Usop Sontorian

Last updated
Usop Sontorian
Usop Sontorian title card.jpg
Title card, displaying the then-new logo of the series.
Genre
Created byUjang
Developed by
  • Kamn Ismail
  • Ujang
Written by
  • Hood Yusof
  • Lutfi Ismail
  • Azizi Hj. Adnan
Directed byKamn Ismail
Voices of
  • Farriz Izwan Khairulanuar
  • Faisal Hairie Khairulanuar
  • Faizal Haredz Mohd Johari
  • Kamn Ismail
  • Zaharah Jidin
  • Dielfitri Tajudin
  • Ruslan Ayob
  • Ahmad Nazri Mahmood
  • Marzuki Abdullah
  • Azhar Saad
  • Wan Ayumi Wan Yusof
  • Syed Rahiman
  • Norwati Ismail
  • Sharifuddin Abdul Rashid
  • Mohd Akib Junid
  • Adzlan Sulong
Theme music composerProduksi Rakam Zalikamari
Opening theme"Usop Sontorian"
Ending theme"Usop Sontorian"
ComposerZalikamari
Country of origin Malaysia
Original languageMalay
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes50 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerMichael Lum
Producer Othman Yusof
Editors
  • Amisyahril Edwan Amran
  • Azlina Din
  • Khairudin Shabudin
Running time22-23 minutes
Production companyKharisma Pictures
Release
Original network RTM
Picture format 576i
Audio format Stereo
Original release27 January 1996 (1996-01-27) 
14 April 1997 (1997-04-14)

Usop Sontorian is a Malaysian animated cartoon series aired on TV1 from 1996 to 1997. [1] [2] [3] The country's first animated series, it was created by Ujang [4] [5] and produced by Kharisma Pictures. [6] [7] The series was directed by Kamn Ismail, who is also lend his voice for one of the series' characters.

Contents

Ismail was the managing director of Quest Animations until his death in 2019. Ujang, the series' creator, was not permitted to create any cartoon characters which have similarities to Usop Sontorian, after a failed legal battle to acquire rights to the character. After the series demise and Kharisma Pictures' closure in 1997, many of the production team were switched to different animation companies while others become full-time cartoonist for magazines Ujang and APO?, both under Kharisma Publications (renamed to MOY Publications).

Overview

Usop Sontorian is created by Malaysian cartoonist, Ibrahim Anon or Ujang as he affectionately known, with the concepts, storyline and script all done by him. [4] In an exclusive interview with New Straits Times in December 1993, Ujang describes the anticipated production as a Malaysianised version of The Simpsons , stating that: "It is basically about a Malay family and their culture". [4] Together with series director Kamn Ismail, he took charge of the technical aspects. By March 1993, Ujang teamed up with a group of layout artists and animators to work on the series. Usop Sontorian was made as a comic strip within the Ujang magazine and later as a standalone magazine before its TV series was produced. [8] Malaysian public broadcaster, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) acquire the broadcast rights of the series with Eurofine handling the distribution.

Synopsis

Usop Sontorian tells the story of the village life of Malaysian boy, Usop and his friends Abu, Dol, Ah Kim, Vellu, and Singh. Usop is the third and youngest child in his family. He has two elder siblings: a sister, Kak Kiah, and a jobless brother named Abang Budin. The story is set in Kampung Parit Sonto, not far from the town of Ayer Hitam, Johor; hence the name "Sontorian". The theme of the series was to promote unity and harmonious relationships between all races in multi-ethnic Malaysia. [9] [10]

Characters

Main

Recurring

Other characters

Episodes

Although Usop Sontorian started airing in 1996, actually all episodes were produced between 1993 and 1996. During its run, the series spanned 3 seasons and 50 episodes.

Season 1 (1996)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Lari Dari Rumah"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
22"Kawan Baru"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
33"Main Gitar"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
44"Tetamu Istimewa [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
55"Selebet [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
66"Dol Pindah [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
77"Basikal Tua [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
88"Lampu Ajaib [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
99"Melawat Kuala Lumpur [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1010"Berkhemah"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1111"Pendekar [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1212"Meriam Buloh [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1313"Bermain Rakit [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1414"Olahragawan [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1515"Anak Gajah"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1616"Burung Kakak Tua"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1717"Budin Masuk Lokap"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
1818"Budin Ke Kuala Lumpur [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)

Season 2 (1996–1997)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
191"Sayang Kak Kiah [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
202"Usahawan Muda"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
213"Perang Bintang"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
224"Budak Jahat"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
235"Hantu Parit Sonto"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
246"Kartini Selamanya [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailAzhar Ahmad1996 (1996)
257"Pendekar II"Kamn IsmailUjang1996 (1996)
268"Sakit Gigi"Kamn IsmailLutfi Ismail1996 (1996)
279"U.F.O. [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
2810"Lawan Bola"Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
2911"Anugerah"Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
3012"Abu Oh Abu"Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
3113"Superhero"Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
3214"Temberang [lower-alpha 1] "Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
3315"Tetamu"Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)
3416"Ketua Kelas"Kamn IsmailUjang1997 (1997)

Season 3 (1997)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
351"Dunia Air"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
362"Dinasor"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
373"Kisah Seorang Biduan"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
384"Berkhatan"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
395"Seipun"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
406"Terkenang"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
417"Pertandingan Layang-Layang"Kamn IsmailLutfi Ismail1997 (1997)
428"Debab Kembali"Kamn IsmailLutfi Ismail1997 (1997)
439"Harta Karun"Kamn IsmailAzhar Ahmad1997 (1997)
4410"Misi Mustahil"Kamn IsmailSoul Ghazali1997 (1997)
4511"Berkhemah II"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)
4612"Panjang Tangan"Kamn IsmailRuslan Ayob1997 (1997)
4713"Perang Bukit"Kamn IsmailAzhar Ahmad1997 (1997)
4814"Jambatan Runtuh"Kamn IsmailAhmad Kamil Othman1997 (1997)
4915"Sisa Toksid"Kamn IsmailLutfi Ismail1997 (1997)
5016"Merdeka"Kamn IsmailAzizi Adnan1997 (1997)

Broadcast

Usop Sontorian originally set to be aired in 1994, [11] but it postponed for over 2 years due to uncertain reasons. [12] [13] The series was officially launched by the then-Minister of Information, Datuk Seri Mohamed Rahmat on 20 January 1996 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) [14] and debuted on RTM TV1 from March 4, 1996, and ended on April 14, 1997. [15]

Reruns

In 2009, the series was aired on TV9 from May to December 2009, every Monday to Thursday at 8:30am. Previously, Usop Sontorian aired repeatedly on RTM1 from 2000 to 2002 and RTM2 in April 2005 to January 2006. Some of Usop Sontorian episodes also available on YouTube.

Reception

In 1995, Usop Sontorian received recognition as the "Malaysia's First Animated Series" by The Malaysia Book of Records. [16] [17]

It also well received in Japan when it was screened at the Asian Animation Festival held in Hiroshima, Japan in June 1996. The series was distributed in Malaysia by Eurofine and for international release, it is distributed by Arief International where it retitled as Adventures Of Usop and Usop & Geng. [18] [19] [20] It also dubbed in English and Spanish. [9]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Episodes which have different background music on the ending credits instead of main theme music.

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References

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  10. Hassan 2007, p. 288–297.
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  12. Rozila Saibi (4 January 1995). "Ujang risaukan Usop Sontorian". Harian Metro . Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  13. Fauzi (22 April 1995). "Time for our own 'toons". New Straits Times . Retrieved 15 December 2021.
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Bibliography