'KPOP Demon Hunters' Wins Top Animation Award
The animated film *KPOP Demon Hunters* from Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix won Best Feature and nine other honors at the 53rd Annie Awards. The ceremony took place on February 21st at UCLA.
- The film's other nine Annie Awards wins included accolades for direction, writing, music, voice acting for Arden Cho, FX, character animation, character design, production design, and editorial. - *KPOP Demon Hunters* is co-directed by Maggie Kang, a veteran story artist from DreamWorks Animation with credits on films like *Puss In Boots* and *Kung-Fu Panda 3*, and Chris Appelhans, who previously directed *Wish Dragon*. - The film's visual style was heavily influenced by a mix of music videos, concert lighting, editorial photography, anime, and Korean dramas to create an authentic K-pop aesthetic. - Production designer Helen Chen and art director Ami Thompson were key in developing the movie's unique visual language and character designs. - The project originated from an idea by director Maggie Kang who wanted to create a story rooted in her Korean heritage, exploring mythology and demonology. - The film has also received a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media for its track "Golden," and is nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar. - *KPOP Demon Hunters* became the most-watched original title in Netflix history with over 500 million views, signaling a significant success for the streaming platform's animation division. - A sequel to the successful film is currently in development at Sony Pictures Animation.
