KPop Demon Hunters Cast & Directors on K-Pop Representation, Animation Challenges, & More

The creators of the hit Netflix musical animation, KPop Demon Hunters, recently held a press conference to talk about the show’s popularity, the process of writing its songs, and its reach with audiences around the world. Since premiering on June 20, 2025, the show has consistently ranked among Netflix’s top 10 most-watched titles, and excitement continues to build. Beyond its streaming success, the show’s soundtrack has become incredibly popular globally, and a limited theatrical release of the sing-along version was a box office hit, solidifying its widespread appeal.

After becoming Netflix’s all-time most-watched movie in August 2025 with over 266 million views – and still counting – KPop Demon Hunters continued its impressive run. The film’s success was particularly noteworthy as it was an original story that quickly gained popularity. While a sequel is expected, recent discussions at a press event focused on the movie’s remarkable achievement.

TopMob recently joined a virtual press event for *KPop Demon Hunters* featuring directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhands, as well as the singers and songwriters behind the characters: Ejae (the voice of Rumi), Audrey Nuna (the voice of Mira), and Rei Ami (the voice of Zoey). The discussion covered rehearsals, the film’s worldwide popularity, and how the movie and its music were created.

During preparations for their appearance on *Tonight with Jimmy Fallon* on October 7th, Ejae discussed the creation of “Golden” – a standout track from *KPop Demon Hunters* – and confessed it was a challenging song to write. Director Maggie Kang concurred, adding that the song presented significant writing difficulties.

Zoey’s singer, Rei Ami, shared her thoughts on her character’s development during a performance of “What It Sounds Like.” She explained that the song marked a turning point where Zoey finally stopped trying so hard to please everyone else.

Audrey Nuna, the singer for Rumi, explained that “How It’s Done” is her most personal song. She said it brought back memories of discovering K-pop when she was ten years old and falling in love with it.

Director Maggie Kang, who helmed *KPop Demon Hunters*, explained that portraying K-pop authentically in the Netflix film involved a deeply personal approach. She emphasized focusing on “a personal relationship to music” and connecting with it on an individual level.

Some notable quotes from the virtual press conference of KPop Demon Hunters can be read below.

Maggie Kang & the Cast on the Rehearsals for their First Live Performance

Question: “You are doing your first live performance. It’s hard to believe that this is the first live performance, and that’s happening next week on ‘Tonight with Jimmy Fallon.’ Can you y’all talk about just that, like, the moment you got the news? What’s the prep been like?”

Audrey Nuna: “We keep trying to come up with new adjectives.”

Ejae: “I know.”

Audrey: “Let’s try again.”

Ejae: “Yeah. What was it? I like the wonderful…

Audrey: “Scrumptious…

Ejae: “I like that wonderful…

Audrey: “Wonderful cocktail of wonderfulness. Key lime pie.”

Rei: “Samgyupsal.” *laughs*

Rei: “I think we’re all so honored and so excited. You want to talk about rehearsals?”

Rehearsals are going amazingly well! It’s been so much fun working with everyone. We’ve never performed together before, and I’m learning a lot from these talented singers and performers. There’s a great energy between us, although ‘Golden’ is a challenging song to pull off.

Writing ‘Golden’ was a real challenge. We went through countless drafts that looked nothing like the final version. I kept pushing Ejae to sing higher and higher, and she was always willing to try, even when I asked for even more range.

Ejae: “I did it y’all. It took lots of energy.”

It was amazing to see her perform this song, possibly for the very first time anywhere, even in rehearsal. Being near someone with such incredible talent is a learning experience for everyone involved – she said she learns from us, and we definitely learn from her too.

Ejae: “It’s such a hard song, but I can sing it with these girls by my side. I’m not kidding.

Audrey: “We sound good together.”

I don’t want to put too much pressure on you, and it’s okay if things aren’t perfect, but we *do* put a lot of effort into our work, so we’re hoping for good results.

Rei Ami on Balancing Zoey’s Musical Performance & Emotional Vulnerability

Question: “Your vocal performances bring to life a character who is both an idol and a demon hunter, which is like a weird, wild, lovely, animated balance. How did you balance the power of a musical performance with the emotional vulnerability of the character?”

I really connected with the songs ‘How It’s Done’ and ‘Takedown’ – the energy and attitude felt natural to me. It was a blast, and our music director, Ian, encouraged me to really go for it and be expressive. But ‘What It Sounds Like’ was a different challenge. It forced me to confront my tendency to please others and focus on my own needs. It meant being completely honest and dropping the strong front I usually put up, which was really difficult and emotionally draining. I actually started crying at one point because I was struggling to get it right; I was so frustrated with myself. Thankfully, Ian was there to help me through it. Like Ejae said, this movie was a lifesaver, and the music, especially ‘What It Sounds Like,’ was incredibly personal and healing for me. I’m really grateful for the experience.

Audrey Nuna on Which HUNTR/X Song Is the Most Meaningful

Question: Which HUNTR/X song holds the most meaning to you?

It’s hard to pick just one! Each song plays a really important role in telling the story. ‘Golden’ is definitely a standout, a true classic. But the first song I heard for the project was ‘How It’s Done,’ and it immediately brought me back to my childhood. It reminded me of falling in love with K-pop when I was around ten years old – my cousins would visit, and I hadn’t been exposed to much music before, but they’d introduce me to all sorts of exciting K-pop songs.

I first discovered K-pop through groups like 2NE1 and Big Bang – I even fainted at a Big Bang concert when I was twelve! That music really shaped my artistic aspirations. This project, in particular, felt incredibly empowering and bold, reflecting a modern representation of women. It was inspiring to see such multi-faceted female artists, and it made me really excited to contribute.

Director Maggie Kang on Finding the Right Balance in K-Pop Representation

Question: “Did you have a conversation about balancing authenticity in representing K-pop, which is a very specific Korean phenomenon, while also appealing to a universal and worldwide audience?”

We spent a lot of time discussing how to accurately portray the K-pop fandom. What makes K-pop unique is the strong bond between the artists and their fans – it’s unlike anything else. We wanted to reflect that in our story, so we built the idea of a connection between them into the mythology. This connection became a magical force that powers and protects the world. We felt a lot of pressure to get it right, but as directors, you’re always worried about representing things accurately and what people will think. Ultimately, all you can do is approach it from a personal and honest perspective.

We’re both huge K-pop fans. I’ve been listening since the very beginning, so I feel a strong connection to it – I was there from the start! I see it as a personal experience, my own relationship with the music. While not everyone knows the details of K-pop culture and its fandom, everyone understands what it means to be a fan, and that’s a great way to introduce people to it. We wanted viewers to simply enjoy the movie and learn about K-pop naturally through the characters, rather than having it explained to them directly.

Chris Appelhans on the Challenges of the Movie’s Animation

Question: “What was the most challenging aspect of the animation process, and how did you guys solve it?”

Chris Appelhans explained that he and Maggie shared a love for director Bong Joon-ho, whose films seamlessly blend different genres – comedy, horror, romance, and more. They aimed to create characters who were both incredibly glamorous and captivating, almost on par with K-pop stars, but also relatable and down-to-earth. They envisioned these girls enjoying simple pleasures like Bibimbap, being silly in their pajamas, and then going on a date straight out of a K-drama.

The project involved a lot of different elements – animation, music videos, choreography, and action sequences – probably around seven or eight in total. It was essential that the animation tied everything together. The performers needed to be able to switch quickly between comedic expressions and glamorous looks, and the audience needed to accept that transition. This presented significant technical and design hurdles. Thankfully, we had a fantastic team at Sony who could manage all these components and ensure they worked seamlessly together.

Maggie Kang on Women’s Representation in KPop Demon Hunters

Question: “What are the key elements from a woman’s perspective that you want to tell about women and to receive for the new generation and the old generation?”

Maggie Kang feels it’s crucial to portray women as genuinely funny characters, something she believes is often missing, particularly in animation. She’s noticed a pattern in her work on films where, when a group of characters includes only one woman, there’s a lot of debate about making her ‘unique.’ Kang once suggested simply making her the funniest character, but that idea was rejected, which she found incredibly frustrating. She feels there’s an unnecessary fear of letting female characters be the silliest and most comedic ones.

When I started working on this movie, I decided I wanted it to be purely fun and lighthearted. I wanted to portray a woman who wasn’t afraid to be herself, and I believe there’s real strength and empowerment in comedy. It takes bravery to be funny, share jokes, and let loose around others. The best friendships are those where you can embrace each other’s quirks and be completely yourselves. I wanted to capture that kind of supportive female friendship, because that’s what I experience with my own friends. The three characters in the movie definitely have that playful energy, and it feels authentic. It’s something I’ve always wanted to see represented on screen, and I hope young girls watching will realize that embracing their own silliness and weirdness is a powerful thing. I want to see a generation of girls growing up, celebrating their individuality, and sharing it with the world.

Read more about the characters’ ages in Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters here.

KPop Demon Hunters is streaming on Netflix.

2025-10-08 00:22