I’ve experienced Kpop. I’ve experienced binge watching without a break. But experiencing Kpop Demon Hunters? That’s not just a movie - it’s signing up for a rollercoaster ride. I’ve binged more than Gossip Girl episodes during finals weeks.
I’m currently on my 265th loop of Soda Pop and still counting. Call me what you want, but the Saja Boys have got me hooked. This isn’t the case for just one person. KPop Demon Hunters is on its way to create a worldwide sensation on Netflix, its leading streaming platform.
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans and screenplay by Kang, Applehans, Hannah McMechan and Danya Jimenez, this 2025 movie follows the journey of a K-pop girl group Huntr/x who are demon hunters on the side. The main conflict of the storyline emerges when they have to beat a rival boy band ‘Saja Boys’. The plot twist is that all members of the boy band are demons who are on their way to stop Huntr/x from sealing the honmoon.
Some films are made. Others are summoned. KPop Demon Hunters is like an aesthetic fever dream and the cinematic lovechild of mythology, demonology and K-pop glam. This movie is unapologetic about its Korean culture and entertains all ages with a bold concept - mixing mythology with a completely opposite thought.
Yet, the strength of this movie isn’t the storyline - until and unless you are a true movie buff who loves to look at the thought behind the product. This glitter-drenched and demon-slaying movie captures you with its aesthetics and the music. This movie is different from the typical animated movies. The reason is, everyone has been enamoured with the aesthetics and the foot-tapping soundtracks instead of simply focusing on the true message of the creative masterpiece which is this movie.
Let’s takedown the meticulously curated frames of this movie. Born from the vision of Maggie Kang, the film is a love letter to Korean Heritage as it brings together Korean mythology and demonology. Yet, it is the K-pop allure which doesn’t make you take your eyes off the screen for even a second. Whether it is Saja Boy’s ‘Your Idol’ or Huntr/x’s ‘Golden’, every song video and dance step is hyperrealistic because you feel like you are viewing real K-pop idols, not animated fictional characters. By March 2021, Sony Pictures Animations was on board and understood the gravity of the vision. We should thank the creative team which struck the perfect balance between spectacle and soul. The animation can be a masterclass of its own on visual storytelling. The breezy but surreal aesthetic is a result of the creators’ decision to take inspiration from Korean dramas, music videos, anime and editorial photography.
The best part as a viewer and K-pop fan was to see the emergence of female characters who were strong without being overly sexualised. Also, the male characters had a layer of complexity without making it look like rocket science.
The landscape of animated films constantly grows. KPop Demon Hunters moves forward with confidence and an aesthetic vision that refuses to be ignored. It’s a nod to culture, identity and divine femininity when it decides to take the center stage. Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans curated a universe with creative risks and a groundbreaking visual style that anchors it all.
The movie has delivered a new standard for characters which can have substance without sacrificing grace and style. The film hasn’t affirmed itself as a perfect kaleidoscope. Every expressive frame shows you resilience, connection and the ability to show what lies beneath the sparkle.
