Jumbo

Jumbo, directed by Ryan Adriandhy, is a charming adventure about a parentless child, wrapped in Disney-like fantasy and local Indonesian flavor. The protagonist's journey is rooted in themes of integrity and the importance of keeping promises-wrapped in childlike wonder and emotional maturity.

Meri, the ghostly figure Jumbo (or Don) wants to help, evokes memories of Casper-gentle, lonely, and longing for connection. Her presence gives the story both heart and a sense of innocent mystique. The film blends light-hearted humor with emotional undertones, allowing audiences of all ages to find something meaningful.

There's clear inspiration from Monsters Inc. And The Prestige, especially in the sap sap sap scene-a nod to the three stages of a magic trick, offering misdirection and surprise. While the film leans into sci-fi, it stays grounded, like using a radio to communicate with "the other realm," creating a fantastical yet relatable world.

German culture appears subtly through Meri's family, primarily in a brief yet impactful dialogue with her mother. A standout comedic moment comes when the villain is apprehended not by global forces or the FBI-but by a humble local security officer (hansip), delivering a punchline that's uniquely Indonesian.

Playful nods to Dr. Stone and Avengers are cleverly embedded, making the film feel like a love letter to modern pop culture fans. The final emotional exchange between Don and Papa Don is reminiscent of Naruto's farewell to Yondaime-bringing unexpected emotional depth to this seemingly light tale.

With smart references, grounded storytelling, and a magical tone, Jumbo is more than a children's film. It's a warm, imaginative story for anyone who has ever loved, lost, or believed in second chances.

Absolutely stunning!! The visuals in Jumbo are straight-up breathtaking, honestly, something I've never seen before in any Indonesian animated movie. The animation quality is on par with international films, and it totally grabbed my attention from the very first scene.

The story itself is exciting and full of adventure, following Jumbo and Meri as they help each other through every twist and turn. There are moments where the pacing slows down a bit, and yeah, some parts feel slightly dragged out, making it a little tiring to watch. But honestly? The insane visuals make up for it big time.

The comedy is decent and works for all ages. Personally, I didn't find all the jokes funny, some felt more geared toward kids (and yeah, the whole theater was kinda silent during certain comedy moments). But overall, the humor lands well and feels well-executed.

Things really pick up towards the end when the stakes get high, with Jumbo and the gang trying to save Meri while facing all sorts of challenges. That final stretch? Super intense and visually stunning, easily the best part of the film.

The message of the movie is easy to digest, and Jumbo honestly feels like a game-changer for Indonesian animation. This movie sets a new benchmark for local animators to create something that brings joy to a wider audience.

Fingers crossed that Jumbo helps push Indonesian animation to new heights and gets the recognition it deserves worldwide!

(btw, this movie is actually goated (if u know what i mean))

This movie made me cry every 10 minutes but i enjoyed it nonetheless. As an indonesian, it's very refreshing to see the animation standards really change and improved. I can tell that they put a lot of love into this movie, really worth the watch.

This movie really shows how a good person won't always be good, and a bad person won't always be bad. As humans, we have flaws.

Before watching this movie, i didn't think that it would be this touching. I didn't expect to cry every 15 minutes because of how sad and heartbreaking it is (i am a VERY emotional person) , but at the same time, it's heartwarming and happy. It's also balanced with comedy and action which i love.

Words can't contain how excited I was to see a fully-Indonesian production of an animated movie with a feel-good story, worthy of international recognition. The pacing, the themes, moral values, comedic timing, overall writing is highly enjoyable. Digestible enough for the kiddos, nuanced enough with a touch of nostalgia for the adults. The setting and vibe was an authentic and very real portrayal of Indonesian culture and community, yet the core of the story was entirely human; and I can't wait for this movie to touch the hearts of international viewers. It's an homage to the arts on all accounts- song, storytelling, animation, drawings. I give my highest respects to the over 420 creative minds that worked together to create this masterpiece.

~Much love, an audience member that couldn't contain his laughter and tears.

There is rarely local animation made in Indonesia itself, but this is one that is directly very high-quality, in terms of graphics, animation, atmosphere and particles integrated very perfectly carrying the theme of the story and morals that bind the hearts of the audience, the storyline is also unusual compared to other animations, it is very unique with the right character, even the moral values contained in this film are very rich where one film does not only contain one moral value, Not forgetting that the introduction of Indonesian culture in this animation is very subtle so that its existence can still be known without disturbing the course of the film.