KUCHING: Southeast Asian animators do not need to lean heavily on culture to succeed internationally, but strong storytelling remains the deciding factor in whether a film connects with global audiences.
This was one of the main conclusions drawn from the panel discussion, ‘From Local Culture to International Screens’, held as part of Borneo Animation & Games Festival (BAGFest) 2026 here today (Aug 21).
The panelists discussed how Southeast Asian studios can take their work to the global stage through cultural identity, disciplined script development, and flexibility in response to industry changes like artificial intelligence (AI).
The R&D Studios co-founder and chief executive officer, Irwan Junaidy said his appreciation for local culture only deepened after witnessing foreign visitors’ fascination with a simple batik cloth at a festival in Bologna, Italy, in 2017.
The moment shaped the development of his animated short films, ‘Batik Girl’ and ‘The Dalang’s Tale’, both of which went on to screen at international festivals.
He said the feature-length adaptation of ‘Batik Girl’ took four years and about nine to ten script drafts to refine.
“If your story is not universally accepted, then no amount of culture that you put inside will make it a good film,” he said.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s The Monk Studio founder and creative director Juck Somsaman said Thai animators’ exposure to a wide range of influences, from Western cartoons to anime, gave them versatility in style and storytelling.
He said this adaptability, paired with growing global interest in Asian-rooted content, positioned Southeast Asian studios to make their mark.
Both panellists used the platform to unveil new projects, with R&D Studios developing a feature-length sequel to ‘Batik Girl’ and The Monk Studio acquiring an original IP titled ‘Afterworld’ from Sony, drawing on Southeast Asian mythology.
On the industry’s shifting landscape, Juck said his studio had established a dedicated AI department alongside its traditional animation team, though he cautioned emerging studios against overspending on IP development before it proves viable.
Irwan, however, viewed the shift positively, noting that smaller teams were now able to compete with larger studios in the global market.
The panel also encouraged aspiring animators to consistently document ideas and see themselves first as storytellers, capable of shaping a single inspiration into multiple stories and styles.
