Netflix's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' Earns Two Oscar Nominations

Netflix's animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (directed by Maggie Kang) has been nominated for two categories at the 98th Academy Awards. Unfortunately, Park Chan-wook's 'No Choice' did not make the final cut.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced the final nominees for the 98th Academy Awards on their official YouTube channel on the 22nd.

Directed by Korean-American Maggie Kang, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. The nominated song, 'Golden,' has already made waves by winning at major American award shows like the Golden Globe Awards.

'K-Pop Demon Hunters' will compete for Best Animated Feature against Disney's 'Zootopia 2,' Pixar's 'Elio,' French animation 'Little Amelie,' and the French-Belgian co-production 'Arco.' For Best Original Song, it will contend with 'I Lie To You' from 'Sinners,' 'Train Dreams,' 'Sweet Dreams Of Joy' from 'Viva Verdi!,' and 'Diane Warren: Relentless.'

The film follows the idol group Huntrix as they battle demons trying to breach the barrier between worlds, known as the 'Honmun,' using music and combat. Huntrix serves as the secret guardians of this boundary.

Incorporating elements of K-pop and Korean culture, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' also won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. This achievement is considered a significant milestone for a Netflix original animation.

Meanwhile, Park Chan-wook's 'No Choice' did not make it to the final nominees for the International Feature Film category at this year's Oscars. Although it was included in the shortlist of 15 films last month, it did not advance to the final nominations. Starring Lee Byung-hun, 'No Choice' is a black comedy about a 25-year veteran paper expert named Mansu who faces unexpected unemployment and his subsequent attempts to find new work.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr