The docufollow Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE pulls back the curtain on the rigorous process of making a global music sensation. Netflix follows along as K-pop entertainment leader HYBE — known for making a number of successful groups, including, ahem, a little-known group called BTS — and major US record label Geffen Records come together in their first-ever major artist collaboration: a US-based girl group created and modeled after the K-pop training and development system. The docuseries Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE is streaming on Netflix now.
KATSEYE is the name of Geffen and HYBE’s global girl group. After receiving over 120,000 submissions from talented young people from around the world, Geffen Records and HYBE revealed the 20 contestants from around the world who would be competing for a spot in the band through the TV program The Debut: Dream Academy. That group was then whittled down to 10; the final six members who make up KATSEYE were announced on Nov. 17 at the live finale event in Los Angeles.
The Debut: Dream Academy is an audition program and competition that ran for 12 weeks on YouTube, Weverse, and Abema TV. The 20 young women spent those months training and participating in three main singing and dancing missions, on which they were judged by a panel of experts from both companies as well as fans who voted online. The final members of the group and the name of the band were revealed in the finale.
Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE follows the 20 original contestants and the behind-the-scenes process of putting together this one-of-a-kind girl group, beyond what was seen in The Debut: Dream Academy. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Nadia Hallgren, the director of the Emmy-nominated documentary about Michelle Obama, Becoming, the series was produced by HYBE, Interscope Films, and Boardwalk Pictures.
Watch the docufollow on Netflix now.
Sneak a peek at the journey unfolding for these talented young women in the trailer at the top of the page.
Marquise, 17 — Thailand
Emily, 17 — US
Yoonchae, 15 — South Korea
Sophia, 20 — Philippines
Ua, 15 — Japan
Mei, 17 — Japan
Nayoung, 21 — South Korea
Samara, 17 — Brazil
Manon, 21 — Switzerland
Megan, 17 — US
Lara, 17 — US
Ezrela, 20 — Australia
Iliya, 21 — Belarus
Celeste, 19 — Argentina
Daniela, 19 — US
Lexie, 19 — Sweden
Brooklyn, 17 — US
Hinari, 14 — Japan
Adela, 19 — Slovakia
Karlee, 19 — US
Ages reflect the time of filming.
The official group is comprised of Daniela, Manon, Lara, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae. Learn more about the members in our guide here.
The group’s very first single, “Debut,” dropped along with the music video in June 2024. Their first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), was released August 2024.
