HUNTR/X, the chart-topping in-universe girl group from KPop Demon Hunters, delivered one of the absolute standout musical moments in Herald Square today. Bringing high energy to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the group performed a live rendition of their massive hit single “Golden.” While the animated characters are known for fighting supernatural threats on screen, the real-life voices behind the music—EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI—took center stage to bring the track to life. It was billed as a major daytime TV showcase for the trio, following a string of earlier appearances promoting the film and its soundtrack.
The visual presentation was just as striking as the vocals. The group performed on a branded stage marked with the HUNTR/X logo, dressed in coordinated all-black outfits that perfectly echoed their sleek, stylized looks from the Netflix animated feature. To tie the performance even closer to the source material, a giant blue demon-cat balloon from the franchise floated down the parade route. It was a massive nod to the series, visually anchoring the performance to the streamer’s hit show and standing out distinctively among the new character balloons introduced this year.
On the street level, the choreography was sharp and thematic. HUNTR/X was backed by a crew of dancers donning golden gloves, which created a brilliant contrast against the group’s dark ensembles and reinforced the “Golden” theme through the blocking. The energy continued to build throughout the song, culminating in a fireworks accent that drew loud cheers from the crowd gathered on 34th Street. Several outlets have already highlighted the set as a major K-pop moment for the parade and one of the most vibrant musical segments of the entire broadcast.
The performance served as a victory lap for both the song and the movie. “Golden” has been a juggernaut, logging an extended run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cementing its status as one of the most dominant girl-group songs of the century. The parade appearance doubled as effective cross-promotion for the record-setting animated film, which follows the members of HUNTR/X as they balance life as a pop group while secretly protecting South Korea from demons—a storyline that has helped make it one of Netflix’s most-watched titles to date.