THE STORY – A world-renowned K-Pop girl group balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters.
THE CAST – Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong & Lee Byung-hun
THE TEAM – Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans (Directors/Writers), Danya Jimenez & Hannah McMechan (Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 100 Minutes
“No more hiding, I’ll be shining, like I’m born to be.”
Following the sensational “Spider-Verse” films, Sony Pictures Animation has a catchy new crowd-pleaser on their hands. “KPop Demon Hunters” is destined to strike a chord with its gorgeous animation, layered storytelling, outstanding voice work, and addictive soundtrack. From directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, who previously collaborated on 2011’s “Puss in Boots” as storyboard & visual artists, “KPop Demon Hunters” radiates playfully stylized girl power energy. The lovable characters and complex themes resonate through a witty blend of action and fantasy. With an original story by Kang, the film draws inspiration from Korean culture, mythology, and the K-Pop industry. From supernatural threats to sold-out stadiums, Kang illustrates powerful visualizations about finding strength in combined voices to defeat inner demons. “KPop Demon Hunters” slays as a mystical, action-packed musical full of surprises, and it deserves to be played in theaters.
K-Pop girl band Huntr/x, made of pop star royalty Rumi (Arden Cho), visual/lead dancer Mira (May Hong), and rapper/lyricist Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), are a triple threat. They sing, they dance, and they hunt demons. Every generation, a new trio of Hunters is chosen to prevent demons from stealing souls and channeling strength back to their king, Gwi-Ma (Lee Byung-hun). The first group of Hunters fought back with songs of courage and hope, creating the Honmoon, a shield that protects the human world from demonic harm. Huntr/x represents the new generation of voices, who have the unique power to turn the Honmoon golden and finally close the demon world for good. But the group (along with their eternally devoted fans) run into pop idol competition from The Saja Boys, a heart-stealing new boy band whose supernatural patterns reveal a dance with the devil.
At the heart of “KPop Demon Hunters” is a sincere story of self-esteem and embracing our deepest, darkest fears. As Rumi, Mira, and Zoey sing in their show-stopping performance of “What It Sounds Like,” a breakthrough moment for Huntr/x in the film’s final act, “My scars are part of me, darkness and harmony.” The lyrics carry a deeper meaning for Rumi in particular. Her compelling backstory, revealed in the first act, marks a journey of internalized shame, “perfect” projections, and rediscovered authenticity.
Rumi’s thoughtful narrative is counterbalanced by an exploration of Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), the charming lead vocalist of The Saja Boys, who has carried years of self-doubt stemming from generational trauma. With his character, the film excels at building on some mythological lore and demonstrates how the demon world feeds off human insecurities. The voices in our heads that tell us we’re not good enough or we’re not worthy become gateways through which Gwi-Ma controls all those marked by a demon pattern (a visual metaphor of hidden shame). When Jinu and Rumi’s internal conflicts intersect, the empathetic parallels lead to “Free,” a beautifully performed duet about breaking down walls from their pasts.
In addition to strong character arcs, “KPop Demon Hunters” incorporates a creative balance of different genres and tones. The drama works in harmony with a clever sense of humor and an insightful commentary on the K-Pop phenomenon. From going viral and feeding off fan energy to rigorous promotion schedules and the intense pressure placed on pop stars to constantly perform, the film has plenty of thought-provoking material to connect with on a highly entertaining level.
The core themes are illustrated in an absolute bop of a soundtrack. Each song moves the story and character development forward with stellar choreography, emotional vocals, and vibrant animation. Whether it’s The Saja Boys performing the cheery-sounding “Soda Pop” on a giant soda can, or the Huntr/x trio battling demons mid-air as they sing the badass “How It’s Done,” the theatrical K-Pop genre makes for an energetic musical playground. Adding to industry influence, the film’s soundtrack features music performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung, members of the South Korean girl group TWICE.
One of the most dazzling elements of “KPop Demon Hunters” is the animation. The intense action, the moments of poignancy, and the silly character interactions are each given a textured visual language. Both the demon and human fantasy world-building are full of vibrancy and demonstrate terrific atmospheric qualities, such as the concert stage lighting for Huntr/x stadium performances. These two worlds effectively collide, as shown during an engaging water demon sequence in a bathhouse, one of many examples to draw on. Additionally, the genuinely eerie demon designs stand out with a mix of claymation style, adding dynamic weight.
Overall, the characters and settings showcase a diverse range of animation techniques, including 2D and 3D styles, as well as anime-inspired facial expressions. The Huntr/x characters, in particular, showcase an incredible visual scope, whether it’s multiple costume changes and stage makeup or flexible battle scenes. A standout sequence of Huntr/x and The Saja Boys running into one another for the first time brilliantly shows the various animation styles at play, from heart eyes and popcorn eyes to a slow-motion comedy bit. Additionally, the introduction to magical characters, including a three-eyed bird wearing a hat and a giant tiger with a mischievously wide Cheshire grin, evokes Miyazaki levels of fantasy realism.
Given the current lack of varied, family-friendly animated theatrical releases, it’s bittersweet not to have seen “KPop Demon Hunters” on a big screen. This energetic gem, a love letter to the power of voices bringing people together, deserves a wider theatrical run. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans are a dynamic creative duo; their stylized direction, paired with Kang’s resonating story, makes for a lovable musical experience and one of the year’s most vivid films.
