EXCLUSIVE: Indonesian animated feature Jumbo has become the highest-grossing Southeast Asian animation of all time.
Produced by Visinema Studios, the film has earned over $8M at the Indonesian box office since its March 31 release, surpassing the record previously held by Malaysia’s Mechamato Movie, which grossed approximately $7.68 million in 2022.
Jumbo has racked up more than 3.2 million admissions since its release, with nearly 1 million admissions recorded across the April 12 to 13 weekend.
This means that Jumbo has overtaken Hollywood title Moana 2 to become Indonesia’s second-highest-grossing animated title at the box office (Frozen 2 still remains the all-time frontrunner). Moana 2 recorded a total of 3.1 million admissions following its November 2024 release. Jumbo has surpassed that milestone in two weeks.
Jumbo follows Don, an orphan bullied as “Jumbo” due to his large body. He has a storybook, inherited from his parents, which is full of drawings and magical stories. Don later encounters Meri, a fairy seeking his help to reunite her with her family.
Jumbo is preparing for its global rollout, with distribution rights for several key territories, including Mainland China, North America, western Europe and Australia currently still available.
The film is directed by Ryan Adriandhy, who wrote the screenplay with Widya Arifianti. Jumbo’s voice cast includes Indonesian singer Ariel, as well as Prince Poetiray, Muhammad Adhiyat, Graciella Abigail, Yusuf Ozkan and Quinn Salman. Development for the film began in early 2020.
“Jumbo is my personal calling — a labor of love for my child, and for all Indonesian children who deserve to have their own choices at the cinema’s ticket box,” said Angga Dwimas Sasongko, founder and group CEO of Visinema. “They have the right to see their own stories on screen, told in their own language, and to feel proud of who they are, because they are the future of the cinema we all cherish.
“We always believed that stories rooted in local values could move people deeply, but to see more than three million people embrace this film as their own, so quickly and so wholeheartedly, is truly humbling. This is no longer just our film, it’s a collective achievement. One that proves Southeast Asian animation has the power to grow, to travel, and to unite when given the space, the belief, and the love it deserves.”
Visinema Studios also said in a statement: “Crafted over the span of five years by a dedicated team of more than 420 Indonesian artists, animators, and storytellers, Jumbo is more than just a film, it represents a milestone for Indonesia’s creative, film, and animation industries. From storyboarding to final frame, every aspect of the production reflects the rising confidence and capability of the local animation scene.
“Even more remarkable is the film’s performance within Indonesia’s competitive theatrical landscape, where horror titles dominate over half of annual releases. Jumbo offered something rare: a warm, heartfelt, multi-generational story, and audiences responded in full force,” added the studio.
