Back in 2005, a short 3D animation "Misi Mustahak" was the talk of the town due to its technological advancement and refreshing storyline. It is a final year student project by a group of Film & Animation majors (my seniors) at Multimedia University, Cyberjaya (MMU). I still remember how it was a compulsory piece in MMU promotional materials, showcases, and first year student orientations.
One of them went on and founded WAU Animation Sdn Bhd. 11 years later Ejen Ali was born and quickly gaining popularity and following, kids and adults alike. Fast forward to 2019, the much anticipated Ejen Ali: The Movie landed on the big screen and what a beautiful film it is, showcasing how much the local animation has become.
The multi-cultural Malaysia is not shoved directly to your face like a typical Ali-Muthu-Ah Wong trope, instead it's subtle and jives in so well with the whole theme. The batik headscarf, 'gasing' (spinning top) as a weapon, a boomerang that looks like 'kerambit', the Mamak Maju song/dance - just to name a few.
The whole cast is diverse both in styles and characters, which is so fun to watch. They are also very relatable: caring uncle with a hidden narrative? Check. Hasty apprentice that looks up to his mentor? Check. My 3 year old daughter kept referring to herself as the fierce Ejen Alicia and stayed in character until the next morning.
Ali is undoubtedly the star of the show, stealing the spotlight in every scene he's in. I personally like how they play with the subtle expressions and monologues to show Ali's internal crisis - not something easily achieved especially in a kid's film. He's also given a much deserved backstory that wasn't known until the film.
The villain is also very refreshing to watch. No-drama, quite multi-layered and stayed away from the "I want to conquer the world" type. It's someone who was molded into a baddie by circumstances and different ideology. It actually reminds me of Thanos. The plot-twist also caught me by surprise!
Being an action animated film, Ejen Ali has some of the best action sequences in all Malaysian film history, live action films included. Some of the chase and fight scenes got my heart racing and holding my son tight. All these are underscored by music and sound effects that fit really well with the rest (shout out to Altimet!).
Another thing that stands out in the film is the strong lessons portrayed. Family bond, friendships, conscience, helping the needy, and much more which makes it a complete package for the whole family. There are enough heartwarming scenes to leave you teary-eyed. Even the guy sitting next to me was sobbing towards the final scene! (tips: bring tissue paper).
Ejen Ali is a proof that a "cartoon" is not just for kids and mere entertainment. It's also a big stepping stone for the animation industry in Malaysia. As someone who is also in the creative industry I definitely feel a sense of proud and can't wait to see what's next.
