Celebrating Lunar New Year Through Film, Music, Books & Games
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures and countries, each with their own traditions, stories, and creative expressions, from South Korea and Taiwan to Indonesia and beyond.
To mark the occasion, let’s take a look at how themes of renewal, reflection and looking forward show up in films, music, books, and games- echoing ideas of transformation, rebirth, and generational change.
FILM: KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
This hyper-stylized animated musical blends South Korean pop culture with demon-slaying mythology. KPop Demon Hunters was created by Maggie Kang, who has served as a story artist for films like Kung Fu Panda 3, Rise of the Guardians and Puss in Boots; and co-directed with Chris Appelhans (Wish Dragon). Loud, colourful, and celebratory, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears- with its hit song “Golden” picking up a Grammy, and the film getting an Oscar nod for Animated Feature as well. Its themes of courage, renewal, and triumph mirror the season’s spirit of starting fresh and chasing new victories.
MUSIC: LISA - Alter Ego
A bold, self-assured pop statement exploring identity, reinvention, and empowerment. Alter Ego is Thai artist LISA’s debut solo album and explores her personality, fame, and success through the lens of various alter egos- highlighting her versatility as an artist away from being one quarter Blackpink. It also explores multiple musical styles and features other stars such as Rosalia, Tyla, Future Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Raye. LISA’s reinvention resonates with the season’s spirit of shedding the past and stepping boldly into a new year.
BOOK: Sang Young Park - Love in the Big City
A tender story about identity, love, and chosen family navigating the rhythms of modern urban life with a more free-spirited younger generation. Love in the Big City is an emotionally rich and deeply personal tale of growth as a young gay man seeks meaning and connection amidst heartbreak, societal pressures, and self‑discovery.
Often regarded as one of the greatest films of the 21st century, Edward Yang’s Yi Yi is a quiet meditation on family, memory, and the passage of time. It looks at three generations of a middle-class family in Taipei at the turn of the century. Examining the bittersweet beauty of generational cycles, Yi Yi’s title translates to "one by one", or "one after another" reflective of its themes, and reminding us to honour our roots while embracing the possibilities of a new cycle.
MUSIC: Yunchan Lim - Bach: Goldberg Variations
Performed by South Korean pianist Yunchan Lim, this recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations is a striking interpretation of one of classical music’s most revered works. Lim allows Bach’s intricate structures and quiet lyricism to unfold with his own masterful precision. Lim is the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022- winning at age 18. His poetic touch, introspection and mature vocals are particularly impressive given his young age- making the centuries-old composition feel timeless and newly alive.
GAME: Black Myth: Wukong
A AAA action-adventure rooted in the legendary 16th century novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong was developed and published by Game Science and merges stunning visuals with mythic storytelling. Sun Wukong is one of the most enduring figures in East Asian culture. His journey from chaos to enlightenment has been retold and reimagined across generations and media, making him a powerful cultural icon. He represents clever defiance, transformation, and the tension between freedom and responsibility. The game sold 20 million units in its first month, becoming one of the fastest-selling games of all time, and picking up multiple Game of the Year awards. Wukong’s journey of power, rebellion, and transformation resonates with the themes of renewal and rebirth. It will be followed by Black Myth: Zhong Kui.
BOOK: Intan Paramaditha - Apple and Knife
A haunting collection of folklore-infused stories from Indonesia, blending feminism, horror, and myth. These stories take place in every day life in Indonesia from corporate boardrooms to shanty towns- revealing challenging truths revelling just beneath the surface. Confronting the old to welcome the new, these stories reveal hidden layers before a transformative renewal.
MUSIC: Yeule - Evangelic Girl Is a Gun
An experimental, ethereal journey through emotion, memory, and personal transformation. Evangelic Girl Is a Gun is a little shoegaze, a little industrial and a littie dream-pop. The album is as experimental and genre-fluid as Yeule’s past work, but a bit more approachable. Its haunting soundscapes reflect the introspective side of renewal, perfect for moments of reflection in the Lunar New Year season.
Lunar New Year isn’t just about turning the calendar- it’s about carrying the past forward while making space for something new. The stories we return to during this time often reflect that balance: tradition meeting reinvention, and memory sitting alongside possibility.
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