Los angeles: Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" achieved a remarkable feat by winning Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the film's dual victories at the Oscars follow its earlier successes at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards in January, where it clinched the same categories. Last month, its theme song "Golden" also made history at the Grammy Awards as the first K-pop genre track to win Best Song Written for Visual Media.
During the Oscars ceremony, co-director Maggie Kang accepted the Best Animated Feature award, expressing her emotions alongside co-director Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle L.M. Wong. Kang, a Korean Canadian filmmaker, delivered a heartfelt message emphasizing the significance of representation in the film industry.
Later, "Golden" was honored as the Best Original Song, marking a milestone for the K-pop genre. Korean American singer Ejae, who performed and co-wrote the track, shared her pride and gratitude during her acceptance speech, highlighting the theme of resilience over success.
Ejae was joined on stage by co-lyricist Mark Sonnenblick and The Black Label composers Kwak Joong-gyu, Lee Yu-han, Nam Hee-dong, and Seo Jeong-hoon, marking a celebrated moment for the creative team behind the song.
The narrative of "KPop Demon Hunters" revolves around Huntr/x, balancing their music careers with their roles as warriors against demonic spirits. Released on June 20 last year, the film quickly became an instant success and Netflix's most-watched movie of all time.
Recently, Netflix confirmed that a sequel is in development, although a release date has yet to be announced.