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The Star
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the surprise hit of the summer
In the colourful, animated, musical world of KPop Demon Hunters, everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favorite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that the Sony Pictures/Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer's global rankings. Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. And it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack has topped the charts - debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Here's how KPop Demon Hunters became the year's surprising success story. The movie follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack utilises some of the best and brightest in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 - empowered girl groups used as references for the film's protagonists, the trio HUNTR/X. "It's one of the many reasons the musical film's soundtrack stands on its own. Filmmakers really did their homework," says Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who specialises in K-pop. Indeed, they did a lot of research. One of the film's directors, Maggie Kang, said that her team prioritised representing the fandom and the idols in a very specific way, as to not disappoint K-pop fans. They pulled from a treasure trove of influences heard at every corner: The fictional, rival boy band Saja Boys' hit song Soda Pop, for example, references the '90s K-pop group H.O.T. The Saja Boys' 'Soda Pop' references the '90s K-pop group H.O.T. And it has worked. KPop Demon Hunters is the highest charting soundtrack of 2025, with eight of its songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. To put that in perspective: Lorde's Virgin and Justin Bieber's Swag did the same. In some ways, it recalls Disney's Encanto, which topped the Billboard 200 and produced a No. 1 hit, We Don't Talk About Bruno in 2022. Similarly, KPop Demon Hunters embraces the original soundtrack, which is a lost art form, adds Benjamin. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the Notes on K-pop newsletter, says the movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. The movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. She considers Kpop Demon Hunters to be a musical with songs inspired by K-pop, not unlike a Jukebox musical, where the songs of ABBA are reimagined for Mamma Mia. The novelty of the film, too, seems to be resonating. Where many animated films rely on adapting existing intellectual property, KPop Demon Hunters is original. And it comes from an original perspective. "It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle," says Kang. "It's like not pulled from one side; it's kind of flavours of both. So, I think that's what makes the movie feels a little different. "And the core story is what's drawing everybody in," says Kang. 'It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle,' says Kang. San Francisco-based cosplayer and content creator Nanci Alcántar, who goes by Naanny Lee online agrees. "It's not only a K-pop group, but it also tells a story of their journey, of how they transform into powerful warriors," said Alcántar in Spanish. "For her, it goes beyond K-pop - it's about the narrative." Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. Rather than explaining Korean elements like HUNTR/X's visit to a traditional medicine clinic or translating K-pop light stick culture for Western audiences, she opted for full immersion. "We just wanted everybody to just accept that they were in Korea," Kang said. Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. The director said this method of throwing people into the deep end of a culture breaks down barriers better than heavy-handed explanation. "We just wanted to keep everything feeling normal," she explained. "If you don't shine a light on it, it just becomes more easily accepted." Sabrinah Santiago, a San Diego-based longtime K-pop fan and freelance illustrator who goes by Itmes online, was so inspired by the animation style of the movie that she raced to make fan art. She sold illustrated fan cards of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys at her booth at the Los Angeles Anime Expo, held in July, two weeks after the movie was released on Netflix. And she wasn't the only one. A search of #kpopdemonhunters on Instagram yields thousands of fan illustrations of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys. it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has topped the charts. Japan-based Youtuber Emily Sim, also known as Emirichu online, says the character designs and original plot drew her to the movie. Sim, with more than 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube, posted a 35-minute video about the movie. In a week-and-a-half, it garnered nearly 450,000 views. "I love seeing all the fan art and just the ways that this movie has creatively inspired people," Sim said. Kang says for KPop Demon Hunters, her team wanted to bring together demons and Jeoseung Saja - the grim reaper in Korean mythology - for a film that could look both very traditional and modernised - what she says is common in K-dramas but not in animation. Herman compares the movie to another Sony animation: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which also attracted a broad audience with its creative animation. "And it's a fun, animated musical, which we haven't had in a while," she says. "It's campy, it's engaging, it's universal." The Saja Boys performing 'Your Idol' in their grim reaper concept. Santiago was initially skeptical of the title KPop Demon Hunters. "I feel like with big companies they kind of like to use K-pop as a bait. They kind of like to take advantage of K-pop fans' sincerity," said Santiago. "But I felt like with this one, it was such like kind of a love letter to K-pop fans." Indeed - "if the film wasn't authentic to K-pop fans' experience, or mocked them, it is unlikely to have become so popular," says Benjamin. "Instead, there are Easter eggs for the dedicated K-pop listener." Herman agrees, and says that the film has in-jokes for K-pop fans, not unlike a children's movie that features some humour meant to appeal specifically to parents. "Figuring out what makes K-pop tick in a way that resonates with musical fans was really important to this movie," said Herman. For Kang, that was always at the heart of the project. "Fandom plays a huge part in the world being saved at the end of the movie," she said. "So, we were really confident that we were doing that justice." – AP
Hamilton Spectator
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
How ‘KPop Demon Hunters' became the surprise hit of the summer
NEW YORK (AP) — In the colorful, animated, musical world of 'KPop Demon Hunters,' everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favorite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that the Sony Pictures/ Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer's global rankings. Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. And it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has topped the charts — debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Here's how 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the year's surprising success story. Musical tradition — and K-pop — are honored The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack utilizes some of the best and brightest in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 — empowered girl groups used as references for the film's protagonists, the trio HUNTR/X. It's one of the many reasons the musical film's soundtrack stands on its own. Filmmakers 'really did their homework,' says Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who specializes in K-pop. Indeed, they did a lot of research. One of the film's directors, Maggie Kang, said that her team prioritized 'representing the fandom and the idols in a very specific way,' as to not disappoint K-pop fans. They pulled from a treasure trove of influences heard at every corner: The fictional, rival boy band Saja Boys' hit song 'Soda Pop,' for example, references the '90s K-pop group H.O.T. And it has worked. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is the highest charting soundtrack of 2025, with eight of its songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. To put that in perspective: Lorde's 'Virgin' and Justin Bieber's 'Swag' did the same. In some ways, it recalls Disney's 'Encanto,' which topped the Billboard 200 and produced a No. 1 hit, 'We Don't Talk About Bruno ' in 2022. Similarly, 'KPop Demon Hunters' embraces 'the original soundtrack, which is a lost art form,' adds Benjamin. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the 'Notes on K-pop' newsletter, says the movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. She considers 'Kpop Demon Hunters' to be 'a musical with songs inspired by K-pop,' not unlike a Jukebox musical, where the songs of ABBA are reimagined for 'Mamma Mia.' Audiences hunger for something new The novelty of the film, too, seems to be resonating. Where many animated films rely on adapting existing intellectual property, 'KPop Demon Hunters' is original. And it comes from an original perspective. 'It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle,' says Kang. 'It's like not pulled from one side; it's kind of flavors of both. So, I think that's what makes the movie feels a little different.' And 'the core story is what's drawing everybody in,' says Kang. San Francisco-based cosplayer and content creator Nanci Alcántar, who goes by Naanny Lee online agrees. 'It's not only a K-pop group, but it also tells a story of their journey, of how they transform into powerful warriors,' said Alcántar in Spanish. For her, it goes beyond K-pop — it's about the narrative. Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. Rather than explaining Korean elements like HUNTR/X's visit to a traditional medicine clinic or translating K-pop light stick culture for Western audiences, she opted for full immersion. 'We just wanted everybody to just accept that they were in Korea,' Kang said. The director said this method of 'throwing people into the deep end of a culture' breaks down barriers better than heavy-handed explanation. 'We just wanted to keep everything feeling normal,' she explained. 'If you don't shine a light on it, it just becomes more easily accepted.' Inventive animation connects Zabrinah Santiago, a San Diego-based longtime K-pop fan and freelance illustrator who goes by ItmeZ online, was so inspired by the animation style of the movie that she raced to make fan art. She sold illustrated fan cards of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys at her booth at the Los Angeles Anime Expo, held in July, two weeks after the movie was released on Netflix. And she wasn't the only one. A search of #kpopdemonhunters on Instagram yields thousands of fan illustrations of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys. Japan-based Youtuber Emily Sim, also known as Emirichu online, says the character designs and original plot drew her to the movie. Sim, with more than 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube, posted a 35-minute video about the movie. In a week-and-a-half, it garnered nearly 450,000 views. 'I love seeing all the fan art and just the ways that this movie has creatively inspired people,' Sim said. Kang says for 'KPop Demon Hunters,' her team wanted to bring together demons and Jeoseung Saja — the grim reaper in Korean mythology — for a film that could look both very traditional and modernized — what she says is common in K-dramas but not in animation. Herman compares the movie to another Sony animation: 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,' which also attracted a broad audience with its creative animation. 'And it's a fun, animated musical, which we haven't had in a while,' she says. 'It's campy, it's engaging, it's universal.' And K-pop fans see themselves represented Santiago was initially skeptical of the title 'KPop Demon Hunters.' 'I feel like with big companies they kind of like to use K-pop as a bait. They kind of like to take advantage of K-pop fans' sincerity,' said Santiago. 'But I felt like with this one, it was such like kind of a love letter to K-pop fans.' Indeed — if the film wasn't authentic to K-pop fans' experience, or mocked them, it is unlikely to have become so popular, says Benjamin. Instead, there are Easter eggs for the dedicated K-pop listener. Herman agrees, and says that the film has in-jokes for K-pop fans, not unlike a children's movie that features some humor meant to appeal specifically to parents. 'Figuring out what makes K-pop tick in a way that resonates with musical fans was really important to this movie,' said Herman. For Kang, that was always at the heart of the project. 'Fandom plays a huge part in the world being saved at the end of the movie,' she said. 'So, we were really confident that we were doing that justice.' ___ Karena Phan reported from Los Angeles. Juwon Park reported from Seoul.
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the surprise hit of the summer
NEW YORK (AP) — In the colorful, animated, musical world of 'KPop Demon Hunters,' everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favorite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that the Sony Pictures/ Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer's global rankings. Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. And it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has topped the charts — debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Here's how 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the year's surprising success story. Musical tradition — and K-pop — are honored The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack utilizes some of the best and brightest in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 — empowered girl groups used as references for the film's protagonists, the trio HUNTR/X. It's one of the many reasons the musical film's soundtrack stands on its own. Filmmakers 'really did their homework,' says Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who specializes in K-pop. Indeed, they did a lot of research. One of the film's directors, Maggie Kang, said that her team prioritized 'representing the fandom and the idols in a very specific way,' as to not disappoint K-pop fans. They pulled from a treasure trove of influences heard at every corner: The fictional, rival boy band Saja Boys' hit song 'Soda Pop,' for example, references the '90s K-pop group H.O.T. And it has worked. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is the highest charting soundtrack of 2025, with eight of its songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. To put that in perspective: Lorde's 'Virgin' and Justin Bieber's 'Swag' did the same. In some ways, it recalls Disney's 'Encanto,' which topped the Billboard 200 and produced a No. 1 hit, 'We Don't Talk About Bruno ' in 2022. Similarly, 'KPop Demon Hunters' embraces 'the original soundtrack, which is a lost art form,' adds Benjamin. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the 'Notes on K-pop' newsletter, says the movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. She considers 'Kpop Demon Hunters' to be 'a musical with songs inspired by K-pop,' not unlike a Jukebox musical, where the songs of ABBA are reimagined for 'Mamma Mia.' Audiences hunger for something new The novelty of the film, too, seems to be resonating. Where many animated films rely on adapting existing intellectual property, 'KPop Demon Hunters' is original. And it comes from an original perspective. 'It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle,' says Kang. 'It's like not pulled from one side; it's kind of flavors of both. So, I think that's what makes the movie feels a little different.' And 'the core story is what's drawing everybody in,' says Kang. San Francisco-based cosplayer and content creator Nanci Alcántar, who goes by Naanny Lee online agrees. 'It's not only a K-pop group, but it also tells a story of their journey, of how they transform into powerful warriors,' said Alcántar in Spanish. For her, it goes beyond K-pop — it's about the narrative. Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. Rather than explaining Korean elements like HUNTR/X's visit to a traditional medicine clinic or translating K-pop light stick culture for Western audiences, she opted for full immersion. 'We just wanted everybody to just accept that they were in Korea,' Kang said. The director said this method of 'throwing people into the deep end of a culture' breaks down barriers better than heavy-handed explanation. 'We just wanted to keep everything feeling normal,' she explained. 'If you don't shine a light on it, it just becomes more easily accepted.' Inventive animation connects Zabrinah Santiago, a San Diego-based longtime K-pop fan and freelance illustrator who goes by ItmeZ online, was so inspired by the animation style of the movie that she raced to make fan art. She sold illustrated fan cards of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys at her booth at the Los Angeles Anime Expo, held in July, two weeks after the movie was released on Netflix. And she wasn't the only one. A search of #kpopdemonhunters on Instagram yields thousands of fan illustrations of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys. Japan-based Youtuber Emily Sim, also known as Emirichu online, says the character designs and original plot drew her to the movie. Sim, with more than 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube, posted a 35-minute video about the movie. In a week-and-a-half, it garnered nearly 450,000 views. 'I love seeing all the fan art and just the ways that this movie has creatively inspired people,' Sim said. Kang says for 'KPop Demon Hunters,' her team wanted to bring together demons and Jeoseung Saja — the grim reaper in Korean mythology — for a film that could look both very traditional and modernized — what she says is common in K-dramas but not in animation. Herman compares the movie to another Sony animation: 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,' which also attracted a broad audience with its creative animation. 'And it's a fun, animated musical, which we haven't had in a while,' she says. 'It's campy, it's engaging, it's universal.' And K-pop fans see themselves represented Santiago was initially skeptical of the title 'KPop Demon Hunters.' 'I feel like with big companies they kind of like to use K-pop as a bait. They kind of like to take advantage of K-pop fans' sincerity,' said Santiago. 'But I felt like with this one, it was such like kind of a love letter to K-pop fans.' Indeed — if the film wasn't authentic to K-pop fans' experience, or mocked them, it is unlikely to have become so popular, says Benjamin. Instead, there are Easter eggs for the dedicated K-pop listener. Herman agrees, and says that the film has in-jokes for K-pop fans, not unlike a children's movie that features some humor meant to appeal specifically to parents. 'Figuring out what makes K-pop tick in a way that resonates with musical fans was really important to this movie,' said Herman. For Kang, that was always at the heart of the project. 'Fandom plays a huge part in the world being saved at the end of the movie,' she said. 'So, we were really confident that we were doing that justice.' ___ Karena Phan reported from Los Angeles. Juwon Park reported from Seoul.
Korea Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Chaebol heiress, former Hybe trainee and prodigy rapper: Why Allday Project is going viral
Allday Project's predebut music video 'Famous' hits 2.5 million views in 16 hours, tops YouTube Korea trending charts Allday Project, the first coed K-pop group to debut under renowned producer Teddy Park's The Black Label, is turning heads across the industry — not just for being the industry's first mixed-gender group in eight years since DSP Media's Kard, but for the star-studded resumes and diverse backgrounds of its members. Just 16 hours after releasing the prerelease music video for 'Famous' on Monday, the clip surpassed 2.5 million views on YouTube. It also secured the No. 1 spot on YouTube Korea's Trending chart, overtaking aespa's 'Dirty Work (Performance)' and Plave's 'Hide and Seek,' which ranked No. 2 and No. 3. Globally, the video reached No. 4 on YouTube's US Trending chart and No. 5 in Brazil, demonstrating its international resonance among K-pop fans. The slick cyberpunk visuals of the music video — where spinning accelerates toward the center to express a rising, untouchable energy — play a part in drawing viewers. But much of the buzz stems from the viral interest surrounding the individual members, even before their official debut next week. One reason for the group's spotlight is the presence of Annie, or Moon Seo-yoon, who is the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairwoman Lee Myung-hee and the eldest daughter of Shinsegae Group president Chung Yoo-kyung. Annie, 23, opened up about her decision to pursue a K-pop career against her family's wishes in a debut documentary released on the group's official YouTube channel on June 13 — a revelation that made headlines both in Korea and internationally. Another standout member is Youngseo, 19, once confirmed as part of the final lineup for Illit on the television survival show 'R U Next?' in 2023. However, just before her debut, she parted ways with Belift Lab, the agency behind Illit, sparking multiple rumors about her next steps, now culminating in her debut with Allday Project. The third female member, Bailey, 21, is already known in the K-pop scene as a choreographer. She began working professionally at the age of 14 in the US and has choreographed routines for Red Velvet's 'Psycho,' Lisa's 'Money' and Taeyang's 'Vibe.' Her experience includes being a backup dancer for Janet Jackson — further solidifying her credibility. Among the two male members, Woochan is arguably the more familiar name. He appeared on Mnet's 'Show Me the Money 6' in 2017 at just 12 years old, making him the show's youngest-ever contestant and finalist. In 2019, he debuted as a soloist with the single 'Reality Check Time,' showing musical depth beyond his years. He was also once rumored to be part of Big Hit Music's next boy group lineup — the agency behind BTS — but the debut ultimately fell through. The final member, Tarzzan, 22, is already known in fashion and music circles as a model. Since 2022, he has appeared in music videos like I-dle's 'I Do' and NewJeans' 'Supernatural,' while gracing the pages of various fashion magazines. Allday Project is set to officially debut on June 23, with their debut single 'Famous' and the main track 'Wicked.' jaaykim@
Korea Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Chaebol heiress, former Hybe trainee and prodigy rapper: Why Allday Project is going viral
Allday Project's predebut music video 'Famous' hits 2.5 million views in 16 hours, tops YouTube Korea trending charts Allday Project, the first coed K-pop group to debut under renowned producer Teddy Park's The Black Label, is turning heads across the industry — not just for being the industry's first mixed-gender group in eight years since DSP Media's Kard, but for the star-studded resumes and diverse backgrounds of its members. Just 16 hours after releasing the prerelease music video for 'Famous' on Monday, the clip surpassed 2.5 million views on YouTube. It also secured the No. 1 spot on YouTube Korea's Trending chart, overtaking aespa's 'Dirty Work (Performance)' and Plave's 'Hide and Seek,' which ranked No. 2 and No. 3. Globally, the video reached No. 4 on YouTube's US Trending chart and No. 5 in Brazil, demonstrating its international resonance among K-pop fans. The slick cyberpunk visuals of the music video — where spinning accelerates toward the center to express a rising, untouchable energy — play a part in drawing viewers. But much of the buzz stems from the viral interest surrounding the individual members, even before their official debut next week. One reason for the group's spotlight is the presence of Annie, or Moon Seo-yoon, who is the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairwoman Lee Myung-hee and the eldest daughter of Shinsegae Group president Chung Yoo-kyung. Annie, 23, opened up about her decision to pursue a K-pop career against her family's wishes in a debut documentary released on the group's official YouTube channel on June 13 — a revelation that made headlines both in Korea and internationally. Another standout member is Youngseo, 19, once confirmed as part of the final lineup for Illit on the television survival show 'R U Next?' in 2023. However, just before her debut, she parted ways with Belift Lab, the agency behind Illit, sparking multiple rumors about her next steps, now culminating in her debut with Allday Project. The third female member, Bailey, 21, is already known in the K-pop scene as a choreographer. She began working professionally at the age of 14 in the US and has choreographed routines for Red Velvet's 'Psycho,' Lisa's 'Money' and Taeyang's 'Vibe.' Her experience includes being a backup dancer for Janet Jackson — further solidifying her credibility. Among the two male members, Woochan is arguably the more familiar name. He appeared on Mnet's 'Show Me the Money 6' in 2017 at just 12 years old, making him the show's youngest-ever contestant and finalist. In 2019, he debuted as a soloist with the single 'Reality Check Time,' showing musical depth beyond his years. He was also once rumored to be part of Big Hit Music's next boy group lineup — the agency behind BTS — but the debut ultimately fell through. The final member, Tarzzan, 22, is already known in fashion and music circles as a model. Since 2022, he has appeared in music videos like I-dle's 'I Do' and NewJeans' 'Supernatural,' while gracing the pages of various fashion magazines. Allday Project is set to officially debut on June 23, with their debut single 'Famous' and the main track 'Wicked.'
