Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Actress Reveals How Her Personal Path Reflected Protagonist's Story

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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the racism she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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