Arden Cho voices the character Rumi in Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters, which has achieved significant success, topping charts in 93 countries shortly after its release. Cho, the eldest daughter of Korean immigrants, reflected on her childhood in Texas, where she struggled with her identity in a society that often favored Eurocentric standards of beauty. In the film, Rumi grapples with her mixed heritage of human and demon, a theme that resonates with Cho’s experiences as an Asian-American navigating cultural identity.
The film, which features a K-Pop trio tasked with combating evil forces, registered 33 million views in just two weeks. Cho described the opportunity to participate in a project focused on Korean characters as a “dream come true” and emphasized its positive impact on Korean-American representation. Many viewers have expressed pride in their dual heritage as a result of the film’s portrayal of Korean culture. Cho noted that K-Pop and K-beauty have contributed significantly to the global appreciation of Korea, which the film enhances further.
Despite its success, Cho acknowledged that the project faced challenges typical of Asian-led ventures in Hollywood, often seen as risks. She expressed hope that KPop Demon Hunters could foster understanding and camaraderie among diverse communities, particularly amid a climate of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the U.S. under the previous administration. Cho attributed some of her past experiences of racism to a lack of education about Asian cultures.
Looking to the future, Cho raised concerns about the potential for AI to replace human creativity in the film industry, stating her desire for audiences to value authentic human art. The film’s soundtrack has also made waves, securing several spots on the Billboard Hot 100, leading fans to speculate about a potential sequel. The future of such projects remains uncertain, as Cho awaits developments from Netflix and Sony Pictures.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17pj0gr75lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss