'KPop Demon Hunters' Co-Director Chris Appelhans: "I Referenced Song Joong-ki's Expressions to Create Jinu's Character"

Chris Appelhans, co-director of the global Netflix hit "KPop Demon Hunters," has revealed that he created the character Jinu by referencing Korean actor Song Joong-ki.

On the episode of MBC Every1's "Welcome, First Time in Korea?" that aired on May 21, director Chris Appelhans—co-director of the Netflix animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," which created a global sensation alongside director Maggie Kang—made his first appearance on a Korean TV show.

Director Chris Appelhans made his directorial debut with the low-budget animated film "Wish Dragon." The film's immediate global success catapulted him into the industry spotlight, earning him the complete trust of Sony Pictures, to the extent of being told he could make any project he wanted.

In particular, he shared that he actively referenced Korean dramas and actors' performances to capture the emotional expressions and details of the characters in the film. He studied emotional arcs and character portrayal by analyzing shows like "Vincenzo," "Crash Landing on You," and "Boys Over Flowers." He added that he specifically referenced Song Joong-ki's facial expressions in "Vincenzo" to complete the emotional details of Jinu, one of the main characters.

He also noted that the facial expressions and emotional acting of other Korean actors, including IU, Son Ye-jin, Kim Tae-ri, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Park Seo-joon, influenced the character development process.

In the broadcast, the interior of Sony Pictures, a leading Hollywood animation studio, and the actual workspace for "KPop Demon Hunters" was revealed on television for the first time. Director Chris Appelhans introduced his personal workspace and the production process, sharing vivid behind-the-scenes stories of how the film's iconic scenes came to life.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)