Kpop Demon Hunters, the viral movie about supernatural K-pop stars, has won Oscars for best animated feature film and best original song.
These are the latest additions to a long list of awards for the film, which has charmed kids and adults alike since its release on Netflix last summer.
Accepting the award for best animated feature on Sunday were the film’s directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, as well as producer Michelle LM Wong.
Kang, a first-time nominee at the Oscars, said the win was “for Korea and for Koreans everywhere”.
“And for those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this. But it is here, and that means the next generations don’t have to go longing,” she said.
Kpop Demon Hunters is about a K-pop girl group using their voices to fight demons – including a boy band from the underworld whose members capture souls with their hypnotic croons.
The soundtrack from Kpop Demon Hunters has dominated global charts and has become ubiquitous in shopping centres around the world.
The singers behind the main characters of the film – Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna – showed up on the red carpet in golden gowns.
That was a reference to Golden, the breakout ballad from the film, which was named best original song.
“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. But now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics, I’m so proud,” an emotional Ejae said as she accepted the award for best original song.
On Sunday, the trio performed the song to a sea of swaying colourful lightsticks and light-up bracelets, waved enthusiastically by audience members – just like a K-pop concert.
Ahead of the Oscars on Sunday, Kpop Demon Hunters already received some of Hollywood’s most prestigious awards, including Golden Globes for best animated feature and best original song. Last month, Golden became the first ever K-pop song to win a Grammy.
By BBC News
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