If you like international hits and animated films (or live anywhere other than under a rock) you've probably heard of KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film that has been a hit since its release on Netflix back in June. What makes it unique is that it features a KPop girl band, HUNTR/X, who sing, dance, and fight evil with incredible songs.
Along with the film's release came the release of the its soundtrack, and both the music and the film quickly rose to number one globally, becoming one of the best entertainment offerings so far this year.
If you still haven't seen it, this is the invitation you need to join the movement!
From the first week of the film's release, my social media feeds were filled with posts about it, and the more I saw content, the more curious I became to watch it. So one day I made time for myself and dedicated some time to enjoy it.
I fell in love with the film from the start. I find everything about it fascinating, but above all, the concept. As a child of the 90s, I grew up with superhero and fantasy animations. It was around the time anime hit the Latin America market, and I was a particularly huge fan of what I call the ‘magic girl’ subgenre (think Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth, and Sakura Card Captor.)
This film has all the elements I loved about the anime shows of that time; it’s a story where the heroines, in addition to trying to be true to themselves by being the best K-pop band in the world, have to fight demons using magical weapons and their voices to save humanity from evil. I loved the animation, which pays meticulous attention to every detail and every moment. The music (which I’ll talk more about later) gets and sticks in your ears and becomes especially special because of the message that the characters convey in their lyrics.
I find the film's portrayal of women incredible. The way the characters support each other at every moment, not only in the action scenes, but also in those moments where the film shows them at their most vulnerable is wonderful representation; the kind we love to see!
I think the film has a very positive message and more than a few great insights to offer! Every one who sees the film walks away from it having gained more than an hour and a half of entertainment.
Songs for the time capsule
In my opinion, the album is important in its entirety, as it reinforces the feelings experienced by the characters and helps us, as viewers, to feel the values that each song wants to share with us. The Mixtape format forces me to choose just 3 songs though, and so here are the ones I want to talk to you about:
I think this is the number one song in the film and its performance in the charts would suggest many others agree with me! Fans internationally LOVE IT and have pushed it to number one on the Billboard Global 200 and the top of various other charts across the globe.
“Oh, I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'
Like I'm born to be
Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
That's who we're born to be”
The thing is, this song, in addition to being musically magical, does a great job of connecting with its audience lyrically. It has the power to represent how someone can start from scratch, and become the best version of themselves with a little hope and encouragement. Its amazing performance in the charts shows just how many of us have felt empowered after listening to Golden.
How can we not mention this song, which introduces the Saja Boys and has been one of the many huge hits from the film? With its catchy melody and lyrics and lively beat, it captivates those who were unfamiliar with K-pop and turns them into fans. Those of us who already were fans love it even more and get to dance along with the Saja Boys!
Who among us has not made mistakes and fallen into those feelings of regret and remorse as a result? No one, is the answer! We all have moments in our lives when we wish we had acted or expressed our feelings differently. What It Sounds Like not only talks about this feeling in a way that’s easily identifiable, but it also covers that moment when something inside us clicks and we’re able to recognise our flaws, heal our wounds, and grow.
“We broke into a million pieces, and we can't go back
But now we're seeing all the beauty in the broken glass
The scars are part of me, darkness and harmony
My voice without the lies, this is what it sounds like”
I hope that in sharing my perspective on this film and its music, I have been able to not only convey how much I love it, but also how important I think its messages are. It’s a complicated world we live in, and the film reminds us of how important it is to listen to what others have to say and how they say it, especially when they want to share values of representation and acceptance. For this reason, and many others, KPop Demon Hunters has captured my heart, and I hope I’ve persuaded you to watch it so it can capture yours too!
