KPop Demon Hunters Takes Over U.S. Children’s Culture

Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” has become a new icon in American children’s culture. Despite being released nearly a year ago, its enduring popularity has completely replaced “Frozen” by Disney as the dominant choice for birthday parties. The theme song “Golden” set a record by remaining on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 44 consecutive weeks, currently occupying ninth place.

Chris, one of the co-founders of the LA-based party planning company Funky Diva and Dudes, said, “Almost every party these days is themed around KPop Demon Hunters. There are times when we host five such parties in a single day.” This surge in demand is driven by the increasing need for entertainers who can portray the characters from the film, including the girl group HUNTR/X and the boy group SAZABOYZ. One parent noted, “About half of the birthday parties I’ve attended over the past six months were themed around KPop Demon Hunters, to the point where parents even share party decorations among themselves.”

This craze has also spread to educational settings. After-school classes in schools across LA now offer dance lessons using songs from the film, such as “Golden,” for children ranging from kindergarten students to upper-grade elementary pupils. A party planning company executive commented, “This series is popular not only with younger kids but also with students in grades 3 through 5, thanks in part to its combination of martial arts elements and music.”

The popularity is evident even in commercial spaces. A team of entertainers who can perform in Spanish recently performed at several McDonald’s locations near LA. Catherine Diaz, who leads the team, said, “McDonald’s requested these performances. Although it was for a Christmas event, they mentioned that children wanted to see HUNTR/X.” The film follows a K-pop girl group that fights evil spirits using songs to protect the world.

Even nearly a year after its release, the film still appears on Netflix’s Top 10 English-Language Movies list. Audrey Nuna, EJAE, and Rei Ami, who sang “Golden,” won the Women in Music Award at this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards and performed the song at the Academy Awards as well. Production of a sequel to KPop Demon Hunters has already been confirmed.