The Netflix animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters capped awards season Sunday with a historic double victory at the 98th Academy Awards, winning Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.”
Breaking Barriers in Animation and Music
Co-director and writer Maggie Kang and producer Michelle Wong became the first individuals of South Korean descent to win in the animated feature category, accepting the award alongside co-director Chris Appelhans.
Kang dedicated the win to Korean fans worldwide, saying, “This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere… the next generations don’t have to go longing.” Appelhans emphasized the universal power of storytelling and music, encouraging young artists around the globe to share their voices.
The original song “Golden” also became the first K-pop track to earn an Academy Award, cementing the genre’s growing global influence.
A Global Cultural Phenomenon
KPop Demon Hunters follows two fictional K-pop bands, HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, as they protect the human world from demons through their music. The film’s soundtrack, featuring hits like “Golden” and “Your Idol,” topped U.S. Spotify charts and became Billboard’s highest-charting soundtrack of 2025.
The movie’s impact extended beyond the screen. Fans celebrated the characters with Halloween costumes, and the vocalists behind HUNTR/X — including entity[“people”,”Ejae”,”singer”], rey Nuna”,”singer”], and Rei Ami — quickly amassed massive global followings.
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix, the film also became Netflix’s first No. 1 box-office title when it launched in theaters last year. Its awards season sweep included two Golden Globes, two Critics’ Choice Awards, and a historic Grammy win for the K-pop genre.
Sequel Already in the Works
Capitalizing on its unprecedented success, Netflix announced that a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters is already in development, promising more adventures and chart-topping music from HUNTR/X.
Fans and industry insiders alike are hailing the film as a milestone for both animation and K-pop’s global cultural reach.
