“KPop Demon Hunters,” a high-energy, high-concept supernatural action comedy from Sony Pictures Animation, has become a significant cultural phenomenon, blending the global appeal of K-pop with an inventive animated narrative. Co-directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang, the film follows a world-touring K-pop girl group named Huntrix who secretly moonlight as demon slayers, leveraging their international stardom and fan devotion to protect the mortal world from the malevolent demon king Gwi-Ma (Byung Hun Lee).

The central trio of Huntrix consists of the rebellious woldo-wielding Mira (May Hong), Burbank-raised rapper Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), and purple-braided orphan Rumi (Arden Cho). Their popularity enables them to construct a formidable barrier, the Golden Honmoon, designed to block demons permanently. However, their mission is complicated by Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), one of Gwi-Ma’s tortured acolytes, who forms a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, with four other handsome demons, aiming to draw Huntrix’s fans to the dark side. A captivating human-demon rom-com subplot unexpectedly develops between Rumi and Jinu, adding a layer of emotional complexity to the supernatural conflict.

Rumi harbors a profound secret: she is a human-demon hybrid, marked by the same purple imprints as the very spirits she is sworn to eliminate. Only Huntrix’s trusted trainer, Celine (Yunjin Kim), is aware of Rumi’s dual nature, believing she can control her demon genes. Yet, Celine did not foresee Rumi’s burgeoning affection for Jinu, who also possesses his own secrets. While a subplot concerning Rumi’s voice issues may slow the narrative, it provides opportunities for engaging character moments, including a lively spa trip and a staycation featuring bubble tea and bingsu.

The film’s distinctive animation style draws inspiration from webtoons and manhwa (Korean graphic novels), prioritizing dynamic silhouettes and lively key poses over smooth in-between movement. This stylistic choice, which originated as a cost-saving measure in older animated series, imbues “KPop Demon Hunters” with a distinctly Asian aesthetic. Further embellished with charming comic-book touches, such as characters’ pupils swelling into puffy red hearts upon seeing the Saja Boys, and Zoey’s eyes humorously transforming into six-pack abs or buttery corncobs when reacting to the guys’ physiques, the animation creates a playful and visually rich experience.

The violence, though pervasive, remains visually appealing and avoids explicit gore. The trio’s phosphorescent pink weapons slice cleanly through demons, causing them to explode into bursts of confetti. Later, demons swarm through a rift in the Honmoon, depicted as Gollum-like figures, to subtly (for a PG rating) suck souls from nearby humans. Adding to the charm are adorable animal sidekicks, including a grinning tiger demon and a black bird in a tiny gat (hat), both seemingly plucked from Korean folklore.

A critical element of the film is its robust and macaronic soundtrack, which masterfully blends English and Korean lyrics. Compiled by a roster of A-list music producers, the soundtrack features three hit songs for Huntrix performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami: “How It’s Done,” “Golden,” and “Takedown” (the latter covered by Twice over the end credits). A standout duet, “Free,” performed by Ejae (Rumi’s singing voice) and Andrew Choi (Jinu’s singing voice), further highlights the musical depth, ensuring that the film, set within the K-pop world, resonates as a musical even if not overtly labeled as such.

“KPop Demon Hunters” has achieved unprecedented success on Netflix, amassing 236 million views since its June 20 debut, making it the platform’s most-watched film in history, surpassing “Red Notice.” To meet Academy Award eligibility requirements, the film also received a theatrical rollout in select California and New York cinemas, netting Netflix its first number-one debut at the box office with an estimated $18 million.

The film’s triumph extends into the awards season, positioning it as a serious Oscar contender. Despite anime’s long history of artistic excellence, it remains underrepresented at the Academy Awards, with only 11 anime films receiving recognition and just two winning in the animated feature category (“Spirited Away” and “The Boy and the Heron”). A potential double nomination for “KPop Demon Hunters”—for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (for the chart-topper “Golden”)—would be historic, as no anime film has ever earned more than one nomination in the same year. This success could finally challenge the lingering biases favoring Western animation styles and storytelling conventions at major awards bodies.

Audrey Nuna, who provides the singing voice for Mira, confirmed that “Golden” has been submitted for Academy Award consideration. The song’s global charting success, including hitting No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart, further strengthens its Oscar prospects. Nuna, who had a strong feeling the project would succeed, expressed amazement at the potential Oscar nod, seeing it as prophetic given she is named after the multifaceted Audrey Hepburn.

Nuna’s personal philosophy of embracing duality and blurring genre lines—influenced by a diverse musical upbringing and her own album “Trench”—resonates with the film’s theme of not having to pick one part of oneself. Her experience performing internationally reinforced her belief in music’s transformative power across cultures, a theme mirrored in the film’s blend of Eastern storytelling and universal subjects like identity, sisterhood, and self-discovery. Arden Cho, who voices Rumi, also felt a personal connection to her character’s growth through learning empathy, even for her demons.

The “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack has made Billboard Hot 100 history by simultaneously charting four songs in the top 10 for the first time for any soundtrack album. “Golden” held the No. 1 spot for a second week, joined by “Your Idol” at No. 4, “Soda Pop” at No. 5, and “How It’s Done” at No. 10. Discussions are underway within Netflix about submitting a second song, such as “What It Sounds Like,” for Oscar consideration, though concerns about potential vote-splitting remain, citing examples like “Sing Street” and “Barbie.”

Netflix, having previously won the animated feature Oscar with “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” sees “KPop Demon Hunters” as its strongest animated awards contender yet, especially in a year where traditional animation powerhouses have struggled. With Pixar’s “Elio” underperforming and Disney’s “Zootopia 2” yet to be released, the field appears open. The film’s crossover appeal is further bolstered by the Academy’s animation branch allowing members from other branches to opt-in for voting, building broader support. The Golden Globes also now permit animated features to compete in the best picture (comedy or musical) category, potentially offering another avenue for recognition.

Beyond its commercial and critical acclaim, “KPop Demon Hunters” holds the potential to redefine animated cinema. It is a global and cultural hybrid that eschews the formulas historically dominating the animated feature category. Should it receive multiple Oscar nominations, it would mark a significant turning point for anime, global storytelling, and the very definition of what constitutes awards-worthy animation, challenging long-standing biases and celebrating diverse narratives.