Co-director Chris Appelhans of the global Netflix hit “K-Pop Demon Hunters” is grabbing attention by revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the project’s creation for the first time.
In the upcoming episode of MBC Every1’s “Welcome, First Time in Korea?” airing on the 21st, Chris Appelhans and co-director Maggie Kang will make their first appearance on a Korean variety show to share the production process of the worldwide sensation “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”
Director Chris Appelhans first caught the industry’s eye with the global success of his debut low-budget animation “Wish Dragon.” This led to immense trust from Sony Pictures, who reportedly told him he could make any project he wanted. He will candidly share why he chose “K-Pop Demon Hunters” among numerous offers.
Interestingly, he revealed that he actively referenced K-dramas and the acting of Korean stars to capture the emotional depth and details of the characters. He studied the emotional arcs and character expressions in dramas like “Vincenzo,” “Crash Landing on You,” and “Boys Over Flowers.” In particular, he used Song Joong Ki’s facial expressions in “Vincenzo” to perfect the emotional details of the main character, “Jinwoo.”
He also mentioned that the delicate facial expressions and emotional acting of stars like IU, Son Ye Jin, Kim Tae Ri, Yoo Yeon Seok, and Park Seo Joon influenced the character building, further exciting K-content fans.
The episode will provide a first-look inside Sony Pictures, a leading Hollywood animation studio, as well as the actual workspace for “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” Director Chris Appelhans will introduce his personal workspace and the production process, sharing vivid stories behind the film’s most iconic scenes. He will also reveal the “overtime essentials” he and Director Maggie Kang used while working late into the night.
Fans will also get to see the unexpected side of the known perfectionist. Having previously gone viral for eating Shin Ramyun at the Oscars, he will bring some laughs with his clumsy charm. He even shared a nerve-wracking incident where he lost his Oscar trophy right before a Netflix press conference during his visit to Korea.
