ArtCenter Alumnus & Oscar Winner Chris Applehans Speaks Sunday at ENTX in Pasadena

(l-r) “KPop Demon Hunters” co-directors Maggie Kang & Chris Applehans and producer Michelle L.M. Wong celebrate Oscar win for 2026 Best Animated Picture (Photo – ArtCenter)

Congratulations to the multiple alumni of Pasadena’s ArtCenter College of Design for their recognition and wins on Oscar night 2026 for their work on the Netflix juggernaut KPop Demon Hunters! Area residents also will have the chance to hear co-director Chris Appelhans (BFA 02) speak at next Sunday’s Entertainment Design Expo.

By Melanie Hooks

KPOP Demon Hunters continued its history-making run with a triumphant Academy Awards pair of wins: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for its mega-hit “Golden.”

Congratulations go to co-director Chris Appelhans (BFA 02) along with the deep bench of ArtCenter-trained talent populating its credits, including art director Angela Sung, cinematographer Gary H. Lee (BFA 01), visual development artist Celine Kim (BFA 16), and painter Simon Baek (BFA 18) who brought the demon-hunting chaos to life.

Want to know more about how the most-watched Netflix film of all time became the most-awarded? Co-director and alum Chris Appelhans will be front and center at the ArtCenter Entertainment Design Expo in March 22.

Learn more and RSVP here.