The world will know you as pop stars, but you will be much more than that. You will be Hunters.
K-pop Demon Hunters wastes no time in setting its premise. In the first few seconds of the animated musical fantasy film, hoards of excitable fans stream into a stadium in anticipation of the final world tour stop of their favourite K-pop group: Huntr/x. They gush to a cameraman about their favourite members in the trio—Rumi, Mira and Zoey—with light sticks in tow, fan-made banners and an unrivalled fervour that is all-too-familiar for any K-pop fan today.
What of the stars of the show? They’re simultaneously revealed to be living the double life as demon hunters—a duty passed down from their ancestors before them. Right before making their big entrance, they’re fighting off literal demons in the sky who have hijacked the private jet that’s taking them to their concert venue—breaking out into song whilst they’re at it. Their voices and their music, the very tools of resistance against the darkness and the Demon King, Gwi-Ma. Exactly the sort of metaphor we love to see for the global, unifying phenomenon that is K-pop.
Over the past few weeks, the summer Netflix release has been basking in its spotlight, spawning fans from everywhere. Whether it was the electrifying animation they were drawn to, the heartbreakingly attractive bad news that is The Saja Boys, the catchy tunes on all fronts or the spot-on parallels with K-pop culture, there have been plenty of fodder to chew on for the film’s audiences—no matter their age, or where they came from. Much like the sudden virality of the film, most wouldn’t have expected The Saja Boys to surpass the chart rankings of their real-life sunbaes, BTS, with their final song, ‘Your Idol’ on the US Spotify list. Nor would it have been expected that Huntr/x’s catchy ‘Golden’ would be entered for Academy Award consideration in the Best Original Song category.
Yet credit is due, especially since there’s a lot more than meets the eye in K-pop Demon Hunters. Beyond the bubblegum pop and fantastically bizarre characters, here’s what the animated film actually gets right about fan culture and the K-pop industry as a whole—done in cheeky nods, fictional character tropes and the underlying narrative of mystical folklore that’s dying for a sequel.
1 / 5
The hilarious demon-ification of boy bands
Welcome to the dark side. Knowing that its pure fantasy makes this plot point a real winner. The Saja Boys—consisting of Jinu Saja, Abby Saja, Romance Saja, Mystery Saja and Baby Saja—are ultimately demons who are using their popularity to steal human souls for Gwi-Ma. Whilst the individual tropes of the members are extremely on the nose, we’re not oblivious to the extreme metaphor of a heartthrob boy group that’s fully capable of controlling the moods of their fans and taking over their lives.
2 / 5
The plight of female K-pop idols
It may not have been its initial intention, but Rumi’s characterisation just might be one of the realest revelations in K-pop Demon Hunters. Bearing scars as a half-demon, she covers up her body as advised by her foster mother Celine—afraid to show them to anyone, not even her hunter sisters Mira and Zoey. Not only is she closed up, but she’s not able to fully relax nor show her real self. Whilst not direct, her insecurities mirror the harsh plight of female K-pop idols at times—who are constantly criticised for their appearance more than anything else.
3 / 5
The unserious naming of its K-pop groups
Huntr/x. The Saja Boys. These are definitely plays on the sometimes questionable way in which the industry names their K-pop groups. Think of TXT being Tomorrow x Together, IZ*ONE or BTS’s original name in Korean, The Bulletproof Boys.
4 / 5
The show of sisterhood
Throughout the film, the bond between the Huntr/x girls seems impenetrable—but Rumi’s big secret looms over their reality. When the friendship threatens to break, it’s them coming together again and accepting each other for what each other are that helps them rise again. No longer fragmented by Gwi-Ma, their friendship and the strength of sisterhood prevails. Much like any idol group out there, the things they experience may be intense and gruelling—but they come out on top when they get through it together.
5 / 5
It gets fandom culture to a tee
The lightsticks. The fan banners. Shipping your favourite idols together (we stan Rujinu too). It’s immediately familiar to any K-pop fan out there, but the film’s strength also lies in its ability to show the more heartfelt side of fandom culture. When Rumi finally accepts who she is—part superhunter and part demon—it’s the souls of her fans who still believe in her and Jinu’s humanity—both given willingly—that propels her on to sing and defeat Gwi-Ma. Earlier in the film, it’s a little fan’s drawing that shows Jinu possessing a soul, which also stirs something within him. The Huntr/x girls also get riled up every time a demon threatens to eat their fans. An unserious yet impactful show of the binding power, K-pop Demon Hunters proves to be a wild joyride for anyone who’s ever experienced the emotional pull of being a fan.
