It’s no wonderKPop Demon Huntersis trending on Netflix as its soundtrack tops the charts. With beautifully produced songs that support its universally appealing plot, the animated film has obvious appeal to tweens and teens. The film has an even wider reach by virtue of its supernaturally infused story of romance and friendship. It evokes nostalgia for the likes ofSailor Moonand evenBuffy the Vampire Slayerfor adult audiences.
The authenticity to be found in its soundtrack is reflected throughout the film. HUNTR/X – pronounced Huntrix – perform in front of backgrounds inspired by dynastic paintings. These stylized landscape paintings – Irworobongdo – were placed on folded screens that were placed behind royal figures. The girls of HUNTR/X have the same sun, moon, and five mountain peaks behind them as Korean royalty, repeated in their music video for “Golden,” and visible in Jinu’s origins (Ahn Hyo-seop). The members’ demon-fighting weaponry reflects the real tools and practices ofshamanism, and Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) all wear the traditional norigae accessory attached to their waists. Even the light sticks for HUNTR/X resemble a norigae knot! That authenticity extends to the immediate fan-favorite and undeniably adorable animal sidekick, Derpy Tiger, as well as his bird companion.
The Korean Folk Art Style, Minhwa, Greatly Influenced ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
Tiger is lifted right from traditional Korean folk art, or minhwa. Hojak-do paintings used tigers and magpies as common motifs. There is additional significance when the animals are depicted together. The tiger’s goofy appearance and big expressive eyes, as well as the magpie’s more cool demeanor, modernize a traditional art form for the film. In Hojak-do, tigers represented an increasingly out-of-touch and foolish ruling class. The magpie represented the common people who possessed real knowledge and aimed to keep the ruling class in check. But just as this meaning is shaped around the story inKPop Demon Hunters,tigers, magpies, and their relationship to each other have held many different meanings throughout Korean folklore. The tiger is the national animal ofSouth Koreaand is believed to protect households from evil. When magpies act independently of allegorical tigers, they bring good news and great fortune.
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The Derpy Tiger and Magpie Echo Jinu’s Origins and Rumi’s Potential in ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
The tiger and magpie are the perfect companions for Jinu andwhat he representsin the larger story. Jinu is over 400 years old, putting his origin story in the time of the Joseon Dynasty. This period dealt with increasing invasions and resulting cultural changes, good and bad. When Jinu accepts the deal with Gwi-ma (Squid Game’s Front Man,Lee Byung-hun), he doesn’t realize he can’t bring his family with him. Gwi-ma gives Jinu power and fortune in exchange for his agency, but only through coercion.So Jinu exists in a liminal space, where he is part of the lofty upper class, but still deeply tied to his rootsas a commoner from extreme poverty. It makes perfect sense that Jinu would be followed by both the tiger and the magpie, and their layered significance.
IfKPop Demon Huntersexpands the story, the tiger and magpie have plenty of room to grow, as they’re also representative of Sino-Korean mythology’s four guardians. A white tiger of the West, a blue dragon of the East, a black tortoise of the North, and a vermilion bird of the South are invoked in Sino-Korean stories to represent everything from seasons to emotions to different elements. Mira is often in black, with Zoey – and even her fans – most often in blue. Rumi is in white and, of course,is bonded with the tiger. Her demon markings even appear as stripes. In short, there’s plenty of room for a sequel that builds on these mythological origins. While fans will forgive him for just showing up to be cute, Derpy Tiger could have narrative significance moving forward. If HUNTR/X explores more of the spirit world – and as Rumi builds her confidence in being authentically herself – the tiger could represent more noble, strong depictions of tigers in Korean folklore and mythology.
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Creator Maggie Kang Has Plenty of Mythology To Explore for a Sequel
If we’re lucky enough to get a sequel, wherever creator Maggie Kang and her co-director Chris Appelhans take us will be as authentic as it is cutting-edge. With friendship driving the heart of the story, the hunters could easily become guardians, and even welcome a fourth member to represent all four corners. With Kang seamlessly blending the modern and ever-expanding art of K-Pop with mythology, shamanism, and demonology, she’s got the skill set and creative drive to make a sequel worth seeing far and above some of IP mining’s lesser pursuits. HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys areoutperforming real K-pop artists, showing thatgenerations, young and old, are hungry for new, music-centered, and culturally infused stories. So as long as Netflix is willing, the honmoon’s the limit.
KPop Demon Hunters
