Local comic industry needs synergy: Observer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's ailing animated cartoon and comic
\nstrip industry has resulted in children knowing more about the
\nJapanese comic character Dora Emon rather than Indonesia's own
\nlegendary Gatotkaca, a leading cartoonist said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Dwi Koendoro said a synergy of experts in the fields of
\nliterature, entertainment, communications and business was needed
\nto revive the ailing industry.<\/p>\n
Dwi -- creator of the famed Panji Koming comic strip,
\npublished by the leading Kompas daily, and owner of an animation
\nproduction house -- said such synergy was needed so local
\ncartoonists, filmmakers and publishers could work and progress
\ntogether to revive the stagnant industry.<\/p>\n
\"Comics and animated films have many things in common, such as
\nin the creative process,\" Dwi said at a press conference
\nannouncing an upcoming seminar and exhibition on comic books and
\nanimation films here next December.<\/p>\n
The seminar and exhibition organized by the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture and associations of cartoonists and
\nanimated filmmakers will be held from Dec. 17 to Dec. 22 at the
\nministry's arts building in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to Dwi, an ill of the ailing film industry is the
\nfact that most filmmakers and producers still focus more on
\n\"short-term ways of thinking\" or mere profit making.<\/p>\n
\"This way of thinking may well bring down the booming
\ntelevision industry in the next two or three years,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
Dwi said filmmakers were often surprised by the fact that it
\ntook about six years to finish the making of Walt Disney's
\nanimated film Sleeping Beauty.<\/p>\n
Dwi maintained that such an unhealthy climate resulted in the
\n\"loss of the country's local geniuses\" in comics and animation.<\/p>\n
Asked about information on the comparison of sales between
\nlocal and imported comic books, Dwi said none was available.<\/p>\n
Rahayu Hidayat of the University of Indonesia's Faculty of
\nLetters, said the Indonesian comic industry boom was in the 1950s
\nand 1960s.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian comic books sold like hotcakes back then because
\nmany newspapers published comic strips in abundance,\" said
\nRahayu, who has done extensive research on the subject.<\/p>\n
\"Now only a few newspapers, like Pos Kota and Republika,
\npublish local comic strips,\" she lamented.<\/p>\n
Both Dwi and Rahayu agreed that total marketing was needed --
\nin which the sale of comics was integrated with the sale of
\nanimated films, T-shirts, school apparel and so on -- to help
\nboost readership of Indonesian comics.<\/p>\n
Another cartoonist, Iman Suyudi, was pessimistic that a
\nrevival of the Indonesian film and comic industry would happen
\nsoon.<\/p>\n
He claimed that publishers often discriminate against local
\ncartoonists when paying them.<\/p>\n
\"Local cartoonists are only paid between Rp 15,000 (US$6) and
\nRp 40,000 per comic strip, while foreign cartoonists get paid Rp
\n60,000,\" Iman claimed.<\/p>\n
But he still expressed hope that a synergy between local
\nexperts in the animated film and comic strip industries would
\nbear some fruit. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-comic-industry-needs-synergy-observer-1447893297",
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