Latest news with #KPopDemonHunters'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Two Songwriters From K-Pop and Musical Theater Built This Summer's Surprise Chart Smash
When songwriters Mark Sonnenblick and EJAE were first contacted to work on Netflix's ambitious animated musical KPop Demon Hunters, the two thought it would be a fun and unique project to add to their musical résumés. A madcap animated film following a K-pop girl group that moonlights as the mystical destroyers of an invisible demon realm — what's bolder than that? But now, five weeks after KPop Demon Hunters' Netflix premiere, the film has skyrocketed to take the title of the streaming platform's most-watched animated film ever. As for the music, it's surpassed everyone's expectations, peaking at Number Two on the Billboard 200 albums chart and becoming the highest-debuting soundtrack of the year. And how are EJAE and Sonnenblick feeling about this surprise success? Absolutely golden. More from Rolling Stone This Author Wants Better Deals for Audiobook Narrators. She's Using Smutty Romance To Get It Smash Drives, Not Clubs With the New Callaway Golf x 'Happy Gilmore 2' Collab 'Happy Gilmore 2': Hooray! Adam Sandler's Brawling Golf Bro Is Back 'It's crazy! Unbelievable,' EJAE tells Rolling Stone over Zoom from her home studio in New York. 'Has any songwriter been like, 'It's charting? What a disaster!'' Sonnenblick adds, laughing. 'We loved the songs and believed in the music. It's just a testament to the hundreds of people who worked on this film. The film supports the music. The music supports the film. It's amazing.' In the past decade-plus, K-Pop has grown into a global phenomenon and a multibillion-dollar industry, driven by incredibly devoted fanbases and the constant introduction of new groups to drive up interest. Against this backdrop, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans introduce audiences to fictional singers Rumi, Zoey, and Mira — or, as their hordes of screaming fans know them, superstar girl group HUNTR/X. What those fans don't know is that when HUNTR/X hit the stage with their synchronized struts, sharp harmonies, and killer outfits, their music is really strengthening the Honmoon, a magical barrier that protects humans from the hungry, soul-sucking demons on the other side. Everything is going according to plan, until rival group the Saja Boys reveal their true purpose: They're demons on a mission to steal HUNTR/X's fans and their souls. That mystical battle is buoyed by a 12-song soundtrack built by some of the biggest names in K-pop production, including THEBLACKLABEL, co-founded by Teddy Park. But while fans continue to be obsessed with HUNTR/X — the fictional group has even outpaced Spotify records set by real-life superstars BTS and Blackpink — Sonnenblick and EJAE tell Rolling Stone that writing their songs wasn't as easy as hitting the right notes. It required each of them to learn a new musical language. 'I was pretty new to K-pop,' says Sonnenblick, who's better known for his work as a composer and writer for musicals, including the 2022 film Spirited and the stage version of The Devil Wears Prada. 'I knew some of the baseline stuff that had broken out in America. But I'd never heard NewJeans. That's what's exciting about entering into new collaborations with new genres. The music is so expansive and theatrical — the minute I heard it, it's like 'This is music to kill demons to.'' EJAE, by contrast, has lots of experience with K-pop. Born in Seoul, she's spent her career immersed in that world, writing with groups like TWICE, Aespa, Le Sserafim, and Red Velvet. Much of her learning curve involved staying true to the genre's musical maximalism while also keeping the storyline front of mind in a way she'd rarely had to before. 'We both have partners, but Mark was like my other partner, my writing boyfriend,' EJAE jokes. 'We had the best collaboration, because Mark's from theater and I'm from K-pop and pop writing, so we were both kind of each other's police. Like, 'No, no, EJAE — back to the storyline,' and then I'd go, 'No, no. Mark, I don't like that lyric. Let's make it more in the pop world.'' In addition to her role in writing several of the KPop Demon Hunters songs, including 'Your Idol,' 'Golden,' and 'How It's Done,' EJAE was also the onscreen singing voice of Rumi, a role where she found herself drawing on her history in the K-pop world. K-pop groups are typically built by labels and management groups, who sign potential stars to contracts and then take them through a rigorous vocal and dance training program to see if they can fit in any new groups. The idol hopefuls are called trainees, and for almost 10 years, EJAE was one of them, working with SM Entertainment, one of the biggest companies in the industry. 'I got in when I was 11,' she says. 'I feel like I experienced all facets of K-pop. I was a trainee, I became a songwriter, I also vocal directed for K-pop idols. So I really resonated with Rumi. She's such a perfectionist and trying to hide her shame, hide her flaws. And that's a huge part of when you're training. You're trying to put your best foot forward. 'Golden' really means a lot to me, because I feel like at that time, I needed a song like that.' 'I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'/Like I'm born to be/We dreamin' hard, we came so far/Now I believe,' the lyrics declare, building to a frenetic harmony as she belts out the chorus that's become a staple everywhere from grocery store aisles to EDM festivals: 'We're goin' up, up, up/It's our moment/You know together we're glowin'/Gonna be, gonna be golden.' Both of the songwriters credit the strength of their collaboration to the vision of the film's directors and executive music producer Ian Eisendrath, which allows all of the songs to do double duty as bangers on the charts and also necessary narrative devices onscreen. 'The main goal was, is this a song that can actually compete with other K-pop idols?' EJAE says. 'Can it fit in?' Sonnenblick adds that he feels the songs can stand on their own outside the film. 'You go and watch the movie, and 'Golden' is this kind of misguided thing that they have in the beginning so that they can break open and find their real voice at the end,' he says. 'But you'd never know that from listening to this on its own.' 'Golden' has become the biggest hit from the soundtrack, with Netflix confirming plans to submit it for consideration in the Best Original Song category at the 98th Academy Awards. It's a major win for Sonnenblick and EJAE, considering the two spent nearly five years and countless hours perfecting the songs that are now dominating playlists. 'It's 3 a.m., we're almost in tears, my God, on our fifteenth round of notes or whatever,' Sonnenblick recalls. 'But we were like, 'If we pull this off, it could be huge.'' For EJAE, the success of 'Golden' reflects a more personal breakthrough, something that she feels makes the film's connection to Korean culture even stronger. 'The thing about Korean culture I've noticed is that we try not to burden other people with our issues. That's a big part of the culture,' she says. 'But I love how the movie really tries to say, 'When you need help, you can't do it alone. Do it with people who you love. Ask for help.'' She takes a deep breath before continuing: 'I don't know if Mark knows this, but when I wrote 'Golden,' I was going through a hard time. I actually cried singing the demo, because it resonated with me so much. Maybe that's why 'Golden' is 'going up up up.' Because everyone's going through a hard time. And they want to feel hope.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked Solve the daily Crossword
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
The best 'KPop Demon Hunters'-style merch that's not from Netflix
When 'KPop Demon Hunters' dropped on Netflix in June, the title alone made many viewers cringe. But the animated film turned out to be a welcome, pleasant surprise. The animation was slick, the characters were fresh and adorable and the cultural references hit all the right notes. Fans around the world took notice. Naturally, merchandise soon followed. Netflix rolled out the usual lineup, including hoodies, graphic tees and bucket hats. As of Monday, there are 126 different items under its 'KPop Demon Hunters' category. Some fans love the official merch. Others felt the designs played it a little too safe. A few have even pointed out it looked rushed, speculating that the streaming giant had not expected the show's success and did not have time to prepare in advance. Then merch from the National Museum of Korea started grabbing attention. Many of the museum's products draw on the same traditional art forms that inspired the animated film, especially standout characters like the tiger Derpy and magpie Susie, or the stage backdrop based on "Irworobongdo," a traditional folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five mountain peaks. Below are some of the best pieces to consider. Pin that went viral One of the most talked-about pieces is a metal badge featuring a white tiger with a magpie perched on its head, inspired by 'jakhodo,' a traditional folk art style known for depictions of tigers and magpies. The design resonates with fans of Derpy and Susie. Demand has been so high that the badge is now on backorder, with a limit of three per customer and an estimated shipping date pushed to November. Derpy-esque AirPods case Another standout is an AirPods case decorated with a face reminiscent of Derpy, illustrated in minhwa, a Korean folk painting style. Combining functionality with charm, the case has become a bestseller. It's compact, cute, practical and easy to spot in any bag thanks to the attached red tassel, which is a rendition of the small decorative tassels found in traditional artwork of tigers. Summer-specific items In "KPop Demon Hunters," girl group Huntrix performs on a stage designed to resemble "Irworobongdo," presenting a digital version of the traditional Korean folding screen depicting the sun, moon and five mountain peaks, based on a 19th-century painting. This sophisticated artwork has been reimagined as folding fans and sun umbrellas ― perfect essentials for this scorching summer. If you were thinking of getting them this summer anyway, why not get one with a cool design? Got a gat brooch? Adding a touch of tradition to any outfit, or even a bag, this glittering brooch is shaped like a gat, the iconic horsehair hat once worn by noblemen in the Joseon era (1392-1910). It also pays homage to the Netflix movie's fictional boy band, Saja Boys, who wear stylized versions of the hat onstage. The museum's take stays true to the original, down to the gatkeun, the decorative hat string that once signified social status through its materials and craftsmanship. While faithful to tradition, the brooch also adds a playful, sparkly twist. Cup with clever twist Rounding out the lineup is a ceramic cup and coaster set inspired by the gat. When flipped upside down on its coaster, the cup resembles a miniature version of the hat. It's a witty, giftable piece that blends form and function ― both stylish and practical.
Straits Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
KPop Demon Hunters to get sequels, expanded universe to include musical, live-action remake
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (From right to left) KPop Demon Hunters' actresses Yoo Ji-young (voice of Zoey), Arden Cho (voice of Rumi) and May Hong (voice of Mira). As the Huntrix sing in the song Golden, it is their moment and they are only 'going up, up, up'. The fictional girl group from Netflix's record-shattering animation KPop Demon Hunters will get more screen time, according to US entertainment site The Wrap. Netflix is reportedly planning to turn KPop Demon Hunters into a film trilogy, with sequels on the way. The Wrap also said the streaming platform plans to expand the universe further, turning it into a franchise that includes a stage musical and a live-action remake. A short film to 'bridge content' between the movies is also in the pipeline. While Netflix has yet to make any official announcements, it will be a missed opportunity if it does not capitalise on the animation's massive success. The animated film about Huntrix – comprising Rumi, Zooey and Mira (voiced by actresses Arden Cho, Yoo Ji-young and May Hong respectively) – who protect the world against Saja Boys, demons disguised as K-pop idols, has taken down all competition to become Netflix's most-watched original animated film. It reached its peak viewership six weeks after its launch on June 20, a feat that has never happened before. The movie also received a whopping 26.3 million views for the week of July 21 to 27. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore LTA, Singapore bus operators reviewing Malaysia's request to start services from JB at 4am Singapore Despite bag checks and warnings, young partygoers continue to vape in clubs in Singapore Singapore President Tharman meets migrant workers who saved driver of car that fell into sinkhole Singapore Now flying solo, Acres CEO Kalaivanan Balakrishnan presses ahead with wildlife rescue efforts Opinion The charm – and drawbacks – of living in a time warp in Singapore Business UMS Integration becomes first SGX company with secondary listing in Malaysia Singapore Ong Beng Seng to plead guilty on Aug 4, more than 2 years after trip to Qatar with Iswaran Business Decoupling to save on tax? You may lose right to property if ties go awry The film's soundtrack, produced by K-pop label Black Label and featuring lyricists behind BTS hits, also saw a meteoric rise. The album amassed more than 41 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with all eight tracks breaking into Billboard's Hot 100 charts and Golden at No. 2. On Aug 1, Golden also topped the UK Official Singles Chart , marking the first K-pop song to reach No. 1 in over a decade. Golden reached the peak in its sixth week on the chart, rising three spots from the previous week. The UK Official Charts Company highlighted that this is the first K-pop No. 1 on the British chart since Psy's record-breaking Gangnam Style in 2012. KPop Demon Hunters' co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans told US entertainment portal The Ankler on July 30 that 'it would be a missed opportunity not to pursue expanding the film'. 'Most movies end with a possibility because you always want to keep that door open. There are a lot of backstories that we haven't fleshed out,' Kang told The Ankler. Netflix hopes the movie score gold at the 2026 Oscars. The Ankler reported that the film had a one-week, three-theatre run in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, qualifying it for an Oscar nomination, with Golden having a chance to be considered in the Best Original Song category. Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos hailed the film as a 'phenomenal success' at a recent second-quarter earnings call. He said: 'People are in love with this film and in love with the music from this film, and that will keep it going for a long time. Now the next beat is, where does it go from here?'
Gulf Today
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
How ‘KPop Demon Hunters' became surprise hit of the summer
In the colourful, animated, musical world of 'KPop Demon Hunters,' everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favorite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that the Sony Pictures/ Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer's global rankings. Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. And it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has topped the charts — debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Here's how 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the year's surprising success story. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack utilizes some of the best and brightest in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 — empowered girl groups used as references for the film's protagonists, the trio HUNTR/X. It's one of the many reasons the musical film's soundtrack stands on its own. Filmmakers 'really did their homework,' says Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who specializes in K-pop. Indeed, they did a lot of research. One of the film's directors, Maggie Kang, said that her team prioritised 'representing the fandom and the idols in a very specific way,' as to not disappoint K-pop fans. They pulled from a treasure trove of influences heard at every corner: The fictional, rival boy band Saja Boys' hit song 'Soda Pop,' for example, references the 90s K-pop group H.O.T. And it has worked. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is the highest charting soundtrack of 2025, with eight of its songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. To put that in perspective: Lorde's 'Virgin' and Justin Bieber's 'Swag' did the same. In some ways, it recalls Disney's 'Encanto,' which topped the Billboard 200 and produced a No. 1 hit, 'We Don't Talk About Bruno ' in 2022. Similarly, 'KPop Demon Hunters' embraces 'the original soundtrack, which is a lost art form,' adds Benjamin. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the 'Notes on K-pop' newsletter, says the movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. She considers 'Kpop Demon Hunters' to be 'a musical with songs inspired by K-pop,' not unlike a Jukebox musical, where the songs of ABBA are reimagined for 'Mamma Mia.' The novelty of the film, too, seems to be resonating. Where many animated films rely on adapting existing intellectual property, 'KPop Demon Hunters' is original. And it comes from an original perspective. 'It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle,' says Kang. 'It's like not pulled from one side; it's kind of flavors of both. So, I think that's what makes the movie feels a little different.' And 'the core story is what's drawing everybody in,' says Kang. San Francisco-based cosplayer and content creator Nanci Alcántar, who goes by Naanny Lee online agrees. 'It's not only a K-pop group, but it also tells a story of their journey, of how they transform into powerful warriors,' said Alcántar in Spanish. For her, it goes beyond K-pop — it's about the narrative. Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. Rather than explaining Korean elements like HUNTR/X's visit to a traditional medicine clinic or translating K-pop light stick culture for Western audiences, she opted for full immersion. 'We just wanted everybody to just accept that they were in Korea,' Kang said. Associated Press
Hamilton Spectator
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Trending on Netflix and Crave: Top 10 movies and TV shows in Canada, along with new releases to watch this August long weekend
Streaming services Netflix and Crave each reveal a weekly list of the top-ranked titles to stream, including new releases and trending content. Here are the top 10 titles in Canada in each respective category that people are watching on Netflix this week, along with newly released films and series on Crave ahead of the August long weekend. 1. 'Happy Gilmore 2' 2. 'Trainwreck: Storm Area 51' 3. 'KPop Demon Hunters' 4. 'Happy Gilmore' 5. 'Flightplan' 6. 'Sleeping Dogs' 7. 'The Super Mario Bros Movie' 8. 'Yesterday' 9. 'Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation' 10. 'Trainwreck: P.I. Moms' 1. 'Untamed' 2. 'Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes' 3. 'Amy Bradley Is Missing' 4. 'WWE Unreal: A Documentary Series' 5. 'Angi: Fake Life, True Crime' (No trailer currently available) 6. 'Unspeakable Sins' 7. 'Mandala Murders' 8. 'Building The Band' 9. 'My Melody & Kuromi' 10. 'The Sandman' Each week, Crave releases a roundup of premieres and trending titles to stream in Canada. Here is what made the list for the week of July 31 to Aug. 6 . 'Project Runway' (Season 21 Premiere) — July 31 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' (Movie Premiere) — Aug. 1 'Marc Maron: Panicked' (Comedy Special Premiere) — Aug. 1 'The Yogurt Shop Murders' (Premiere) — Aug. 3 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills' (Premiere) — Aug. 5
