KUCHING: A new Sarawak-inspired animated feature film is taking shape after three Malaysian creative companies joined forces to develop and produce ‘Anak Ajaib’.
Kuching-based Asa Esa Films and Trifold have partnered another Malaysian animation and visual effects studio, Fly Studio Sdn Bhd, to develop the original 90-minute animated fantasy adventure inspired by Sarawak’s stories, culture and landscapes.
The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the Borneo Animation & Games Festival (BAGFest) 2026, marking the start of a collaboration covering the film’s development, production and international commercialisation.
Fly Studio’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Wee Meng Hee, said the project offered an opportunity to introduce more stories from Sarawak to audiences worldwide.
“Sarawak has so many wonderful stories, traditions and ideas that deserve to be shared beyond Malaysia.
“With ‘Anak Ajaib’, we want to create more than just an animated film. We hope to build an original intellectual property that is proudly Sarawakian at heart, while telling a story that families anywhere in the world can enjoy and relate to,” he said.
Under the MoU, the three companies will collaborate on creative development, animation and film production, technology, financing, strategic partnerships, marketing and international distribution.
Fly Studio will contribute its expertise in animation, visual effects, production management and international co-production, while Asa Esa Films will provide filmmaking and storytelling experience.
Meanwhile Trifold, which specialises in digital media and immersive technologies, will add creative and technological expertise to the project.
Beyond the feature film, the partners also plan to explore the potential of ‘Anak Ajaib’ as a homegrown intellectual property that could expand into other content, licensing, merchandising and international collaborations.
The film draws inspiration from Sarawak’s rainforests and rivers, longhouses, traditional motifs, folklore and the iconic hornbill, bringing these familiar elements into a contemporary animated world.
The project also aims to involve Sarawak’s creative community by providing local artists and creators with opportunities to gain exposure to professional animation and film production pipelines, while helping to develop creative and technical talent in the state.
