K-Pop Demon Hunters' Audrey Nuna Cries Every Time She Watches This Animated Movie | Sorry Not Sorry
Since its release on Netflix in 2025, K-Pop Demon Hunters has become a global phenomenon. Children and grown-ups alike have become smitten with the animated story of a famous girl group named HUNTR/X who juggle stadium shows with battling the forces of darkness.
Despite some stiff competition, K-Pop Demon Hunters scooped the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, as well as Best Song for ‘Golden’. The film is sure to become a future classic, but what films inspired those who made K-Pop Demon Hunters?
WATCH - KPop Demon Hunters' Audrey Nuna Reveals Her Favourite Guilty Pleasure Watches! - YouTube
Speaking with Audrey Nuna, who provides the singing voice for Mira in K-Pop Demon Hunters, she shared the animated movie that makes her cry every single time she watches it. Her choice, A Bug’s Life, might seem a little odd for a now global singing sensation to have imprinted on, and yet she has no issue proclaiming her adoration for the Pixar movie.
What Is A Bug’s Life And Why Does It Make Audrey Nuna Cry?
After the success of Toy Story, all eyes were on Pixar for their second feature film, A Bug’s Life. Although not as beloved by the masses as Toy Story, for Nuna, the film is perfect. During her conversation with JustWatch, Nuna explained, “I think that A Bug’s Life is one of the most emotional films of all time. I cry every time I watch A Bug’s Life.”
The plot of A Bug’s Life follows inventive but accident-prone ant, Flik, who, with the help of a circus of outcast insects, saves his colony from its menacing grasshopper overlord. It is Flik’s desperation to help that really speaks to Nuna, “when he keeps messing up, and his whole colony thinks he’s useless, and he just wants to help. I think just that whole concept gets me.”
As with all Pixar movies, A Bug’s Life comes with a deep message for younger audience members to latch onto. Here it is: don’t be afraid to be different, never give up, and never let the bad guys win. This mirrors elements of K-Pop Demon Hunters, with the trio of Mira, Rumi and Zoey unafraid to stand up for themselves and those around them.
Are A Bug’s Life And Antz The Same Movie?
A Bug’s Life was released in 1998, the same year as the fellow animated ant-centric movie, Antz. Both films are animated and follow the plight of an ant colony; despite plenty of confusion to the contrary, they are two completely different films. In contrast to A Bug’s Life, which is a valid choice for a favourite movie, Antz would be far better suited to a guilty pleasure selection.
Reasons for this include the terrible quality of its 3D animation. The technology was still in its infancy in 1998, and when compared to A Bug’s Life, Antz is visually inferior. The plot is also more basic, following neurotic ant Z as he tries to break from his totalitarian society run by General Mandible, and also win the heart of the colony princess. Still entertaining enough to entrance younger minds, Antz is missing the magic that its creator, Dreamworks, would go on to manifest. As such, it’s far less likely to make you cry.
Another Hot Take From Audrey Nuna Stars Jack Black
After opening her heart and sharing her love for A Bug’s Life, Audrey Nuna went on to disclose another of her guilty loves. For this selection, she left the world of animation behind to profess her love for an underseen Jack Black movie, Nacho Libre. Not only did Nuna admit her admiration for Nacho Libre, but she also went so far as to describe the film as “one of the greatest films of our generation.” That is high praise indeed for a movie that many have forgotten existed.
Directed by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, Nacho Libre sees Jack Black play a friar whose obsession with wrestling results in him becoming a luchador to help raise money for the orphanage he works at. If you haven’t seen Nacho Libre yet, the pre-megastardom Jack Black is utterly charming as the hapless Nacho. Black and Hess reunited in 2025 for A Minecraft Movie, making Nacho Libre merely the start of a beautiful friendship. A sports comedy that champions the underdog, some clear parallels to A Bug’s Life explain Nuna’s affinity for the movie.
