In an era where K-pop music groups have undeniably become a dominant force in the global music scene, Sony Pictures Animation‘s latest film, KPop Demon Hunters, does more than ride the wave of this craze. It cleverly presents the phenomenon in an action-packed animated film that serves as a gateway for parents who are curious about why their kids are so enamored with synchronized choreography. What’s more, the movie demystifies the idols, portraying them as regular people, and weaves a touching story about acceptance while incorporating tons of flashy dance and fight breaks along the way.
KPop Demon Hunters, co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, is a movie that could be summed up very easily by its title. Thankfully, the film has more to offer than what it lampshades on its proverbial tin. It follows follows Huntrix, a girl group built around the friendship of its three members: Mira (May Hong), the sardonic punk-girl lead dancer; Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), the bubbly, little sister-coded rapper; and Rumi (Arden Cho), the workaholic lead singer who is the heart of the group. While the trio top the charts to their army of adoring fans, Huntrix moonlights as demon hunters, protecting their adoring public from things that go bump in the night.
In concert with films of its ilk that came before it, like Turning Red and, surprisingly, Sinners, KPop Demon Hunters explores music as both a haven and a form of emotional expression through its musical elements. But unlike those films, KPop Demon Hunters leans heavily into the magical girl anime aesthetic—think Sailor Moon (or, for real ones out there, Winx Club and Totally Spies!) meets Twice—where the members aren’t just deified performers; they moonlight as warriors protecting humanity from demonic threats as the latest iteration on a generations-long line of singers who protect humanity with the power of song.
All the while, their dazzling stage presence and catchy tunes manifest in a healing shield they magically enmesh the world in; the more popular and resonant their songs are with fans, the more they serve to create the legendary golden honmoon. This golden, shimmering shield keeps demons under the command of a dark entity called Gwi-Ma (Squid Game‘s Lee Byun-hun) from opening rifts in the world forever.
While all of the above is a lot to take in conceptually, KPop Demon Hunters doesn’t get bogged down in a year-one-esque tale of their heroic exploits, exposing the ins and outs of their heroic mission. The moment the film opens, the girls are established as both a veteran K-pop group and demon hunters, confidently handling the hijacking of their private plane by shapeshifting demons en route to their big concert. What’s more, Huntrix kick ass while serving a live performance about how much ass they’re kicking with the same kinetic energy and sonic flair as a Riot Games’ K/DA—catchy, visually dazzling, and undeniably stylish—before they skydive into the stadium below to regale their adoring fans with the opener for their show.
With the girls on the precipice of achieving a golden honmoon, Gwi-Ma concocts a plan to undo the girl group’s meteoric rise in popularity: Saja Boys, a rival demon boy group led by Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), who plan on taking down Huntrix by hitting them where it hurts the most, by poaching their fans.
The obvious bar that KPop Demon Hunters sets for itself is to deliver a film worthy of its distinction as the follow-up to Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Verse success, where both its songs and action are exceptional. The animation team at Sony Pictures Animation didn’t skimp, delivering yet another visual treat with decadent and vibrant animation. Most notably, KPop Demon Hunters’ character designs are bold and expressive, filled with off-model gags and chibi-like moments that add texture to its idol protagonists, allowing them to shed their near-mythic personas and become the kind of approachable girls with gremlin-like tendencies that anyone would want to hang out with.
Alongside the phenomenal voice work of its main cast, who display an uncanny sense of comedic timing that matches the film’s fluid action, KPop Demon Hunters adds another layer of authenticity to its musicality. This is showcased by the girl group’s diss track, “Takedown,” performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung of Twice. This song, along with other catchy tracks from Huntrix and Saja Boys, demonstrates that the musical efforts are not just standard fare. In conjunction with the attention to detail in the rival group’s stunning sequences, wardrobe, and rhythmic choreography, the film’s musicality ensures that the songs are so catchy that even the most reluctant K-pop critic would find themselves bobbing their head and humming along to the chorus.
While the main crux of the film sees Saja Boys and Huntrix battle over the affection of fans, KPop Demon Hunters sidesteps a basic “battle of the bands” set up by introducing an intriguing early twist. Rather than facing their rivals one on one, Huntrix finds itself embroiled in a deeper struggle beyond the grueling media tours. The film’s emotional core, like with the group itself, centers on Rumi whose journey to superstardom takes an unexpected turn when she loses her voice. What could have been a predictable obstacle turns into the film’s most compelling arc, forcing her to confront her own identity beyond her talent as a songstress and demon hunter.
While the film does bring its conflicts and big ideas to a resolution, its ending feels overly convenient, so neatly tied up that it loses some of the depth that its setup promised. There’s a twinge of missed potential here, as intriguing plot threads, particularly those tied to Rumi’s journey of self-discovery and Juni’s backstory, are prematurely trimmed rather than fully explored. The film could have benefited from a longer runtime, allowing for a more layered conclusion instead of opting for a simplistic “day is saved” wrap-up. The film cheekily has its cake and eats it too by calling attention to this with quips from Mira and Zoey. As a result, KPop Demon Hunters‘ final act, while functional, rings a bit hollow.
Putting aside any complaints about its somewhat rush-job wrap-up finale, KPop Demon Hunters is an animated film that boldly embraces its over-the-top premise and approaches a powerful message of acceptance. With high-energy fight sequences and moments of genuine hilarity, KPop Demon Hunters never loses sight of the magic that makes animation and idol culture so irresistibly fun.
Sony Pictures Animation continues to establish itself as a leader in Western animation. Much like Tsuburaya Productions and Industrial Light & Magic’s 3D CG animated film, Ultraman Rising, which elevates a familiar premise while celebrating Asian heritage at its core, KPop Demon Hunters reinforces Sony Animation Studio’s reputation for creating visually stunning, genre-blending spectacles.
KPop Demon Hunters will be released on Netflix June 20.
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