Animation has long held a special place in the hearts of Malaysians, with homegrown hits such as Upin & Ipin, BoBoiBoy and Ejen Ali becoming household cartoon franchises in the country.
As beloved as these cartoons are, most remain geared towards children, and content that speaks directly to older teens and young adults remains relatively scarce.
Stepping in to fill that void is Kisah Bawah Tanah – a series that follows Zack and Sam, two “teenage living skeletons” who work at a grocery store owned by a zombie named Tok Mart in the bustling Underground City.
As they go about their daily lives, the duo encounter a host of eccentric characters and find themselves carrying out missions on behalf of their boss.
Drawing heavily from Malaysia’s rich folklore, the series features many recognisable supernatural creatures such as toyol, pontianak, pocong and more.
Audiences might also be familiar with the urban legend of the mysterious “driver-less” yellow Volkswagen on the Karak highway.
Part 1 of the first season – comprising 18 episodes running 12 minutes each – premiered earlier in March, led by voice actors Firdaus Sufiyan and Azman Zulkiply.
The show returned with Part 2 on June 8 and spans eight episodes, with local talents such as Nadhir Nasar, Auddra, Qi Razali and many others joining the voice cast.
Exploring social issues
At a recent showcase in Kuala Lumpur, Kisah Bawah Tanah co-creator Hendra Wardi said the series is rated 16+ because it explores social issues and responsibilities that are more relatable to older audiences.
“There’s still limited animation in Malaysia geared towards teens and young adults, so we hope to bridge that gap,” he said.
Hendra added that the series was written with layered humour so that different age groups could interpret and appreciate the stories from their own childhoods in their own unique way.
“After years of working primarily on children’s content, it’s exciting to explore new ground and expand my work to include a more diverse audience as well,” he said.
When asked about a second season, Hendra revealed plans to expand the show’s universe by bringing in a broader range of myths from across South-East Asia.
“The first season starts in Malaysia, but there are plans to integrate more ghosts and folklore from across the whole of South-East Asia later on,” he said.
Beyond television, the creative team is also exploring the possibility of expanding the Kisah Bawah Tanah universe to the big screen.
“We’re still in talks with the animation studio. We want to be known as the IP that not only celebrates Malaysian stories but also South-East Asian stories,” Hendra said.
New episodes of Kisah Bawah Tanah Season One: Part 2 air Mondays at 7pm on Astro Prima (Ch 105), Astro Go and Sooka.
