Ahn Hyo-seop shared his experience working on his first voice acting project in the hit Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters.
In an interview with My Daily, the Korean actor relayed that he wanted to do the project for the fans.
"I was curious about exploring a new genre and the unique process of voice acting. I also had a strong desire to create an enjoyable memory for fans overseas who have shown me so much love. The way the project conveys the message of 'love' through music and K-pop also felt very unique to me," he said as per English translation.
The Korean actor shared that the film's director had also personally reached out to him. "Before joining the project, director Maggie Kang sent me a letter. Through it, I could feel her warmth and her deep love for the project," he recounted.
Since the team behind the film was based in the U.S., Hyo-seop had a unique setup when recording his voice for the project.
"I was in Korea while the production team was in the US, so we worked together via video calls. During the recording, we set up a camera next to the mic to capture not only my voice but also my facial expressions and movements," he recalled. "Those reference videos were then used in creating Jinu—helping depict the character’s expressions, emotions, and gestures in detail."
The actor also shared the backstory of his character. "Jinu makes a dangerous choice by striking a deal with a demon in order to be with his family, and as a result, he loses his soul. Yet despite that, he continues to live with warmth and affection for humanity. I think viewers will be able to feel both compassion and love for him," he relayed.
Hyo-seop described KPop Demon Hunters as "while it’s a fantasy, it's also a story that touches on our real-world experiences."
He explained: "One of my favorite Korean words is areumdapda (beautiful), and within that word is also the meaning of being true to oneself. This story carries a message about embracing the unique beauty that each of us has, recognizing our own special qualities, and loving ourselves just as we are."