The animated musical action-fantasy film KPop: Demon Hunters has premiered on Netflix. A collaboration between Sony Pictures Animation and the streaming platform, the movie centers on a globally renowned K-pop girl group who lead a double life. When not performing for sold-out stadiums, they are secretly demon hunters. The story introduces the core conflict where the heroines must protect their fanbase from supernatural threats, which takes the form of their biggest challenge yet: a rival boy band whose members are demons in disguise. The film’s premise combines the global cultural phenomenon of K-pop with the enduring appeal of supernatural action, a fusion designed to engage distinct yet overlapping audiences. This approach taps into an existing fan interest, as themes of supernatural battles have become an emerging sub-genre within K-pop concepts.
The Plot: A Battle of the Bands with Supernatural Stakes
The narrative follows the K-pop girl group “Huntrix,” comprised of members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. Their public life of fame and performance conceals their secret identity as the inheritors of a centuries-long legacy of demon hunting. The group dynamic is central to their motivation; the members are portrayed as individuals who felt like outsiders before finding a sense of belonging and family within Huntrix. For them, the group identity is more important than the demon-hunting duty itself, and the potential loss of their band represents a loss of self. The story explores their personal fears, flaws, and the pressures they face.
Their primary antagonists are the Saja Boys, a rival K-pop boy band led by the character Jinu. The Saja Boys are demons in disguise, and their objective is to steal the souls of Huntrix’s fans. This poses a dual threat, endangering the fans’ lives while also undermining Huntrix’s popularity. The name of the rival group is rooted in Korean mythology; “Saja” is a reference to the Jeoseong Saja, the Korean Grim Reaper. This cultural detail is visually represented in the film, as the boys’ demonic forms feature costumes of black robes and traditional Korean hats, known as gat, inspired by the mythological figure. The plot follows Huntrix as they confront this new threat, culminating in a plan to expose the Saja Boys with a diss track during a performance at “The Idol Awards”. The narrative structure is built around the idea of a rivalry that is a literal battle for the “souls” of their fans, a commentary on the intense nature of modern fandom where competition for loyalty is fierce.
Behind the Characters: A Roster of Acclaimed Talent
The film’s voice cast is assembled from different sectors of the entertainment industry to appeal to a broad, international audience. The main trio of Huntrix features rising Asian-American actresses. Arden Cho, known for Teen Wolf and Partner Track, voices Rumi, the group’s leader and powerhouse vocalist who struggles with the pressure of her secrets. May Hong, a model and actress from Tales of the City and Hacks, voices Mira, the group’s designer, dancer, and “tomboy,” who wields a supernatural polearm and is portrayed as tough on the outside but deeply sensitive. Ji-young Yoo, who appeared in Expats and The Sky Is Everywhere, voices Zoey, the energetic rapper and youngest member of the group.
The supporting cast includes established stars from both Hollywood and South Korea. The leader of the demon boy band, Jinu, is voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop, a prominent Canadian-Korean actor known for K-dramas such as Business Proposal and Dr. Romantic. His background as a former music trainee makes him a natural fit for the role. The cast also features veteran Korean-American actors Yunjin Kim as Celine and Daniel Dae Kim as Healer Han, reuniting the two stars from the series Lost. Comedian and actor Ken Jeong, known for The Hangover and Community, voices the character Bobby. Lending further prestige is the legendary South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, known for his roles in Squid Game and G.I. Joe, who voices the character Gwi-Ma.
The Creative Vision: Crafting a Culturally-Rooted Animated Feature
The project originated from a personal idea by director Maggie Kang, who sought to create a film that showcased Korean culture, mythology, and demonology in a way not previously seen in mainstream media. The K-pop element was the final component, providing a modern “day job” for the secret demon hunters. Kang, making her feature directorial debut, has an extensive background as a story artist on films like The LEGO Ninjago Movie and Kung-Fu Panda 3. She co-directs with Chris Appelhans, the director of Sony Pictures Animation’s Wish Dragon, who was drawn to the project’s exploration of music’s power to build community. A key thematic goal for Kang was to portray female protagonists who are relatable and multifaceted—silly, messy, and fun, rather than just the “sexy and cool” archetypes often seen in superhero films.
The production, overseen by producer Michelle Wong, a veteran of Sony Pictures Animation, emphasized cultural authenticity. The creative team undertook a research trip to Seoul and Jeju Island, and Korean artists were included in every department to ensure an authentic influence on the storytelling, character expressions, and movement. The film was animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks. Its visual style is a deliberate departure from the 2D-hybrid aesthetic of the studio’s Spider-Verse films. The directors chose to forge a unique visual path, creating a CG-based interpretation of 2D anime aesthetics. The style draws heavy inspiration from K-pop music videos, K-dramas, and concert lighting. A notable animation technique involves transforming the characters’ faces to match the tone of a scene, shifting between glamorous pop-star looks, angular “aggro” expressions, and “Chibi”-style faces for comedic moments.
The Soundtrack: An Authentic K-Pop Musical Experience
As an action-musical, the film’s soundtrack is central to its narrative. The creation of seven original songs that both advance the story and function as genuine pop hits was a significant part of the production. To ensure authenticity, the filmmakers collaborated with a team of top producers from TheBlackLabel, including Teddy Park, 24, and Vince, who are known for creating hits for major K-pop acts like BLACKPINK and BTS. This collaboration was a strategic effort to achieve legitimacy in the eyes of the global K-pop fandom.
The film’s theme song, “Takedown,” is performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung of the popular K-pop group TWICE. Their involvement further solidifies the project’s credibility within the K-pop world. The songs for the film’s hero group, Huntrix, are performed by artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI. The soundtrack also features performances from a roster of talent that includes Kevin Woo and Lea Salonga. The instrumental score was composed by Marcelo Zarvos.
Production and Premiere Information
KPop: Demon Hunters is a production of Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures, and is distributed globally by Netflix. The screenplay was written by directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, along with the writing team of Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan. The film is produced by Michelle Wong, with Scott Berri and Jacky Priddle as co-producers. It has a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes and is rated PG.
The film was released on June 20, 2025.
