Indonesian producer Shanty Harmayn is making her company’s first foray into animation with the upcoming animated feature **“Garuda: Dare to Dream.”** The film is set to premiere theatrically in early 2026, and ahead of its release, it will be showcased at the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market.
The story centers on Putra, a 13-year-old boy with asthma who dreams of playing for Indonesia’s national soccer team. After facing ridicule during tryouts at the Sanca Perkasa Soccer School, Putra discovers a mystical jersey gifted by Gaga, a glowing Garuda spirit. This magical jersey unlocks incredible speed, power, and skill, enabling Putra to pursue his ambitions. The film blends genres, weaving together adventure, drama, humor, and sports action into a compelling narrative.
“We see Japan as a leading center of animation and anime,” says Harmayn. “Since this is our first time producing an animated feature, we wanted to meet and learn from other animation companies, gain exposure to gap financing, connect with potential distributors, and explore festival launch opportunities.”
Director Ronny Gani, who has experience working as an animator on Marvel films, shares that the film’s core message resonates deeply with his own journey. “The story of finding the courage to take that first step toward a dream directly mirrored my own experience of facing significant limitations in access and social challenges when I chose to pursue a career as a professional animator,” he explains.
The production of *Garuda: Dare to Dream* has been in development for three years. Harmayn notes, “Setting up the project took longer because it was our first animated feature and involved a new team. The biggest challenge has been finding the right scale in terms of finance and investment, while making sure we deliver a strong story with top-quality animation.”
Barunson E&A has joined the project as both an investor and sales agent. Harmayn emphasizes their distribution plans: “We plan to release theatrically in Indonesia in the first part of 2026.” While Indonesia is considered the primary market, the team has hopes that the film will find audiences in other territories as well.
For Gani, developing a unique visual identity has been a crucial part of the project. “In the current competitive landscape of animation, it is imperative that we develop a unique and compelling visual identity from the outset,” he says, adding that the style must be both memorable and feasible within production constraints.
The multifaceted narrative requires extensive research across several genres. “We constantly study real-world soccer footage to ensure the authenticity and energy of the sports-action sequences,” Gani explains. “Similarly, we analyze a wide range of comedy to understand timing and delivery for our humorous beats.”
Looking ahead, the team is already working on additional projects to follow *Garuda: Dare to Dream*, though details remain under wraps. This ambitious venture marks an exciting new chapter for Indonesian animation, blending cultural storytelling with universally resonant themes of courage and determination.
https://variety.com/2025/film/markets-festivals/indonesian-animation-garuda-tokyo-market-1236562617/
