Recently, K-Pop Demon Hunters, a movie about three K-pop superstars, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, hit theaters and quickly made waves. The film follows the idols as they balance their music careers with a hidden double life:demon hunters shielding their fans from supernatural dangers.

Why was this movie such a big deal?

This film topped the box office in the United States and Canada, which is incredibly rare for Netflix. (Box office is how much money movies make in theaters. Netflix usually streams at home, so this was a big experiment in mixing streaming and theaters.)

Additionally, the soundtrack went absolutely viral. Not only did the songs hit the Billboard Global 200, but they were also extremely viral on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Finally, this movie literally made theatres mini K-pop concerts, with fans singing along and cosplaying.

Music and Myths

The reason this movie soundtrack did so well in theaters is that real K-pop producers, such as TEDDY (Blackpink) and Jenna Andrews, wrote the songs. Additionally, members from the popular K-pop group TWICE sang songs.

The movie also performed well because a lot of its story is inspired by Korean mythology, including demons, guardians, and magical powers.

Behind the Magic: Let’s Learn How Animated Movies Get Made

Initially, this movie was primarily about demon hunters, and later K-pop elements were added to incorporate music and enhance its global appeal. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans co-wrote the script, blending traditional Korean myths with the high-energy world of idols and supernatural action. To guide their vision, the team built an expansive reference library filled with K-pop performances, K-dramas, dance moves, and even footage from real live concerts.

The movie’s visuals came to life at Sony Pictures Imageworks, where animators combined 3D computer graphics with bold lighting and anime-inspired linework. The result helped the creators achieve a vibe that was part music video, part concert stage, and part action sequence. Character animations were also carefully designed to allow faces to shift between the different expressions necessary for the characters.

The production of this movie was a lengthy process. Editors and animators synced dance-fight sequences frame by frame to the soundtrack, requiring incredibly cautious beat-matching work. Additionally, the editing style reflected K-pop; storyboards were cut together like music videos, with quick rhythms, flashes, and performance-driven visuals. Animators literally traveled to Korea, studying everything from the placement of chopsticks at the dinner table to the textures of city streets, to ensure the movie’s accuracy.

To build an animated movie, there is a specific list of steps to follow (which K-pop Demon Hunters most certainly did!):

• Idea & Story – Writers and directors build the story and storyboard it into a visual plan.

• Design & Visual Style – Artists determine the animation's look, colors, and characters.

• Animation & Music Sync – Animators bring movement to life, matching actions to sound.

• Voice & Sound – Actors record dialogue and performances to guide animation.

• Final Polish – Editors add lighting, sound effects, and music for the finished film.

What’s Next

Overall, this movie was exceptionally well-planned and required a large team to achieve such high quality. Directors are already teasing a sequel, and game developers are lining up to adapt the story into rhythm or action video games.

Did you watch K-Pop Demon Hunters? Would you tune into a sequel?