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If you just finished ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters‘, you’re probably still humming the songs, replaying those action scenes, and thinking about how much it packed into one punchy animated movie. Beyond the K-pop sparkle and demon-slaying fun, one of its strongest messages was about self-acceptance—owning all parts of yourself, even the messy, scary, or non-human ones. The main character, Hana, literally has demon blood, but it’s when she embraces that part of her identity that she becomes her most powerful self.
That mix of pop culture sparkle and monster-slaying action is addictive. Lucky for you, there are more animated adventures out there with equally fierce female leads, wild worlds, and just the right amount of sass and soul.
Here are 4 other animated titles (in random order) that also mix magic, mayhem, and personal transformation in fun ways like ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’.
1. Turning Red (Jio-Disney Hotstar)
Before K-Pop Demon Hunters brought idols and exorcism together, “Turning Red” gave us panda transformations and teen angst wrapped in glorious early-2000s nostalgia. Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who literally turns into a giant red panda when she gets emotional (which is, like, all the time). Lee’s giant red panda form isn’t just adorable chaos, it’s a metaphor for big feelings, cultural expectations, and growing up in a world where you’re told to “be good” even when your emotions scream otherwise. Like Hana in ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters‘, Mei has to stop fighting her nature and start owning it. Whether it’s summoning ancient spirits or freaking out over boy bands, Mei’s journey is all about saying: “This is me, deal with it.”
2. Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (Netflix)
Jentry Jentry is a teen in small-town Texas who discovers she’s the last in a line of demon hunters, because of course she is. With a haunted talking weapon and a best friend who’s ride-or-die, Jentry takes on monsters, ancient curses, and school drama in equal measure. It’s scrappy, smart, and full of girl power. Born into a legacy she didn’t ask for and living in a town where she already stands out, Jentry’s story mirrors Hana’s in how she learns to embrace the supernatural side of her identity. Her powers don’t make her weird, they make her hers. And once she stops trying to suppress them? Game on. This animated series is basically what you’d get if Buffy the Vampire Slayer met Kim Possible and added a Taiwanese-American twist.
3. Nimona (Netflix)
Out of all the characters on this list, Nimona might be the loudest when it comes to self-acceptance, and honestly, we love her for it. A shapeshifter feared by society, Nimona refuses to hide who she is, even when people label her a monster. Like Hana from ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’, her power lies in not conforming. Her story is messy, emotional, and beautifully rebellious. Sometimes, embracing who you are means setting the whole system on fire. She teams up with a misunderstood villain to take down a corrupt institution, and it’s all queer, punk, and unapologetically rebellious.
4. Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken (Netflix)
Ruby just wants to survive high school, but it turns out she’s part of a royal kraken bloodline, which is a lot to take in when you’re just trying to avoid gym class. Like Hana, Ruby has to accept that she’s not just “different”, she’s also powerful. Her journey is about realizing that your identity isn’t something to be hidden. Once she stops shrinking herself (literally and emotionally), she finds her voice, beneath the sea and above it.
This one’s for fans who enjoyed the school-setting drama and family secrets of ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’, but want to dive (pun intended) into something a little more oceanic. A little goofy, super colorful, and all about discovering your inner monster.
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