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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked 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 dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe 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 Cho admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho says she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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