Recently, KPop Demon Hunters became Netflix’s top film and the directors revealed what went into making the on-screen idols, the inspiration behind their image, and addressed which idols they specifically want to emulate through The Saja Boys.
Viewers found themselves immersed in the visibly attractive plot, and the film shot to No. 1 globally in the series category within just three days of its release on June 20th.
KPop Demon Hunters is an action-fantasy animation that follows K-Pop superstars who are hidden heroes protecting the world behind their glamorous stage personas. When not performing, these idols transform into brave demon hunters who fight off supernatural threats lurking in the shadows.
The fame surrounding The Saja Boys and their rivalry became a hot topic among K-Pop fans who, after watching the film, found joy in the way the idols were designed and represented. Eagle-eyed viewers, including the cast, could also sense where Maggie Kang drew inspiration for her characters, and, as expected, a lot of the creative characteristics involve BTS. Maggie Kang grew up watching idols like G.O.D. and Seo Taeji but wanted to appeal to the newer generation as well.
During an interview, Kang explained, “I think what I like to talk about is that there are so many certain archetypes that every group has. It’s fun to see this conversation happening because everyone’s picking the right member who fills that archetype and that kind of role and looks for each group.”
When directing and creating characters alongside director partner Chris Appelhans, they opened the floor to their art department, and it became clear which people were fantasizing over which groups they wanted to see on screen. Outfits like BLACKPINK, charismatic characters like 2NE1, and powerful synergy between characters like BTS has felt visible in the elements of character designs.
However, a particular BTS member was made clear to be the idol of inspiration for this project and it was none other than BTS Jimin. Netflix’s character designer Marion Borden shared that Jimin was a major inspiration behind the characters’ cuteness in particular! “I actually took a lot of inspiration from BTS’s Jimin for the cuteness aspect.”
Fans also boasted how BLACKPINK Jennie was mentioned as a reference for one of the characters as well on Twitter. The post read, “This is what I heard directly from the director during a private meeting — apparently, one of the girl group members in K-Pop Demon Hunters was heavily inspired by Jennie.”
source:pic.twitter.com/GiKA5tSFfY
— Pop Core (@TheePopCore) June 21, 2025
It was officially revealed that the The Saja Boys members Jinu (played by Ahn Hyo Seop), Abby, Mystery, Romance, and Baby, were inspired by Korean groups such as Tomorrow X Together, BTS, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, BIGBANG, and Monsta X. They noted the various roles members plays and how they are distinguished. Kang revealed, “In K-Pop, there is always a muscular member who shows off their abs, one who was the romantic type– I purposely gave him these bangs that were meant to be heart-shaped; and, the baby of the group (maknae).
Kang further explained, “Baby Saja is, obviously, the maknae and they have this look usually the rapper of the group has.” The only member whom Kang couldn’t recall comparing to an artist was Mystery, whose face is mostly obscured by his long, purple hair. He was inspired by anime. When Kang asked her team why he doesn’t have a face, they told her to “trust us.” Without fail, Mystery lived up to his name and became a character people effortlessly fell for.
Kang also explained a unique fact about Mystery, saying, “It was also just a challenge to animate five faces versus four. So his hairstyle also helped with the animation as well.” She was also inspired mainly by K-drama actors for Jinu’s design. Cha Eun Woo and Nam Joo Hyuk were on top of the board when it came to creating Jinu but one thing had to remain – his black hair! Kang explained she wanted the member to still feel Korean and exude a national charm. Kang also feels that the voice actor Ahn Hyo Seop suits Jinu well and feels similar to his lead character in Business Proposal.
After scouring through multiple images of idols, both past and present, The Saja Boys were born and given their individual, distinct looks while sharing one thing in common. Kang revealed, ”Fun fact: they all share the same CG body, except for Abby Saja, because he’s a little bit bigger. We bulked him up like 20%.” However, it wasn’t just the boy groups inspiring Kang; she also boasted which girl groups were her absolute muses for creating Huntrix.
Rumi, Mira, and Zoey were mainly based off of ITZY, BLACKPINK, and TWICE for their final aesthetic. Kang also revealed how Rumi was a character she developed for many years, and over time her appearance changed subtly to reflect Korea’s style. “We looked at ITZY, BLACKPINK and TWICE. I think it was a lot of mixing.” Aside from idols, model Ahn So Yeon inspired Mira and it was quite noticeable and she is recognized as being a fashion icon within the group. “It might be kind of obvious when you look at Mira,” and Kang expressed her interest in a Korean model.
As for Zoey, Kang referenced the cuter, puppy-eyed female idols in order to create this visual member. Although the group’s uniformity can be seen in their hairstyles, the group’s initial purpose was to showcase the various charms of female idols by distinguishing them from one another. “Even with the way we animated them, they were different and distinct,” says Kang. Each member of Huntrix is purposefully different in order to appeal to fans, just as any other girl group would do.
“With their smile, you’ll notice Zoey has more of a heart-shaped mouth when she expresses herself. We wanted Mira to be long and lean because I love that look on a woman. I think that’s so beautiful. With Rumi, we leaned into a very classic, beautiful Korean look. Although it may portray some of Korea’s more infamous beauty trends, Kang cheerfully stated, “We knew we wanted them to be hot.”
>> ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Tops Netflix Worldwide, While Chinese Netizens Cry Cultural Theft
Another point that Kang revealed was the removal of a unique scene – the A-Yuk-Dae scene. Netflix’s art department utilized knowledgeable K-pop fans in various aspects of its creation, including participation in such things as the Idol Star Athletics Championship. When executives asked, “Why are idols suddenly exercising, doing archery, and jumping hurdles?” Kang explained this aspect of K-Culture, stating, “This is known as the K-Pop Idol Olympics among Koreans.” Ultimately, they removed the scene and replaced it with a fan signing. Still, the film explores many novelties in K-culture and truly encapsulates various aspects of K-Pop that any fan can recognize and enjoy.
After the movie’s release, it proved to be a huge success and fans across the globe complimented the film. From the bright and lively animations to the overall design and performance, KPop Demon Hunters is a must-see film for lovers of both animated series and K-Pop.
Korean fans even enjoyed the film, many praising Ahn Hyo Seop’s impressive English acting. One fan said, “The parts where they interact, saying Whoa, whoa, hey! Calm down – it is just so natural like a real native speaker.” Another said, “The details in this movie are crazy good- especially the way they mix Korean. I had so much fun noticing Ahn Hyo Seop speak Korean here and there, like when he says sorry to a demon in Korean.” Others also applauded his voice acting, with one comment reading, “Ahn Hyo Seop expresses such subtle emotional nuances solely through his voice. All of his scenes are so satisfying.”
와우 오케이오케 컴다운 헤 헤이<< 추임새들 너무 자연스러움
이부분도 연기 너무 잘해 ㄹㅇ원어민 네거티브 개쩔어 pic.twitter.com/Ipjqu4lSPi— 울잉이 (안효섭어깨54) (@ahsahs0417) June 21, 2025
능청스럽게 강약조절 디테일을 너무너무 잘살림
케이팝데몬헌터스 시사후기에서
-> 안효섭 배우는 감정의 미묘한 결을 오직 목소리만으로 표현 <- ㅇㅇ바로 납득이 되는부분 pic.twitter.com/y62DlIk2br— 울잉이 (안효섭어깨54) (@ahsahs0417) June 20, 2025
케이팝데몬헌터스 디테일 ㅁㅊ거같네
헌터스 대사중에 한국말로 가자가자 듣고 오 한국어다! 햇엇는데 여기도 있었네
: have fun~ 으어아 ~ 앗 죄송해요 << pic.twitter.com/hVNrMpwkPU— 울잉이 (안효섭어깨54) (@ahsahs0417) June 22, 2025
Other notable Korean actors featured in the film were Lee Byung Hun, who lent his voice to the film, and TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung contributed to the OST.
What do you think of the movie so far? Did the stunning cast and cinematography leave a lasting impression? Were there any characters that were your favorite? Share your thoughts about the film in the comments below.
