KPop Demon Hunters Win 2 Oscars for 'Golden'
SkimNews Take
A Netflix animated film sweeping both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song signals streaming-era animation now competing in categories traditionally owned by live-action musicals and biopics.
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- KPop Demon Hunters performed 'Golden' at the 2026 Oscars, marking the fictional group's first live appearance at the ceremony.
- HUNTR/X singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami performed the song from the center of the stage in all-white outfits, accompanied by dancers with golden flags and an audience wielding glowing light sticks.
- KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Film at the 2026 Oscars, with co-director Maggie Kang dedicating the award to Korean representation in cinema.
- 'Golden' won Best Original Song, beating Diane Warren’s 'Dear Me' and other nominees from Sinners, Train Dreams, and Viva Verdi!.
- EJAE became the first Korean-American to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song — Motion Picture, sharing her journey of overcoming rejection to become a singer and songwriter.
Why it matters: The film’s sweep of major awards and its cultural resonance—highlighted by Kang’s speech on representation—marks a material shift in recognition for Asian-led animated projects, with a fictional KPop group achieving real-world accolades across the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Grammys.
