KUALA LUMPUR: Mischievous and adventurous animated twins Upin and Ipin will soon be making their way to Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan.
At the same time, the twins will also communicate with audiences in three languages — Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin in their latest cinematic adventure Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal.
The film’s producer and Les’ Copaque Production managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi said his company was “in the process” of screening it in China and Taiwan.
“Our representatives there are still at discussion stage, and have reached 70 per cent agreement with producers in both countries,” he said at the gala screening of the film at GSC Mid Valley Megamall yesterday.
“We will also bring Keris Siamang Tunggal to Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia. Translation of the movie into English and Mandarin has just been completed.”
Burhanuddin said his company took five years to complete Keris Siamang Tunggal, in order to give it world class animation and special effects on par with Hollywood productions.
“We got help from lots of Malaysians who excel in research and editing, and the end product cost RM20 million. Our team meticulously revised each scene to make them as good as international animated films.”
He added that Walt Disney Southeast Asia recently congratulated his company on the success of Keris Siamang Tunggal.
The Upin & Ipin animated series is screened on Disney Channel (Astro 615).
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik, who was the guest of honour at the screening, hailed Les’ Copaque for making Keris Siamang Tunggal a film of “international standards”.
“The producers have done a great job inserting lots of story elements from the epic Sejarah Melayu or Sulalatus Salatin, and our animated young heroes can even be ambassadors of Malay literature,” he said.
Maszlee also said the film promoted national unity, love and brotherhood across boundaries, and amplified the spirit of Bangsa Malaysia.
Keris Siamang Tunggal features the voiceover talents of singer Ernie Zakri, Fakhrul Razi, Asyiela Putri Azhar, Ahmad Mawardi and Amir Asyraf.
It will be screened in cinemas on March 21.
Upin & Ipin, which premiered on TV9 in 2007, headed for the silver screen on 2011 with with Geng: The Adventure Begins.
Upin and Ipin are five-year-old brothers who live in Kampung Durian Runtuh with their elder sister and grandmother, and go on weekly adventures with their best friends Mei Mei, Jarjit, Ehsan, Fizi and Mail.