Actor Ahn Hyo-seop is shaking up the global film market with just his voice.
The Netflix animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', starring Ahn Hyo-seop, has been mentioned by the prominent American film publication Variety as a "worthy contender for the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Feature."
Variety described 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' as "a dynamic and colorful musical journey that combines animation aesthetics with K-POP elements, celebrating femininity and cultural pride in a joyful festival-like work. This Netflix original is a piece that deserves recognition in the animation category."
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is a hybrid action musical animation set in a dual world where members of a globally popular K-POP girl group hunt demons offstage. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans from Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', the film has achieved high quality.
Since its release, the film has entered the Netflix TOP 10 in over 90 countries and has topped the charts in more than 40 countries, creating a box office sensation. It has received a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, garnering positive responses from critics for its visual style, characters, and action direction. It has been praised as a "challenge to the existing animation genre" and a "work that could be a cultural turning point."
The musical achievements are also remarkable. The OST album reached number 3 on the US Billboard album chart, attracting the attention of music fans, and the track 'Your Idol' topped the Spotify Daily Top Songs chart in the US, proving the synergy between K-POP and animation.
In this work, Ahn Hyo-seop plays Jin-woo, the leader of the K-POP group Lion Boys and a grim reaper idol. He led the narrative with a multidimensional voice performance that went beyond simple voice acting, receiving acclaim for "completing the character's narrative and emotions with just his voice," demonstrating the potential and strength of Korean actors to the world.
The cover video of the theme song 'FREE', sung by him, surpassed 10 million views on YouTube within a day of its release, eliciting an explosive response from the global fandom. This video, which combines K-POP sensibility, the emotions of animation, and the unique emotional line of the actor, has been praised for its ability to "move the world with just one voice."
The global film market is also paying attention to his activities. The American review outlet Collider stated, "Ahn Hyo-seop perfectly embodied the intelligent and charismatic grim reaper 'Jin-woo'," while global review platforms like Reddit noted, "Ahn Hyo-seop's voice acting breathed life into the character. It transcended language and form, delivering deep emotions to audiences worldwide and reminding us of the essential power of storytelling." There are also reactions stating that "Ahn Hyo-seop's challenge in this animation is a significant turning point in his career and a symbolic step in introducing Korean identity to the global stage."
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is expanding its success across various areas, including music, merchandise, and challenges, and among fans, the character Jin-woo, played by Ahn Hyo-seop, is seen as "not just a character in animation, but a symbol connected to the identity of the K-POP fandom."
Following the global success of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', Ahn Hyo-seop is set to return to the screen with the film 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint', scheduled for release on the 23rd. Based on the acting spectrum he has proven through this animation and his expanded global influence, there is growing anticipation for what new challenges he will present.
