Most of these shows, however, are solely aimed at younger viewers: this is partly due to the misconception that cartoons are just for kids.
This is a pity because there are many older Malaysian viewers who would also enjoy a high-quality animated programme.
Upcoming series “Kisah Bawah Tanah,” however, aims to fill this void in the market.
Drawing inspiration from beloved series such as “Futurama” and “Rick and Morty,” this animated horror-comedy series aims to transcend boundaries and delight audiences of all ages.
“We realised there’s very little animated series for anyone over the age of 12-13 in Malaysia. When viewers get older, they migrate to either Western or Japanese series.
“So we’re comfortable with this idea of doing cartoons for teenagers or young adults. We believe the market is more accepting of it now,” said show co-creator and Bawah Tanah Sdn Bhd managing director Hendra Wardi.
Inspired by South East Asian folklore, “Kisah Bawah Tanah” tells the story of two best friends, hantu jerangkung (skeleton) Sam and Zack, as they navigate the absurdities of everyday life.
Expect wacky shenanigans from a colourful cast of (in)famous creatures from local legend, with pontianak, hantu galah, toyol and even a jiangshi featured. Look out for Poching, a pocong-cat who is already becoming a fan favourite!
A co-production between Animasia Studios and Spaceboy Studios, “Kisah Bawah Tanah” emerged the winner of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation’s (MDEC) 2018 Intellectual Property Creators Challenge contest.
Recently, Bawah Tanah entered a collaborative partnership with Animasia Studio, and Komet Productions Sdn Bhd to take the intellectual property to new heights.
“We were attracted to the world, the backstory, the character designs. I could clearly see the potential: I became a fan after watching the first reel! So we’re glad to be working together to bring this series to life,” added Animasia Studio Chief Operating Officer Wong Kuan Loong.
About 26 11-minute episodes have been planned for the show’s first season, expected to be released in 2025.
Ghosts and folklore may seem an odd topic to base a comedic series around, but the show’s creative team thinks it’s a great choice for the region.
“We like to laugh and be scared at the same time. In Southeast Asia, we really love our ghost stories, our hantus are part of our cultural fabric. So I think this is a good mix of genres that can really take off here,” said Komet Productions head Ahmad Izham Omar.
Asked about the show’s humour, Hendra said to expect laughs on multiple levels.
“You will probably take something different back from watching it as a kid, and then as an adult. It invites you to re-explore the creatures you heard about in the stories your parents told you, but now see them from a humorous point of view,” Hendra laughed.
The creative team aims to elevate the brand to a multi-faceted franchise, with video games, a spin-off micro-series, and even the development of a feature film all being planned.
Ultimately, they hope audiences will have a great time, and hopefully also learn more about the region’s fascinating folklore.
“It’s a show that we hope will introduce the creatures of our folklore to people from other places. We can’t wait to see where this collaboration will ultimately take us,” said Animasia Studio managing director Edmund Chan.
“You look at characters like Dracula. Everyone knows all about him, his tropes, his weaknesses and so on. So we hope that one day, it’s like that with the Pontianak and so on,” Ahmad concluded with a laugh. “I think it’s time to introduce Southeast Asian ghosts to the world.”
Learn more about ‘Kisah Bawah Tanah’ on its website.