KPop Demon Hunters

I've been watching the trailer on repeat since it first dropped, and after finally seeing the full movie, I can honestly say it exceeded all my expectations. What stood out to me the most was the way it explored the theme of self-acceptance. The characters aren't perfect-they make mistakes, they have fears, and they face struggles-but that's what makes them so real and relatable. The film reminds us that it's okay to be flawed, and that we don't need to hide our insecurities from the people who care about us. Vulnerability isn't weakness-it's a kind of strength. And sometimes, showing our true selves, even the parts we think are "too much," is exactly what helps us grow and connect more deeply with others.

The music was another huge highlight for me. Every song was super catchy and I've already added several tracks to my Spotify playlist. I also loved the performance scenes-they were dynamic, visually stunning, and full of personality.

Visually, the film is breathtaking. The character designs, costumes, and animation are all so detailed and vibrant. You can clearly see the love and effort that went into every frame. Each character has a distinct style that reflects their personality, and the fusion of K-pop aesthetics with demon-hunting action creates a world that feels both exciting and immersive.

And I can't forget to mention the "enemies to lovers" subplot-it had me hooked from the start! That kind of dynamic is one of my favorites, and this one was done so well. The chemistry, the tension, the emotional payoff... it gave me all the feels. I laughed, I teared up, and I was totally invested in their journey. By the end, I was left wanting more-and honestly, I really hope there's a sequel on the way.

This was a fun ride. There's a lot of moments where I was laughing because of the references they put in it. The animation style reminds me a little of a fluid stop motion? It looks good especially paired with the action and all that bright coloring it was very nice and not too flashy in the eyes.

The highlight for me would be the music. All the music in this got my head banging too definitely saving it on my playlist. The lyrics have depth and it works well woven into the plot especially the bigger numbers. The voice actors and singer they hired for this fit nicely the only issue I had was sometimes it's too soft whenever they talk but too loud whenever they sing... there are moments also where in the animation expression didn't quite merge well with the voice acting. I also rewatched this in Filipino dub and was surprised to hear them also dub the music!! Listening to the songs in my native language felt good.

Overall it's a good wholesome movie that teaches you to accept yourself even if you're not perfect, get broken or make mistakes. A big plus as well for enemies to lovers trope. I'm always a sucker for it. It made me laugh but also made me cry. I wish so much for a sequel.

When your 13-year-old starts humming the soundtrack before the credits roll and your 11-year-old immediately asks "Can we watch it again?", you know an animated film has struck gold... even if that gold comes with some familiar copper underneath.

*** I have to, have to, have to... UPDATE this review here (rest all is original) I had to sit through this movie a second time! Because my daughter wanted a rewatch! And TBH I didn't hate it either ***

Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans' KPop Demon Hunters is genuinely delightful visual candy that marries supernatural action with infectious pop sensibilities.

The genre-bending animated film borrows from pop music and action cinema, creating something unexpectedly charming. Sony Pictures Animation continues their innovation streak with gorgeous visuals that make every demon-slaying sequence pop like a music video, whilst the soundtrack absolutely slaps... proper earworm material.

The film's greatest strength lies in its sincere embrace of K-pop culture without descending into parody. It's endearing, beautifully animated crowdpleaser, with a dorkily sincere love for the pop culture phenomena it embeds itself in. However, beneath the stunning animation lies a disappointingly predictable story that feels like we've seen this particular "misfit teens save the world" template countless times before.

The fighting is not horrible but is bad, and the action sequences, whilst visually spectacular, lack genuine tension or stakes. It's humorously subversive and a funny but brutal commentary on its own industry, which adds clever meta-commentary that adults will appreciate.

Who'll Love This: K-pop fans, animation enthusiasts, families wanting something fresh, and anyone who enjoyed Spider-Verse's visual innovation.

My kids were absolutely transfixed: the 13-year-old appreciated the meta-commentary whilst the younger one was purely there for the demon-slaying spectacle. Teen girls will worship at its altar.

Rating: 7/10 (Gorgeous spectacle that prioritises style over substance, but what magnificent style it is) Probably 8/10 for my kids.

I'm more of an animation fan than a kpoper, so KPop Demon Hunters was offering a fresh idea, but I was not prepared.

The colors are gorgeous. The constant pallette choice of cold colors are pleasing in the eyes and well-coordinated, it's breathtaking. Fluid movements during fights, Sony nailed it over and over.

Albeit story-wise is formulaic, the casts are wonderful and easily loveable. Jinu has the most generic looking facial feature for a character but his personality definitely sells his character, I love him. The trio is an icon, they are all different in their own ways and it's what made their interactions very enjoyable!

Last but not least, the tracks. Banger. It gave me chills, especially the last to close up the story. I'm not familiar with KPop songs, so this is all very new to me, but the tracks in this movie definitely hook me up, and I now see the appeal of KPop songs. Brb while I binge the tracks.

KPop Demon Hunters (2025) is a new Netflix animated movie that I didn't know what to think of it when I first heard about it, but I decided to give it a chance and I had a great time with this movie.

Positives for KPop Demon Hunters (2025): First off, the idea for this movie is very interesting where it feels like a combination of Demon Slayer mixed with Sailor Moon and that is exactly what you get with this movie. The animation style for this movie is awesome and it gives the movie a unique feel to it. The voice cast does an excellent job with their performances and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the three main woman as they feel like real friends who like to kick major demon ass and sing together. I also liked the three male characters that our heroes are in competition with when it comes to their music and it creates this competition between the two teams that is fun to watch. The action sequences are dynamic and they have energy and excitement to them that I enjoyed watching. And finally, this is one of those movies that will definitely lend itself to becoming a popular franchise for Netflix with a couple of sequels.

Mixed for KPop Demon Hunters (2025): The music in this movie is quite good for the target audience, I am just not one of them. I don't hate KPop music, it's just that this genre of music isn't my thing and that is okay because it will definitely work for fans of KPop bands like BTS and others.

Negatives for KPop Demon Hunters (2023): The romance between the female and male leads of the two competing bands of this movie is your traditional cliched romance story and it was the weakest aspect of the movie that I disliked.

Overall, KPop Demon Hunters (2023) is damn good time for fans of both fantasy action movies and KPop music. I look forward to seeing if this movie does get a sequel or a franchise because there is a lot of things that can be explored in the future.