Post by : Meena
Hassan
The animated film ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ from Netflix has made the cut for the Oscars. It is one of 35 movies now eligible for the Best Animated Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Recently, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the eligibility lists that include animated, documentary, and international feature films.
The film not only gained significant traction on Netflix but also had a qualifying theatrical run in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco during June, satisfying the Academy's standards. However, its UK screenings did not fulfill the conditions for other international awards.
Other noteworthy animated contenders this year comprise Disney’s Elio and Zootopia 2, Neon’s Arco, GKids’ Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Netflix’s In Your Dreams, and Crunchyroll/Sony’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle along with Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Interestingly, the Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 did not secure a spot on the list.
Currently, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ holds the title of Netflix’s most-watched film, having amassed over 541 million hours streamed globally. It also boasts a soundtrack that leads the 2025 music charts, with eight tracks appearing on the Billboard Hot 100. Its limited theatrical debut in August raked in an estimated $18 million, followed by a re-release over Halloween weekend. Notably, Netflix previously won the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2022 for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
Beyond animated features, 201 documentaries and 86 international films are also in contention. This includes titles like Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirât (Spain), The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia), and My Father’s Shadow (United Kingdom). Additionally, the co-production 2000 Meters to Andriivka qualifies for both documentary and international categories. The shortlisted nominations will be revealed on Dec. 16.
Fans of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ will have to hold their breath until Jan. 22 to find out if the film secures a nomination in the animated feature category. It is also anticipated that it will compete for Original Song, with the hit track “Golden” submitted for consideration.
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