Netflix mega-hit KPop Demon Hunters has won a Golden Globe for best animated feature, while its breakout anthem Golden was named best original song.<\/p>\n
The animated film, which centres on a girl band Huntr\/x that uses music to save the world from evil forces, has scored many chart-topping achievements since it premiered in June.<\/p>\n
“Through this film we really wanted to depict female characters the way that we know women, which is really strong and bold,” director Maggie Kang said.<\/p>\n
Fellow director Chris Appelhans, who accepted the best animated feature award with Kang, called the film a “love letter to music”. “To the power it has to connect us, to make us see some kind of shared humanity,” he said.<\/p>\n
Fans have spoken of how the film’s empowering themes of self-acceptance, community, and fighting against inner “demons” resonated with them. <\/p>\n
Singer-songwriter Ejae, who co-wrote and performed Golden, accepted the award for best original song along with Mark Sonnenblick and Lee Hee-joon.<\/p>\n
In a tearful speech, she recalled her “tireless” pursuit early in her career to become a K-pop idol had ended with rejection and disappointment.<\/p>\n
She dedicated the award to “people who have [had] their doors closed at them”. “It’s never too late to shine like you were born to be”, she said, quoting the song’s lyrics.<\/p>\n
“I’m so part of a song that is helping other girls, other queens and everyone all get through their hardship to accept themselves,” she said.<\/p>\n
KPop Demon Hunters quickly became an animated sensation since its release in June. <\/p>\n
It became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time within two months, with Golden clinching the number one spot<\/a> on the Billboard Hot 100 just weeks after it dropped. Another track, Your Idol, made it to number eight on the Hot 100.<\/p>\n Sunday’s Golden Globe accolades come after the film was named best animated feature and Golden named best song at the Critics Choice Award early this month. <\/p>\n Ejae earlier told the BBC that the film’s success “feels like a dream”<\/a>. <\/p>\n “It’s like I’m surfing for the first time and a big wave just came through,” she told BBC Newsbeat. “I’m trying my best to get through it.<\/p>\n Korean-American actress Arden Cho, who voiced the main character Rumi, said her life mirrored Rumi’s journey.<\/p>\n