The intersection of high-concept animation and global pop music has reached a new milestone with the emergence of HUNTR/X. Originating from the Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix feature Kpop Demon Hunters, the fictional group has successfully transitioned into a real-world musical powerhouse. The trio providing the voices for the characters—EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—recently solidified this crossover with a high-profile television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Since its release, Kpop Demon Hunters has maintained a dominant position on Netflix’s internal charts. However, its most significant impact has been felt on the Billboard Hot 100. Tracks such as “Golden,” “Your Idol,” “Soda Pop,” and “How It’s Done” have all secured positions within the top ten, effectively turning the members of HUNTR/X into bona fide superstars. While the film, which saw significant development throughout 2024, utilizes a sophisticated blend of 2d and 3D animation techniques to bring its “demon-hunting” idols to life, the live performance on The Tonight Show proved that the talent behind the screen is equally formidable.
Performing the film’s signature track, “Golden,” the trio brought the high-fashion aesthetics and vocal prowess of their animated counterparts to the physical stage. The performance was particularly significant for EJAE, who voices the protagonist Rumi. Her journey to this moment has been one of remarkable perseverance; after a decade as a trainee in South Korea, she was once told she was “too old” to debut. Pivoting to a successful career as a songwriter for industry giants like Aespa and Red Velvet, EJAE’s current success at 33 serves as a powerful rebuttal to ageist industry standards.
Similarly, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami have seen their profiles elevated to new heights. Nuna, who previously garnered attention for her collaboration with Jack Harlow on “Comic Sans,” and Rei Ami, a staple of the underground scene, have found in HUNTR/X a platform that matches their avant-garde sensibilities. The group’s chemistry was further on display during their interview with Fallon, where they discussed the surreal experience of seeing their voices attached to animated icons.
With the first film’s narrative leaving several threads open and the soundtrack continuing to perform exceptionally well, industry speculation regarding a sequel is rampant. Whether EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami continue to record as a trio outside of the Kpop Demon Hunters franchise remains to be seen, but their performance on The Tonight Show has undoubtedly marked the arrival of a new cultural phenomenon.