In Ok-pop, the followers come first, or so catchy South Korean music acts are always telling the legions of devoted followers who’ve propelled them to worldwide stardom. If it weren’t for the followers, boy band BTS couldn’t presumably have crammed SoFi Stadium 4 instances over, and Blackpink would by no means have been invited to headline Coachella — nor would there be any motive to greenlight a film like “Ok-Pop Demon Hunters.”

The title says all of it within the high-energy, high-concept supernatural motion comedy from Sony Photos Animation, the versatile toon studio accountable for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”: Three ultra-talented supernatural protectors use their reputation as woman band superstars to defend the mortal world from demon king Gwi-Ma (Byung Hun Lee).

Recognized to the world as Huntrix, woldo-wielding Mira (Might Hong), Burbank-raised rap star Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) and purple-braided orphan Rumi (Arden Cho) are what you would possibly name a triple risk: They sing, they dance, they slay demons. After they’re not slicing the evil spirits in half with their phosphorescent pink weapons, the band leverages the love followers present them to construct a barrier, generally known as the Golden Honmoon, that may block the demons as soon as and for all.

However Juni (Ahn Hyo-seop), considered one of Gwi-Ma’s most tortured acolytes, has an impressed thought: Along with 4 ridiculously good-looking fellow demons, he’ll begin a rival group, the Saja Boys, and attempt to lure Huntrix’s followers to the darkish facet. What neither Juni nor Rumi see coming is simply how irresistible they may discover one another. The ensuing human-demon rom-com plot may be predictable, however not the twist that “Ok-Pop Demon Hunters,” which hits Netflix the identical day Pixar’s “Elio” opens in theaters, seems to be the extra entertaining of the 2 animated choices.

That’s as a result of co-directors Chris Appelhans (“Want Dragon”) and Maggie Kang (who’s labored within the story departments at DreamWorks, Blue Sky and Illumination) use their interesting, unapologetically foolish premise to unleash a much more playful method to laptop animation than any of the aforementioned studios have tried. The artistic group takes its cues from webtoons and manhwa (Korean graphic novels), emphasizing dynamic silhouettes over clean in-between motion.

Not clear what meaning? Watch how the characters hit and maintain sure key poses because the digital camera glides and zooms round them. What began as a cost-saving measure on animated collection corresponding to “Velocity Racer” and “The Powerpuff Ladies” again within the day now provides “Ok-Pop Demon Hunters” a distinctly Asian taste, additional embellished with cute comic-book touches.

For instance, when Huntrix first glimpse the Saja Boys, the gals cease of their tracks as their pupils swell into puffy pink hearts. Reacting to how ripped the fellows look, Zoey’s eyes change shapes a number of extra instances, from six-pack abs to a pair of buttery corncobs. The lovestruck younger girl’s response supplies an unforgettable various to the randy wolf in Tex Avery’s “Pink Scorching Using Hood” cartoon, as twin streams of popcorn erupt like tears from her flushed pink face.

As a substitute of being gross, the violence proves each bit as visually interesting. The trio’s weapons are so sharp, they slice clear via the demons (simply recognized by jagged purple markings on their zombie-like pores and skin), or else trigger them to blow up right into a burst of confetti. Later, they swarm via a rift within the Honmoon, galloping on all fours like so many Gollums as they suck the souls from the close by people (implied greater than seen, in order to protect the movie’s PG ranking).

Quick and environment friendly, the film blazes via an exposition-heavy first act in lower than quarter-hour, which is correct concerning the time we study Rumi’s secret: She’s the daughter of a pop-singer mother and demon dad who’s marked by the identical purple imprints because the spirits she’s sworn to get rid of. The one one that is aware of Rumi’s hybrid standing is Huntrix’s trusted coach Celine (Yunjin Kim), who believes that Rumi can hold her demon genes in examine. However the group’s mentor by no means foresaw her protégé falling for a nasty boy like Juni, who’s acquired a pair secrets and techniques up his sleeve as properly.

A subplot involving issues with Rumi’s voice doesn’t fairly work, though it slows down the storytelling lengthy sufficient for some enjoyable character moments, like an action-packed journey to the spa and a short-lived staycation, full with bubble tea and bingsu. You may’t have a CG cartoon nowadays with out lovely animal sidekicks, which come within the type of a grinning tiger demon and a black chook in a tiny gat (hat), each designed to appear to be they’ve stepped straight out of Korean folklore.

The Ok-pop angle units an apparent problem for the filmmakers in that this toon wants some unique tunes to make it sing, plus catchy choreography to tell apart it from classic exhibits like “Josie and the Pussy Cats” and “Jem and the Holograms.” Compiled by a variety of A-list music producers, the macaronic soundtrack (which mixes English and Korean lyrics) consists of three hits for Huntrix, carried out by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — “How It’s Finished,” “Golden” and “Takedown” (the latter lined by Twice over the top credit). Higher nonetheless is “Free,” a standout duet between Ejae and Andrew Choi (Rumi’s and Juni’s singing voices, respectively).

As a result of the nimble, genre-hopping film is about on the planet of Ok-pop, it might not even happen to followers that they’re watching a musical — though it’s sort of onerous to disclaim as you catch your self singing alongside.