In Indonesian cinemas under Amaranta Frame’s distribution, Jumbo – Don’s Voice is an animated film conceived and directed by Ryan Adriandhy, a colossal box-office success in its homeland. Yet one should not think that this project has a purely local outlook, despite some touches that root it there, because the story of the young lead offers an effective portrayal of childhood and reveals an educational value not to be underestimated.
Jumbo – Don’s Voice, the story of the cartoon with an irresistible protagonist
The plump little boy Don has lost his parents in an accident and lives with his grandmother: a book that contains an illustrated tale and was left unfinished by his mother and father serves as his major anchor. He believes in that story so completely that, under a playful disguise, he longs to stage it in a neighborhood recitation contest, with the help of his inseparable friends Nurman and . It becomes a special moment for him, because he is often mocked and bullied, especially by a peer named Atta. In this adventure Don, Nurman and Mae encounter the spirit of Meri, a girl who wishes to reunite with the souls of her parents, who disappeared due to a conspiracy that hides a terrible real estate scheme. In search of help, Meri agrees to make Don’s recital more spectacular, but will the boy be able to repay her kindness?
Jumbo, the themes and important messages for children
The filmmaker behind this movie, Ryan Adriandhy, has a multifaceted career spanning stand-up, illustration, and animation, and in this first feature-length work—produced by Visinema Studios with a substantial production effort for the Indonesian audiovisual scene—he aims to build a monument to childhood. Beyond its irresistibly endearing character design, Don is a remarkably realistic child, despite the fantastical world in which he operates: many of us experience—there’s no better way to explain it to the younger ones—being wronged, yet also capable of wrongdoing. With a bit of insight, we accompany Don on a journey to understand how to navigate the world, showing respect to others, to friends, and to promises: his drive for redemption is noble, but it must not come at the expense of others. This balance, a central theme of the film alongside the acceptance of loss, extends to every character in the tale: even those labeled as the outright villain, such as the bully Atta or the village chief Rusli, have their reasons and sorrows behind their behavior. Don, and with him the young audience who will watch the film, has the chance to avoid becoming like them, not letting his inner world overwhelm the lives of others.
Jumbo – Don’s Voice therefore carries a strong educational value precisely because it honestly depicts childhood: it is no accident that in Italy the initiative “JUMBO – Don’s Voice. Bring the Voice to School” was launched for primary and secondary schools, endorsed by Paolo Ruffini, who in the Italian version provides the voice of Don’s father. This is an educational project that brings the world of dubbing into schools, engaging boys and girls, starting from the film and its themes.
Jumbo and its strong Indonesian identity
Although the CGI production on a technical level does not always match the American competition, Jumbo nonetheless makes its mark with another element: its clear national identity. It depicts a society that uses brotherhood, friendship, and willingness as antidotes to a difficult existence (as seen in Atta and his brother). There is a call to respect the dignity of peoples and traditions, because the plot about tombs being desecrated for land reuse is rooted in real events and indeed caused scandal and indignation in West Java in 2020. Those who loved Pixar’s Coco will find themselves absorbed in another alternative vision of the relationship with the deceased and with ancestors, where the bond between terrain and the afterlife is experienced with tenderness in everyday life. Adriandhy nonetheless manages with his narrative device to make this dimension universal, because the symbol of this connection is the illustrated book that carries such meaning for Don. The link thus passes through art and storytelling.
Comments