A still from ‘KPop Demon Hunters.’ Photo: courtesy of Netflix.
KPop Demon Hunters is on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ list of 35 animated films eligible for the 98th Oscars.
The Korean-American urban-fantasy musical, released on Netflix on June 20, 2025, didn’t just ride the wave of its huge viewership. It also passed the Academy’s exhibition hurdle with a limited run in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco that June, meeting the qualifying theatrical exhibition rule that lets a streaming-first picture onto the ballot.
Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix, the film follows the K-pop girl group Huntr/x as they moonlight as demon hunters, battling the demonic boy‑band Saja Boys. The cast includes Korean‑American talent Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo‑seop, May Hong, Ji‑young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and veteran Korean actor Lee Byung‑hun, who lend their voices, while the score by Marcelo Zarvos backs a soundtrack that’s become a cultural juggernaut. “Golden,” one of the film’s original songs, is not only a chart‑topper but also a contender in the Best Original Song race, and the album broke the record for the most simultaneous top‑ten entries on the Billboard Hot 100 for any film soundtrack.
The buzz isn’t just musical. Critics have called the movie “a cultural phenomenon,” praising its stunning animation—a blend of concert‑lighting flair, editorial‑photography aesthetics, anime vibes, and Korean‑drama storytelling—all rendered by Sony Pictures Animation. With 325 million global views, it became Netflix’s most-watched original animated title, and its sing-along theatrical version even topped the U.S. box office.
Now that the Academy has selected KPop Demon Hunters among the 35 eligible titles—alongside the likes of Arco, The Bad Guys 2, Elio, Zootopia 2, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle—the competition is heating up. The Animation Branch will vote from this pool to pick the final five nominees, with other Academy members able to vote if they meet the viewing requirement. Shortlists for other categories drop on Dec. 16, 2025, but the animated feature shortlist is this very list. Nominees will be announced on Jan. 22, 2026, and the 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Mar. 15, 2026. If the film’s global frenzy, Grammy-nominated soundtrack, and gorgeous visuals are any indication, the Huntr/x might just be the next animated heroes to take home the Oscar.
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