. The video uses character design, animation, production design and storytelling to build a world around the song. It further highlights how T.O.P’s solo work has increasingly positioned music as only one part of a larger audiovisual experience.

More K-Pop Chart News: Big production efforts tend to translate into big chart results across the industry. For more, read our story on RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR dominating Melon’s Global-K chart.

T.O.P’s “Stendhal Syndrome” production credits reveal a huge creative team

The official YouTube description credits Chae Kyung Sun as director, with T.O.P, Kang Jeong Woo and John Yoo serving as executive producers. Lee Chang Seok is credited as writer, while Kwon Yun Hee handled the storyboard.

RoleOfficial credit
DirectorChae Kyung Sun
Executive ProducersT.O.P, Kang Jeong Woo, John Yoo
WriterLee Chang Seok
StoryboardKwon Yun Hee
ProductionTopSpot Pictures
Production DesignD.ART
Co-ProductionTRIBESOUL, Baeck Jeeheon, Ahn Da Eun
Animation StudioCrexai
Mix/MasteringIrko

The animation team includes Jung Myoun Young, Cho Hyung Rae, Jang Hyun Ho, Lee Seung Pyo, Kim Su Bin, Kwon So Young and Bae Hee Sung. Together, the extensive credits underline how much work went into creating the six-minute-plus animated production.

More K-Pop Industry News: Artists making bold decisions about how and where they release music has been a big theme this year. Dive into our coverage of why BTS are rejecting the 2027 Grammys over the new Asian Pop category.

Another Dimension marked a major moment in T.O.P’s solo career

“Stendhal Syndrome” arrives from Another Dimension, released in April 2026 as T.O.P’s first full-length solo album.

The 11-track album arrived nearly 13 years after his previous digital single, “Doom Dada,” marking his return to solo music following an extended period away from the solo scene.

The album also found an international audience, reaching No. 1 on the iTunes Top Albums chart in 15 countries and regions. “Studio54” established the earlier visual partnership between T.O.P and Chae Kyung Sun, while “Stendhal Syndrome” now adds another major visual piece to the Another Dimension era.

More K-Pop Personal Content: Fans following idols’ solo activities off the main stage has become its own kind of content this year. For more, check out our story on the mystery behind BTS’s Suga and his San Francisco run finally getting resolved.

T.O.P’s solo era continues beyond music videos

T.O.P’s latest release comes after a significant change in his relationship with BIGBANG. He parted ways with the group in 2023, while remaining members G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung have publicly supported his solo project.

Rather than leaning heavily on his BIGBANG history, “Stendhal Syndrome” establishes its identity through T.O.P’s own artistic direction, particularly the Mojiri character and the animated world surrounding the song.

At the same time, T.O.P has continued connecting with international fans through his “T.O.P Pre-Studio 2026” brand tour. The tour began in Hong Kong and expanded internationally. In July 2026, he held a fan meetup in Yokohama, Japan, attended by approximately 10,000 people.

According to contemporaneous reporting, the tour is scheduled to continue with stops including Taipei, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Kaohsiung through December.

With “Stendhal Syndrome,” T.O.P is continuing to build a solo identity that goes beyond conventional music releases. The six-minute-plus animation, Mojiri’s connection to childhood innocence and Chae Kyung Sun’s return all make the project another distinctive visual statement from the Another Dimension era.

Disclaimer: This article is based on thorough research using the official T.O.P/TopSpot Pictures YouTube release, published music-video credits, official information from TopSpot Pictures, and contemporaneous reporting from sources including allkpop, Edaily, The Korea Herald and additional coverage of Another Dimension and T.O.P’s “T.O.P Pre-Studio 2026” activities. Details concerning the production period, thematic focus and Mojiri’s characterization reflect information provided by the agency and available coverage. Audience interpretations are not presented as official explanations. Chart rankings, attendance figures and view counts may change over time.

Official and relevant sources

Featured Image Credit: TopSpot Pictures

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