Maggie Kang & Chris Applehans | Making 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'
All Lit Up! A Podcast for the Creative IndustriesShow Notes
Join Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans for a no-holds barred telling of what it took to make the smash hit of 2025, the glorious KPop Demon Hunters, which has just this week been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards! Maggie and Chris share the steps they took to push their film forward, when they had to push back instead, and how an idea pitched over brunch became a multi-million-dollar production. Hosted by interviewer extraordinaire, Gilly Fogg. Recorded in October 2025
MAGGIE KANG - DIRECTOR Maggie Kang is a director of Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters, which originated from her idea and is now streaming on Netflix. Kang began her career at DreamWorks Animation as a story artist on various projects including the Puss In Boots franchise and The Croods: A New Age, as well as Rise of the Guardians, Kung-Fu Panda 3, Trolls, Shrek Forever After, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Over the Hedge. Prior to joining Sony Animation, Kang contributed her talents as a story artist at Illumination Entertainment on Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Warner Animation Group, where she was Head of Story on The LEGO Ninjago Movie. Born in Seoul, Korea, Kang grew up in Toronto, Canada and attended Sheridan College where she studied classical animation.
CHRIS APPELHANS - DIRECTOR Chris Appelhans is a director of Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters, now streaming on Netflix, with fellow director Maggie Kang. Appelhans wrote and directed Sony Pictures Animation’s 2021 animated feature film Wish Dragon, also streaming on Netflix. Prior to joining Sony Pictures Animation, Appelhans wrote and developed several original projects with major studios including Disney, Laika and Paramount. Appelhans began his career as a concept artist on animated hits such as The Princess and the Frog, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Monster House, before moving into production design on the stop-motion feature Coraline, which earned him an Annie Award nomination for his work on the film. Appelhans’ other credits include story artist and illustrator on The Little Prince and character designer on Rise of the Guardians. Appelhans studied illustration at the Art Center College of Design. He resides in Eagle Rock with his wife Maurene and their cat. _______________ All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production. Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes. Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios
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