Sing, Dance, Slay: Ottawa Gets Animated with KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Along and Director Q&A

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) invites audiences to help seal the Honmoon at a special sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters, presented by Netflix, on September 26, 2025, at the ByTowne Cinema. Following the 9:00 p.m. screening, directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans will participate in a Q&A session moderated by Animation Magazine’s Ramin Zahed. Kang and Appelhans will share insights into the creative journey behind this groundbreaking film by discussing its bold storytelling and innovative animation.

"Bringing this exciting interactive screening of KPop Demon Hunters to Ottawa is a highlight for the festival," says Kelly Neall, OIAF's managing director. "We're excited to welcome the film’s co-directors, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, whose creative vision has made a global impact, and offer festival-goers a rare chance to discover the magic of the animated feature directly from its creators.”

Kang, a Canadian filmmaker born in Seoul, developed the concept behind the film by blending her Korean heritage and passion for K-pop. She previously worked as a story artist on animated features such as The Lego Ninjago Movie, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda 3. Appelhans, known for directing Wish Dragon and contributing to animated works like The Princess and the Frog, Coraline and The Fantastic Mr. Fox, joined Kang at Sony Pictures Animation to bring vivid musical storytelling and distinctive visuals to the project. Their collaboration has led to a global box office hit, celebrating Korean culture and music through the adventures of HUNTR/X and their fight against supernatural threats.

Set against a colourful backdrop of fashion, food, style, and the most popular music movement of the current generation, the animated feature includes the voice talents of Arden Cho, Ahn Hyo-seop, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Yunjin Kim, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Lee Byung-hun.

With an unforgettable, chart-topping soundtrack, the film’s lead single, "Takedown," performed by Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung of the K-pop trio Twice, hit the charts worldwide. Its follow-up single, "Golden," eventually reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 and the US Billboard Hot 100, and became the third song in 2025 to achieve a perfect all-kill on the charts in South Korea.

Tickets: http://oiaf2025.eventive.org/schedule/68a763b411eefea7307b4b5b