Latest news with #KpopDemonHunters
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
What Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters gets right and wrong about Korean music idols' lives
After spending a few years covering the fast-paced, glossy K-pop industry, a reporter inevitably starts to see through the glittery veneer. You get familiar with the ins and outs – from the hot 'tea' (gossip) that fans usually crave to the industry's darkest lore you wish you never knew. Yet, in fan-driven fiction and spin-offs made to celebrate K-pop fantasy, those insider truths rarely surface. The industry's smallest details often remain a secret, carefully concealed in line with K-pop's golden rule: faults and fears must never be seen. Play This is the mantra followed by Huntrix, the fictional K-pop girl group at the centre of KPop Demon Hunters, the new animated film streaming on Netflix.
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kpop Demon Hunters: Why Were Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Byung Hun Chosen as Voice Actors in Animated Film? Director Reveals
A K-pop girl group made up of demon hunters versus a rival boy group of demons, who'll win? The exciting storyline unfolding in Kpop Demon Hunters has taken over the world with its animated charm, and now the director, Maggie Kang, has revealed how she chose actors Lee Byung Hun and Ahn Hyo Seop for the voice acting roles, emphasizing their existing acting skills. Speaking about making the story more related to Koreans than Korean-Americans, the creator shared with KBI Zoom, 'Working with active Korean actors was a key mission. This isn't a story about Korean-Americans but about Koreans living in Korea today.' Thus stemmed the idea of having Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Byung Hun in the film. With the latter's success via the Squid Game series and his foray into the western world, he became the right pick for the role of the villain Gwi Ma. 'As the first Korean artist to break into Hollywood, I deeply respect and appreciate him.' On the other hand, Ahn Hyo Seop, as a K-pop trainee turned actor, became the male lead, Jinu, whose husky presence in the film has melted many hearts around the world. Maggie Kang revealed, 'Working with an actor who embodies the quintessential K-drama male lead was our dream. Ahn Hyo Seop brought authenticity to the story and characters.' About Kpop Demon Hunters With the story of Huntrix, comprising Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, fighting against the Saja Boys, and a quintessential romance breaking through, Kpop Demon Hunters is peak fantasy-action, blended into an animated marvel that is already breaking charts. A sequel for the film seems unlikely at this point; however, fans of the story have hopes for some update. Other voice actors for the film include Arden Cho as Rumi, May Hong as Mira, Yoo Ji Young as Zoey, Yunjin Kim as Celine, Daniel Dae Kim as Healer Han, Ken Jeong as Bobby, Joel Kim Booster as Romance Saja, Alan Lee as Mystery Saja, and SungWon Cho as Abs Saja.
Pink Villa
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kpop Demon Hunters was inspired by BTS? Directors reveal how song Dynamite became foundation for Netflix's global hit
BTS has taken over our world with its charm, and it wouldn't be far-fetched to say that modern-day K-pop has largely benefited from the group's concepts. Another one of such highly popularized content these days is Netflix's animated film called Kpop Demon Hunters. A tried-and-tested formula for its story, the movie has quickly taken over the viewers' screens and hearts with its simple but heart-touching story, making them ask for more. Now, the creators of the film have revealed how the septet made it possible for them to dream big. How BTS' plans birthed Kpop Demon Hunters Talking about how the film first came to be, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans shared that the idea stemmed during COVID, as reported by OSEN. During a time when the world was looking for more ways to connect, due to isolation and social distancing, the K-pop team spread their hand for global fans via online streaming. 'We were all isolated and had a hard time connecting with each other around the world. Then BTS held an online concert, and millions of people around the world (including us) were suddenly singing and dancing to Dynamite from their own homes. For a moment, the world felt a little brighter.' The two added that they wished to capture the happiness that BTS has spread with their music in Kpop Demon Hunters. 'We wanted to capture that moment and feeling when a really good song captures people's hearts and nullifies all the discrimination and darkness in the world, and even the demons inside us lose their power,' they added. Kpop Demon Hunters' creators looked for the experiences that the group was able to share with the BTS ARMY during a tough time for the world. Meanwhile, Kpop Demon Hunters has ranked No.1 in 26 regions following its release on June 20. The 100-minute runner captures the story of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group whose members live second lives as demon hunters, and their rival boy group Saja Boys, who are filled with demons.
Hype Malaysia
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' Review: Netflix's Animated Fantasy Slays!
At some point in human civilisation, we decided that the logical next step after 'K-pop idol' was 'demon slayer.' Maybe it was inevitable. After all, if you can survive a world tour, synchronized choreography, and the wrath of K-pop stans online, what's a little movie about hellspawn combat on the side? That's the pitch behind 'Kpop Demon Hunters', Netflix's glittery fever dream of an animated action comedy where stage makeup doubles as war paint. It's part girl group fantasy, part supernatural smackdown, and 100% chaos—in the best and occasionally weirdest ways. It sounds ridiculous—and it absolutely is—but somehow, it works. Mostly. So let's talk about what 'Kpop Demon Hunters' actually does with all that glitter and astral energy. To begin with, there's lore. Ancient, magical, girl-power lore. Long ago, three women fought off a wave of soul-devouring demons led by Gwi-Ma, the Demon King. Their voices, charged with raw emotion, formed a barrier called the Honmoon and sealed the underworld shut. Since then, each generation has passed the mic—and the monster-fighting duties—to a new trio of chosen idols. Wait, the power of music… And fighting demons… Hmm, that kinda seems familiar. Fast forward to today, that legacy lives on in Huntrix, the hottest girl group on the planet. They're your new favourite demon-slaying trio. And yes, it's time to pick your bias. Mira (May Hong) is the edgy rebel—rumour has it she once wore a sleeping bag to the Met Gala. Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), the Burbank-born rap goddess, delivers bars as sharp as her weapons. And Rumi (Arden Cho), the group's emotional centre, carries a tragic past and a secret even she barely understands. Naturally, we meet Huntrix in classic idol fashion: slurping down instant ramyeon en route to the grand finale of their world tour. The stadium is packed. Fans are screaming. Their manager, Bobby (Ken Jeong), is losing his mind. Why the delay? Their plane was hijacked by demons. Obvi. What follows is a mid-air brawl that sets the tone: kinetic, flashy, and choreographed to slay. The animation leans heavily into anime territory, with bold lines and stylised movement. If you've seen Riot's K/DA videos, the DNA feels familiar—and honestly, we were hyped! The girls crash into the arena, strike a pose, and launch into a high-energy performance while still swatting away the last of the demons. As far as entrances go? Ten out of ten. BLACKPINK might dap them up respectfully from the VIP box. However, beneath the glamour and glitter, something darker begins to stir. Rumi has always known about her demon blood. But Mira and Zoey don't. As her old marks resurface and her voice begins to falter, the pressure quietly builds. She's not just battling monsters on stage—she's battling herself. And if she can't hold it together, the group might fracture entirely. Meanwhile, a flashy new boy group enters the picture: the Saja Boys. Five flawless men. Perfect hair. Jawlines carved by the gods. And yes, they're demons too. In fact, their plan is simple: steal enough fan energy to collapse the Honmoon and unleash Gwi-Ma back into the world. With Huntrix faltering, the Saja Boys start to eclipse them completely. The world isn't just in danger—it's getting distracted by six-packs and the new 'gochujang sauces.' So, how are Rumi, Mira, and Zoey supposed to fight back against a group powered by shame, insecurity, and sheer thirst-trap energy? At its core, 'Kpop Demon Hunters' isn't just about vanquishing monsters—it's about confronting the ones you carry inside. The film explores shame, identity, and the fear that if people saw the 'real' you, they'd walk away. For Rumi, that fear is all-consuming. She believes that if she hides the truth, she can protect her group and her legacy. However, by bottling everything up, she's slowly silencing herself—literally. As a result, her voice begins to falter. Her greatest gift becomes her curse—not because of what she is, but because of how deeply she believes she shouldn't be. The film suggests that healing doesn't come from hiding or even from strength. Instead, it comes from vulnerability and trust. You have to share your whole, flawed self with the people who love you. So when the truth finally comes out—when Rumi's marks reappear and she can no longer pretend—it isn't just a dramatic reveal. It's devastation. Mira and Zoey feel betrayed, confused, and hurt. But that reaction makes it feel real. Because closeness isn't about always agreeing—it's about letting people into your pain and hoping they stay. The same inner turmoil plagues Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), the heart of the Saja Boys. While the rest play their roles as flashy villains, Jinu carries a quiet ache. Long ago, he made a choice: he accepted Gwi-Ma's offer in exchange for a beautiful voice that could lift his family out of poverty. Yet once fame arrived, he abandoned them—and he's never stopped regretting it. Unlike Rumi, whose shame is about her origins, Jinu's shame stems from his actions. Still, both characters carry their pain in silence, convinced they're unworthy of forgiveness. And when they meet, it's not as enemies, but as kindred spirits. Rumi sees in Jinu the worst-case version of herself. In trusting him, she starts to heal. Their duet is 'Kpop Demon Hunters' most powerful scene. It's not about flash—it's about honesty. Two people, broken in different ways, letting their walls fall just long enough to feel whole again. For a film that's so kinetic and loud, this moment hits the hardest. Visually, 'Kpop Demon Hunters' slays. Sony Pictures Animation, the same studio behind the 'Spider-Verse' films, doesn't hold back. The colours are vivid. The action is dynamic. And the stylised music video sequences explode with flair. Each one becomes its surreal concert moment—think fight choreography meets comeback stage. For example, one MV-style battle features surreal lighting and shattered crystallised effects. As we said, it's pulled from the distinct K/DA style. And other moments are quite literally MVs. But they help tell the story in a cool, flashy way that helps to externalise a lot of the emotions that these characters are going through. And let's not forget the music, because 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' delivers more than just fight choreography and sparkly lore. The songs are genuine earworms, slipping seamlessly between fierce performance numbers and emotionally charged ballads. The Saja Boys' hit single 'Soda Pop' in particular? Completely unserious and somehow still a total bop. Yeah, it's gonna get stuck in our heads till it becomes annoying. Still, the film isn't flawless. The third act feels a bit rushed. Character threads that seemed crucial—like Rumi's relationship with her foster mother Celine—don't get the space they deserve. Their emotional fallout feels underdeveloped. We get hints of tension and disappointment, but no true resolution. It's a shame, because that dynamic had real potential. Likewise, the world-building has rich foundations, but doesn't fully land. The lore is fun but underexplored. The stakes feel huge, yet the showdown wraps up a little too neatly. After so much build-up, it ends with more style than substance. Honestly, we'd like the team behind this to maybe do a spinoff to explore more of it? Because there is stuff in there that does feel undercooked at times. Even so, the film's heart remains in the right place. 'Kpop Demon Hunters' is vibrant, sincere, and full of chaotic charm. It might be messy in places, but it also bursts with feeling. It's a celebration of identity, girlhood, fandom, and glitter bombs. And it understands that even idols, the ones who seem perfect, have demons to face. It's also worth noting that 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' marks another chapter in Sony Pictures Animation's growing slate of Asian-fronted stories. Following 'Over the Moon' and 'Wish Dragon', both vibrant, culturally grounded animated films also released via Netflix, this movie continues the studio's investment in diverse, emotionally resonant storytelling with global roots. It's heartening to see major animation players spotlighting Asian narratives not just as backdrops, but as central, dynamic forces in genre storytelling. For anyone who loves K-pop, anime, or the idea of your favourite artists wielding crystal blades, this one's for you. It may not be perfect, but like any good idol, it shines brightest when it's being unapologetically itself. 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is currently slaying exclusively on Netflix. 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Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
KPop Demon Hunters review: From BLACKPINK-esque energy to K-drama jabs, Netflix nails the tone without making a joke of it
K-pop, visuals, killer choreography, and stunts, Kpop Demon Hunters might just be Sony's best shot at redeeming itself after the backlash for its Spider-Verse missteps. Netflix's new animated movie KPop Demon Hunters blends South Korean pop culture with anime's demon-hunting madness, and wastes no time gripping viewers with its one-and-a-half-hour ride full of brilliantly worked original soundtracks. A girl group called Huntrix leads a double life – beloved idols by day, demon slayers by night, using the power of their music to trap hordes of demons underground, generation after generation. The premise may sound silly, but under the direction of Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, it works. It doesn't try to be cool, it simply is. With clean execution, sharp humor, and a Tomatometer score holding strong at 94%, it delivers. I tuned into KPop Demon Hunters expecting the usual drag, 10-15 minutes setting things up, running the ritual loop, ready to skip with 10-sec jumps. But the opening voiceover caught me off guard. 'The world will know you as pop stars, but you will be much more than that.' I stopped and let the intro roll—no regrets. The screen flipped from a packed stadium to a desolate village under demonic shadow. 'Demons have always hunted the world, stealing our souls and channelling strength back to their king, Gwi Ma,' the voice warned, dropping the antagonist's name seconds in. Then came the heroes, girls 'born with voices that could drive back darkness, singing songs of courage and hope.' The story keeps it simple: Huntrix, a three-piece K-pop act formed by Celine, are next in line to complete the Golden Hanmoon, a force field meant to lock demons out for good. But peace doesn't come easy. A demonic boy band is formed, disguised in charm, out to rip through Huntrix and take everything down with them. Also read: 34th Seoul Music Awards full winners list: BTS' Jimin wins special award, i-dle creates history, BLACKPINK Rose, TXT, G-Dragon win big The animation of KPop Demon Hunters is done by Sony Pictures Animation. It's bold, colourful, stylised, and dramatic. From the first glance, you can tell it's heavily inspired by Spider-Verse. Every frame feels intentional, never a dull moment. Director Maggie Kang, who grew up obsessed with legendary K-pop boy bands like H.O.T. and Seo Taiji, took inspirations for the on-screen boy band, Saja Boys, from names like BTS, TXT, ATEEZ, BIGBANG, and Monsta X. For the girl group, the reference was loud and clear, BLACKPINK and TWICE. But it's Rumi, the central character, whose look had fans convinced she was modelled after BLACKPINK's Jennie, and the director didn't shy away from acknowledging it. So yeah, we got K-pop's biggest crossover moment on screen way before it happened in real life. Even when the film takes a jab at K-pop tropes or idol culture, it does so while delivering a complete visual banger. Despite the 'demon-hunting pop star' angle which sounds intense, KPop Demon Hunters actually leans into the comedy. There are several digs at overly dramatic K-drama moments, formulaic singing contests, and how the entertainment industry can sometimes feel too polished. There's also a clear wink to the audience throughout. It pokes fun at several aspects without becoming a joke itself. The most important part of KPop Demon Hunters is the original soundtrack, which honestly deserves its own Spotify spotlight. The main trio, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, are voiced by actual musicians like EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, and the songs picked for each segment mirror the mood, emotion, and pace of the story. For instance, 'How It's Done' sets the tone right away with a fight scene on a plane, showing how Huntrix can knock out demons and land mid-concert like it's nothing. 'Jinu's Lament', sung by one of the demon characters, is moody and introspective. 'Strategy' rolls in during a staycation scene. 'Golden' is Huntrix's big hope track, the name also nods to Jungkook's Golden album. EXO's 'Love Me Right' drops when Huntrix meets the boy band, and from there, the playlist just keeps stacking. Actor Lee Byung Hun, who plays the Front Man in Squid Game, voiced the film's main villain, Gwi Ma. Also read: Every BTS member's brand power ranked after military discharge; Jimin, Jungkook lead June K-pop reputation index KPop Demon Hunters doesn't try to be more than it is, and honestly, that's its win. One good watch, and you won't walk away feeling robbed of your time. Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Arden Cho, May Hong, Ahn Hyo Seop, and Li Young Yoo's voices bring in that sense of familiarity, so it's hard not to see the characters through their lens—the makers clearly played it smart here. The movie ends with a cliffhanger, a clear hint that this could lead to a sequel, a spinoff, or maybe a bigger franchise. The only thing it lacked was a solid backstory. It would've been great if the film took a few minutes to show us who these characters were before going straight into the chaos. Whether it's more demon battles, new rival bands, or digging into pasts, this world has room to grow.
