According to Ward Goodenough: The culture of a society consists of everything that must be known or believed by a person in order to behave in a way that is acceptable to the members of that society. Culture is not a material phenomenon: it does not consist of objects, people, behaviors, or emotions. Culture is more an organization of those things. Culture is the form of things that exist in the human mind, the models that humans have to receive, connect, and then interpret the material phenomena above (Keesing, ...).

Film as a cultural product serves as a medium to convey moral messages from a civilization. Film also aims to build shared memories across generations. The shared memories built are not only about stories of joy and sorrow, but more than that, shared memories to collectively seek answers to a problem. The dark or glorious past can be learned by every generation. Referring to the Intrinsic Utility of History according to Kuntowijoyo, there are at least 3 relevant aspects of using film media to convey messages from the past as shared memories.

-          Moral education

History not only recounts events but also shows the moral values that can be drawn from each occurrence. Society can learn about values such as honesty, courage, and integrity through the sacrifices and stories of past figures. Moral education from history helps shape good character and provides guidelines for living in the present.

-          Reasoning education

History plays a role in training thinking or reasoning skills. Studying history requires critical analysis of facts, patterns of events, and the consequences that occur. This teaches a logical and systematic way of thinking. In this regard, society does not just accept information, but understands the background and context of each event.

-          Change education

History records various changes that occur in society, whether in terms of culture, economy, or technology. This change education provides insights for society to accept change as a normal and natural thing. By understanding the changes that have occurred, society can be more adaptive to the developments of the times and better prepared to face future challenges.

-          Future education

History provides education about the future. Although history is closely related to the past, historical analysis gives us an overview of trends and patterns that may recur in the future. Through historical knowledge, society can make better predictions and anticipations regarding events that may occur. Thus, it will make society more prepared to face various possibilities in the future. (Kuntowijoyo, 2001)

              To convey messages from the past related to the history and culture of a civilization can be done through various populist approaches, one of which is through film. The elements of Indonesian-ness that characterize our civilization can remain alive and become shared memories through film. The diverse genres as media to convey messages that can be accepted by various groups make the choice of animation media a suitable one as it will reach many audience segments.

Thus, it is not surprising that the film Jumbo, which is currently showing, is able to revive memories across generations. The animated film Jumbo produced by Visinema Studios and directed by Ryan Adriandhy has successfully marked a new milestone in the world of Indonesian animated films. Jumbo has recorded itself as the highest-grossing animated film of all time in Indonesia and is the first local animated film to surpass 1 million viewers within seven days of screening, continuing to soar in the Indonesian box office with an extraordinary achievement of reaching 2 million viewers on the eleventh day of screening.

The film "Jumbo" tells the story of Don as the main character who is an orphan, often underestimated because he has a large body and is often called "Jumbo" by his peers. Don lives in the legacy of memories from the storybook "Bubble Island" from his late parents. As a result of being frequently underestimated by Atta and his peers, Don/Jumbo, with the help of his friends (Mae, Nurman, and Mery), tries to show his abilities to excel in a storytelling project.

Meaning and Message in the Film Jumbo

Jumbo successfully stirs the heart with a warm story, sparking laughter, emotion, and full of meaning. The story and the complex values are packaged in such a way that they successfully capture the attention of children while also touching the hearts of adults. The film Jumbo is even more special because of its success in balancing entertainment elements and moral messages through beautiful animated film. The multidimensional interaction of the children's gang with spirits becomes a slightly unusual theme for a children's film but is very interesting.

Jumbo, as a bullied child, is also a human who has made mistakes. There is no human who is always good, nor is there a human who is always evil. We have all been unkind at times, but ultimately learning and striving to be good is a message that is consistently highlighted in this film. The audience is also invited to understand how each character has their own background, wounds, motivations, and internal conflicts.

Produced Over 5 Years by More Than 400 Creative Workers

The film Jumbo was produced by comedian, actor, and animator Ryan Adriandhy along with more than 420 creative workers from Indonesia, consisting of animators, scriptwriters, visual effects, sound effects, technical engineers, etc. This animated film project began in 2019 when Irfan Ramli and Adrian Qalbi designed the initial story idea and started production in 2021.

Visually, the animation of the film Jumbo is created with such meticulous detail. It feels like there has never been an Indonesian animated film as neat and as beautiful as Jumbo. The characters are designed with distinctive expressions, suitable for children but still enjoyable for adult audiences. The detail of the visual work of Jumbo's animation can be seen in the storytelling segment at the beginning of the film, which is made in a hand-drawn sketch visual style, different from the real-life segment, adding an artistic dimension rarely found in similar Indonesian animated films. The film concludes with an emotional scene that is so touching and heart-wrenching for adults. This scene is complemented by the Jumbo soundtrack titled Always in Your Tone by Bunga Citra Lestari.

Jumbo is Us

The phenomenon of the success of the film Jumbo is seen not only in the packed cinemas across Indonesia. The wave of enthusiasm for this animated film has also spread organically across various social media platforms. Netizens have spontaneously initiated the "Free Jumbo Buzzer" movement, voluntarily promoting this film. Indonesian animators and illustrators also celebrate Jumbo as a national pride through their creative works.

The creative interpretations from these animators and illustrators not only enliven the virtual world but also strengthen the emotional bond between the audience and the characters in the film. Furthermore, Jumbo is considered capable of inspiring young aspiring animators and illustrators in Indonesia. It is no wonder that this film is referred to as a new milestone for Indonesian animation. Not only screened nationally, Jumbo is also scheduled to be shown in 17 other countries, making it one of the most promising Indonesian animations globally at this time.

              Jumbo is popular because it depicts us as Indonesian society. There is representation of us in the characterization, the story script, and the conflicts that occur. What is conveyed from Jumbo is the Indonesian culture that currently prevails in society. The old intangible cultural traditions that still remain in society vs modernity, become a complete picture of what is currently happening in our society. This is a portrait of inherited traditions that are passed down through generations that converge into our behavioral patterns and actions in daily life. A beautiful way to record a civilization through animated film.

References

Hifzurahman, Muhammad Feraldi. (March 30, 2025). "Film Review: Jumbo" Accessed on April 11, 2025. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/hiburan/20250327130012-220-1213686/review-film-jumbo

Jasmine, Adinda. (April 6, 2025). Five Years of Creative Journey of the Animated Film Jumbo by Ryan Adriandhy et al. Accessed on April 11, 2025. https://www.tempo.co/teroka/lima-tahun-perjalanan-kreatif-film-animasi-jumbo-karya-ryan-adriandhy-dkk-1227960

Rostanti, Qommarria. (April 10, 2025). Film Jumbo Surpasses 2 Million Viewers. Accessed on April 11, 2025. https://ameera.republika.co.id/berita/sui7zc425/film-jumbo-tembus-2-juta-penonton

Jasmine, Adinda. (February 14, 2025). Film Jumbo Will Screen in 17 Countries, Animation by the Nation's Children. Accessed on April 11, 2025. https://www.tempo.co/teroka/film-jumbo-akan-tayang-di-17-negara-animasi-karya-anak-bangsa-1207325

Pinjungwati, Gayuh Tri. (April 8, 2025). Interesting Facts About the Animated Film Jumbo, Produced by More Than 400 Indonesian Creators Over 5 Years. Accessed on April 11, 2025. https://www.beautynesia.id/life/fakta-menarik-film-animasi-jumbo-digarap-lebih-dari-400-kreator-indonesia-selama-5-tahun/b-303559

Kuntowijoyo. 2001. Introduction to the Science of History. Yayasan Bentang Budaya. Yogyakarta.

Keesing, Roger M. No year. Theories About Culture. Anthropology Journal No 52