Usop Sontorian

Usop Sontorian^[a] is a Malaysian animated cartoon series aired on TV1 from 1996 to 1997.^{[1] [2] [3]} The country's first animated series, it was created by Ujang^{[4] [5]} and produced by Kharisma Pictures.^{[6] [7]} The series was directed by Kamn Ismail, who was also the voice actor for one of the series' characters.

Ismail was the managing director of Quest Animations until his death in 2019. Ujang, the series' creator, was not permitted to create any cartoon characters which have similarities to Usop Sontorian, after a failed legal battle to acquire rights to the character. After the series demise and Kharisma Pictures' closure in 1997, many of the production team were switched to different animation companies while others become full-time cartoonist for magazines Ujang and APO?, both under Kharisma Publications (renamed to MOY Publications). A feature film based on the series was originally planned in 1996 and slated for 2000 release, which eventually cancelled.

Usop Sontorian is created by Malaysian cartoonist, Ibrahim Anon or Ujang as he affectionately known, with the concepts, storyline and script all done by him.^[4] In an exclusive interview with New Straits Times in December 1993, Ujang describes the anticipated production as a Malaysianised version of The Simpsons , stating that: "It is basically about a Malay family and their culture".^[4] Together with series director Kamn Ismail, he took charge of the technical aspects. By March 1993, Ujang teamed up with a group of layout artists and animators to work on the series. Usop Sontorian was made as a comic strip within the Ujang magazine and later as a standalone magazine before its TV series was produced.^[8] Malaysian public broadcaster, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) acquire the broadcast rights of the series with Eurofine handling the distribution.

Usop Sontorian tells the story of the village life of Malaysian boy, Usop and his friends Abu, Dol, Ah Kim, Vellu, and Singh. Usop is the third and youngest child in his family. He has two elder siblings: a sister, Kak Kiah, and a jobless brother named Abang Budin. The story is set in Kampung Parit Sonto, not far from the town of Ayer Hitam, Johor; hence the name "Sontorian". The theme of the series was to promote unity and harmonious relationships between all races in multi-ethnic Malaysia.^{[9] [10]}

• Usop – voiced by Farriz Izwan Khairulanuar
• Abu – voiced by Faizal Hairie Khairulanuar
• Dol – voiced by Faizal Haredz Mohd Johari

• Singh – voiced by Ruslan Ayob
• Sashi Veloo – voiced by Marzuki Abdullah in some episodes and by Ameirkhannaz Mohammed in "Anugerah"
• Ah Kim – voiced by Ahmad Nazri Mahmood / Simon Tee Chee Ming
• Pak Mat (Usop's father) – voiced by Kamn Ismail and Azrinorhadi Che Din in some episodes, also voiced by Syed Rahiman in "Lawan Bola" and Yahya Khalid in "Tetamu"
• Mak Som (Usop's mother) – voiced by Zaharah Jidin
• Kak Kiah (Usop's sister) – voiced by Norwati Ismail
• Abang Budin (Usop's brother) – voiced by Dielfitri Tajudin
• Abu's father – voiced by Ahmad Dzulkarnain Adnan
• Abu's mother – voiced by Wan Ayumi Wan Yusof
• Dol's grandfather – voiced by Norhairil Azwa Abd Aziz
• Dol's grandmother – voiced by Mazian Joary
• Singh's father – voiced by Azhar Ahmad

• Selebet (Usop's pet chicken), Salleh and Abu's younger brother – voiced by Azhar Saad
• Lan – voiced by Zulkefli Mohd Yusof
• Jeff – voiced by Norhaili Ithnin
• Saidon – voiced by Raja Zaharuddin Shah Raja Chik
• Saodah – voiced by Sherinaazlin Bakar
• Seipun – voiced by Adzlan Sulong

Although Usop Sontorian started airing in 1996, all of the episodes were already produced between 1993 and 1996. During its run, the series spanned 3 seasons and 50 episodes. All episodes directed by Kamn Ismail.

Usop Sontorian originally set to be aired in 1994,^[29] but it postponed for over 2 years due to uncertain reasons.^{[30] [31]} The series was officially launched by the then-Minister of Information, Datuk Seri Mohamed Rahmat on 20 January 1996 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)^[32] and debuted on RTM TV1 from January 27, 1996, and ended on April 5, 1997.^[33]

In 2009, the series was aired on TV9 from May to December 2009, every Monday to Thursday at 8:30am. Previously, Usop Sontorian had reruns on TV1 from 1997 to 1998, and again from 2000 to 2002. The series later aired on TV2 from April 2005 to January 2006. Some of the series' episodes are also available on YouTube.

In 1995, Usop Sontorian received recognition as the "Malaysia's First Animated Series" by The Malaysia Book of Records.^{[34] [35]}

It also well received in Japan when it was screened at the Asian Animation Festival held in Hiroshima, Japan in June 1996. The series was distributed in Malaysia by Eurofine and for international release, it is distributed by Arief International under the titles Adventures Of Usop and Usop & Geng.^{[36] [37] [38]} It was also dubbed in English and Spanish.^[9]

In September 1996, Kharisma Pictures announced that a feature film based on the Usop Sontorian series, entitled Usop Sontorian: The Movie was in development and set to be released by the second quarter of 2000. Marking a shift from the series' traditional animation, the film will be computer-animated and will see the series' voice cast and crew returning, with series creator Ujang and director Kamn Ismail reprising their respective roles as writer and director for the film. The series' producer, Othman Yusof, executive producer Michael Lum and theme music composer, Zalikamari also will reprise their respective roles in the Usop Sontorian film.

The film was produced by Kharisma Pictures and distributed for Malaysian release by Eurofine and for international release by Arief International. However, the series creator Ujang announced that the planned Usop Sontorian film was cancelled following the shutdown of Kharisma Pictures and the series' demise in March 1997 as well as having difficulties to securing investment, just before the Asian financial crisis took place.

• Hassan Abdullah Muthalib (June 2007). "From Mousedeer to Mouse: Malaysian Animation at the Crossroads". Inter-Asia Cultural Studies: Southeast Asian Cinema. 8 (2). Hong Kong: Dow Jones & Company: 288–297. doi:10.1080/14649370701238755. ISSN 1464-9373. S2CID 54991062. IDNumber: 512199.
• Faryna Mohd Khalis (2020). "The Evolution of Malaysian Cartoon Animation" (PDF). Voice of Academia (VoA). 16 (2). Kedah: Universiti Teknologi MARA: 1–25. ISSN 2682-7840.

• 1996 Malaysian television series debuts
• 1997 Malaysian television series endings
• Malaysian children's animated comedy television series
• Radio Televisyen Malaysia original programming
• Television shows set in Malaysia
• Animated television series about families
• Malay-language television shows

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