KPop Demon Hunters

When Guillermo del Toro proudly professed that “animation is cinema” during the 2023 Oscars, it felt like a rallying call for the medium to be taken seriously. One major studio that is constantly testing the barriers of what the medium is capable of is Sony Pictures Animation: from the handmade-feeling family comedy The Mitchells Vs The Machines to the multiversal innovations of the Spider-Verse films. Their latest venture, KPop Demon Hunters, is another delightful, hugely original addition to their impressive catalogue.

It plays like a cross between Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Popstars: The Rival_s. We first meet the HUNTR/X ladies — Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong) and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) — diving out of a plane with Avengers-esque superhero coolness, slaying demons on their way to a concert. That euphoric intro sets the tone for the film, which sees the trio showdown (or rather ‘Takedown’, as the now-hit single is named) with their fan-stealing, shoulder-bouncing boyband competition the Saja Boys, and duel their demon world leader, Gwi-Ma (Squid Game_’s Lee Byung-hun).

A film that deserves every bit of its global domination

Whether you’re a K-pop stan or not, the sheer watchability of this film comes down to the joyous energy and fun it has with the concept. Its breezy, zip-along pace perfectly complements its laugh-out-loud gags — from Zoey’s popcorn eyes whenever she sees the Saja Boys’ abs, to Mira turning up to the Met Gala in a sleeping bag. Its crowning glory, undeniably, is the music, which is nothing but a hit factory of instant bangers. Prepare to wear out the repeat button on your Spotify playlist.

But underpinning its catchy musical entries and Honmoon mythologies is a heartfelt story about generational burdens of shame and fear, and the eventual embracing of your identity. Here, Rumi takes centre stage, having to hide her part-demon secret away from her bandmates and the world in fear of rejection. The film does well to unpick the vulnerable emotions that drive her, alongside a will-they-won’t-they tease between her and Saja Boys member Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop). There are, of course, some elements of predictability, and its tendency to rush towards the end slightly takes away some of its shine. But when the songs uplift and the animation excels, these minor flaws can be forgiven, for a film that deserves every bit of its global domination.