Indonesia’s global Netflix is ​​entering the comic book boom

JAKARTA (ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES) – Heavy metal band Voice of Baceprot (VoB) has become a landmark achievement for Indonesia’s creative sector and made history as the country’s first music band to perform at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival in England.

Sharing the stage with big-name acts like Coldplay and Dua Lipa was a dream come true for the three hijab-wearing members of VoB, all in their 20s, who formed the band in 2014.

The milestone underlines Indonesia’s growing influence on the global stage across a range of fields, including television, music, gaming and comics, supported by government initiatives to nurture a thriving creative industry.

Indonesia’s creative economy continues to grow and is expected to reach IDR 1.3 trillion (£67 million) in 2023, up from IDR 1.28 trillion (£66 million) in 2022 and IDR 1.19 trillion (£61 million) in 2021.

In June, streaming giant Netflix debuted “Nightmares And Daydreams,” an original series from local director Joko Anwar.

The seven-episode anthology of supernatural and science-fiction stories quickly became a hit not only in Indonesia, but also in neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Critics have compared the series to the works of American producer Jordan Peele (This Is Us, Get Out) and Mexican director Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth).

“Filmmakers have an obligation to create works that reflect our society,” Joko said during a press conference ahead of the series’ June 14 premiere.

While the series delves into supernatural science fiction, “these stories are deeply connected to our lives today, touching on widely discussed issues, everyday experiences and sociopolitical themes,” he noted.

In addition, two other Indonesian Netflix hits of 2023, the documentary “Ice Cold” and the costume drama “Cigarette Girl”, also gained popularity worldwide and were watched by millions of viewers.

Indonesia’s vibrant creative industry spans 17 sub-sectors, from fashion, culinary arts and mobile app development to video game design, architecture, interior design, television, radio, performing arts and film, animation and video production.

These achievements extend beyond the more established sectors of television and music, with creators from across the board making a significant impact.

In 2023, the source reported an increase in the number of Indonesian-produced video games based on local culture, which were well-received by the global gaming community and also played a role in introducing Indonesian culture to the world.

A Space For The Unbound by Mojiken Studio from Surabaya received an excellent review from the British daily The Guardian. At the end of 2022, he also received The Future Division award from the Computer Entertainment Association of Japan. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in upcoming games.

In the world of comics, a team led by Bryan Valenza, a colorist at Marvel Entertainment, is currently raising funds to publish a series titled Bandits Of Batavia, inspired by the Indonesian Betawi culture.

The action-packed crime thriller, one of the first of its kind in Indonesia, focuses on Indonesia’s 19th-century past and tells the story of a man who encounters a group of supernatural bandits and is drawn into a risky clash with the authorities.

The team, which launched a fundraising campaign in June, has raised more than $5,000 so far and hopes to publish the first issue in September.

“It takes dedication, sacrifice and (perseverance) to write a good story. This project has been the most challenging and ambitious since I entered the world of comic book writing,” Bryan said in an Instagram post on April 11. He added that the concept of this story had been in his head since 2015.

Appreciating the potential of the creative sector, the government actively supports artists.

With the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. Bryan and several other comics professionals participated in Singapore Comic Con 2023, which saw thousands of participants and booths from over 450 brands showcasing products such as comics, toys and tabletop games, and comics.

VoB received government assistance to process the members’ immigration documents before they left for Glastonbury, but had to cancel their 2022 UK tour due to visa issues.

The team was also provided with accommodation at the residence of the Indonesian ambassador to the UK.

Other recent government moves also reflect a desire to support the creative industries.

For example, the Ministry of Communications and Information backed away from proposed sweeping regulations on video game companies in March after receiving feedback that they could stifle the industry and limit access to the global market.

The planned regulations will now apply only to online game publishers, not traditional offline games, according to talks officials have held with local gaming associations.

Most recently, on June 24, President Joko Widodo launched a new digital licensing service that aims to reduce the red tape and bureaucratic complications involved in organizing artistic events in the country.

Mr Widodo said some events required 13 different permits and letters of recommendation, which he said was burdensome and a deterrent to organising them.

“With the upcoming digitization of permits, I hope that it will not just be an online service, but will truly provide ease of management, certainty, reduce bureaucracy and lead to lower costs, while being more open and transparent,” he said.

While the creative economy’s contribution to Indonesia is growing in absolute terms, economists have pointed out that its relative share in the overall economy has declined.

Indonesia’s Permata Bank chief economist Josua Pardede told sources that the latest data showed that the sector accounted for 6.54% of Indonesia’s total economy in 2022, up from 7.02% in 2021.

To develop the creative economy in Indonesia, Josua said the government needs to develop more high-value-added creative products such as software and games, architectural services, design services, music and film.

He explained that these sectors could also provide better-paid jobs.

“The development of these sectors should also be aimed at the overseas market, not just the domestic market, as it could also help Indonesia’s trade balance, especially by increasing the value of Indonesia’s services exports,” Josua added.