22 Nov – As 2019 edges closer to its end, it is set to welcome another local animated film in the cinemas, namely "Ejen Ali: The Movie", which follows this year's high-grossing animations "Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal" and "BoBoiBoy Movie 2". Chief Executive Officer of Primeworks Studios, Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar, expressed hopes for the movie to achieve its targeted box office collection of RM20 million, seeing the high-quality graphic that's utilised in the movie. "Animated films "Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal" and "BoBoiBoy Movie 2" have opened the world's eyes to the Malaysian animation industry. Malaysia has long been a centre for animation but not many were aware of that. "Most of Malaysia's animation companies work for companies outside the country. They have never had the chance to create their own work. So, now is the right time to introduce our local animation industry to the rest of the world," he said.
Izham added that even though there are several big international animated films that will be screened soon, he's confident that "Ejen Ali: The Movie" has its own strength and will be able to compete at the box office and hopes that it will land in the box office chart's Top 3. "I'm proud by the result of the individuals working behind-the-scenes in producing a work with high-quality graphic. Most of them who worked on the movie are aged 25 to 28 years old," he said. Izham was present at the press conference and gala premiere of "Ejen Ali: The Movie", held recently at GSC Mid Valley Megamall. Also present was Chief Executive Officer of Wau Animation, Usamah Zaid Yasin, who also helmed the movie.
At the gala premiere, singer Aisyah Aziz also did her inaugural performance of the first song from the movie's soundtrack, entitled "Bukalah Matamu". The second song, "Kita Jaga Kita", is performed by local hip hop artist Altimet, along with Cuurley and Malik Abdullah. Azri Yunus and Hakim Kamal, who worked on the movie, also lent their touch to the soundtrack. Ejen Ali is a 12-year-old boy who has been recruited as a spy for secret agency MATA by accident. MATA then develops his Atlas gadget without his knowledge to use it to upgrade IRIS to IRIS Neo. Conflict arises when the new invention starts being tested as standard equipment for all MATA agents, causing Ali to question his usefulness to the agency. With a production cost of RM6.5 million, the animated film is set to be released simultaneously in three countries, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. So act fast and catch "Ejen Ali: The Movie" in cinemas this 28 November!