KPop Demon Hunters has officially entered awards-season heavyweight territory, earning two nominations at the 98th Academy Awards — a major win for K-pop-inspired storytelling on the world’s biggest film stage.
The animated Netflix feature is nominated for Best Animated Feature Film, while its breakout track ‘Golden’ is up for Best Original Song. Performed by fictional K-pop group Huntr/x and voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the nomination marks a historic first: the first K-pop song ever recognised in the category.
In the Best Animated Feature race, KPop Demon Hunters is competing against a varied slate — from big-studio powerhouses to arthouse favourites — including Disney’s sequel Zootopia 2, Pixar’s intergalactic adventure Elio, and acclaimed international entries Arco and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain. It’s a stacked category that places the Netflix hit firmly among animation’s elite.
Meanwhile, ‘Golden’ faces off in Best Original Song against tracks from prestige dramas and documentaries, going head-to-head with songs from films like Train Dreams, Sinners, and Viva Verdi! — making its nomination even more striking in a field traditionally dominated by Western pop and orchestral ballads.
Blending high-energy pop, demon-slaying lore, and slick animation, KPop Demon Hunters follows a girl group leading double lives as global idols by day and supernatural protectors by night — a concept that has clearly resonated far beyond fandom circles.
The winners will be revealed at the Oscars ceremony on 15 March, with KPop Demon Hunters now standing not just as a nominee, but as a cultural moment for K-pop’s growing influence in global cinema.
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