KPop Demon Hunters’ Director Insisted the Girl Squad Be Goofy — and Fans Can’t Stop Watching
KPop Demon Hunters (2025) is currently streaming on Netflix, and the show’s director and writer, Maggie Kang, has said she deliberately made the trio of Huntr/x — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — intentionally silly. At a Netflix press conference, Kang and members of the cast and creative team spoke about the choice to foreground comedy and friendship among the three female leads.
What the creators said
At Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters press conference, Maggie Kang spoke alongside Ejae (vocalist of Rumi and songwriter), Audrey Nuna (vocalist of Mira), Rei Ami (vocalist of Zoey), and fellow director/writer Chris Appelhans. Kang described her deliberate choice to make the female leads openly silly and comedic.
Direct quotes from Kang at the event:
“The most important is I wanted to see really silly women,” Kang said. “You know, I think we’re so afraid, especially in animation, to show female characters be really silly and be the silliest one in the room.”
“I’ve personally experienced that working on films where we have a troupe of five [or] six main characters, and one happens to be the one girl character. And we always struggle. We have these hourslong meetings about how do we make this one female character unique? And there is a time when I suggested, ‘Well, why don’t we take the funniest character and give it to the girl and make her the funniest?’ And they’d be like, ‘Eh, let’s not do that.'”
Kang also explained the creative reasoning behind the choice: “I really think there’s empowerment and strength in comedy,” Kang said. “It takes a ton of courage to be funny. To pitch jokes. To be silly in front of somebody. And if you find a group of people that embrace you and your weirdest side, and they are just as weird with you, that is the best type of friendship. And I really wanted to showcase that type of female relationship.”
How the characters are portrayed
The series centers on the Huntr/x trio: Rumi, Mira and Zoey. In addition, the show includes an ill-fated romance between Rumi and Saja Boys’ Jinu, though the series keeps focus on the three friends’ relationship as they fight to restore the Honmoon.
Visually and tonally, the show leans into slapstick and exaggerated animation to sell the comedy. For example, scenes show the three girls chugging ramen with big, bulging eyes and falling over each other, and they display heart-filled eyes when they see the attractive Saja Boys. These moments are repeated throughout the series and are part of the show’s comedic language.
Reception and impact
People have reacted strongly to KPop Demon Hunters for several reasons. For example, fans have created choreography and covers of the show’s music, and there is a notable amount of fanfiction. Consequently, the fandom activity has helped keep discussion of the series active online.
Furthermore, the show’s portrayal of the three leads as openly silly has been highlighted by both the creators and many viewers as a key element of the characters’ appeal. As a result, fans are discussing potential future projects, including the possibility of a sequel.
Who spoke at the press conference
The press conference included:
- Maggie Kang — director and writer
- Ejae — vocalist of Rumi and songwriter
- Audrey Nuna — vocalist of Mira
- Rei Ami — vocalist of Zoey
- Chris Appelhans — fellow director and writer
Where to watch
KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix. The series is listed as a 2025 release.
