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View all search resultsPoor-quality nationalistic animation greeted with derision
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A screen capture of 'Merah Putih One for All' movie is taken from the trailer provided by CGV Cinemas Indonesia on its official Instagram account, @cgv.id, on Aug. 9, 2025. (Courtesy of/CGV Cinemas Indonesia)
T
he upcoming animated movie Merah Putih: One for All, themed around nationalism and timed ahead of Indonesia’s Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17, has sparked widespread criticism over the poor quality demonstrated in its recently released trailer.
Set in a village during the Independence Day celebrations, the two-minute trailer follows eight children on a quest to find a mysteriously missing Red-and-White flag, leading them through various challenges including a perilous forest journey.
Slated for a theatrical release on August 14, the film’s poor quality has drawn negative responses from both the public and film experts alike.
“It looks like a rushed project with a tight deadline, so the result did not focus on quality,” movie critic Hikmat Darmawan told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, noting allegations that parts of the animation, including character assets, were purchased pre-made due to the short production timeline.
While he said the public backlash was somewhat exaggerated, Hikmat acknowledged that the criticism was justified.
“A film’s trailer should showcase the best part of the work and, logically, attract audiences,” he said. “[But from what we see here], we can already guess the final product will turn out poor just like the trailer.”
Read also: Jumbo takings for hit Indonesian animated film raise hopes for fledgling industry
