'KPOP Demon Hunters' Sweeps Annie Awards
The animated film *KPOP Demon Hunters* from Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix won Best Feature and nine other awards at the 53rd Annie Awards. The ceremony, held at UCLA on February 21, recognized the film for achievements including Best FX, Character Animation, and Direction. The wins establish the film as a major contender in the animation industry for the year.
- *KPOP Demon Hunters* won in all 10 categories for which it was nominated, a rare clean sweep in Annie Awards history. This achievement ties it with films like *How to Train Your Dragon*, *The Incredibles*, and *Mulan* for the second-most wins, behind only Pixar's *Coco*, which won 11. - The film was co-written and co-directed by Maggie Kang, who first pitched the concept to Sony Pictures Animation in 2018. Kang drew inspiration from her Korean heritage, incorporating mythology, demonology, and K-pop into the story. - This marks the third Best Feature win for Netflix at the Annie Awards and the fourth for Sony Pictures Animation. The film's release is part of a multi-year agreement established in 2021 where Netflix gains exclusive first pay-window rights for Sony's films after their theatrical and home entertainment releases. - The film's competition for Best Feature included Pixar's *Elio*, DreamWorks' *The Bad Guys 2*, and Disney's *Zootopia 2*. Despite also having 10 nominations, *Elio* did not win in any category. - Before directing, Maggie Kang had an extensive career as a story artist on major animated films, including *Puss in Boots*, *The Croods: A New Age*, and was Head of Story on *The LEGO Ninjago Movie*. - The film became Netflix's most-watched original title, with over 500 million views since its release on June 20, 2025. A sequel is reportedly in production and aiming for a 2029 release. - The Winsor McCay Award for lifetime contributions to animation was presented to three recipients at the ceremony: director Michaël Dudok de Wit, filmmaking duo Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, and writer/director Chris Sanders.
