“You always expect people to listen to you, but you never bother to listen back,”
The words of disappointment expressed by Mae—Don’s best friend—are not only directed at Don, the main character, but also at the selfish nature of adult audiences who often want to be heard but are unwilling to open their ears to listen to others.
By adopting a fantasy theme, the animated film Jumbo successfully presents a story that highlights social issues, such as friendship, child bullying, and the importance of family support.
The movie tells the story of Don, a 10-year-old boy often called “Jumbo” by his friends because of his large and plump figure. This always makes him a target of ridicule, especially when he’s seen as a burden during a baseball game.
Even so, Don holds onto a big dream. Some day, he wants to put on a show adapted from a fairy tale book left behind by his parents. Unfortunately, his dream is threatened when Atta, one of the bullies, steals the book.
Don teams up with his two best friends, Nurman and Mae, to get his book back. Together, they devise a strategy in an abandoned building that once housed a sugar factory. In the middle of their discussion, the spirit of a little girl named Meri—who was separated from her parents—suddenly appears.
Meri doesn’t know where she came from, who her family is, or how she came to be in their world. Therefore, Don, Nurman, and Mae are determined to help Meri find her parents.
In exchange, Meri promises to take back Don’s fairy tale book from Atta and ensure the success of the Jumbo gang’s performance.
After that agreement, they are dragged into a magical adventure full of puzzles and dangers, which tests not only their courage but also their friendship and self-confidence.
One of the main strengths of this film produced by Visinema Studios lies in its heartfelt story, which is relevant to everyday life.
Through the touch of Ryan Adriandhy and Widya Arifianti as the screenwriters, the issue of child bullying is raised delicately, yet delivers a powerful emotional impact.
Don’s character serves as a bridge for the audience to experience how teasing can affect a person’s self-confidence, also highlighting the importance of support from the closest ones.
Visually, the 1-hour 41-minute movie offers an impressive animation quality, with neat details and a child-friendly look.
Created by more than 420 creators over five years, Jumbo showcases a level of quality that rivals international animation. The vibrant colors and expressive characters enliven the atmosphere of the fantasy world in this locally made film, captivating audiences of all ages.
Jumbo is brought to life by some Indonesia’s top voice actors, including Prince Poetiray as Don, Bunga Citra Lestari as his mother, Ariel Noah as his father, and Quinn Salman as Meri. The voice performances add rich emotional depth and reinforce each character’s unique personality.
The film also shines in its musical aspect, particularly through the song “Selalu Ada di Nadimu” performed by Bunga Citra Lestari. The moment this song is performed stands out as one of the most emotionally memorable moments in the entire film.
Jumbo is not only an entertaining movie, but also full of touching moral messages. Behind the colorful adventure and exciting story, there are important values about accepting yourself as you are, appreciating diversity, and the courage to stand firm in the midst of challenges.
This work by Indonesian youth encourages viewers to look deeper into themselves, realizing that weakness can become strength if it’s accepted with an open heart.
More than that, Jumbo is also a gentle reminder for adult audiences of childhood values that may begin to fade over time, such as the courage to dream, the power of imagination, and the true meaning of friendship.
This movie really gives room for nostalgia, evoking the audience’s emotions through a simple yet meaningful storyline.
Overall, Jumbo emerges as a local animated film to be proud of. With an evocative story, eye-pleasing visual quality, and relevant life messages, this movie can reach various layers of the audience.
As of now, Jumbo has attracted over 6 million viewers, making it the most-watched animated film in Indonesia, surpassing Frozen II. Moreover, Jumbo holds the highest-grossing Southeast Asian animated film of all time.
Jumbo embodies a heartfelt, imaginative experience for anyone who was once a child and still carries a spark of magic within them.
Read the original text in Bahasa
Original Writer: Afifah Khairunnisa
Translated by Nurul Fathiyah Salsabila A.
