'KPop Demon Hunters' takes home 'Best Animated Motion Picture' at 2026 Golden Globes, 'Golden' wins 'Original Song'

The Netflix musical adventure took home the Golden Globe for Best Animated Motion Picture, followed by Best Original Song for its signature track 'Golden'.

'KPop Demon Hunters' triumphed over the likes of 'Arco', 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle', 'Elio', 'Little Amelie or the Character of Rain', and 'Zootopia 2', to pick up the coveted trophy, making director Maggie Kang the first Asian woman to win in the category.

In her speech, Kang expressed deep gratitude and said, "Through this film, we really wanted to depict female characters - the way that we know women, which is really strong and bold, really silly and weird, and really hungry for food and sometimes a little thirsty."

In a double treat, the film's song 'Golden' emerged as the first K-pop song to win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Performed by HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI), the song competed against 'Dream as One' (Avatar: Fire and Ash), 'I Lied to You (Sinners), 'No Place Like Home' and 'The Girl in the Bubble (Wicked: For Good), and 'Train Dreams' (Train Dreams).

An emotional EJAE, in her acceptance speech, reflected on facing rejections and struggles in finding a purpose.

"When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fill one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn't good enough. And so I had leaned on songs and music to get through it. So, now I'm here as a singer and a songwriter. It's a dream-come-true to be part of a song that is helping other girls, other queens and everyone of all ages to get through their hardship to accept themselves," she said.

She went on to dedicate the award to everyone who "has their doors closed at them, and that, I can confidently say 'rejection is redirection,' and so never give up."

The Golden Globe feat arrived just a week after 'KPop Demon Hunter' won the Best Animated Feature and another prize for 'Golden' at the Critics Choice Awards.

KPop Demon Hunters, a collaboration between Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, follows the adventures of Huntrix, a K-pop girl group that secretly battles monsters from the underworld, as per the outlet.

The film has emerged as Netflix's most popular title to date. Its soundtrack spent several weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart, while Golden reached the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)