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 (010426) Like many
people in my demographic (Caucasian middle-aged males), I am not a big fan of
K-pop, except for the single "Wrap Me in Plastic" by Chromance. I find it to be
shallow, overproduced, and generic. But the film K Pop Demon Hunters is
surprisingly well-written, inventive, and visually striking. As a non-fan, it is
probably as good as a K-pop supernatural action musical can be. In many ways, it
is also better than most standard musical films like
Wicked,
and it compares well with the best recent animated films like Robot Dreams
and
Flow.
K Pop Demon Hunters is by far the most unique and effective animated film I’ve
seen this year. And the animation is so effective that it rivals the
Spider-Verse animated films. The filmmakers have created a convincing, unique
modern new world. The film was released by Sony Pictures Animation, the same
company that distributed and produced Spider-Man: Across the Universe and The
Mitchells vs. the Machines.
It is much more than a typical dumb, flashy action film. Its main character,
Rumi, an animated pop singer, is surprisingly nuanced and well-developed for a
cartoon. The film is focused on her journey towards self-actualization,
self-love, and acceptance.
Some of the beautiful characters resemble products of Studio Gibi Studioa. Derpy
is a blue-furred tiger with glowing eyes who serves as a messenger between the
two K-pop groups. Derpy often materializes as if out of nowhere and melts into
the air when he leaves. Sussie is the sassy, smart Magpie with the hat he stole
from Derpy. Both of these delightful, visually pleasing creations could have
come out of My Neighbor Totoro or The Boy and the Heron.
The film was phenomenally successful when it premiered on Netflix on June 20, in
both its original version and its later sing-along version. In fact, at the time it became
the most-watched original title in Netflix history, with 325 million views. The
film was also surprisingly successful when it was re-released theatrically for
the big-screen
later in October. Directed by Maggie Kang, who previously worked on Kung Fu
Panda 3, and Chris Applehans, who has worked primarily as a fine artist and
children’s book illustrator. They also collaborated on a screenplay with Danya
Jimenez and Hannah McMehan.
It was also the first soundtrack to have four songs in Billboard’s Top 100, and
it was nominated for several Grammys. The songs are not deep, but they are
frequently catchy and infectious. The final climactic song scene in the film is
particularly memorable, and it includes the line “You gave me your heart, and
I’m taking your soul,” which captures perfectly what’s going on in the film.
The film is about the popular in-universe K-pop band, Huntr/X, who are also secretly part of an
ancient tradition. They are demon hunters, and whenever they are seen fighting
monsters the apparently not-too-bright fans think their life-and-death battles are just
special effects for the show. All the characters in the group have interesting and distinct
personalities and each brings something to the table. They all have different fighting
styles and different weapons to compliment their personalities.
Mira is the leading dancer and the black sheep of her wealthy family. She’s
harsh, blunt, aggressive, direct, and action-oriented. She fights with a pole-arm, and she tends to be cynical. In comparison, the Korean American rapper who
came from Burbank, California, is Zoey. She is immature, emotional, and rather girlish.
She uses throwing stars in battles. The lead singer and main character, Rumi, is
intelligent, romantic, and usually more restrained and centered than the other
two, and she brandishes a sword.
Rumi has a deep, dark secret that she is keeping from the other members of her
group. She has a pattern, like a tattoo, that indicates that she is part demon,
and unless she finds a remedy, her demonic side could completely take over.
The main enemy of the trio is Gi-Man, a lord of a demon dimension who plays a
role similar to that of Mephisto, Trigon, and Dormammu in comics. He
oversees and makes up evil plans, but he usually does not interact directly with
mortals.
Five demons serve the Satanic lord and they join up to form an evil boy band called
the Saja Boys. They are kind of like an even more hellish version of NSYNC. In
one of the songs, one of the female band members sings that they are “easy on
the eyes/but hideous inside.”
During a fight, Rumi’s sleeve rips, and Jinu, the leader of the boy band,
notices that Rumi has a tattoo, and he arranges to meet her later in private. He
seduces her with the delight of forbidden romance and offers her knowledge about
her hybrid condition. Two lovers coming from opposite sides of the tracks
has been a popular theme in romance since at least Romeo and Juliet and is also
a recurring theme in paranormal romance books and films like Twilight. Warm
Bodies and The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted into HBO's True Blood. Jinu, is
very much like a male version of a femme fatale. He is
a nasty boy demon in dark clothing who gets Mira in trouble. Like Angel in Buffy
the Vampire Slayer, he seems to know more about her than she does about herself,
and he makes her question her role and loyalties as a slayer. Like Romeo and Juliet, the couple are from
warring groups and are in a doomed relationship that can only end badly. There’s
a lovely scene in which two mismatched lovers levitate while the female’s blue
hair waves in the wind. This moment is more beautiful and moving than any scene
in a recent rom-com.
Jinu may be a demon but he is not entirely evil. While he has done terrible things and
betrayed his family, it was all part of the Luciferian deal he he had to make with his master.
He asked
him to wipe out all his memories because they were too painful, in return he was
given
Dracula-like powers and can appear in peoples dreams.
After meeting and falling in love with him, Rumi’s attitude softens, and her
heart is no longer in music or slaying. She no longer wants to sing or write
anti-demon songs. She has problems singing the lines like:
“When your patterns show/it makes the hatred wanna grow out of my veins.”
Also, her voice goes out before a big contest, and the release of their album
has to be delayed. But if she does not get her act together, she risks
jeopardizing the planet's future. The demon boy group has entered a major
contest and is competing against Huntr/X on a big reality TV singing show. When
all their fans’ energy is released, the demons intend to feed on it like incubi
and use it to end the world.
K Pop Demon Hunters is a truly inspired and unexpectedly excellent genre film.
Of course, it is highly recommended for K-pop fans and animation fans. But it
should also please anyone who admires good fantasy and well-crafted animation.
Fans of the Warrior Nun, True Blood, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer shows (still
one of my favorites ever) will probably love it. Be sure to stick around for the
post-credits, the audience gets a special treat: we get to see the real
vocalists Ejae (Rumi), Audrey Nuna (Mira),
and Rei Ami (Zoe) perform some of the best songs.
Link to Creature Commandos, Flow, Wicked, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor
Totoro, and Spiderman Across the Universe
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