Before KPop Demon Hunters, There Was K/DA

"Even before KPop Demon Hunters was released, the film's fictional K-pop band was seeing comparisons to Riot Games' virtual girl group, K/DA. It's not a stretch to spot the similarities--two animated girl groups releasing catchy K-pop anthems in between fighting enemies with signature weapons and battle costumes. Even some of the costumes and color schemes feel familiar, and both groups have collaborated with real-world K-pop girl group Twice."

"Though it feels likely that the team behind KPop Demon Hunters was inspired by K/DA, it hasn't commented much on the comparison. One of the only official references to K/DA comes from KPop Demon Hunters' music supervisor Ian Eisendrath, who confirms that Riot's virtual band was "one of our many influences" for Huntrix's musical sound. Eisendrath adds that K/DA was just one of "8-12 references" that was mainly used to "envision what these songs could sound like.""

"Made up of League champions Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai'sa, each member of K/DA is voiced and performed by a real-world pop artist. American artists Madison Beer and Jaira Burns provide the singing voices for Evelynn and Kai'sa, respectively, while members of K-pop group I-dle (formerly (G)I-dle) Miyeon and Soyeon voice Ahri and Akali, respectively. The group is structured like a classic K-pop girl group, with each member having a performing strength, and they mirror certain K-pop archetypes in personality and style."

KPop Demon Hunters' fictional bands Huntrix and Saja Boys became global musical hits following the Netflix animated film release. Comparisons to Riot Games' virtual girl group K/DA emerged because both concepts pair animated girl groups with K-pop anthems, battle aesthetics, similar costumes, and collaborations with real-world K-pop acts like Twice. Music supervisor Ian Eisendrath acknowledged K/DA as "one of our many influences" and said K/DA was among "8-12 references" used to envision Huntrix's sound. K/DA demonstrated in 2018 that fans would embrace virtual girl groups, with League champions voiced and performed by real pop artists.

Read at GameSpot