Before KPop Demon Hunters, There Was K/DA

While Netflix`s animated film KPop Demon Hunters recently launched its fictional bands, Huntrix and Saja Boys, into global stardom, the concept of virtual K-pop groups was pioneered much earlier. Long before these new acts topped the charts, a groundbreaking quartet of League of Legends characters, known as K/DA, had already established themselves as a formidable force in the virtual music landscape.

K/DA`s Enduring Influence

Even before the release of KPop Demon Hunters, its animated K-pop ensemble drew immediate comparisons to Riot Games` virtual girl group, K/DA. The similarities are quite evident: both feature animated female groups performing vibrant K-pop anthems, complete with distinct weaponry and elaborate stage costumes. Furthermore, both groups share aesthetic elements, including color schemes and outfit designs, and have collaborated with the prominent real-world K-pop group, Twice.

Although the creators of KPop Demon Hunters have not extensively commented on these parallels, music supervisor Ian Eisendrath acknowledged that Riot`s virtual band was “one of many influences” for Huntrix`s musical style, serving as a key reference in shaping their sound. Irrespective of the direct inspiration, K/DA unequivocally demonstrated the immense appeal and fan engagement possible for virtual K-pop groups almost seven years ago.

Introducing the Virtual Idols: K/DA

Comprising League of Legends champions Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai`sa, each member of K/DA is brought to life by real-world pop artists. American singers Madison Beer and Jaira Burns provide the vocals for Evelynn and Kai`sa, respectively, while Miyeon and Soyeon from the K-pop group (G)I-dle voice Ahri and Akali. The group meticulously mirrors a classic K-pop girl group structure, with each member showcasing unique performance strengths and embodying specific K-pop archetypes in their personality and style.

A Global Phenomenon: The Debut of “Pop/Stars”

K/DA officially debuted in 2018 as a electrifying opening act for the League of Legends World Championship. This launch was strategically timed with the introduction of their popstar-themed in-game skins. Their debut single and music video premiered concurrently with an augmented-reality performance in Incheon, South Korea, instantly captivating a global audience.

Their inaugural single, “Pop/Stars,” rapidly ascended to number one on K-pop music charts and reached number five on the overall US Apple Music pop charts, also claiming the top spot on Billboard`s World Digital Song Sales chart. The accompanying music video became a viral sensation on YouTube, garnering over 100 million views within its first month. Remarkably, despite being a virtual creation, K/DA made history when “Pop/Stars” became the first K-pop girl group single to achieve platinum certification.

Viranda Tantula, the creative lead for the debut ceremony, explained that the success of “Pop/Stars” stemmed from an unwavering dedication to the “fantasy of the champs being in the real world.” This required crafting a pop song that could genuinely compete with real-world music and a performance that measured up to stadium-level spectacles.

Despite the immense effort invested, K/DA`s debut was initially conceived as a singular event. Tantula revealed that the team`s sole focus was to make that moment “as dope as possible.” However, as “Pop/Stars” far surpassed all previous releases from the Riot music team, discussions about the group`s long-term future soon began.

The Evolution: From “All Out” to New Horizons

Following their explosive debut, K/DA entered a period of quiet, though their popularity remained high among fans who produced art, cosplay, and dance covers for “Pop/Stars,” and continued to purchase K/DA-themed skins. After two years of anticipation, the group made a triumphant return in 2020 with the five-song EP All Out, once again gracing the Worlds opening ceremony with an augmented-reality performance of its lead single, “More.”

While none of the All Out tracks matched the viral peak of “Pop/Stars,” the EP performed strongly as a musical release, achieving Spotify play counts comparable to Huntrix`s discography at the time of writing.

Since the release of All Out, Riot has expanded its virtual music ventures with the boy band Heartsteel and an Akali-led side project, True Damage, all existing within the diverse alternate universe of League of Legends lore. Interestingly, the recent surge in popularity of KPop Demon Hunters has reignited interest in K/DA: YouTube comments on “Pop/Stars” frequently reference the Netflix film, and the K/DA subreddit is now filled with Huntrix/K/DA mashups and fan art.

New K-pop fans introduced by the Netflix film are even flocking to K/DA for their next virtual K-pop fix. This trend suggests that virtual acts may offer a less intimidating entry point for newcomers who are not yet familiar with the complexities of real-world K-pop fan culture. Ultimately, both K/DA and Huntrix have proven to be excellent gateway artists for those exploring K-pop for the first time.

Virtual vs. Fictional: A Key Distinction

Despite their striking similarities, a crucial difference distinguishes K/DA from Huntrix: K/DA is presented as a virtual K-pop group that actively exists in our world. They have “performed” in stadium shows, produced music videos, conducted interviews, and directly interacted with fans via social media. Huntrix, on the other hand, currently exists solely within the narrative of KPop Demon Hunters.

Riot`s successful model for managing K/DA as a virtual band offers a compelling blueprint that Netflix could potentially adopt for KPop Demon Hunters. Music supervisor Ian Eisendrath has already expressed enthusiasm for Huntrix and Saja Boys potentially evolving into bona fide virtual bands, responding positively to a fan`s question in a Reddit AMA.

Currently, both Huntrix and Saja Boys are dominating music charts, directly competing with some of the most popular real K-pop groups. Huntrix surpassed Blackpink to reach number two on the US Spotify charts for girl groups, while Saja Boys outranked acts like BTS and Stray Kids among boy groups. While Netflix has not yet announced plans for these fictional groups, their immense popularity makes sold-out stadium tours seem like a very plausible future.