Netflix has been on a roll when it comes to quality Korean dramas and variety shows, but KPop Demon Hunters is their first foray into an English-language animated project that focuses on K-pop. Even better, it weaves in mythological demons and the respected tradition of shamanism to craft a wholly unique story, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. To top it all off, top names in the industry (such as Blackpink producer Teddy and girl group extraordinaire TWICE) participated in the soundtrack.

KPop Demon Hunters tells the story of a girl group trio named HUNTR/X, consisting of Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), who secretly fight demons while putting on their elaborate concerts. Their mettle is tested when they learn that their rival boy group Saja Boys, led by the handsome Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), is made up of demons themselves. Now, the girls must put on the performance of their lives to defeat their enemies, even as Rumi finds herself drawn to Jinu — and terrified of her own demonic secret being discovered.

ScreenRant interviewed the stars and directors of the new Netflix movie about character dynamics, Korean mythology, and potential sequels. While Kang revealed to Forbes that the character of Jinu was inspired by Korean actors such as Cha Eun-woo, she and the KPop Demon Hunters crew were much less forthcoming about their K-pop biases in real life. Regardless, Yoo offered up some valuable intel on HUNTR/X’s BTS biases.

Arden Cho Explains Rumi & Jinu’s Connection In KPop Demon Hunters

The Actor Also Teases June’s Future In Avatar: The Last Airbender

ScreenRant: Arden, how has Rumi dealt with her demon side before meeting Jinu, and why does he in particular trigger a different response in her?

Arden Cho: I think what’s really interesting about Rumi and Jinu’s relationship is that he’s the first one who sees her vulnerability, and he also protects her in a way. She trusts him, and so I feel like that’s very interesting. It’s sort of like your first crush, and you’re like, “Oh my gosh, he sees me. He knows me.” I think that’s what is so special between them.

No spoilers, but I feel like it’s that connection of feeling less alone and more seen. He sees her for who she really is.

ScreenRant: You are all over Netflix, as you should be. I loved you in season 1 of Avatar: The Last Airbender. What can you say, if anything, about June’s story in seasons 2 or 3?

Arden Cho: Oh, man. I wish I knew. I know. I hope she’s back. We’re all trying to work that out. It’s a big world, and there are a lot of cool characters. But yeah, she’s one of my favorites. She’s so badᴀss. I feel really lucky to be able to play someone like Rumi, [from Kpop Demon Hunters] but also June [from ATLA], and all these strong badᴀss women. It’s fun!

May Hong & Ji-young Yoo Spill HUNTR/X Secrets

The KPop Demon Hunters Girl Group Share Their Bonding Moments

ScreenRant: I love that the girls are so close, since they’ve grown up training and demon hunting together. Did you each have any pre-debut bonding stories or other headcanons for your characters?

Ji-young Yoo: I think Zoey is a longboarder, for sure. There’s a really amazing Korean woman who longboards along the Han River, and she is super groovy with it. That’s the only way I know how to describe it. But Zoey’s from Burbank, so I think she’s very much a skater girl on some level.

May Hong: I think Sailor Jupiter is her favorite [anime character]. I was always Sailor Jupiter when we played Sailor Moon with the kids, and I definitely feel like there’s somewhat different versions of her in Mira. I feel like people might think Mars, but I don’t know. And just like I feel really inspired by Cowboy Bebop too.

ScreenRant: While Rumi is leaving you two out and having her first crush, you girls have quality bathhouse time. Do you have any topics that you think Mira and Zoey discuss when Rumi’s not there?

May Hong: Probably just scheming on how we can get her there. [Laughs]

Ji-young Yoo: Yeah, probably. There’s a very cute moment in the movie. Zoey’s such an idea, girl, and she’s always providing ideas. I think Mira is a lot more patient than she lets on, so I think it’s very much a big sister-little sister dynamic where Zoey is probably just talking nonstop and Mira is just letting it happen. I think it’s what Zoey needs.

KPop Demon Hunters Directors Explain How They Married Korean Mythology & K-pop Into One Narrative

“Shamanism Exists In Every Culture”

ScreenRant: I love how the movie mixes contemporary K-pop tropes with elements of traditional Korean mythology. How did you guys decide which aspects to incorporate as you developed the story?

Maggie Kang: When you’re doing something that’s very high concept, I think the first thing that you want is for the audience to be like, “Okay, I get it,” and then you can move on with the story.

When we were thinking about the legacy of these hunters, we were like, “Why don’t we just put that into, or play off of, the shaman women from Korean culture. Shamans in Korea are actually mostly women, and they’re dressed in men’s garb. There are these amazing women who threw the first concerts, where they sing and dance to protect their village and their communities. And we were like, “This is such a great idea.”

Shamanism kind of exists in every culture, so it’s a really good thing to spring off of. It was a really great idea to do that and have it be rooted in a real practice.

ScreenRant: On the K-pop side of it, what goes into the casting and development of these idols? Because you have voice actors, but then you also have singers for the songs, and you’re finding the right songwriters to fit the story.

Chris Appelhans: It was a real undertaking, in the sense that it’s one thing to cast an animated performance. I get a great actor to come in and do a voice and find a character, but then – as you have in K-pop – you have a public persona and a private persona, and they need to feel like the same person. And that’s what we really wanted.

We wanted to feel… When Rumi’s in a scene, talking to fans, then talking to her friends, and then she starts to sing, you’d never once think, “And now it’s another voice.” It took a long time, several years, to find all our voice actresses and then the respective singers who could be skillful enough to do great pop songs and who felt like they spoke to the same personality. It felt essential that, when you watch the movie, you just thought of them as one original person that you want to meet and see off-camera.

ScreenRant: I found the story and mythology behind it so fascinating that I can’t believe it’s just a movie and not a show. I feel like we have more to mine here. Are you guys thinking of sequel ideas?

Maggie Kang: Always. There are always side stories, and there are things we’ve thought of while making this one. There are a lot of questions that are answered, but not fully. I think there are a lot of pockets that we can explore.

The KPop Demon Hunters Crew Each Reveal Their Bias

“This Is Dangerous Territory…”

ScreenRant: Last but not least, do you each have a K-pop bias, and if so, who?

May Hong: This is so hard. I hate choosing. but I always say New Jeans!

Ji-young Yoo: I’m an Army, so BTS. But I’m OT seven. I do, for fun, give all my characters BTS biases. It’s like my version of astrology. In my mind, I think Zoey’s either a Jimin or a Jungkook girl.Those two really track for me.

Arden Cho: Who would Rumi choose?

Ji-young Yoo: Rumi? I feel like the easy answer would be RM because he’s the leader. But I feel like it could also be like Jin because he’s such a happy, fun guy who’s also still very much a leader within the group.

The creators of the project, on the other hand, looked back a little further for their favorite K-pop references.

Maggie Kang: This is very dangerous territory. I am going to dodge this question but also answer it by saying that my ultimate bias is H.O.T. as a group. But then my ultimate single bias is Seo Taiji.

Chris Appelhans: My first K-pop love was Rain in 2007. I feel like, nowadays, there are too many and so many good ones that I can’t give it away.

That was the other thing we were hoping is that people would have a bias as soon as they saw this group. They’d be like, “I’m a Zoey,” “I’m a Mira,” or “Abs Saja is my type.”kasakak

Source: Screen Rant Plus