Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Star Reveals How Her Personal Path Reflected Protagonist's Story

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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These were all aspects of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The film was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a film like the animation.

The actress says she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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