The animation of the K-Pop band that protects the world from demons is Netflix’s most watched film. The work plays with clichés and conquers the public. The film is acute, colorful and noisy. He is also mad and fun, with many songs that stick to the head. It is a women’s k-pop group whose members are more than simple refined products of the Corean pop industry: Rumi, Zoey and Mira São Huntr/X. Fill the stadiums or simply relax on the sofa in pajamas, fill fast food and enjoy the life of pop stars without rigorous training or uninterrupted tests.
But they also have another job: demons hunting. More specifically, demons that suck the souls of fans of music in the end dominate the world. To this end, the demon takes five of his faithful henchmen and transforms them into an impeccable boy band whose mission is to overthrow Olympus Huntr/X of pop.
The K-Pop Warriors film sounds with all clichés in the K-pop world, and at the same time they break them with pleasure. Instead of disciplined idols and dressed in an impeccable way, the film has three powerful, eccentric and rather stubborn young people. They make mistakes, discuss, laugh aloud, even with their mouth full of chips – and in the end they still save the world.
This is exactly what K-Pop warriors such a special, says Ray Seol, professor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. “The female characters here are not limited to sweetness or a mysterious aura. They are superheroes and demons who personify strength, responsibility and self-determination. The film, therefore, opens a new perspective on the role of women in k-pop.”
Fans also seem satisfied with the way the film plays women. “I found corroborating who said at the beginning that they needed to feed on carbohydrates before the show-normally, K-pop focuses on weight loss,” said Charlotte at 30 and is very interested in Corean pop culture.
Behind the scenes to the spotlight
The film also adopts a different musical approach. The characters are not expressed by the current K-pop stars, but by the artists who usually act in the background. Among these is Ejae 33 years old, who formed on the field, but never debuted on stage. Today, as a composer and producer, she is one of the most sought after talents of South Korea.
“These women bring with them a wide range of skills – from singing to composition and production”, explains Seol. “The fact that now play their songs makes the music of the film particularly authentic.”
For Ejae, who lends his voice to Rumi and shook Billboard’s global charts with the golden song of the film, it is an extraordinary success. “I cried all day when I discovered that my music had reached the first place,” he told Hollywood Reporter.
Golden already has over 470 million spatify reproductions alone and the full soundtrack of the film has over three billion views.
Transform crises into opportunities
According to Seol, the big repercussion of the film is also due to a global cultural change. If previously predominant narratives of the conquest, attention is now focused on overcoming obstacles. “Korea has perfected this art: to transform crises into opportunities and translate this spirit exactly into pop culture,” he says.
In the film, the Rumi character personifies this principle in a particularly impressive way. Half Huntress, half demon, represents the conflicts of family identity to most of the public. For a long time, he hides his double nature from his friends and colleagues. At a certain point, however, he realizes he can use his secret powers against evil and accepts his alleged defect. He reveals his identity and wins in the end.
Between glamor and human nature
Therefore, K-Pop Warriors joins a tradition that has also modeled the global success of the Korean Boy Band BTS. The group has not become famous in the world to have seemed invulnerable, but for making its struggles visible: from the initial obstacles on YouTube to financial difficulties and burnout. His songs often face insecurity and the desire to move forward – topics with which young people from all over the world identify and this has helped the band to achieve their success.
The Blackpink women’s group also faces this tension, although differently: the quartet represents glamorous, self-confidence and strength, but at the same time demonstrates the pressure behind a global career in K-pop. And it is precisely in this mixture of perfect performance with deeply human moments that reside their charm.
“This balance – between strength and vulnerability, between splendor and genuine humanity – is also found in the K -Pop warriors”, says Seol. “And that’s why the film is so successful all over the world.”
There is no doubt of this: with over 266 million views, the film beat the record and became the most assisted production of Netflix.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
