KPop Demon Hunters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids KPop Demon Hunters
Release poster
Directed by	Maggie Kang Chris Appelhans
Produced by	Michelle Wong
Screenplay by	Danya Jimenez Hannah McMechan Maggie Kang Chris Appelhans
Story by	Maggie Kang
Starring	Arden Cho Ahn Hyo-seop May Hong Ji-young Yoo Yunjin Kim Daniel Dae Kim Ken Jeong Lee Byung-hun
Music by	Marcelo Zarvos
Editing by	Nathan Schauf
Studio	Sony Pictures Animation
Distributed by	Netflix
Release date(s)	June 20, 2025 (2025-06-20)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$100 million+
Money made	$19.2 million

KPop Demon Hunters is an American animated musical urban fantasy film that premiered in 2025. It was directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. The story was created by Kang, and the screenplay was written by her, Appelhans, Danya Jimenez, and Hannah McMechan. Sony Pictures Animation produced the film for Netflix.

The movie features the voices of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun. It tells the story of a K-pop girl group called Huntr/x. These girls live double lives as demon hunters. They must fight against a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, who are secretly demons.

KPop Demon Hunters was inspired by Maggie Kang's Korean heritage. She wanted to combine elements of Korean mythology, demon stories, and K-pop. This helped create a unique and culturally rich film. The movie's animation was done by Sony Pictures Imageworks. Its visual style was influenced by concert lighting, photography, music videos, anime, and Korean dramas. The soundtrack includes original songs by many talented artists and a score by Marcelo Zarvos.

The film started streaming on Netflix on June 20, 2025. A special sing-along version was shown in theaters for two days, from August 23 to 24, 2025. The movie received praise for its animation, visuals, voice acting, story, and music. Many people called it a cultural phenomenon. It became the most-watched original film in Netflix history with 325 million views. Its sing-along theatrical release was the widest for a Netflix film. It was also the first Netflix film to reach number one at the box office in the United States. The film's soundtrack was also very successful. It reached top spots on many music charts. It was the first film soundtrack on the Billboard Hot 100 to have four of its songs in the top ten. A sequel is currently being discussed, and a short film called Debut: A KPop Demon Hunters Short was rated in September by the MPA.

The Story of KPop Demon Hunters

Long ago, demons hunted humans and fed their souls to their evil ruler, Gwi-Ma. Three brave women became demon hunters. They used their singing voices to create a magical shield called the Honmoon. This shield protected humans from demons. Over time, new groups of three hunters continued to protect the Honmoon. Their biggest goal was to make it a Golden Honmoon. This would be a powerful seal to banish demons forever.

In the present day, the K-pop girl group Huntr/x are the newest demon hunters. The group includes Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. They were trained by Celine, a former hunter. Rumi has a secret: she is half-demon. Only she and Celine, who raised her, know this. Rumi sees demonic patterns slowly appearing on her skin. She hopes that Huntr/x's new song, "Golden," will turn the Honmoon gold. This would make her patterns disappear. But as they get ready to perform, Rumi starts to lose her voice.

In the demon world, Gwi-Ma is angry that his minions keep failing. Five demons, led by a former human named Jinu, form a boy band called the Saja Boys. Their plan is to steal Huntr/x's fans and weaken the Honmoon. In return, Gwi-Ma promises to erase Jinu's human memories. Huntr/x quickly realize the Saja Boys are demons after watching their debut. They attack them after a variety show. During the fight, Jinu sees Rumi's patterns. He helps her hide them from her bandmates. Later, Jinu tells Rumi that feelings of shame make demons weak. He explains that 400 years ago, Gwi-Ma gave him a beautiful voice. This voice helped his family escape poverty. But then Gwi-Ma sent him to the demon world. Jinu now feels guilty about what happened to his family.

As the Saja Boys become more popular, the Honmoon weakens. This allows more demon attacks. With the Idol Awards coming up, Huntr/x quickly create a new song, "Takedown." They want to use it to expose the Saja Boys. Rumi feels uncomfortable with the song's harsh lyrics about hating demons. This causes tension between her, Mira, and Zoey.

Rumi suggests a plan to Jinu. If he helps Huntr/x win the Idol Awards and strengthen the Honmoon, he could stay in the human world. Rumi later tells Jinu that her shame about being half-demon weakened her voice. But talking with him helped her heal. Jinu says he no longer hears tormenting voices, thanks to Rumi. He agrees to help Huntr/x. However, Gwi-Ma summons Jinu. He reminds Jinu that he actually abandoned his family for a life of comfort. Gwi-Ma threatens to make the tormenting voices worse if Jinu breaks their deal.

At the Idol Awards, Huntr/x perform "Golden." They decided not to perform "Takedown" because it caused problems between them. But impostor demons, sent by Jinu, trick Mira and Zoey away from Rumi. Two other demons pretend to be Mira and Zoey. They trick Rumi into performing "Takedown." During the performance, they publicly reveal Rumi's patterns. Rumi runs off stage. She finds the real Mira and Zoey. They feel betrayed when they learn about her hidden demon nature and her secret talks with Jinu. Rumi confronts Jinu for tricking her. He admits he lied about his past. Gwi-Ma, now stronger from the souls he consumed and the weakening Honmoon, enters the human world. He puts everyone, including Mira and Zoey, into a trance. He draws them to the Saja Boys' final performance. A desperate Rumi asks Celine to end her life. Celine refuses and suggests a plan to fix things. Rumi gets angry at Celine for not fully loving her, then leaves.

Rumi interrupts the Saja Boys' performance with a song about shame and self-acceptance. This breaks Mira and Zoey out of Gwi-Ma's trance. Reunited, Huntr/x fight back and free the crowd. Jinu, feeling sorry, sacrifices himself to save Rumi from Gwi-Ma. He gives his restored soul to Rumi, making her stronger. The empowered Huntr/x defeat Gwi-Ma and the Saja Boys. They seal the demons away again and create a new Honmoon.

Afterward, Rumi is no longer ashamed of her patterns. She makes up with Mira and Zoey. They later meet their fans in public, stronger than ever.

Meet the Voice Cast

Liza Koshy voices a television host. Maggie Kang, Nathan Schauf, and Charlene Ramos also provided additional voices.

Making the Movie: Production Details

How the Idea Started

In March 2021, a film called K-Pop: Demon Hunters was announced by Sony Pictures Animation. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans were set to direct. Hannah McMechan and Danya Jimenez wrote the script. Michelle L. M. Wong was a producer.

Maggie Kang wanted to create a film based on Korean culture. She explored mythology and demon stories to make a visually unique film. Kang called the movie her "love letter to K-pop" and her "Korean roots." She explained that the demon hunters' history was inspired by shaman women. Historically, these women would sing and dance to protect their communities. Kang wanted the girl characters to be relatable and fun. She was also inspired by director Bong Joon Ho's ability to mix different moods in his films.

The three members of Huntr/x were inspired by famous K-pop girl groups like Itzy, Blackpink, and Twice. The Saja Boys were inspired by K-pop boy bands such as Tomorrow X Together, BTS, and Stray Kids. The characters' outfits blend modern K-pop fashion with traditional Korean elements. For example, Huntr/x wear 'norigae' pendants. The Saja Boys perform in black hanbok and traditional horsehair hats, like the jeoseung saja (Korean grim reaper). The weapons Huntr/x use are also based on traditional Korean objects.

A traditional Korean painting that inspired characters in the film.

Jinu's pet tiger (Derpy) and magpie (Sussie) are based on minhwa. Minhwa is a style of Korean folk art. It often features tigers, magpies, and pine trees. These paintings were sometimes whimsical and playful. The film's joke about the magpie stealing the tiger's hat is a nod to this art style. Derpy the tiger is bright blue, giving him a magical look. Sussie the magpie has six eyes. The filmmakers wanted Derpy to be more than just a sidekick. They imagined him as a way for characters to communicate. The animals are not demons, and their exact nature is a bit of a mystery.

Casting the Voices

Arden Cho and Ahn Hyo-seop voice Rumi and Jinu respectively.

The voice actors and singing voices were chosen at different times. Ejae, who sings for Rumi, was first hired as a songwriter. She got the singing role because the directors liked her voice in the demo songs. Arden Cho, Rumi's voice actress, first tried out for the role of Celine. Co-director Maggie Kang encouraged her to audition for Rumi instead. In April 2025, Ji-young Yoo was announced as the voice of Zoey. The rest of the cast was revealed later that month.

Animation Style

Sony Pictures Imageworks animated the film. Director Chris Appelhans said they drew inspiration from "music videos, editorial photography, K-dramas, concert lighting, and a touch of anime." Maggie Kang explained that after seeing the Spider-Verse films, they wanted to create a unique 3D animation style. They aimed for a "CG version" that looked like anime faces. The animators worked hard to show Korean identity through the characters. They designed "mouth shapes that you would only make as a Korean person," even though the characters speak English.

The Music of KPop Demon Hunters

The songs for Huntr/x and the Saja Boys were designed to be different. Appelhans explained that the Saja Boys' songs were "super catchy, but slightly hollow." This contrasts with Huntr/x's songs, which are "emotionally vulnerable and honest." The idea was that people might be drawn to the Saja Boys' catchy tunes, but the girls' songs would touch their hearts more deeply.

Many K-pop producers helped create the film's soundtrack. Original songs were written by Danny Chung, Ido, Vince, Kush, Ejae, Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Lindgren, Mark Sonnenblick, and Daniel Rojas. Marcelo Zarvos composed the film's background music. The soundtrack was released on June 20, 2025. The first song released, "Takedown," was performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung of Twice.

The soundtrack album was very successful in the United States. It was the highest-debuting soundtrack of 2025 on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching number eight. It was also the first soundtrack of 2025 to make it into the top ten. "Golden," the album's second single, reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 and the US Billboard Hot 100. In South Korea, it achieved a "perfect all-kill" on the charts, meaning it topped all major music charts at the same time. The film's soundtrack made history on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first soundtrack ever to have four of its songs in the top ten. These songs included "Golden," "Your Idol," "Soda Pop," and "How It's Done."

Important Messages in the Film

The film's story explores the power of friendship and community. It shows how these can help overcome challenges. Arden Cho, who voices Rumi, said that Rumi needed her friends Mira and Zoey to succeed.

The movie also explores themes of self-acceptance and being true to yourself. Rumi's journey, where she hides a part of who she is, shows how important it is to be honest about your identity. The filmmakers wanted to show how challenging it can be to reveal a hidden part of yourself to the world, especially when you worry about what others might think. The final song, "What It Sounds Like," helps Rumi battle her inner struggles. Co-director Maggie Kang mentioned that Rumi's story could represent many different experiences. It could be about having a mixed heritage or dealing with a unique part of your personality. The film highlights how shame can make you feel alone and silence your voice. But through music and connection, characters like Rumi and Jinu begin to heal.

Release Information

When the film was first announced in March 2021, a release date was not set. In February 2023, it was confirmed that the film would be coming to Netflix. In April 2025, an animator revealed the film would be released in June. Later that month, June 20, 2025, was announced as the official release date.

Besides streaming on Netflix, KPop Demon Hunters also had a limited theatrical release in some cinemas in California and New York. This allowed the film to meet the requirements for certain awards. A special sing-along version of the film was released in theaters in North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand from August 23–24, 2025. This version was later released on Netflix.

What's Next for KPop Demon Hunters?

Possible Sequel

Director Maggie Kang has expressed interest in making a sequel and other stories set in the film's universe. She believes there are many unanswered questions and new areas to explore, like the backstories of Mira and Zoey. Director Chris Appelhans agreed, saying there are "so many unanswered questions, in a good way."

In July 2025, TheWrap reported that Netflix is considering several follow-up projects. These include two sequels, a television series, a short film, and even a stage musical. Dan Lin, chairman of Netflix Films, said they are "excited to explore what could be the next adventure for [Huntr/x]." He emphasized that any future stories would need to keep the unique flair of the first film. In August 2025, Sony Pictures started negotiations with Kang and Appelhans to return for a follow-up movie.

Short Film

On March 29, 2023, Sony announced that their LENS mentorship program would produce a short film based on KPop Demon Hunters. In September 2025, the short film, Debut: A KPop Demon Hunters Short, was rated PG by the MPA.

Other Fun Media

Rumi, Mira, and Zoey were added to the video game Fortnite as purchasable skins on October 2, 2025. Now fans can play as their favorite demon hunters!

See also

In Spanish: Las guerreras K-pop para niños