The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 265 | KPop Demon Hunters Directors: Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans on Balancing Heart, Humor & Music
Oct 2, 2025
Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, talented directors from Sony Pictures Animation, dive into their latest project, K-pop Demon Hunters. They explore how they balanced heartfelt story elements with humor and music, revealing the emotional center of their narrative. The duo discusses the character sacrifice that shapes the plot, their collaborative songwriting process, and the importance of intimate character moments. With insights on how specificity can unlock universal themes, they share the creative journey behind crafting a vivid, interconnected world.
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Seven-Year Creation Journey
- Maggie and Chris spent nearly seven years on K-Pop Demon Hunters from pitch to release.
- Chris was on the project about five years and both evolved greatly during production.
Community Acceptance Was Crucial
- Idol and K-pop community embrace validated the team’s choices and eased fears about authenticity.
- Seeing idols like Jungkook emotionally engage proved the film resonated with intended audiences.
Start With A Clear Ending
- Writing the first draft together gave Maggie and Chris a shared tonal foundation and clear ending.
- Knowing the ending early helped them shape the emotional throughline while iterating the middle.