"K-Pop Demon Hunters" Wins Oscar for Best Animated Feature [Summary]

Surpassing Disney and Pixar for the Top Honor
Maggie Kang: "I Dedicate This to Koreans Around the World"

The production team of "K-Pop Demon Hunters" attending the 98th Academy Awards. From left, director Kris Apelhans, director Maggie Kang, and producer Michelle Wong. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

An animated film themed around Korean culture has claimed a trophy at the Academy Awards in the United States.

The Netflix original movie "K-Pop Demon Hunters," directed by Maggie Kang, won the Best Animated Feature award at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 15 (local time), beating out "Arco," "Elio," "Little Amelie," and "Zootopia 2."

As the theme song "Golden" played, director Maggie Kang took the stage in a red dress, visibly emotional as she accepted the trophy. She shared, "I am sorry it took so long for a film with main characters who look like me to be made. The next generation will not have to wait," adding, "I dedicate this award to Korea and to Koreans around the world."

Movie 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' Still Cut

The film tells the story of the girl group Huntrix fighting against the evil spirit boy group Sajaboys, who prey on people's souls. It combines outstanding visual effects (VFX) with the dynamism of K-pop to create a unique universe.

Since its release in June last year, it has gained explosive popularity, surpassing 500 million cumulative global views and becoming the most successful Netflix title ever, overtaking "Squid Game." The movie translated Korean sentiment and pop music into a universally appealing narrative within the mainstream Hollywood system.

Its critical achievements are equally remarkable. In January, it won both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards; last month, it became the first work from the K-pop genre to be nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards. It swept ten awards at the Annie Awards, known as the "Academy Awards of Animation," and producer Michelle Wong won Best Theatrical Animated Feature at the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards.

"K-Pop Demon Hunters" is also aiming to win Best Original Song at this year’s ceremony with "Golden." Should the film win, it will result in the rare spectacle of Korean producers, including producer Teddy, sharing the Oscar stage as co-winners.

Movie still cut of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'

The song's strong candidacy for Best Original Song is underpinned by its overwhelming commercial success. "Golden" entered the main Billboard Hot 100 singles chart immediately after its release and stayed in the top ranks for eight consecutive weeks. The original soundtrack (OST) album from the film also topped music charts worldwide, achieving mainstream popularity that extended beyond the K-pop fandom. In North America, "sing-along" screenings, where audiences sang along during the film, sold out repeatedly.

The global phenomenon is rooted in the successful combination of a distinctly Korean worldview with Hollywood resources. The production team cleverly wove uniquely Korean cultural elements, such as shaman rituals and talchum (traditional mask dance), into the modern idol industry. Hollywood critics praised the film as "a masterpiece that transforms the most Korean subjects into the most universal appeal," commending the power of a narrative that transcends borders.

In response to this unprecedented commercial and critical success, Netflix acted quickly. On March 13, Netflix signed a multi-year exclusive partnership with Maggie Kang and other key members of the production team, officially confirming a sequel. Full-scale planning has begun, targeting a release in 2029. The global film industry is now watching closely as they chart their next path.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.