Netflix’s original animated series KPop Demon Hunters has snagged nominations in two categories at the upcoming Academy Awards. However, director Park Chan-wook’s film No Other Choice failed to make the cut.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) unveiled the final nominees for the 98th Academy Awards via its official YouTube channel on Thursday.
KPop Demon Hunters has secured a spot in the Best Animated Feature category, competing against Arco, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Zootopia 2.
The show’s main theme song “Golden,” performed by the fictional K-pop girl group Huntress, also earned a nod for Best Original Song. It will face off against “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, “I Lied to You” from Sinners, “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from VIVA VERDI!, and “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams.
This brings KPop Demon Hunters to a total of two Oscar nominations.
Launched in June 2022, KPop Demon Hunters is an action-packed fantasy animation that follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey as they moonlight as secret heroes protecting the world behind their glitzy stage personas. Korean stars Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Byung Hun lent their voices to the English dub. While not directly funded by Korean investors, the series has gained global acclaim for its portrayal of K-pop’s international influence.
The show shattered Netflix records, amassing a staggering 325 million views within just three months of its debut. Its hit song “Golden” dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight consecutive weeks. The series also bagged both the Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song awards at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, often considered a precursor to the Oscars.
Unfortunately, No Other Choice missed out on a nomination in the International Feature Film category. The nominees in this hotly contested field include The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirât (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).
The Academy Awards, organized by AMPAS, remains the most prestigious film ceremony in the United States and one of the most watched award shows globally. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place on March 15 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.