KPop Demon Hunters is a Kinetic, Wildly Imaginative Animated Flick
Image Courtesy of Netflix
By Luis Zonenberg
Taking into account all the hit blockbusters that came out in theaters, it’s quite ironic how arguably the biggest hit of the summer arrived on Netflix instead. The animated film KPop Demon Hunters is no longer just a craze, it has become a phenomenon! Rising to the top of the box-office in its limited two-day release in theaters and becoming Netflix’s most watched film of all time, I thought it was time to see what all the hype is about and if it’s even deserved.
The story focuses on a trio of K-pop Singers, led by Rumi (Arden Cho), who are the latest in a long line of secret demon hunters who use their singing to maintain a magical barrier called the Honmoon, which is used to ward off the demons. When Rumi begins losing her voice, the trio find themselves threatened by a new boy band called Saja Boys, who are actually demons in disguise. As Rumi works to preserve the Honmoon, she begins putting her friendship with Mira (Mary Hong) and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) into jeopardy while a life-long secret begins to resurface as well!
The story is refreshingly unique, with a wildly creative premise that feels reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon. The movie’s world is imaginative and bursting with colorful characters, with a surprisingly complex message for children. It takes elements of shows like Power Rangers and Charlie’s Angels, somehow blending them together while amping up the style and action to eleven. This type of milkshake shouldn’t even blend this well, let alone have as much substance as it actually does.
The voice acting in the film is absolutely incredible, with Arden Cho delivering a fantastic performance as Rumi. She perfectly captures both the energy and emotional turmoils of her character, easily bringing the most complex and engaging performance. Ahn Hyo-seop served as a great foil, portraying the leader of the Saja Boys, Jinu. He had great chemistry with Cho, perfectly contrasting the inner conflicts of her character. Mary Hong and Ji-young Yoo were wonderful in their supporting roles, anchoring the film while bringing joy and emotion to the main trio of characters.
The animation is especially breathtaking, bringing a frenetic energy to the overall zaniness of the film. More importantly, though, the animators also know when to slow the momentum down, beautifully demonstrating the physical and emotional challenges the characters go through. The vibrant colors especially work to help immerse the audience in not only the fantasy world, but also the culture the characters embrace as well.
The film is also jam-packed with a number of jokes to help entertain the audience, with varying results across the board. The movie embraces a wild, albeit campy, sense of humor that indubitably stems from various anime and Korean dramas balanced with more slapstick-based humor. While I think these types of jokes worked better in films like Transformers One, I do laud how the animation compliments the humor and never lets a joke overstay its welcome.
The strongest part of the film is easily its message, and it’s quite a profound one for children especially to learn. The film’s story explores themes of mixed heritage and overcoming cultural pressures in society, emphasizing the power of friendship and one’s community. Mira’s main arc grapples with the shame of her mixed heritage, since it contradicts the beliefs of not only her society but her culture as well. The characters are forced to confront both literal and figurative demons, showing how their expression through music can empower their community and their friendship as well.
In a time where the market is littered with so many reboots and pointless sequels, this film serves as a nice reminder to the overall power of creativity. You can feel its inspiration from films like The Lego Movie and The Mitchells vs. the Machines, blending it with the Korean culture to produce a movie that will entertain not only children but adults as well. With dazzling animation and a nice slew of catchy songs, KPop Demon Hunters is a wildly ambitious but creative treat for children of all ages!
KPop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.
Rating: ★★★★ ½
