
21 KPop Demon Hunters Behind The Scenes Facts
First, director and writer Maggie Kang thought of the idea for KPop Demon Hunters because she wanted to create a movie that "was set in Korean culture" and acts as a "love letter to K-pop and [her] Korean roots." So, she researched mythology and demonology in Korean culture and thought that a story about it could make an animated movie "visually unique from what we've seen in mainstream media."
She told Animation Magazine, "I've also always wanted to do a group of amazing kick-ass women. [Production designer] Helen Chen draws these amazing, beautiful female superheroes who are not overly sexualized but still very strong and feminine. I thought about a daily job that they could do, and Kpop just came to mind and became the pitching point of the movie."
Maggie Kang's other main objective was to portray women in ways that she's "always wanted to see women portrayed, especially in a superhero movie." So, she wanted them to be "funny and silly and goofy and messy, as well as cool and aspirational and sexy."
What made the characters of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey fun to create was that their on-stage and off-stage personas were able to be so different. While they are a polished and united group on stage, they are able to be flawed behind the scenes.
It took roughly nine years to get KPop Demon Hunters made, with Maggie Kang revealing that Rumi was actually originally created for another project by her partner Radford Sechrist, who is a story artist and animator, who is best known for creating Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts.
In a Reddit AMA, Kang said, "The character of Rumi was created 9yrs ago, for another project- specifically my partner Rad Sechrist's Plastic Walrus. KPop was born in June or July of 2018. When we created this KPop IP I loved the design of Rumi so I plucked her out and made her the MC of KPop."
The film also drew inspiration from Bong Joon Ho films, with Maggie Kang telling Animation Magazine, "Another thing I wanted to pull off is similar to how Bong Joon Ho juggles so many different tones in his films to where they feel very animated. They're very comical but they're very dark, and so we try to do that in our film."
Music videos, Korean photography, concert lighting, anime, and K-dramas were also inspirations for KPop Demon Hunters.
For HUNTR/X, early inspiration for their character designs and music came from 2NE1, BLACKPINK, ITZY, TWICE, and more. The film worked with THEBLACKLABEL, a South Korean record label founded by Teddy Park and Kush on the music, so naturally their recording artists, like BLACKPINK, were big influences for HUNTR/X's look and sound.
Maggie Kang told Mashable, "Teddy and the team really wanted to create something new, with its own sound and identity. I knew I wanted the girls to be tough. They're not just idols, they're warriors. That alone gives them a different energy."
As for the Saja Boys, the team drew inspiration from Tomorrow X Together, BTS, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, BIGBANG, Monsta X, and more for both the look and sound of the band, but also the fans who become infatuated with the group.
Speaking to Forbes, Maggie Kang said, "There are many more that served as inspiration – both in and out of K-pop, but they all follow the same archetype. There's always a muscular one who shows off their abs, one who was the romantic type, and the baby of the group."
For the Saja Boys, while they all have their own distinct styles, they actually "all share the same CG body, except for Abby Saja, because he's a little bit bigger," according to Maggie Kang. She added, "We bulked him up like 20%."
Jinu does have his own distinct look from the rest of the Saja Boys, and it was inspired by K-drama actors Cha Eun-woo and Nam Joo-hyuk. The goal was to have Jinu have a very classic Korean look, which was why they gave him dark hair.
Jinu was voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop, who is also a popular actor and singer.
Meanwhile, Korean model Ahn So Yeon was the inspiration for Mira, who is the more fashion-forward character of the trio. Unlike with the Saja Boys, where they all look relatively the same, Maggie Kang's objective for HUNTR/X was that they all have very different looks from each other.
Kang told Forbes, "Even with the way we animated them [they are distinct]. With their smile, you'll notice Zoey has more of a heart-shaped mouth when she expresses herself. We wanted Mira to be long and lean because I love that look on a woman. I think that's so beautiful. With Rumi, we leaned into a very classic, beautiful Korean look."
Early inspiration for how the demon hunters used music throughout generations came from Maggie Kang and co-director and co-writer Chris Appelhans being inspired by traditional Korean mudang dancers, who were women who performed protective rituals. Appelhans recalled thinking, "Isn't that kind of like the first concert?" He added, "That idea clicked: music as a way to connect people and push away darkness."
"From there, everything opened up. It gave us a foundation for the girls' identities, their costumes, the mythology, even the stage visuals. And with the Saja Boys, we had fun playing with the idea of a dark, seductive boy band, literally demons in disguise," Appelhans explained to Mashable.
The design for Jinu's tiger, who has affectionately been named "derpy tiger," was based on minhwa, according to Maggie Kang. Minhwa is a traditional Korean folk art, which was big during the 17th to 19th centuries, during the Joseon era. The paintings were a symbol of "hope, prosperity, and well-being," which often used bright colors. The Hojak-do genre notably specialized in images of tigers and more.
"It's very goofy, and that is the reason why we call him Derpy Tiger. Those drawings are very derpy. He's always wally-eyed and weird-looking," Kang told Salon.Kang's husband, Radford Sechrist, was the lead animator for Jinu's tiger. He also told Salon, "I would say 90% based on the minhwa artwork, which was incredible to reference and 10% is our cat"
There are a few TWICE Easter eggs hidden throughout the film. First, you can spot TWICE listed on the charts when Bobby pulls out his phone. You can also see TWICE (and Meovv) posters in the hallway backstage at the Idol Awards.
While writing and creating the songs for the Saja Boys, Chris Appelhans told Mashable they purposefully wrote songs that were "super catchy, but slightly hollow," to emphasize that they are the demons in the story. He added, "There's no real soul underneath."
Appelhans also told Mashable, "The idea was that the surface-level part of your heart might be obsessed with the boys, but the deeper part is moved by the girls."Danny Chung, who is part of THEBLACKLABEL and wrote "Soda Pop" voices Baby Saja, too.
HUNTR/X's lyrics and songs were written with the intention of having deep meanings behind the words. Chris Appelhans told Mashable, "It's that feeling when an artist shares something raw, like 'drivers license' or Lemonade, and you're stunned they went there, but you feel it so deeply. That's the space we wanted HUNTR/X to live in."
Maggie Kang added to Mashable, "The boys' lyrics are all 'give me, give me,' and the girls' final song is about giving themselves to the audience."
Arden Cho initially auditioned for the role of Celine, but was then encouraged to read for the role of Rumi. Speaking about booking the role, she told Navar, via AllKPop, "I was overjoyed beyond words. Even after 20 years of acting, I wondered, 'Is it okay for me to want this role so badly?'"
She continued, saying, "Director Maggie Kang, I, and all the HUNTR/X members share Korean heritage. K-Pop Demon Hunters is about more than K-pop: it showcases Korean warmth, unity, and how that helps overcome crises. I really wanted to help spread that message of 'us'."
EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI provide the singing voices for Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, respectively. Meanwhile, Lea Salonga, who is best known for her theater work and for being the singing voice for Mulan and Princess Jasmine, provided the singing voice for Celine.
Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, and Yunkin Kim voiced the characters, respectively.
Due to the fact that HUNTR/X performs on stage, hunts demons, and we see them in their everyday lives too, the movie actually consists of the most costume looks ever for an animated movie.
"When it comes to demon hunting and music making, they all have their own role and it comes together in a magical way," Maggie Kang added during an interview with Netflix.
The team took musical inspirations from various artists when it came to writing and producing the songs. For example, "What It Sounds Like" was inspired by Lorde's "Green Light," with Chris Appelhans saying in a Reddit AMA, "Green Light (Lorde), is both vulnerable + anthemic and helped us believe we could achieve both in our finale."
He also referenced Imogen Heap for Rumi's part of the song, writing, "The vocoder vocals in Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap) inspired us for Rumi trying to reconcile both parts of herself and find her 'true voice'."
Originally, the movie included a final standoff song between Rumi and Celine. However, it was cut because it "didn't fit the arc of the story," according to music supervisor Ian Eisendrath.
In a Reddit AMA, Eisendrath described the song as "really cool." Also speaking about writing the songs, he said, "First thing we did was determine when the story/characters need to sing, then hired an amazing group of Kpop hitmakers, and spent years developing these song (often 3-6 songs were written for each slot before we settled)!"
Due to how expensive it can be to animate an entire movie, the full choreography for all the performances doesn't actually exist. The only parts that are choreographed are what is shown in the final film.
In a Reddit AMA, Maggie Kang explained, "We do not have full choreography! We only have it for the sections that are see on screen. Again, budgetary reasons-- what we don't see, we do not pay for lol."
And finally, the soundtrack has led to seven hits on Billboard's Hot 100, with "Golden" reaching a peak of No. 6 on the chart as of July 21. HUNTR/X also hit No. 2 on the US Spotify charts, surpassing BLACKPINK as the highest-charting female K-pop group. And the Saja Boys' "Your Idol" topped the US Spotify charts, surpassing BTS as the highest-charting male K-pop group.
Subsequently, "Golden" will reportedly be submitted for Best Orignal Song consideration a the 2026 Oscars.
What do you LOVE about KPop Demon Hunters? Share all your thoughts below!
Want to find out which KPop Demon Hunters character you're most like? Click here to take the quiz!
Do you love all things TV and movies? Subscribe to the Screen Time newsletter to get your weekly dose of what to watch next and what everyone is flailing over from someone who watches everything!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Vogue
4 hours ago
- Vogue
One Sushi Park Trip, Two Pant Changes for Kendall Jenner
It's a long, hot summer, until it's not. And Kendall Jenner has a seasonal wardrobe she wants to make use of. The model was photographed arriving for dinner with friends at the West Hollywood strip mall sushi joint of celebrity choice, Sushi Park. (The spot has welcomed regulars from Selena Gomez to Hailey Bieber multiple times this summer—the $400 Omakase must be that good). On arrival, she wore a black bateau neck sleeveless top and a black sweater tied around her shoulders, white silk straight-leg pants, and black criss-cross open-toed mule sandals. As usual, she added an angular brown shoulder bag from The Row. She kept her hair in her usual middle part, loose and relaxed, with minimal makeup and jewelry save for a dainty gold bracelet. So far, so summer. Photo: Backgrid Later, Jenner was photographed again leaving the restaurant, toting a leftover bottle of wine. She had shed the sweater, but also seemed to have swapped her set of pants in favor of some black capris. Because what's a girl to do when you've more summer trends to tick off than you have nights out on the town? Or when you've dropped a piece of crab roll on your pants. Capris have loomed large this summer—usually worn Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina-esque with a boatneck top or flowing, breezy shirt, little mules or kitten heels that make a failsafe fit that's sleek and elegant, day or night. It's an outfit formula regularly employed by Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber. While the capri length can cause some division, the white pant is unarguably a timeless summer staple. Hitting both in one night? A straight 10. Photo: Backgrid AKGS Photo: Backgrid The Kendall Jenner summer school of style has steadily been banking the season's buzziest trends: Sheer dresses and polka dots on the beach, the Gen-X boot and jean tuck, the 'tomato girl' aesthetic of summer's yore even in the mix. Always, of course, with a piece from The Row: a Marlo tote, the Cecily top-handle, or the cult original Margaux bag—and sometimes, the flip-flop du jour. The days are already getting shorter, the nights chillier, but rest assured Kendall Jenner has all the summer looks on lock she'll make time for.

Business Insider
7 hours ago
- Business Insider
K-pop giant Hybe scored big with the band Seventeen. Now, an American member is out to conquer the US.
Joshua Hong of Seventeen is one of 13 band members, but he's poised to become one of the K-pop moneymaker's most significant assets stateside yet. On Friday, Hong released his reimagining of "Love is Gone," originally by the US DJ duo Slander, featuring American singer-songwriter Dylan Matthew. The TikTok-famous heartbreak anthem went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic. "This was such a special collaboration and opportunity to work with a group of incredibly talented artists to create a brand new world for this record. The Seventeen version stays true to the emotional core, but breathes new life with fresh vocal melodies and overtones," Slander said in a press release. Hong hasn't released solo music yet, but he released the English track "2 MINUS 1" in 2021 with his Korean-American bandmate, Vernon. The latest release comes as Hong has become one of the more active group members. Two members on Seventeen's roster — Jeonghan and Wonwoo — have enlisted for South Korea's compulsory military service, with dance leader Hoshi and vocalist and producer Woozi set to join them in September. Hong is American and is exempt from serving in the Korean army. And that's just as well, because he's all over the place, from the cover of Allure Korea to releasing a perfume in collaboration with Lola James Harper. He has also inadvertently fueled the Labubu-buying frenzy in South Korea by posting snaps of him kissing the doll and being spotted at the airport with the doll clipped to his Chanel bag. To be sure, Hong isn't the only Seventeen member who's had significant solo activities. The band's leader, recently made his Met Gala debut in a gray Hugo Boss outfit that resembled a traditional Korean hanbok. The band is set to embark on another tour that kicks off on September 13 in Incheon, South Korea. Having an American member of a K-pop band being active stateside is an ongoing strategy for Hybe, the megacompany that owns Pledis, Hong's label. In June, Hybe was marked as a "buy" pick by Goldman Sachs analysts, who said they were "most bullish on HYBE's fundamentals for producing and monetizing Mega IPs." The Grammy-nominated BTS — also under Hybe — is set to return in 2026 with new music and a tour. In the meantime, Seventeen remains one of the most successful investments under Hybe's umbrella. In 2023 Seventeen, per statistics compiled by Goldman, achieved an all-time high of 4.5 million albums sold in week one of release, breaking BTS's record of 3.3 million copies. The US also holds promise for big money for groups from Hybe and beyond. Stray Kids, the mega-band under the label JYP, just wrapped up the US leg of its dominATE tour.


New York Post
13 hours ago
- New York Post
It's been a rough week for Gen X — losing Theo, Ozzy and now ‘Real American' icon Hulk Hogan
It's been a week of tremendous loss for us Gen-X kids. The last few days on social media has felt like one long requiem for the pop culture of the 1980s and '90s. First, lovable 'Cosby Show' star Malcolm-Jamal Warner — aka Theo Huxtable — tragically drowned while swimming in Costa Rica, at only 54 years old. Then Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne passed away at 76. On Thursday, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan fulfilled the old saying that death comes in threes. And, oh brother, that last one was a dropkick to my heart. Like for legions of others, sadness is running wild all over my precious childhood memories of a time when Hulkamania reigned. 7 Hulk Hogan became a supporter of Donald Trump and spoke at his MSG rally just before the 2024 election. Stephen Yang At 71, Hogan was relatively ancient for a pro wrestler whose body had endured years of back-breaking acrobatic maneuvers, corrective surgeries and admitted steroid abuse. So many of his fellow performers who toiled in the ring went to early graves. But as a friend remarked Thursday, it felt like Hogan — real name was Terry Bollea — was never going to die. It's been a long time since he was the young stud who convincingly played Thunderlips, 'The Ultimate Male,' in 'Rocky III,' a role that would turn Hogan into a superstar and take pro wrestling into a golden age. And I'm sure he was no longer strong enough to scoop up and body-slam a man of Andre the Giant's stature, like he did in 1987 at Wrestlemania III. But decades on, Hogan remained faithful to his shtick and his platinum horseshoe mustache. Last summer, he burst into the Republican National Convention with his high-octane personality, shouting and gesticulating like vintage Hogan. He seemingly hadn't lost a step — even performing his patented move of vigorously tearing off his shirt … revealing not his abs but a Trump/Vance T-shirt. 7 Hogan starred in 'Rocky III'as a flamboyant wrestler named Thunderlips and manhandled Sylvester Stallone's Rocky. His rousing speech and presence assured the RNC was a proper Trumpian circus, leaving the party's stodgy pearls and sweater-set culture of yore in the dirt. Pundits can argue over the merits of such an appearance but, thanks to Hogan, the night was not lacking in entertainment. That was his specialty. Hogan was an enduring showman. Fittingly, Hogan's theme song was Rick Derringer's 'Real American.' As a young performer, he personified the boldness of the United States of America in the 1980s, helping to export our culture to a global audience. A 6-foot-7, he was big, he was golden-haired, he was optimistic and he was always flexing his massive muscles. 7 During the 2024 Republican National Convention, Hulk Hogan spoke and ripped off his shirt, revealing a Trump/Vance campaign shirt. Jasper Colt / USA TODAY NETWORK 7 Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were superstars of 1980s wrestling. Getty Images You might say he was the American dream come to life. As a country, we had no better hypeman than when he swooped his hand to his ear — demanding more celebration from the crowd. Hogan also exuded a wholesomeness, regularly reminding kids to 'say your prayers, eat your vitamins…be a real American.' Transcending the ring, he set the blueprint for megastars like John Cena and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson to take over Hollywood. Like Forrest Gump, he managed to pop up in almost every major part of American life: movies, sports, reality television — and, yes, even a consequential 2016 trial that grappled with the First Amendment and privacy rights. The latter was the result of leaking a sex tape Hogan had made with a friend's wife — one of a few scandalous moments in his very public life. Secretly backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, who also had an ax to grind against the site, Hogan sued the outlet in a trial that proved as sensational as a wacky WWE storyline. Hogan emerged victorious, and about $31 million richer. In one surreal moment, he appealed to the judge to allow him to wear his trademark bandana in court. Request granted. 7 Ozzy Osbourne passed away on Tuesday aged 76 after battling Parkinsons for years. Redferns via Getty Images 7 Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned in a tragic accident while on holiday in Costa Rica. MediaPunch / BACKGRID 7 Hulk Hogan testified in his lawsuit against Gawker — and petitioned the judge to be able to wear his bandana. REUTERS Life always imitated art with Hogan, a master of kayfabe. He was delightfully ridiculous. To quote the man himself: 'Hulkamania will live forever.'