5 Must-Watch Southeast Asian Animated Movies and Series
- Mar 6
- 6 min read
TL;DR: ASEAN Animated Movies Are Gaining More Recognition
With ASEAN’s emerging evolution into a high-tech, global creative powerhouse, its creative talents are waiting for the opportunity to shine.
Each Southeast Asian country has its own animated movies and series that can stand toe to toe with Western animations, with even one reaching a box office of US$24 million for its most popular title.
With animation projects, proper tools are needed to manage animators so they don't get overwhelmed and impact their well-being.
Southeast Asian, or ASEAN countries hold a variety of cultures, traditions, and talents that are loved by many. So, when they produce any form of art, it’s always distinct and different from the rest of the world. Namely, the animation industry is ever-evolving in this region, with titles slowly gaining global recognition.
Malaysia, as the dominant hub for the ASEAN animation industry, supported by government initiatives, proves that with the right support, Southeast Asian countries’ creative talents can shine.
What better way to showcase the creativity from the ASEAN region than through animated movies and series brought to life with their own twists?
Hence, this article showcases the skills and abilities of what these talents from ASEAN countries are capable of creating.
Table of Contents
Are SEA-Animated Films Underrated?
While not all animated films or series from ASEAN are underrated, they are often overlooked by the general audience and mainstream media. However, each SEA country has its iconic animated movies, like Malaysia’s Mechamato, which was nominated for the 2023 Tokyo Anime Awards Festival and Indonesia’s Battle of Surabaya or November 10 that won the Most People's Choice Award in the International Movie Trailer Festival.
5 Recommended ASEAN Animated Movies and Series
Agent Ali (2016)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Spy-fi
Country of Origin: Malaysia
Studio: WAU Animation, The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte. Ltd.
With animated series, movies and comic books, Agent Ali or Ejen Ali, spelt locally, is a fan favourite among Malaysians. Their loyal fanbase kept this IP running even when the series ended.
Essentially, it is a story about a 12-year-old boy named Ali who accidentally became a special agent when he discovered a prototype device from a spy agency. Thus began his journey as a young spy with the help of his uncle Bakar, who is a spy himself.
Usamah Zaid Yasin, one of the producers of another popular Malaysian animated series, Upin & Ipin, created Ejen Ali after leaving Les’ Copaque. He set up his own animation studio, WAU Animation, and released this now-beloved spy-fi series in 2016.
Jumbo (2025)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Country of Origin: Indonesia
Studio: Visinema Studios, Springboard Entertainment, Anami Films
Set in the year 2000, Jumbo is a story about an orphan boy named Don who tries to prove himself through a local talent show. He goes through a journey of friendship, courage and self-confidence.
This simple yet profound animated movie won “Best Animated Feature” in the Indonesian Film Festival of 2025. It became the third best-selling Indonesian film in 2025 and of all time. Then, it turned into the highest-grossing Southeast Asian animation film, surpassing the Mechamato movie. Thus, becoming one of ASEAN’s top animated movies as of writing this article.
Jumbo is loved for its close-to-heart story among many Indonesians, and it's on a fast track to becoming the country’s pride in the film industry. Especially when the movie is a tribute to the late mother of the director, Ryan Adriandhy.
Rainbow Bunny (2023)
Genre: Comedy
Country of Origin: Vietnam
Studio: World Publishing House (Nhà xuất bản Thế giới), Dan Tri Publishing House (Nhà xuất bản Dân trí)
Locally known as Thỏ bảy màu, this animated rabbit series was initially comic strips published on Facebook and YouTube. As its popularity grew, the author published their own comic volume and animated series, which is crowdfunded and still in production, with 2 episodes already released.
Besides the series, Rainbow Bunny has several short animations that have garnered over 100 million views. These short videos also include promotional products, reflecting the popularity of this animated bunny among the locals of Vietnam.
Each of the characters is inspired by the author, Huỳnh Thái Ngọc's, daily life. The design of the rabbit was inspired by Doraemon, and the reason why the rabbit is white is that he was too lazy to colour it, a fun fact!
Trese (2021)
Genre: Crime, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country of Origin: Philippines
Studio: Base Entertainment, Lex+Otis Animation
An animated series produced from a comic series of the same name, Trese, is available to be watched on Netflix as of the writing of this article. The comic series was chosen to be adapted thanks to Tanya Yuson, a producer known for the classic Hannah Montana: The Movie and Quarantine Tales, as she was looking for material for a series or film.
Alexandra Trese, the main character of the series, acts as a protector for humanity from the supernatural forces of the criminal underworld (Similar to John Constantine). What makes this series different from shows of a similar genre is its incorporation of Filipino folklore and mythical creatures.
Trese made it to the top 10 television shows listed on Netflix in 19 countries in the year 2021. It received a lot of love and attention in the Philippine market, and Jay Oliva, the director, aims for multiple seasons if Trese continues to receive positive views.
The Legend of Muay Thai: 9 Satra (2019)
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Country of Origin: Thailand
Studio: Exformat Films, Igloo Studios, Riff Animation Studio
It is a story about a young boy who mastered the art of Muay Thai to defeat a yaksha prince who is prophesied to be defeated by a Muay Thai warrior. Managing to escape from the destruction of the Muay Thai schools, the young boy became a chosen warrior.
An action-packed film with Thai flavours, with a mixture of drama and humour. For an audience who loves animated series like Dragon Ball, this simple yet distinct story will feel both familiar and unique.
Muay Thai is a martial arts sport originating from Thailand and having its national sport showcased in a film indirectly promotes its cultural identity to the global audience, especially when it received “Film of the Year” at the 2019 Nine Entertainment Awards.
Find more related hand-picked lists of animation titles here: 5 Animated Shows that Made it to the Big Screens.
And if you'd like to learn more about who we are, here's where you can check us out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most popular ASEAN animated movie?
As of now, Jumbo holds the highest-grossing film of all ASEAN countries, originating from Indonesia. With an estimated box office of US$24 million, it surpassed both the Mechamato Movie and Frozen 2 locally.
Why is Jumbo so popular?
Visually, Jumbo is vibrant and lively with its colours and movements throughout the movie. Reminiscent of the animation style in Despicable Me, this movie showcases the talent of what Indonesian animators are capable of. Plus, the movie’s theme song “Kumpul Bocah” is a rework made by a locally known Jazz Band, MALIQ & D’Essentials. This song holds a special place among Indonesians, as it is Vina Panduwinata’s signature song, known as a legendary singer.
What is Southeast Asia known for?
It is known for its cultural diversity and rich heritage with flavourful cuisines and ancient temples that litter the region. So, when creative work is produced from this region, it's often distinct and familiar at the same time. Take Upin & Ipin, for example, essentially an entertaining children's show of these twins' shenanigans. But it shares the culture and tradition of Malaysian children and what their childhood is like.
Author Bio
With a background in Arts English, Adilla has been a casual writer for various hobbies, like parodies of animated shows and plots for board games. She loves to read anything and everything from fantasy stories to articles on tips and tricks. Now an advocate for mental health and effective project management for the creative industry. Currently, Adilla resides in Malaysia and is a creative writer at TESSR. To know more about her, check out her LinkedIn.
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