Netflix Blockbuster ‘kpop Demon Hunters’ Wins Oscar For Best Animated Feature

The 98th Academy Awards connected Sunday marked a turning constituent for practice successful animation. KPop Demon Hunters, nan philharmonic action-comedy from Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix, took location nan trophy for Best Animated Feature. The triumph concludes a ascendant awards play for a movie that has successfully bridged nan spread betwixt world popular civilization and cinematic achievement.

Co-director and writer Maggie Kang and shaper Michelle Wong are now nan first individuals of South Korean descent to triumph an Oscar successful this category. They accepted nan grant alongside co-director Chris Appelhans. The film’s triumph follows a drawstring of erstwhile wins, including 2 Golden Globes and nan first-ever Grammy Award for nan K-pop genre.

A Message for nan Next Generation

During an affectional acceptance speech, Maggie Kang addressed nan value of nan triumph for nan Korean community. “For each of those who look for illustration me, sorry that it took america truthful agelong to spot america successful a movie for illustration this,” Kang told nan audience. “But it is here, and that intends that nan adjacent generations don’t person to spell longing. This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.”

Chris Appelhans echoed this sentiment, focusing connected nan world quality of modern creativity. He urged young artists successful each area of nan world to “sing successful your voice,” promising that “the world is waiting.”

Read more: Netflix and Sony Confirm Sequel to Animated Hit ‘KPop Demon Hunters’

Since its merchandise successful June 2025, KPop Demon Hunters has go a monolithic commercialized success. It reached nan No. 1 spot connected Netflix’s world charts and became a uncommon streaming title to find occurrence successful accepted theaters. The film’s soundtrack, featuring hits for illustration “Golden” and “Your Idol,” became nan highest-charting people of 2025 connected Billboard.

Maggie Kang, Michelle Wong and Chris Appelhans judge nan Oscar® for Animated Feature Film during nan 98th Oscars® astatine nan Dolby® Theatre astatine Ovation Hollywood connected Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The crippled follows a fictional woman group called HUNTR/X. Members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey equilibrium nan pressures of world stardom pinch a concealed life spent protecting nan quality world from underworld spirits. The characters person go truthful celebrated that they inspired wide Halloween costumes and propelled nan real-life vocalists down nan voices—Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—to world fame.

Looking Toward nan Future

The Oscar triumph arrives astatine a cleanable clip for nan franchise. Netflix precocious closed deals pinch Kang and Appelhans for a sequel, portion of a caller multi-year business pinch nan directors. While a merchandise day for nan follow-up remains unconfirmed, nan original film’s bequest arsenic a taste span appears secure.

Host Conan O’Brien presided complete nan ceremonial astatine nan Dolby Theatre, which saw nan movie celebrated not conscionable for its method animation, but for really it utilized euphony to link audiences crossed borders.