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The Netflix animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters swept the Annie Awards over the weekend, marking the latest big step in the movie's quest to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar.
Produced by Michelle Wong and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans, KPop Demon Hunters was released on Netflix on June 20, 2025, and instantly became a streaming sensation. In KPop Demon Hunters' first 91 days on the platform, the film attracted an astounding 325.1 million views -- which equates to 541.8 million viewing hours -- making it the most-watched original film on the platform in the streamer's history.
The film stars the voices of Arden Cho, May Hong and Ji-young Yoo as the Rumi, Mira and Zoey of the demon hunting K-pop singing trio HUNTR/X. EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami perform the singing voices of Rumi, Mira and Zoey.
On March 15, KPop Demon Hunters and the film's anthem, "Golden," will head to the 2026 Academy Awards with aspirations of taking home Oscars for Best Original Film for Wong, Kang and Appelhans, and Best Original Song for its writers, EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24 and Teddy.
Before the Oscars, though, Wong will be vying for the Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures honor for KPop Demon Hunters at the 37th annual Producers Guild of America Awards on Feb. 28 in Los Angeles, as well as the Outstanding Animated Motion Picture honor at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards, which is also Feb. 28.
While KPop Demon Hunters was not ineligible for nominations from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards because it didn't meet theatrical release requirements in the U.K., the film still had a presence at the 2026 BAFTAs on Sunday when EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami sang "Golden" at the ceremony.
2026 Annie Awards
KPop Demon Hunters won Annie Awards in all 10 categories it was nominated in: Best Feature, Best Character Animation - Feature, Best Character Design - Feature, Best Direction - Feature, Best Music - Feature, Best Production Design - Feature, Best Voice Acting - Feature (for Arden Cho, who voices Rumi), Best Writing - Feature, Best Editorial - Feature and Best FX - Feature.
2026 Critics' Choice Awards
KPop Demon Hunters won CCAs for Best Animated Feature and Best Song for "Golden."
2026 Golden Globes
KPop Demon Hunters won Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Animated and Best Original Song for "Golden."
Critic Association Awards
KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature awards from several major critic associations in the U.S. and Europe, including the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, the African-American Film Critics Association, the Austin Film Critics Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, the Chicago Film Critics Association, the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association, the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association, the Georgia Film Critics Association, the Indiana Film Journalists Association and The Kansas City Film Critics Circle.
In addition, KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature honors from the London Critics Circle Film Awards, the Michigan Movie Critics Guild, the Minnesota Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the North Texas Film Critics Association, the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, the Online Association of Female Film Critics ,the Online Film Critics Society ,the Phoenix Critics Circle ,the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle ,the Pittsburgh Film Critics Association ,the San Diego Film Critics Society ,the San Francisco Bay Area Critics ,Circle ,the Seattle Film Critics Society ,the Southeastern Film Critics Association and the Washington ,D.C .,Area Film Critics Association .
KPop Demon Hunters also won Best Animated Feature honors from the Capri Hollywood Awards and the Astra Film Awards.
Rated PG,KPop Demon Hunters ,which is a Sony Pictures Animation production ,is streaming on Netflix .