Animated Film KPop Demon Hunters Star Shares The Ways Her Life Journey Mirrored Protagonist's Story

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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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