New cartoon series a forum for long forgotten folktales
New cartoon series a forum for long forgotten folktales
JAKARTA (JP): If you ask kids today who is Si Kancil or Pak
Belalang (Mr. Grasshopper), they will probably shake their heads
in bewilderment.
Many Indonesian children are unfamiliar with characters from
local folktales because their parents, who themselves grew up
hearing the tales, no longer have time to tell them bedtime
stories.
Instead, many parents have entrusted their TV sets to babysit
their kids with a long line of imported (mostly Japanese)
cartoons and TV series. They include Doraemon, Dragon Ballz,
Ninja Hatori, Ultraman, America's Mighty Morphine Power Rangers
and Disney's animated classics.
To introduce young TV audiences to traditional stories and
legends, Indosiar has Dongeng Aku dan Kau (Tales for Me and You),
a 13-episode animated series featuring Indonesian folktales and
legends, broadcast every Sunday at 7 a.m. and Wednesday at 3:30
p.m.
Among the stories are Keong Kecil dan Rumahnya (The Little
Snail and its Home), Si Kurus & Harimau Loreng, (Skinny and the
Striped Tiger),Kilip dan Putri Bulan (Kilip and the Moon
Princess), Si Malang Pemimpi (The Foolish Dreamer), Kancil dan
Pohon Ajaib (The Mouse deer and the Wondrous Tree), Untung Ada Si
Belalang (Luckily There Was the Grasshopper), Mengapa Anjing Tak
Bertanduk, (Why Dogs Don't Have Horns), Palasara si Lembut Hati
(Palasara, The Kind Boy) and Kancil dan Kerbau (The Mouse Deer
and the Buffalo).
Directed by Erwin Aargh, a graduate of the School of Fine Arts
of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and jointly
produced by Red Rocket Animation and Nestle-Dancow, the 30-minute
shows are an attempt to provide alternative and more educative
entertainment for local kids.
They are also intended to show the richness and diversity of
Indonesian culture and traditions.
Kilip dan Putri Bulan, for example, recounts the legend of a
Dayak Benuaq boy. Through the animation, children learn about the
music, culture and customs of the Dayak people of Kalimantan.
Adapting oral tales and legends for the screen poses a great
challenge for filmmakers, who must try to win over fiercely loyal
fans of the more advanced computer-generated Japanese and
American animations.
Take Bayu, 11, and his younger brother Adi, 8. They prefer
watching the Japanese cartoon Kobo Chan on RCTI every Sunday at
7. a.m. On Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., Dongeng Aku dan Kau must
compete with the children's program Animax on SCTV.
"Kobo Chan is much funnier than Keadilan Seorang Raja screened
on Indosiar," said sixth-grader Bayu.
Compared to the imported animations, Dongeng Aku dan Kau is
far from perfect in terms of techniques, themes and plots of
stories.
Each episode of Dongeng Aku dan Kau was produced within a
month, while animation projects usually take about three months.
The entire series was produced in 10 months, probably too short
to make a good animated production.
Yet, beginnings are always difficult. The program could still
become the starting point for kids and their parents to
reacquaint themselves with their own culture. The producers also
may be able to involve more talented animators and artists to
create more appealing shows for Indonesian kids. (raw)