K-Pop in Animation & Manga, and How It’s Done, Done, Done

Warning: This article contains spoilers. Feel free to exit or skip if you do not want any spoilers.

Let me take a quick guess: your kids or friends have been begging to play the song “Golden” in the car and they just won’t stop. Believe it or not, this addictive song is not car-exclusive. For over a month now, it has been playing on social media, in restaurants, shopping centers, and anywhere else you can think of on repeat, again and again.

The song is merely a shallow glimpse into 2025’s most popular animated musical fantasy film, “KPop Demon Hunters.” Released on Netflix back in August, this musical animation has already became the #1 film on the platform with more than 314 million views in less than a month. Four songs of its soundtrack also took the throne of Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100’s. And it continues to make history.

Right now, the world is absolutely obsessed with “KPop Demon Hunters” and its songs. As for me? Just came back from a sing-along event over the weekend and sealed the Honmoon tight with fifteen other passionate hunters.

Like its straightforward title suggests, the film consists of two parts—“K-Pop” and “demon hunting.” Our girls Rumi, Mira, and Zoe are K-Pop girl group Huntrix by day, and by night, they arm up as hunters who protect the world from demonic invasions. They sing to gather the power that seal Honmoon, a magical barrier that would permanently block the demon realm from the human world. However, things are never as simple as they seem—especially for Rumi, who must hide her half-human, half-demon identity while fighting alongside teammates who sworn to annihilate every last one of these evil creatures. Her duties call, but the purple demonic patterns on her skin constantly remind her of who she truly is—a lurking threat, a liar.

Meanwhile, new challenges emerge. Demons come up with a wicked plan to shatter Huntrix’s defense. Saja Boys, a demon boy band, debut to compete with Huntrix, aiming to steal their fans and weaken their power. The girls are only one step away from sealing Honmoon, but Rumi’s clock is going tick tock. Her patterns are showing stronger than ever and they’re damaging her voice, yet she has new enemies to fight and new secrets to hide.

Does the film have something to do with the real K-Pop industry? Take a look at the production team behind its music and your jaws might drop. SM, JYP, YG…almost every major powerhouse of K-Pop you can think of has come together for this one single film. Teddy Park, the renowned producer behind K-Pop superstars like BLACKPINK and Taeyang, joined by producing the film’s anthem “Golden” and the opening song “How It’s Done.” “Soda Pop,” the catchy song by Saja Boys that makes your shoulders bounce, comes straight from BlackLabel. On top of that, we also have Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung from TWICE singing “Takedown,” the finale song.

The collaboration of these big names marks another milestone in K-Pop music. After all, the statistics never lie: The huge success of the soundtrack proves that Netflix’s bold investment has paid-off well, securing a beautiful and well-deserved victory.

However, let’s be honest about one thing: If you are looking for some behind-the-scene stories of the industry, you might be in the wrong place. At its core, the film leans more towards “Demon Hunters” instead of “K-Pop,” as you‘ve probably sensed. “KPop Demon Hunters” presents to us a story that centers around discovering and accepting your imperfections, overcoming and embracing the shames and scars. It’s heartfelt, encouraging, and, to a certain extent, overly idealistic.

Indeed, the film showcases a diverse range of K-Pop elements from concerts and fan clubs to FanSign events and music video. It’s fascinating, but the authentic K-Pop industry goes far beyond a glittering surface.

Some critics argue that the film superficially exploits K-Pop, using its cultures as a marketing gimmick without truly grasping the competition, pressure, and conflicts underlying the idol industry.

“The movie ends with a message that’s a bit cancel-worthy,” says a viewer on Reddit. “The only thing I understood is that idols shouldn’t rest in order to spend time with their fans and that’s what all idols should do.”

When we first meet Huntrix in the film, they are already a wildly viral girl group adored by the public. To them, fans mean everything. Each member confronts identity challenges rooted in either cultural heritage, family dynamics, or blood ties, yet these struggles barely affect their journey of becoming an idol (at least the film never shows us how they debuted). Rumi, for example, is hailed by fans as “K-Pop royalty,” a talented, born-to-be star, and she has Celine, a former idol and hunter, as her industry backer.

In reality, however, such “royalty” is exceedingly rare. Behind every debut lies a brutal survival game: thousands of trainees practice for years and years, pouring their youth into grueling training sessions and strict monthly performance evaluations, while only a few would be selected to debut, let alone become famous. K-Pop is a system built on fierce competition and merciless elimination. For many trainees, their dreams end up shattering in silence. Those who do get to step onto the stage are often the one chosen survivor, standing atop the sacrifices of hundreds whose efforts will never meet applause from fans. Many trainees dropped out of school at a very young age to practice. For those who fail to debut, some choose to stay in their companies and wait for the next opportunity, while others leave the industry and pursue a different career, often without a proper education to fall back on. The risks can be high, and trainees are usually on their own.

In her interview with K-POP IDOL OLYMPIC, Hannah Jang, a former trainee under YG Entertainment, reveals her difficult journey. The company demanded her to lose weight in a very short amount of time while she confronted strict scrutinies from senior trainees. Eventually, Hannah left the company in 2017, embracing her new life as a solo artist.

At the same time, life isn’t easy for active idols either. Following their successful debut, they face even more intense practice schedules and itineraries, constantly rushing between different performances, shootings, and events. The extremely heavy workload often leads to physical injuries, serious health issues, and anxiety.

“I’m like an old grandma, so I need to take care of myself or else I just ache all over,” JENNIE from BLACKPINK once claimed in documentary Blackpink: Light Up the Sky (2020).

Mina and Jeongyeon from TWICE have both suffered from anxiety disorder, with the latter also diagnosed with a herniated disc in her neck. Jeongyeon later faced additional challenges, including weight gain caused by surgery and medication side effects. Many female idols also struggle with eating disorders, driven by the pressure to maintain the ideal body image demanded by the industry. Sometimes, the pain outweighs the gain.

“KPop Demon Hunters” illustrates a romanticized version of idol life and an idealized K-Pop world where stardom feels promised and effortlessly achieved. But reality is no fantasy. In survival show “Girls Planet 999” (2021), only nine girls out of ninety-nine debuted as Kep1er. The six members of girl group KATSEYE were selected from over 120,000 applicants and twenty chosen contestants. K-Pop is a long, cruel path fraught with thorns. It’s reserved for the most hardworking and ambitious individuals. Girls rarely come here to make friends; they come to win.

On that note, if that’s the vibe and authenticity you’re craving, or if you’ve just finished watching “ KPop Demon Hunters” and are simply looking for something else to fill that void, I would like to redirect you to a hidden gem—Girl Crush by Midori Tayama. The manga began serialization in November 2020, and it is quite a surprise that not too many people are noticing this great work.

“I’m all for girls chasing their dreams and passions, and the art style seems quite good too. I’m very intrigued,” says a Girl Crush reader on Reddit.

Turn the pages, and trust me, you will be amazed.

Originally published by Shinchosha and now released by VIZ Media (English ver.), Girl Crush centers around the journey to debut of Tenka Momose, a popular high school girl who is perfect at almost everything aside from loving herself and those around her. Inspired by her friend and rival Erian Satou, Tenka decides to become a K-Pop trainee and relocates to South Korea. While she admires Erian’s passion, she is also jealous of it. Constantly comparing herself to Erian, Tenka becomes driven by the desire to not only catch up but also outshine her.

Tenka auditions at a famous talent agency. However, her flawless performance does not impress the judges. They are searching for something beyond technical perfection—something Tenka doesn’t possess while Erian just might. After failing to get any callback from her audition, Tenka returns to Japan. Yet the encouraging words from a friend motivates her to give it another try. This time, Tenka goes back to South Korea with a clearer goal, and she ends up getting accepted as a trainee.

Getting into the agency‘s debut program is simply the beginning of a highly difficult journey. Tenka needs to survive the upcoming monthly evaluations and compete against other trainees, and many of whom are incredibly unique and talented. Meanwhile, she also has to cope with overwhelming pressure and learn to be a team player even when the team itself can barely get together. Along the way, Tenka makes friends and, unknowingly, makes enemies. To become a qualified idol, she has countless challenges to overcome, temptations to resist, and prices to pay.

Now, enough with the spoilers, it’s time to explore why this niche manga makes a perfect companion to the film:

No.1. Girl Crush offers us a relatively more unfiltered, honest glimpse into the K-Pop idol industry. There is less clichéd shōjo romance, more reality. As readers and outsiders, we get to witness the daily routines of trainees and what it costs to debut, coming to understand that the journey to stardom is never easy. If you’ve ever been curious about idols and wondered what’s going on when the cameras are off, Girl Crush offers a great reference.

No.2. The character arc feels developed and nuanced. Every character is rich and complicated, carrying both their bright sides and darkness within, especially our heroine Tenka, who is imperfect and flawed. She is both ambitious and vulnerable, arrogant but kind. These clashing personality characteristics makes the manga’s characters alive and compelling. They push you to see parts of yourself in some of these young trainees and empathize with them.

No.3. The story flows naturally. Tayama puts effort into portraying each stage of the trainee program, treating every small interaction with care and thoughtfulness. Romance stops being a driving factor, and the story breaks away from the traditional narrative of friendship miracles, instead exploring rivalries, personal ambitions, and silent struggles. Still, love, self-love, and beautiful friendships exist and shine amid competition and tension.

No.4. The art is absolutely GORGEOUS. Tayama brings Girl Crush to life with delicate linework, intricate panels, and dynamic, tension-filled expressions, From the characters’ faces and their dance moves, you can feel the emotions and rhythm leaping off the page. It’s just so stunning that you can’t help but scream and find yourself becoming a fan.

“KPop Demon Hunters” is undoubtedly an intriguing and innovative hybrid of idol fantasy and action, with an impressive soundtrack that lasts long in viewers’ heads. Nevertheless, as a cultural representation of K-Pop itself, the film barely scratches the surface. It is an excellent film, but it could go further. If “KPop Demon Hunters” has left you with a greater hole of curiosity about K-Pop’s realities or a lingering sense of wanting more, Girl Crush deserves a chance. Volume 4 is now ready for pre-order from VIZ Media. As of 2024, the eighth volume of the original Japanese edition has already been released. Whether you are a fan of K-Pop, manga, or simply great storytelling, Girl Crush is ready to take you on an unforgettable journey toward becoming the perfect idol and surprise you in all the best ways.