6 Animated Films By Children Of The Nation Apart From Jumbo

JAKARTA - Indonesia's animated industry is slowly but surely starting to show its defenses in the national film scene. One of the most striking evidences is the great success of the Jumbo film, the latest local animated film that managed to penetrate the box office line in the midst of the dominance of the horror genre.

In the midst of the intense competition for the 2025 Eid film, Jumbo became the only animated film that aired, but actually caught the attention of the audience. The film, which presents the characters of Don and his friends, competes, even surpassing, two major horror films, namely the Sugar Factory and Qodrat 2.

Since its premiere on March 31, 2025, Jumbo immediately skyrocketed and until May 10, 2025, it has garnered 8,957,462 viewers. This fantastic figure was officially announced via the Instagram account @jumbofilm_id.

Jumbo's success did not just come. This film follows in the footsteps of a number of previous Indonesian animations that have proven that the work of the nation's children can also compete in visual quality, touching narrative, and that entertainment packaging can be enjoyed at various ages.

Reporting from various sources, here are 6 animated Indonesian films that deserve appreciation and are an important milestone in the development of local animation.

1. Si Juki The Movie: Assets of Monkey Island (2024)

Directed by the creator of Si Juki, Faza Meonk, this film is a continuation of the story of Si Juki The Movie: Final Day Committee (2017). Released on June 27, 2024 by Falcon Pictures, this film presents top voice actors such as Indro Warkop, Rigen, Mandra, Megan Domani, and Jaja Mihardja.

The story lifts the adventures of Si Juki and his friends in the search for assets on Monkey Island, complete with funny events and exciting actions. In terms of visuals, this film has increased significantly compared to the first film, with a more detailed animation. Juki's distinctive humor remains the main attraction, making this film an entertaining spectacle for the whole family.

2. Nussa: The Movie (2021)

This film was born from the popular animated series Nussa which had already stolen the hearts of children in Indonesia. The collaboration between The Little Giantz studio and Visinema Pictures was released on October 14, 2021 and was immediately warmly welcomed.

Raising Islamic values, brotherhood, and family, Nussa: The Movie has succeeded in touching the hearts of audiences from various backgrounds. Directed by Bony Wirasmono, this film became Visinema's first long animation and premiered at an international event, namely the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea. This film also won the Best Animated Feature Film award at the 2021 Indonesian Film Festival.

3. Adit Sopo Jarwo: The Movie (2021)

The animated series that is familiar on the small screen is present in the feature film version which will be broadcast exclusively on Disney + Hotstar on April 30, 2021. Adit Sopo Jarwo: The Movie is a prequel that tells the story of the beginning of the meeting of the three main characters, namely Adit, Sopo, and Jarwo.

The story centers on Adit's adventure which is separated from his parents on his way to Yogyakarta, and then assisted by Sopo and Jarwo. Through this challenging journey, the film presents messages about the importance of friendship, courage, and cooperation. Even though it aired on a digital platform, this film managed to get a place in the hearts of Indonesian family viewers.

4. Battle of Surabaya (2015)

One of the local animated films to remember is Battle of Surabaya, a two-dimensional film with a history, action and drama genre. Released by MSV Pictures and directed by Aryanto Yuniawan, this film presents a fictitious story set of events: Battle 10 November 1945 in Surabaya.

The main character is Musa, a teenage shoe comber who becomes a courier in Suroboyo's Arek-arek struggle. With a distinctive visual style and a story full of nationalism spirit, this film received a positive response from various international film festivals. Battle of Surabaya is proof that animation can also be a medium to tell history in an interesting and educational way.

5. Lion Adventure (2012)

Not many know that this film comes from a marketing strategy of a well-known ice cream brand. But who would have thought, Lion Adventure managed to get out of the shadow of an advertising campaign and appear as a solid animated film.

The story follows Geri, a brave lion who and his friends must find a magic crystal and beat Shadow Master. This film presents exciting actions, puzzles, and moral messages such as the importance of friendship, courage, and teamwork.

Released on September 6, 2012, this film features voice actors such as Giring Ganesha and Putri Titian, making it a suitable spectacle for children on weekends.

6. Achieving a Dream (2009)

As the first 3D animated musical film in Indonesia, Reaching Dreams has its own place in the history of national cinema. Adapted from the Singapore film Sing to the Dawn (2008), the Indonesian version shows the story of Dana, a teenage girl in Batam who is fighting to save her village from a greedy entrepreneur named Pairot.

Funds not only face external threats, but also social pressures such as forced matchmaking and patriarchal norms. In his adventure, he was assisted by his younger brother and a talking forest animal.

This film not only offers entertainment, but also raises important issues such as environmental, education, and gender equality. With Erwin Gutawa's music, Achieving Dreams will be shown in Indonesian cinemas on September 16, 2009 and pave the way for local animated films with musical nuances.

Jumbo's presence in 2025 marks a new chapter of Indonesian animated films. With achievements that continue to increase, it is not impossible that in the future domestically made animations will be increasingly competitive in the international arena. What is clear, the series of films above proves that the creativity and ability of Indonesian filmmakers cannot be underestimated.