Merah Putih: One For All- Indonesian Animated Movies Controversy
Merah Putih: One For All- Indonesian Animated Movies Controversy
The Indonesian animated film Merah Putih: One For All, has sparked widespread controversy shortly after its theatrical release, raising concerns about production quality, originality, and industry standards.
Film Overview
Locally produced by production house Perfiki Kreasindo, Merah Putih: One For All is released on August 14, 2025, just ahead of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations.
The film was reportedly completed in a short production window of approximately two months, with a budget of around Rp6.7 billion (approximately $390,000 USD).
Though the producer Toto Soegriwo denied the allegation of a Rp6.7 billion budget from the government's and called it slander. The film was produced through a collaborative effort by the production house itself.
Plot Summary
The story follows a simple yet patriotic premise from its trailer:
Three days before Indonesia’s Independence Day, the national red-and-white flag mysteriously disappears. Eight children from diverse cultural backgrounds then unite on a mission to find and restore the flag before the celebration.
Sharp Decline in Viewership
Despite initial curiosity, the film experienced a rapid drop in audience attendance. Reports indicate that viewership declined significantly by the second day after release, largely due to negative public reactions.
Main Criticisms From Netizens :
1. Animation Quality Concerns
One of the biggest criticisms targeted the film’s animation quality. Many viewers compared it unfavorably to modern animation standards, pointing out rough visuals, lack of detail, and unpolished rendering.
2. Rushed Production Timeline
The production timeline became a major talking point. Netizens highlighted that creating a full animated feature in just two months is highly unusual, leading to assumptions that the final result was rushed and not fully refined.
3. Allegations of Asset Reuse
Another major controversy involved claims that some 3D assets used in the film were not original. A 3D artist from Pakistan publicly alleged that one of his character models had been used without permission.
This accusation fueled debates about intellectual property and ethical practices in the animation industry.
Production Team’s Response
The controversy intensified after the production team acknowledged similarities between their assets and those found online. However, they stated that such similarities are “normal” in animation production.
This response drew further criticism, with many netizens considering it unprofessional and dismissive of valid concerns. Not only once, produciton team also giving unprofessional respond to various netizens critics.
Public Backlash and Film Cancellation
As criticism continued to grow across social media, public sentiment turned increasingly negative. The backlash eventually led to widespread calls for boycotts, significantly impacting the film’s performance.
The situation escalated to the point where the film was effectively pulled from public interest, with many considering it a failed release due to controversy.
Some people also turn movie clips into memes as a form of satire and humor. Highlighting the strange and whacky animation movement as a public pin of shame.
Conclusion
The case of Merah Putih: One For All, highlights several important issues about the importance of production quality. In adition the need for originality and respect for intellectual property.
While “Merah Putih: One For All” aimed to deliver a patriotic story, its controversies overshadowed its message. The incident serves as a lesson for future productions in maintaining quality, professionalism, and audience trust in Indonesia’s growing animation industry.
Previous post about movie in Indonesia
Comments
Post a Comment