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Starfire, Sailor Mars, and Kim Possible: The KPop Demon Hunters cast reveal their superhero and anime inspirations

The KPop Demon Hunters cast were inspired by classic anime, Cartoon Network superheroes and the Disney Channel's own high-school super-spy

Kpop Demon Hunters Band Eating Ramen
Image credit: Netflix

Even idols need their own idols. Huntrix, the musical sensation from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, are beloved by millions, both in the fictional world of their animated film, and in the real world. The difference is their real-world counterparts are voice actors and singers who don’t actually fight demons (as far as we know).

Guess what? They’re also nerds who love superheroes, anime, and cartoons. In fact, Rei Ami’s stage name is inspired by the Sailor Scouts, who she considers a precursor to Huntrix.

Sailor Moon, because that’s what my artist name is based off. It’s Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury, Rei and Ami,” Rei Ami, the singing voice of Zoey, says during a panel at Megacon 2026. “Other than that, Attack on Titan. Captain Levi is daddy!”

“Every year, at least once a year, I rewatch Avatar: The Last Airbender,” Ji-young Yoo, the speaking voice for Zoey, says. “I saw the first episode air on Nickelodeon, and I’ve loved it ever since. So, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and hugely into Teen Titans. I really like adored Raven growing up, but I think I have actually always been a Starfire.”

“On the anime side, love Haikyu,” Yoo continues. “My first anime was Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. And I’m currently watching Jujutsu Kaisen, but nobody tell me about the most recent episode because I haven’t gotten a chance to watch it yet.”

“My favorite anime, I hope you guys know it, is Bleach,” Arden Cho, the speaking voice for Rumi, says. “I’m also aging myself, but it will always be my favorite. And then I just really love cartoons. Like I love Kim Possible.”

“Shego! My first crush,” Rei Ami adds with excitement.

“I just want to be Kim Possible so bad, that was like my dream. And then I just love all animated movies. I love Disney movies. Anything animated. I really want a dragon. I really want to be in How to Train Your Dragon. I just feel like I need a Toothless in my life,” Cho says.

Okay, now I really need to see Huntrix riding a dragon into battle. Maybe in KPop Demon Hunters 2.


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Joshua Lapin-Bertone

Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.

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