Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters has secured Oscar nominations for best animated feature and best original song for Golden. The film, released last June, follows a K-pop group battling demons. It previously won similar awards at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes.
KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix's most popular movie to date, has received two Academy Award nominations: best animated feature and best original song for Golden. Released last June, the film dominated the streaming charts, holding the No. 1 spot for weeks. Three of its songs—Golden, Your Idol, and Soda Pop—have stayed on Billboard's Hot 100, and it garnered three Grammy nominations, including song of the year for Golden.
The story centers on Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, members of the K-pop girl group Huntr/x, who use their voices to defeat soul-eating demons and safeguard their fans. Golden, performed by Huntr/x featuring EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, plays a pivotal role: during the song, the group attempts to seal the Golden Honmoon barrier against demons, revealing Rumi's partial demon heritage marked on her arms. The track was written by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, DO, 24, and Teddy Park.
Co-director Chris Appelhans expressed delight at the animated feature nod: "I love this movie so much. But it was such a cool thing to realize that we’d made it and that these other incredible filmmaking communities who know the craft so well, and they know what’s hard and what’s not. To have them acknowledge it is really great."
Co-director Maggie Kang shared a full-circle moment after attending a Twice concert: "I had a very similar feeling because last night I went to the Twice concert, and so just the opening of them being revealed on stage (performing Takedown by the Huntr/X), I was like, ‘Wow, we actually did this.’" She also recalled a sing-along in New York: "To walk into a room full of kids, adults and fans dressed up as our characters... They were screaming and all ages, all demographics, all races, and that moment was very much like, ‘Wow, this is big. This is speaking to everybody."
EJAE, on potentially performing Golden live at the Oscars, admitted nervousness: "That hit me later. I was just sitting on the couch. ‘Wait! I have to perform it!’ I’m so nervous that I’m trying to digest that as well and trying to approach it in a way where I won’t freak out before. I guess I just need to practice a lot so that I won’t be nervous, but let’s see what happens."
In best animated feature, it competes with Arco, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2. For best original song, Golden faces Dear Me from Diane Warren: Relentless, I Lied to You from Sinners, Train Dreams from Train Dreams, and Sweet Dreams of Joy from Viva Verdi!
