In a surprising twist that bridges generations and genres, Broadway legend Lea Salonga and global K-pop powerhouse TWICE team up in Netflix’s genre-mashing animated feature KPop Demon Hunters. The project is more than just a musical — it’s a supernatural, high-octane ride through the glitzy world of K-pop, with demons, rivalries, and girl power at its core.
At the heart of the film is Huntrix, a fictional girl group whose public persona hides their real job: slaying demons. Their nemeses? The Saja Boys, a rival group who are, ironically, undercover demons themselves. It’s a colorful, genre-bending take on the K-pop industry — part satire, part fantasy, all spectacle.
Voices of generation
The vocal cast is a who’s-who of Korean and Asian-American talent. Arden Cho (Teen Wolf) voices Huntrix leader Rumi, with May Hong (Hacks) and Ji-young Yoo (Sweet Home) playing her fellow demon-slaying idols Mira and Zoey. Their adversaries, the Saja Boys, include Ahn Hyo-seop (Business Proposal) as Jinu and Joel Kim Booster bringing comic flair as Romance Saja. Voice actor SungWon Cho, Alan Lee, and a silent-but-deadly Baby Saja round out the group.
Adding gravitas to the cast are Yunjin Kim and Daniel Dae Kim as Rumi’s surrogate parents, with Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy, and Lee Byung-hun infusing comedic and dramatic punch.
Lea Salonga returns to animated glory
Lea Salonga, the unmistakable voice behind Disney’s Aladdin and Mulan, makes a bold return — not just as the voice of Celine, Rumi’s mother figure, but lending her vocals once again in the film’s musical numbers. Her inclusion brings a touch of nostalgia and gravitas, while also introducing her to an entirely new generation of music and animation fans.
Music that hits hard
The soundtrack, already creating buzz, features a powerhouse lineup of artists. TWICE leads the charge with the high-energy track Takedown, performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung — a sonic anthem that fuses pop perfection with fight-scene ferocity. Another highlight is Strategy, a pre-existing TWICE-Megan Thee Stallion collaboration that finds a perfect thematic home in this cinematic universe.
Each main character’s singing voice is handled by top-tier artists: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, Andrew Choi, and others bring unique energy and style to the musical numbers, adding a multilayered dimension to the characters.
Behind the music is an all-star team including Jenna Andrews, Teddy Park, Daniel Rojas, and Marcelo Zarvos, blending K-pop polish with theatrical bombast. The result is an immersive audio-visual experience that feels like Moulin Rouge! meets Blackpink: The Movie — with demon blood.
A new kind of K-pop cinema
KPop Demon Hunters isn’t just an animated film — it’s a commentary on celebrity culture, identity, and performance in the age of social media. But it never takes itself too seriously. The film leans into outrageous spectacle while grounding its story in friendship and self-discovery.
And for fans of both old-school Disney and new-wave K-pop, the pairing of Lea Salonga and TWICE is nothing short of iconic — proof that some collabs are worth waiting for.
In short: KPop Demon Hunters is a wild, glittery ride that redefines what an animated musical can be — with slashing swords, pop anthems, and a killer lineup that’s already making waves.
