Trailer Merah Putih One for All (Source: Youtube perfiki tv)

Warta Kema—On Thursday (10/07), the Indonesian public was taken aback by the sudden release of the trailer Merah Putih: One for All on the Perifiki TV YouTube channel.

The film is promoted as a karya anak bangsa or work of the nation’s children. Does it truly deserve to have this title? Can this film be one of Indonesia’s proudest films of all time, or is it not? 

The trailer mentioned that the movie is a special animation to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Indonesian independence. It tells the story of eight children from diverse cultural backgrounds who unite to save the mysterious vanished Merah Putih flag. They must overcome their differences, storms, and even suppress their egos for one purpose: to raise the flag on Independence Day.  

The trailer for the movie sparked controversy among Indonesians. Many people began to question the origins and production of the film. People express their criticism and voice their disappointment on social media, discussing the film; mostly, people on X write about their opinions in tweets. 

Merah Putih: One for All faced backlash not only from the public but also from professional animators and artists. The film was criticized for its lack of visuals, smooth movement, and evidently low-budget production that did not live up to the great expectations placed on such a nationally significant film. Not only that, but the accusation of character-designing plagiarism also fueled the controversy, raising public doubts about the film’s originality and legitimacy. 

“An Indonesian film titled “Merah Putih One for All” will be released in theaters on August 14. Is this really money laundering or what? The animation is trash, and the cover looks like a pirated crossover cartoon that nobody asked for,” wrote @Robe****

Amid the widespread criticism of Merah Putih: One for All, one of Indonesian animators, Ardiandhy, director of the successful animation Jumbo, also offered a hopeful message. “We will continue to do our best. We will keep going until finally, those who are insincere and careless are eliminated and have no reason to ask for support. It is necessary to go through a dark period to see a bright future for Indonesian animation”. His words reflect the ongoing challenges in the industry while emphasizing optimism for the future. 

The controversy not only revolved around Indonesia but also extended beyond it, drawing attention from Junaid Miran, a Pakistani animator whose 3D character assets were reportedly used in the film. On August 16, 2025, Junaid posted a YouTube video addressing misunderstandings related to the controversy. In the video, he clarified his views, showed respect to the Indonesian filmmakers, and celebrated the creative talent in Indonesia despite the criticism. 

However, on September 1, 2025, Junaid released another video titled “Yes, I’m Suing Them Need Your Help,” indicating legal action over alleged unauthorized use of his assets. This video was later removed after Bintang Takari, one of Merah Putih’s creators, reached out in the comments section under Junaid’s video to initiate a respectful dialogue. In exchange, Bintang Takari has affirmed that they purchased Junaid’s assets from the Reallusion Content Store and used them legitimately for the upcoming projects, which then helped resolve the dispute amicably.

Following the resolution, Junaid expressed his gratitude on September 4, 2025, in a video titled “We won! Kita Berhasil,” thanking supporters for their encouragement and solidarity throughout the process: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing beside me through this. Your support, your voices, your courage made this possible.” This closure brought relief to one of the major controversies surrounding the film.   

While Merah Putih: One for All has faced harsh backlash, it is important to understand this amid rising expectations for Indonesian animation. The audience now expects Indonesian animators to deliver works that can stand proudly on the international stage. Whether creators can meet and exceed expectations will shape the future of Indonesia’s animation industry. 

Author: Putri Adelia Ardini

Editor: Syafina Ristia Putri, Andrea Hillary Gusandi, Ammara Azwadiena Alfiantie