Zoey, Rumi and Mira of Huntr/x.  Photograph courtesy of Netflix
LIFE

'KPop Demon Hunters' gets Mattel makeover

Pauline Songco

KPop Demon Hunters is striking it while the iron is hot.

The pop-fantasy phenomenon film is expanding beyond the screen, as Netflix announces a brand-new collaboration with toy powerhouse Mattel to bring the film’s fierce, music-driven heroines to life in collectible form.

The deal marks the first official consumer-products line inspired by the hit animated feature, which follows a group of K-pop idols moonlighting as demon slayers.

Mattel will develop a full range of dolls, accessories, and playsets modeled after the movie’s fan-favorite characters, blending futuristic stage fashion with supernatural weaponry.

The first wave of products — which includes a deluxe five-member doll set and a transforming “Stage-to-Battle” playset — will debut in Spring 2026.

Mattel’s design team, best known for its work on Barbie and Monster High, hinted that the dolls will feature premium articulation, LED accessories, and augmented-reality features through a companion mobile app that lets fans “perform” digital concerts or fight virtual demons alongside their favorite characters.

“We wanted to capture both the glamour of K-pop and the grit of monster hunting,” Julia Kim, Mattel’s senior creative director said. “These characters are confident, diverse and totally ready to save the world — in heels.”

Pre-orders for the limited collector dolls opens 15 November.