You could call it the understatement of the year to claim that KPop Demon Hunters has taken the world by storm. Audiences cite various reasons for its overwhelming popularity, including its infectious songs, a bustling fandom that produces its own choreography and covers, and a staggering volume of fanfiction.
From a female perspective, one of the favorite elements of KPop Demon Hunters is the relationship between the group's members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. Against all challenges, they band together to vanquish evil and save their world. While there is an ill-fated romance between Rumi and Saja Boys' Jinu, it doesn't detract from the endearing connection among the three girls. They are loud, unapologetic and aren't afraid to look a little goofy.
Deliberate Goofiness of Huntr/x
According to the director and writer, the silliness of Huntr/x was a conscious choice. Speaking at a recent press conference alongside the vocalists and co-creator Chris Appelhans, Kang was asked about the key elements she wanted female viewers to see in the series.
"The most important is I aimed to portray really silly women," Kang explained. "You know, we're so afraid, especially in animation, to show female characters be really silly and become the most humorous character."
She shared a personal anecdote from working on films where an ensemble cast included one girl character. Teams would struggle in lengthy meetings about how to make her unique. Kang proposed making the most comedic role female, but the idea was frequently rejected.
Empowerment In Comedy
Kang admitted that this frustration over the unwillingness to portray silly women directly shaped the creation of KPop Demon Hunters. She was determined to make all three Huntr/x members humorous.
"I really think there's power and resilience in comedy," Kang said. "It takes a ton of courage. To propose gags. To be silly in front of somebody. And if you find a group that accept your quirks, and join in your oddness, that is the best type of friendship. I was eager to showcase that type of friendship between women."
The strategy succeeded: The series is packed with hilarious scenes, often expressed via vibrant visuals. Examples include the trio slurping noodles with big, bulging eyes and falling over each other when encountering the handsome Saja Boys. These quirky traits make the characters memorable and are undoubtedly a key reason why fans are heavily invested and eagerly anticipating a follow-up project.
KPop Demon Hunters is available to watch on Netflix.
