KPop Demon Hunters Review: K-Pop Beats and Demons Collide in Style
K-Pop Demon Hunters is a fast-paced animated adventure that mixes music, action, and fantasy in a fun and fresh way. It follows three superstar idols Rumi, Mira, and Zoey who are more than just performers. During the day, they rule the stage as the K-pop girl group Huntrix, but off stage, they secretly fight demons that threaten the human world.
Using glowing weapons and powerful dance moves, the trio battle evil forces led by Demon King Gwi-ma, played by Byung Hun Lee. Their mission is to create the Golden Honeymoon, a magical energy shield inspired by the love of fans that can stop demons for good.
Behind the catchy songs and stylish battles, the film celebrates the strong bond between idols and their fans. It’s a reminder that fandom can be powerful both on stage and in the dark.
The film comes from Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, the same studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It’s packed with bright visuals, K-pop flair, and thrilling action. Many viewers are loving the bold animation and soundtrack, but some online critics, especially in China, have raised concerns about cultural appropriation. Still, K-pop’s Demon Hunters have enjoyed global success, topping the charts and gaining fans around the world for their unique blend of music, magic, and girl power.
KPop Demon Hunters Movie Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans |
| Screenplay by | Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans |
| Story by | Maggie Kang |
| Produced by | Michelle Wong |
| Starring | Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, Lee Byung-hun |
| Edited by | Nathan Schauf |
| Music by | Marcelo Zarvos |
| Production company | Sony Pictures Animation |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
| Release date | June 20, 2025 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
About the K-Pop Demon Hunters Movie
Meet The Huntrix: A K-Pop girl group that sings, dances, and fights demons. Yes, they really do fight demons. With big voices and cool moves, these girls aren’t just topping the charts, they’re saving the world from dark magic. Their goal? Use their latest song to create “Golden Honeymoon,” a sonic shield strong enough to send all demons away forever.
Demon Hunters Characters
She wanted each girl to look completely different. She made sure each character had their own unique style, not just hair colors.
“We also made sure they went their own way,” Kang says. “Like, Zoey has a heart-shaped smile when she talks or laughs. We made Mira tall and thin because I think that shape looks really beautiful on a woman. For Rumi, we went with a more traditional, cute Korean look.”
Kang loves it when people talk about how the characters look. “Yeah, we wanted them to look hot. That was the plan,” he laughs.
Voice Cast of KPop Demon Hunters
| Character | Actor (Speaking Voice) | Singing Voice | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rumi | Arden Cho | EJAE | Lead vocalist and leader of HUNTR/X; a demon hunter revealed to be half-demon. |
| Jinu | Ahn Hyo-seop | Andrew Choi | Leader of the Saja Boys; a demon with a haunted past. |
| Mira | May Hong | Audrey Nuna | Visual and main dancer of HUNTR/X; struggles with feelings of unworthiness. |
| Zoey | Ji-young Yoo | Rei Ami | Korean-American rapper and maknae of HUNTR/X; battles insecurity in friendships. |
| Celine | Yunjin Kim | Lea Salonga | Rumi’s foster mother; former demon hunter with a rigid black-and-white view. |
| Healer Han | Daniel Dae Kim | – | Eccentric doctor who “sees” his patients’ emotional issues. |
| Bobby | Ken Jeong | – | Manager and PR lead for HUNTR/X. |
| Gwi-Ma | Lee Byung-hun | – | Demon king who corrupts humanity; reprises the role in the Korean dub. |
| Romance Saja | Joel Kim Booster | samUIL Lee | Variety show and idol host; member of the Saja Boys. |
| Mystery Saja | Alan Lee | Kevin Woo | Enigmatic member of the Saja Boys. |
| Abs Saja | SungWon Cho | Neckwav | Physically impressive member of the Saja Boys. |
| Baby Saja (Voice only) | – | Danny Chung | Youngest member of the Saja Boys (singing voice only). |
| Host | Liza Koshy | – | Variety show and idol event host. |
| Young Rumi / Young Fan | Rumi Oak | – | Voices young Rumi and a young fan character. |
KPop Demon Hunters Premieres on Netflix This Friday
The art team also included K-pop fans who knew a lot about the culture. They helped with every part of the process. At one point, there was a scene where the idols were at a sporting event called the Idol Star Athletics Championship, or ISAC.
“In case you didn’t know: [ISAC] is like a mini Olympics for Korean idols,” Kang says. “When we added that scene, the executives were confused. They said, ‘Why are they suddenly running races and doing archery?’ That scene later turned into a fan meeting. But for a long time, Rumi and Jinu were talking while we were doing archery.”
The animation team also worked hard to show real Korean faces. Kang says they looked at K-dramas and had Korean animators on the project.
“One of the animators, Sophia [(Seung Hee) Lee], helped a lot with the eyes and mouth. Just rounding the edges of the mouth made the face look more Korean. It felt weird at first, but once we got it right, we all agreed this is it.”
Getting the lighting right was also tricky, especially to show the faces in the best possible way. Kang says this part took a lot of work.
Why You Should Stream It
Ahn Hyo Seop stars in Kpop Demon Hunters, bringing both charm and experience to his role. Having lived in Ontario for over a decade, his strong English skills may have helped him play Jinu, the leader of K-pop boy group Saja Boys. His background in the K-pop world made him a perfect fit for the role. The vocals for Jinu are by Andrew Choi. Ahn plays a demon who faces off against the demon-hunting team Huntrix, which adds action and drama to the story. Next, Ahn Hyo Seop will play Kim Deok Ja in the big screen film Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, alongside Lee Min Ho, Cha Soo Bin, Jisoo, and others.
Ahn Hyo Seop in K-Pop Demon Hunters
Ahn Hyo Seop has lived in Ontario for over ten years, and his strong English skills helped him land a role in K-Pop Demon Hunters. His background in the K-pop world made him a great choice to play Jinu, the leader of the boy group Saja Boys. The singer for his role is Andrew Choi. In the story, Jinu is a demon who fights against another group of demon hunters called Huntrix. The show mixes music, action, and fun moments to keep things exciting.
Ahn Hyo Seop will also play the role of Kim Deok Ja in the upcoming film Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, where he will star alongside Lee Min Ho, Cha Soo Bin, Jisoo, and others.
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