Kisah Bawah Tanah: A Funny Cartoon About Malaysian Ghosts & Urban Legends

Malaysian Ghost Stories Reimagined in a Comedy Cartoon! What happens when you mix Malaysian ghost tales, urban legends, and teenage awkwardness? You get Kisah Bawah Tanah — a brand-new comedy cartoon that’s spooky, silly, and proudly Southeast Asian.

The series will be introduced at the Malaysia Digital Content Festival 2023 (MYDCF), running until Oct 1 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Meet Zack, Sam, and a host of hilarious monsters in Kisah Bawah Tanah — a comedy cartoon that flips Malaysian ghosts and urban legends into funny adventures.

Zack & Sam: Skeleton Best Friends in a Funny Anime World

At the heart of the story are Zack and Sam — two teenage undead skeleton besties stumbling through everyday life while clashing with supernatural creatures. Think of it as a funny anime vibe where pontianaks, toyols, and hantu are not just scary, but also part of the joke.

From Urban Legends to Laugh-Out-Loud Moments

The show is aimed at viewers 13 and above, taking urban legends that once kept kids awake at night and flipping them into laugh-out-loud stories.

“We wanted to shine a spotlight on our Southeast Asian ghost stories. They’re just as strange, spooky, and funny as anything else out there — and perfect for animation,” said Hendra Wardi, Managing Director of Bawah Tanah Sdn Bhd.

Award-Winning Malaysian Animation with a Malaysian ghosts and more

The creative team behind Kisah Bawah Tanah proudly showing off their skeleton duo, Zack and Sam — bringing Malaysian ghosts and urban legends to life in a funny anime style.

Kisah Bawah Tanah began in 2018 when it won MDEC’s Intellectual Property Creators Challenge (IPCC). Since then, it has gone on to win the Silver Award at Tokyo Broadcasting Station’s DigiCON6 Asia Awards, proving that Malaysian ghost folklore has international appeal when reimagined in a fresh, comedic style.

Beyond TV: TikTok, Webcomics, and More

But the fun doesn’t stop at television. The team is planning TikTok micro-shorts, webcomics, music, merchandise, live fan activations, and even Web3 expansions. The series itself is expected to premiere by the end of 2024.

Where to Catch Kisah Bawah Tanah at MYDCF 2023

For fans eager to get a first look, MYDCF is free to enter and open to the public. This annual event celebrates animation, games, esports, and creative tech — and Kisah Bawah Tanah is shaping up to be one of the highlights.

It’s proof that our Malaysian ghosts and urban legends can be just as entertaining on screen as they are around the campfire — this time, with a funny cartoon twist.

This article is originally published on The Star, by Gordon Kho, on September 23, 2023