Unveiling the Making of ‘Si Juki the Movie: Harta Pulau Monyet’

Jakarta, 18 October — After the success of the first film, Si Juki is back with a new adventure in “Si Juki the Movie: Harta Pulau Monyet” (Treasure of Monkey Island). This 2D animated film is set to be released in June 2024, and we have an exclusive sneak peek at what makes this movie a sure success!

The Iconic character in Indonesian comics, Si Juki is a college student studying Creative Visual Design, known for his absurd and distinctive daily life stories. The character was created by Faza Ibnu Ubaidillah, popularly known as Faza Meonk, who brought Si Juki to life in 2011 during his final year of study at BINUS University, embodying the vibrant and distinctive spirit of a student unafraid to stand out.

(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)

The film, produced by Falcon Pictures, achieved remarkable success, attracting 600,000 viewers to theaters! Our colleagues from the Animation program at the BINUS School of Design invited Mr. Daryl Wilson, Animation Director at Kumata Animation Studio, to discuss the film’s storytelling, animation techniques, and marketing strategies within Indonesia’s creative industry.

Si Juki was first introduced to the public through comics, and the overwhelming interest in the series inspired Kumata Animation Studio to invite Faza to adapt the iconic character into an animated film “Si Juki the Movie: Panitia Hari Akhir” in 2017.

(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)

Reflecting on the first film, Mr. Daryl shared that they received both positive reviews and critiques. This feedback guided them in improving their work on the second film, from polishing the storyline to developing the characters, voice work, and marketing strategies.

“We developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that outlines each phase to streamline the process. This includes the pre-production stage, where we refine the story and conduct voice recordings; the execution phase, which focuses on finalizing the animation; and the post-production phase, where we create promotional materials such as teasers and advertisements, as well as organize press conferences.,” Mr. Daryl added.

(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)

This process of making the animated film has drawn our students’ attention as they prepare to enter the professional realm of Indonesia’s animation and film industry. Our student, Heswan Rizki Mirzani, who is majoring in animation, is particularly curious about the voice arrangement and animation development in this film’s production process.

“Generally, voiceovers can be added before or after the animation development phase, depending on the type of project. When casting voice actors for dialogue, we usually prioritize recording the voice first, followed by animation development. However, if the voice is intended solely for dubbing, we often finish the animation first and then add the voice,” Mr. Daryl stated.

(Photo Credit: Mufti Warits)

By delving into the behind-the-scenes elements of the latest Si Juki film, we at BINUS University have acquired valuable insights into the current state of the animation industry in Indonesia. This understanding encompasses more than just technical skills; it enables us to improve our educational programs to better prepare our graduates for future demands of both the Indonesian and global creative sectors.

(Words by Mita Adhisti/Editor: Hamzah Ramadhan)