KPop Demon Hunters Reveals Secrets of the Hunters Before HUNTR/X

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Okay, so I have to tell you about KPop Demon Hunters – it’s seriously blown me away! Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, this movie absolutely crushed it on Netflix, becoming their most-watched original ever. I was instantly hooked on HUNTR/X, the girl group at the center of it all – Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira (voiced by May Hong), and Zoey (voiced by Ji-young Yoo) – who are basically pop superstars by day and demon slayers by night! The whole thing is just visually stunning, mixing incredible K-pop fashion with non-stop action. It’s no surprise Netflix is already planning sequels and spinoffs – they’re really building out this whole world, especially with the demon king Gwi-Ma (Lee Byung-hun) being such a compelling villain. And if you’re as obsessed as I am, they just released The Art of KPop Demon Hunters, which is a deep dive into the backstory and lore of everything – it’s a must-read while we wait for more!

The Art of KPop Demon Hunters gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s visual design, with a whole chapter devoted to the warriors who came before HUNTR/X. The book reveals that before Rumi and her group fought against the darkness, the main line of defense was a team called the Sunlight Sisters. There’s a tragic link between these two groups: Rumi’s mother, Mi-Yeong, was a key member of the Sunlight Sisters but died when Rumi was a baby.

The team intentionally created a clear contrast between this earlier period in Celine’s life and the more modern, bolder style of HUNTR/X. According to character designer Euni Cho, this ‘Sunlight Sister’ phase was a very deliberately playful and colorful look, heavily inspired by early 2000s Korean pop groups and primarily designed by Marion Bordeyne. It featured bright neon blues and magentas, along with accessories like star hairpins and fluffy pom-pom hair ties.

Celine’s Tragic Backstory Gets Expanded in KPop Demon Hunters‘ Art Book

The art book for KPop Demon Hunters explores the backstory of Celine, Rumi’s strict teacher and protector, who is voiced by Yunjin Kim. Though the movie shows Celine as a tough, disciplined trainer, the book reveals the pain she carries from her time as a Sunlight Sister. After her friend Mi-Yeong died, Celine raised Rumi by herself, which created a strained relationship between them. Producer Michelle Wong calls their dynamic “toxic,” explaining that it’s caused by Celine’s need to keep Rumi’s half-demon identity a secret.

Writer Hannah McMechan observes that Celine and Rumi both held false expectations for each other, wanting them to be someone they weren’t. This complicated history presented a real challenge for the creative team designing the characters and their performances. They needed to visually show Celine’s evolution from a cheerful pop star in her younger years to the serious warrior she becomes in the film. Artist Ami Thompson explains that they initially envisioned her as a former celebrity who fondly remembered her past, but ultimately landed on a design that conveyed maturity and responsibility.

This development was key for the animation team, as they needed to show Celine’s past experiences through how she moved. As animation director Joshua Beveridge explains, they aimed to visually represent the emotional burden of her hidden feelings and how her deeply held beliefs were affecting her well-being.

KPop Demon Hunters is currently streaming on Netflix.

If a prequel series was made for KPop Demon Hunters, which time period would you be most excited to see explored? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-07 00:44