**From Golden Globe, Grammy, PGA to the Academy Awards**
An animated film featuring Korean culture has clinched a trophy at the American Academy Awards. Directed by Maggie Kang, the Netflix original film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” won the Best Animated Feature award at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles (LA), on March 15 (local time). It surpassed competitors like “Arco,” “Elyo,” “Little Amelie,” and “Zootopia 2.”
The story revolves around the girl group Huntress, who battle against an evil boy group, Lion Boys, that preys on human souls. The film combines brilliant visual effects (VFX) with the dynamism of K-pop to create a unique narrative universe. It translates Korean sentiments and popular music into a universally appealing element within the mainstream Hollywood system.
The film achieved overwhelming commercial success and critical acclaim. It broke Netflix’s record for the highest viewership and won 10 awards at the Annie Awards, known as the Academy Awards of the animation industry. It also swept the Golden Globe in January and the Grammy in February, with producer Michelle Wong taking home the Outstanding Production for Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures award at the Producers Guild of America (PGA).
The film is also aiming to win the Best Original Song award at the current ceremony with its main theme song “Golden.” If successful, it will lead to the remarkable scene of Korean producers, including producer Teddy, jointly receiving the award on the Oscar stage.