EDUTAINMENT: THE REPRESENTATION OF MALAYSIAN CULTURE IN THE UPIN & IPIN: THE LONE GIBBON KRIS FILM

Abstract

Films are not just entertainment but films are also an edutainment for society. In addition, film also plays a role as a tool in conveying information, stimulating learning as an educational medium, being a tool to influence, or simply being a medium for triggering propaganda. This study will examine the animated film Upin & Ipin: The Lone Gibbon Kris (2019) and see to what extent the function of this animated film can play a role as an agent of spreading edutainment values within the culture of Malaysian society. In addition, this study also wants to see other factors that may contribute to the wealth of values and role models in this film such as the screenplay and direction, branding, special effects; Computer-generated Imagery (CGI), the survival of this film as a metafictional spectacle and not forgetting the audience's existing perception and reach towards the Upin and Ipin characters themselves. This study uses a qualitative method a case study Malaysian animated film Upin & Ipin: The Lone Gibbon Kris (2019) and uses textual analysis in examining six frames in this film. The researcher focuses on the role of this film which is seen not only as an entity that has recorded box office hits but also how this film has acted as an agent of community unification through the application of edutainment values displayed on the screen of its narration. Using the Cultural Studies approach in this study, the researcher hopes to be able to share the results of this finding as an encouragement for local filmmakers to be more enthusiastic in producing and highlighting works that are loaded with didactic value and pieces of culture for public viewing.