Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” Wins Both Animation and Theme Song Awards at Critics’ Choice

Netflix’s original animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” received the award for Best Animated Feature and the Theme Song Award at the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards, held on the 4th (local time) in Santa Monica, California, USA. Hosted by the Critics’ Choice Association (CCA), which comprises over 600 film and television critics and journalists from the United States and Canada, this ceremony is regarded as a predictor of potential wins at the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

“KPop Demon Hunters” follows a K-pop girl group named HUNTR/X as they communicate with their fans while fighting against evil spirits. The inclusion of various Korean cultural elements in the film has sparked a new wave of enthusiasm for Hallyu amid its global popularity. To win the Animation Award, the film surpassed strong competitors such as “Zootopia 2,” “Elio,” “In Your Dreams,” and “Arco.”

The theme song “Golden” also won the Theme Song Award, competing against titles like “F1 The Movie” and “Wicked: For Good.” EJAE, the singer and composer of the track, said at the ceremony that the song represents Rumi’s journey of convincing herself to get back up and move forward toward her dreams, adding that it is a great honor to bring hope to people around the world. Audrey Nuuna and Lay Amy also contributed as singers, with director Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans appearing on stage alongside her.

“KPop Demon Hunters” is currently a global hit and has become one of the most popular titles on Netflix. The film’s soundtrack remained in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart for several weeks, while “Golden” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 consecutive weeks.

Furthermore, “Golden” received nominations in four categories at the Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Remixed Recording. The film’s soundtrack album was also nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, bringing the total number of Grammy nominations to five. As a result, “KPop Demon Hunters” is considered to have strong chances not only at the Golden Globe Awards on the 11th but also in the animation category at the Academy Awards in March.