K-Pop Demon Hunters has blown up and become a mainstream topic of discussion for a widespread audience. The movie sounds like a silly and frankly cringe concept. But it was pulled off with such finesse that it has reached a global stage, and exposed millions to Korean culture and the world of Korean pop music, or K-pop.
The movie, while initially thought to be a flop, was a movie that was profound and intricate, while simultaneously clever and comedic. Two characters, who never even had a single line, Derpy the tiger and Suzie the magpie, stole the show and the hearts of many with their amusingly off-putting and lovable appearances and interactions. And fans have been going wild with the lore behind them. While Derpy was greatly inspired by on of the creatures cats, the two were based off of a Korean folk art style called Hojakdo, where tigers symbolize protection and bravery, and magpies are believed to bring good news.
The songs being in a movie like this also contributed to exposing the world to this community. K-pop Demon Hunters takes the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart, above Taylor Swift. Proof that the songs were genuinely made to be able to stand on their own. And then the movie was made around them. In the first scene with the main trio of the movie, there is an intense fight scene. During this fight scene, the three sing and fight to the beat. The entire scene was animated and choreographed around the song and its rhythm. People have been sifting through K-pop to find songs similar to the ones in the movie, exposing themselves to a new genre and world of music.
K-Pop Demon Hunters, a nine year project that not only succeeded in creating a magical and immersive experience, story, and soundtrack, but also in sharing new cultures and communities with millions of people, was simply a fantastic movie. But how did it affect your view on the world of K-pop? And does it now interest you? If it does, check out Nova, the club for both K-pop and dance. They meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, so speak with Hnin, Su Wai, the manager of Nova, and check it out.
