Since its premiere in Netflix, , Kpop Demon Hunters It became one of the most commented animated films of the year. His mix of supernatural action, colorful aesthetics and K-pop energy made many think they were watching a new anime. But the directors themselves have clarified that this is not the case.
In a recent interview with CBR, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans (directors of the film) explained why, despite their clear Japanese influences, Kpop Demon Hunters It should not be taken as an anime. And although the answer seems simple, the creative background is much more interesting than it seems.
Kpop Demon Hunters: a phenomenon that connects
Maggie Kang It was direct: “No, it’s not an anime”. As he explained, they never sought to make a Japanese production or copy an existing formula. What they wanted was to capture the visual and emotional energy of the anime and take it to another format.
“We are inspired by the designs, expressions and the typical exaggeration of 2D anime, but we wanted to reinterpret it in 3D, with a style closer to Spider-Verse.», commented the director. And it shows. The result is a world full of color, rhythm and expressiveness, but with a three-dimensional finish that breaks traditional rules.
The idea, according to Kang, was to keep the soul of the anime and adapt it to the fun and chaotic tone of its characters. Instead of copying, they decided to pay tribute. Instead of copying, they decided to pay tribute.
Chris Appelhans He added something that many fans of modern animation will understand: Anime is no longer just a category. It is a universal cultural influence.
“Anime has so much influenced the new generation of Western artists that it is already part of its visual language”, explained. “It is a tribute to how far the anime was in its time”.
A theme that is being repeated in the anime
And you are right. In recent years, productions such as Arcane, Entergalactic or The Mitchells vs. The Machines have shown that the line between “anime” and “western animation” is increasingly erased. Kpop Demon Hunters It moves right there: a love letter to the anime, told with the technical and narrative style of Hollywood.
A curious detail of the interview was when they were asked if the film was inspired by Demon Slayer. Both directors replied that they did not even know the series.
Kang and Appelhans They clarified that his work did not come from any specific title, but from his experience as fans of Japanese animation in general. This reinforces the idea that Kpop Demon Hunters It does not seek to imitate or compete with the anime, but to use its aesthetics as a starting point for something new.
a series that has impacted
In the end, Kpop Demon Hunters It doesn’t need to be an “anime” to be relevant. His visual style, his energy-filled soundtrack and his story about three demon hunting girls with an idols attitude achieve something more important: connect with an audience that grew up loving both anime and global pop culture.
Instead of being pigeonholed into labels, the film shows that modern animation is a space without borders, where the anime is no longer just Japanese and the Westerner no longer feels so foreign. It is a visual conversation between worlds, and Kpop Demon Hunters It is part of that new generation of works that understand it perfectly.
It may not be an anime, but its spirit definitely carries otaku DNA. And that, more than a label, is a declaration of love towards everything that anime has inspired around the world.
