Malin Kundang in Disney

Since their born in 1923, Disney Company has released a lot of cartoon and animated movies. Almost all of those movies have their story based on many different countries or culture. 

For example, Aladdin that based on Middle East fairy tales, Mulan (Chinese), Jungle Book (India), Pocahontas (Indian), Emperor’s New Groove (Latin), Lilo & Stitch (Caribbean), and so many other stories from Classic European like Cinderella, Princess & Frog, Beauty & the Beast, Peter Pan, and so on. 

This article based on my worried about, “why there is no Indonesian?” 

Indonesia is a country with a kind of diversities and rich culture, due to its 300 diferrent ethnics in this country. Those diversity include the diversity of indigenous clothes, music, languange, and also the fairy tales. 

Malin Kundang

Each region in Indonesia has its own fairy tales or commonly called 'Cerita Rakyat'. For example : Malin Kundang from West Sumatra; Roro Jonggrang, Timun Mas, Bawang Merah-Bawang Putih, Ande-ande lumut (Java); Jayaprana (Bali); the Beginning of Toba Lake (North Sumatra); Tangkuban Perahu (Sunda, West Java); si Pitung (Jakarta); Hang Tuah (Riau); 7 Boys (Aceh); Animal Soccer, Kekekow and Poor Girl (Sulawesi); the Crying Stone, Patin Fish (Borneo); Copper Crocodile (Maluku); or Peu Mana Meinegaka Sawai (Papua). There are so many other fairy tales. 

And, you know? That stories have different style one another!

Timun Mas

So, I think there is no reason for Disney to not create an animated movie that has a setting in Indonesia.

You have too much choice, man! 

I hope you, whoever work in Disney Company, or whoever has a link to Disney, can tell your boss or your colleagues about this. I guarantee, it will be interesting. You can prove yourself : If you go to Indonesia, you can see how Indonesian kids still and will always love this stories. I’m sure, that also will be happen to the other kids in the other countries. 

Bawang Merah-Bawang putih

If you want to know more about Indonesian fairy tales, you can browse, by either the stories that I’ve mentioned in 3rd paragraph or ‘cerita rakyat’, as the keyword. Trust me, you will say, “I must see this story in Disney movies!”

NB : saya sengaja menuliskan artikel ini dalam bahasa Inggris, dengan harapan akan ada orang Disney yang membaca, kemudian menjadi jalan untuk dibuatnya film Disney yang bersetting cerita rakyat Indonesia, sebagaimana tujuan dari tulisan ini.