'KPOP Demon Hunters' Dominates Annie Awards

- The film was tied with Pixar's *Elio* for the most nominations, with each film receiving ten nods; *KPOP Demon Hunters* went on to win in every category for which it was nominated. - In the Best Feature category, the film beat out competitors from major animation studios, including *Elio* (Pixar), *Zootopia 2* (Walt Disney Animation Studios), and *The Bad Guys 2* (DreamWorks Animation). - The project was co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Kang first pitched the concept in 2018, drawing on her Korean heritage to blend mythology, demonology, and K-pop culture. - Its distinct visual style was developed by Sony Pictures Imageworks, which drew inspiration from concert lighting, music videos, and anime, while deliberately avoiding the 2D-hybrid aesthetic of the studio's *Spider-Verse* films. - The ceremony was held on February 21, 2026, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Other notable honorees included directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (*Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*), who received the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement. - The film was released on Netflix as part of a licensing deal where Sony Pictures Animation produced the movie. Despite becoming Netflix's most-watched original title with over 500 million views, Sony's direct earnings from the film were reportedly capped at around $20 million under the terms of the agreement.