FILE PHOTOS
The Saja Boys from Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” have been making waves on social media, thanks to their viral hit “Soda Pop” and the film’s chart-topping soundtrack.
But beyond the catchy music and vibrant visuals, fans have noticed something familiar about these animated idols.
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As the film centers around the world of K-pop, many have connected the characters to real-life counterparts, and the creators have confirmed that several well-known idols served as inspiration behind the Saja Boys.
Animator Min Hong, one of the talents behind the film, shared in a recent interview how real K-pop icons shaped the Saja Boys.
When crafting the choreography for “Soda Pop,” Min said he studied performances from SHINee and MONSTA X to replicate authentic K-pop movement.
The animator of Kpop Demon Hunters mentions EXO’s Kai while talking about the making of Jinu:
“In order to bring to life the facial expressions of Jinu, the leader of Saja Boys, we referenced Kai, a member of the idol group EXO a lot.” pic.twitter.com/wDZ3lfI5cT
— About Music (@AboutMusicYT) July 29, 2025
But perhaps the most striking resemblance comes through Jinu, the charismatic leader of Saja Boys.
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“In order to bring to life the facial expressions of Jinu, the leader of Saja Boys, we referenced Kai, a member of the idol group EXO a lot,” said Min.
The animator of Kpop Demon Hunters said he referenced the choreography of Monsta X and SHINee while working on the dance scenes for Saja Boys. pic.twitter.com/chVBxWev13
— About Music (@AboutMusicYT) July 29, 2025
Fans have also frequently likened Jinu’s visuals to ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo, and it turns out the comparison isn’t unfounded as the film’s director has openly acknowledged Eunwoo as an influence.
The Saja Boys are also making history. Their anthem “Your Idol” rocketed to No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs chart in the US, becoming the highest-charting K-pop track ever in the country, even outperforming BTS’ global smash “Dynamite,” which reached No. 3 in 2020.
Meanwhile, the fictional girl group Huntr/x, featured in the film, is holding its own. Their empowering track “Golden” soared to No. 2 on the same chart, surpassing even Blackpink’s previous US streaming records.
Since its Netflix debut on June 20, the film has enchanted audiences with its high-energy music and stylish animation, racking up over 33 million views in just two weeks.
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