Indonesia’s Garuda Heads to Tokyo as a First foray into Animation
Indonesian producer Shanty Harmayn is expanding the country’s storytelling horizons with Garuda: Dare to Dream, an animated feature premiering at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market. This marks Harmayn’s first foray into animation and sets the table for a planned early 2026 theatrical release. The project signals Indonesia’s growing ambitions in global animation and aligns with a wave of regional creativity seeking international co-productions and distribution opportunities.
A Heartfelt, Sport-Rooted Adventure
At its core, Garuda follows Putra, a 13-year-old with asthma who dreams of earning a place on Indonesia’s national soccer team. After facing ridicule at the Sanca Perkasa Soccer School trials, Putra encounters Gaga, a luminous Garuda spirit, who bestows an extraordinary jersey that unlocks speed, power, and skill. The story blends adventure, drama, humor, and high-octane sports action to deliver a coming-of-age journey about courage, perseverance, and the pursuit of a dream.
A Creative Team with Global Experience
Director Ronny Gani, who previously worked as an animator on Marvel projects, emphasizes that Garuda’s message resonates on a personal level. The film reflects his own experience of overcoming barriers to pursue animation as a profession, underscoring the project’s universal themes of resilience and boldness.
Production Journey: Three Years in the Making
Harmayn notes that the project’s development has been deliberate and collaborative. As a first animated feature with a new team, the production navigated the logistics of financing and creative scope to strike a balance between a compelling story and top-tier animation quality.
Barunson E&A has joined as both investor and sales agent, signaling strong international confidence in Garuda. Harmayn confirms plans for a theatrical release in Indonesia in early 2026, while signaling ambitions for the film to travel to other markets as the project progresses.
Visual Identity and Research-Driven Authenticity
Gani stresses the importance of establishing a distinctive visual language early in production. In a crowded animation landscape, Garuda aims to be visually memorable yet technically feasible, ensuring the look supports the narrative energy and emotional core of the film.
To capture authentic sports action, the team scrutinizes real-world soccer footage and studies a broad spectrum of comedic timing. This rigorous research approach helps Garuda translate Indonesian cultural textures into a universal, audience-friendly experience.
Looking Ahead: More Stories on the Horizon
While Garuda: Dare to Dream takes the spotlight at the Tokyo market, the creative team is already developing additional projects to build a broader universe. Details remain under wraps, but the ambition is clear: to extend Indonesia’s animated storytelling toolkit to international audiences while exploring innovative financing and co-production models.
As Garuda moves toward its early 2026 release, industry observers will watch how the project navigates the gap-financing landscape and whether its cross-cultural appeal can connect with audiences in Japan and beyond. The Tokyo appearance marks not just a market pitch, but a signal that Indonesian animation is ready to dream big on the global stage.
