Re-inscribing Budi in Contemporary 3D Malaysian Animation Characters in Geng; The Adventure Begins (2009) and BoBoiBoy: The Movie (2016)

Juaina Ahmad Fadzil,Sanghamitra Dalal

doi:10.47405/mjssh.v5i2.368

Juaina Ahmad Fadzil, Sanghamitra Dalal

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v5i2.368

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Abstract

The success of Malaysian 3D animation films, Geng; The Adventure Begins (2009) and BoBoiBoy: The Movie (2016) in attracting local reception is partly due to their portrayal of the diversity of Malaysian ethnicity, traditions and moral values which the local audience may find relatable. Although these films portray modernity, the values represented are based on the traditional Malay concept of Budi re-inscribed in the characters’ personalities. The concept of Budi in this paper employs the academic study of Lim Kim Hui (2003a) and it includes my attempt to argue that this traditional asset can be re-imagined in the contemporary digital form which can be analysed through the main characters’ personalities in the selected films. Personality is one of the key principles of animation introduced by Lasseter (1987) for the 3D animation format and with it, helps shape characters to be unique and recognizable as depicted in their behaviours, habits as well as interaction with other characters. In addition, I employ Smith’s “structure of sympathy” to explain the spectator’s engagement with the fictional personalities portrayed on screen. The concept of Budi re-inscribed in characters of contemporary 3D Malaysian animation films proves that traditional values are not lost in modern times. Animation films are mostly watched by younger audiences, therefore Budi as a traditional moral concept can be sustained and disseminated to the younger generation in digital form.

Highlights

I will examine how the complex concept of Budi has been re-inscribed through the portrayals of the personalities of the protagonists in two selected 3D Malaysian animation films, namely, Geng; The Adventure Begins (2009) and BoBoiBoy: The Movie (2016)
Through the analysis of my selected animation films, I will attempt to argue that the spectator’s sympathetic engagement with the personalities of the protagonists is mainly induced by inculcating the fictional characters with the attributes of Budi, which can be considered as the foundational essence of Malay moral values leading to a unique development of the Malay worldview
I am referring to the Malay spectator, whose moral values is based on the understanding of Budi and I will proceed to analyse the two recently-produced Malaysian animation films in order to investigate how the idea of Budi has been integrated into the development of the personality of the protagonists

Summary

Introduction

I will examine how the complex concept of Budi has been re-inscribed through the portrayals of the personalities of the protagonists in two selected 3D Malaysian animation films, namely, Geng; The Adventure Begins (2009) and BoBoiBoy: The Movie (2016). Both films have proved to be a commercial success with the ticket sales amounts to RM6.31 million and RM16 million following forty days of screening respectively (Hassan Muthalib, 2016). Through the analysis of my selected animation films, I will attempt to argue that the spectator’s sympathetic engagement with the personalities of the protagonists is mainly induced by inculcating the fictional characters with the attributes of Budi, which can be considered as the foundational essence of Malay moral values leading to a unique development of the Malay worldview

The Concept of Budi

Personality in Animation

Character Analysis

Conclusion