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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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