At a JAFF Market panel, leading creators from Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea argued that Asian animation is shifting into a higher gear, driven by breakout hits like Visinema ’s ‘ Jumbo ,’ Malaysia’s expanding teen-leaning storytelling and Korea’s growing global ambitions.

Across the board, panelists stressed that the region now needs scale, investment and better distribution pipelines to meet surging demand for quality animation.

Malaysian marketing firms have made it possible for the country to investigate narratives in animation. These include slice-of-life neighborhood tales in “Upin & Ipin” to stories like “Boboi Boy” and “Ejen Ali,” which tackle issues of grief and beyond.

In Malaysia, animation has evolved topics appropriate for viewers aged 13 and up, rather than just

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