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Will Ahn Hyo-seop’s dubbing in ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ score Oscar nod?

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By Hankookilbo
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A scene from Netflix’s animation “KPop Demon Hunters” / Courtesy of Netflix

A scene from Netflix’s animation “KPop Demon Hunters” / Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix’s animated musical “KPop Demon Hunters,” featuring actor Ahn Hyo-seop, is emerging as a dark-horse contender in next year’s Academy Awards race, foreign outlets say.

In a recent roundup of animated contenders that could take up a slot in the 2025 Oscar lineup, U.S. film trade magazine Variety praised the movie as “a dynamic, color-saturated musical journey that fuses animation aesthetics with K-pop energy,” celebrating girlhood and cultural pride in a joyous festival.

Co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the film follows a chart-topping K-pop girl group that moonlights as demon hunters.

Since its release, it has entered Netflix’s Top 10 in more than 90 countries and reached No. 1 in over forty, demonstrating the global appetite for Korean pop culture.

Critics have responded just as warmly. On film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 97 percent approval rating, with reviews lauding its visual flair, lively characters and inventive action sequences.

The original soundtrack is also a hit. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, while the single “Your Idol” topped Spotify’s U.S. daily chart, underscoring the potent synergy between K-pop and animation.

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop / Courtesy of The Present Company

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop / Courtesy of The Present Company

Ahn Hyo-seop steals the spotlight

Ahn voices Jin-woo, the charismatic grim-reaper leader of boy band Saja Boys. His performance and his rendition of the movie’s theme song, “Free,” have earned glowing notices.

A cover video uploaded to YouTube surpassed 10 million views within 24 hours, and American critics say Ahn “embodies Jin-woo’s intellect and charisma to perfection.”

With box office momentum, critical acclaim and award-season buzz converging, “KPop Demon Hunters” may soon make history as the first K-pop-themed film to vie for animation’s highest honor.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.