Jo Na-In on Choreographing “Golden” and “Takedown” for “KPop Demon Hunters”
Netflix’s animated musical movie KPop Demon Hunters has broken all kinds of records, becoming the platform’s most-watched movie ever in only three months. With hundreds of millions of views across the globe, the film’s catchy tunes, epic fight scenes, and powerful female protagonists have made fans out of all kinds of people, whether or not they’d listened to K-pop before.
But what is K-pop without its choreography? Dance is also an important feature of KPop Demon Hunters, which is filled with energetic concert scenes and movement-heavy musical breaks. The film follows the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, who are also secretly demon hunters, in their quest to save their fans from The Saja Boys, a troupe of demons disguised as a rival boy band.
South Korean dancer and choreographer Jo Na-In created dances for two of the movie’s songs, fan-favorite “Golden” and “Takedown.” (Lee Jung choreographed “How It’s Done” and “Soda Pop.”) Here, Na-In talks about how she made HUNTR/X shine on the digital stage.
How did you start choreographing, and how did you get involved with KPop Demon Hunters?
I first started dancing when I followed a friend to a local dance academy. After that, I took a lot of basic training and choreography classes to get better. All that practice piled up, and it seems to have led me to become a professional dancer, which is what I am today.
I got involved with KPop Demon Hunters around this time last year. The CEO of my agency, Jam Republic, recommended me. I was grateful to be able to take part in the project!
How did you approach choreographing for HUNTR/X?
I used the keyword “animation” to come up with moves that felt intuitive and dynamic. The inspiration for “Golden” came from the song itself, which made me imagine a magnificent concert performance on a grand stage.
When I was working on the choreography, I focused on the storytelling that needed to be conveyed through the animation. I tried to concentrate more on expressing the lyrics and emotions. The music was so good that the choreography came out really quickly and was a lot of fun.
How do you feel about the movie’s success? Your choreography is all over the internet with film clips, fans re-creating the dances, and even tutorials!
Honestly, before this movie was released, I didn’t have a clear idea of what it would be like. But after watching it, I realized it’s packed with things the public loves, like K-pop artists and music, a cute and fun story, and action-packed battles against evil spirits. All of these elements made it more appealing, and I think it has everything needed to be a hit with audiences!
I also never expected my choreography to receive so much love. As a dancer, it’s one of my goals to be someone who leaves an impact, and this project was particularly meaningful to me.
What’s your favorite dance or song from the film?
My choreography for “Golden” is probably what I’m most fond of. That scene really resonated with me emotionally. I also really love “Soda Pop,” by The Saja Boys!
What do you hope to do next?
As a choreographer and dancer, I believe my job is to constantly take on new things. That’s why this animation project was so exciting for me. In the future, I want to keep challenging myself with even bigger stages and more diverse projects!
