Kisah Bawah Tanah: Malaysian Urban Legends Brought to Life in Animation
- YT
- Sep 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Table of Content
Introduction
If you grew up in Malaysia, you know how it goes. Someone always has a story about the Pontianak waiting by the roadside, or the Toyol creeping into houses to steal coins. Maybe your cousin swore he saw something white floating behind a banana tree. Or maybe you were the one who “heard footsteps” even though no one else did.
These stories — these Malaysian urban legends — are part of our DNA. They’ve been whispered from grandparents to grandchildren, traded in classrooms, and exaggerated during late-night mamak sessions when everyone’s trying to act brave. They’re scary, yes, but they’re also fun, familiar, and oddly comforting.
As the team behind Kisah Bawah Tanah (a.k.a. Tales Down Below), we grew up with the same goosebumps. And we always wondered: what if these legends weren’t just for scaring kids at night? What if they could make us laugh, too? What if we put them at the centre of a story that’s about growing up, messing up, and figuring life out?
That’s how our 2D animated series was born.
Why Malaysian Urban Legends Still Stick With Us
Let’s be real: ghost stories never really go out of style. But Malaysian urban legends hit differently because they feel so close to home.
The Pontianak, with her haunting cry and long hair, has scared generations into avoiding dark roads.
The Toyol is practically a cautionary tale about shortcuts and greed.
The Hantu Raya? Proof that making shady deals always comes with a price.
And who hasn’t heard of the Orang Bunian? The mysterious invisible beings said to live among us, often linked with stories of people who go missing without a trace.
These legends aren’t just random horror stories. They reflect our fears, our values, and our imaginations. They’re warnings wrapped in entertainment, cultural markers that remind us of where we come from.
Other countries have their vampires, werewolves, or Bigfoot. But we have our own — and honestly, they’re just as weird, creepy, and fascinating. So why not show them off in a new light?
Why Animation, Not Live Action?
When we first tossed around the idea of adapting folklore, we had a choice: live action or animation. And honestly? Live action just didn’t feel right.
2D animation gave us the freedom to lean into the absurdity. A Pontianak doesn’t just glide — she can zoom. A Toyol doesn’t just steal coins — he can end up in the most ridiculous slapstick situations. Animation lets us stretch reality until it snaps, but still keeps it entertaining.
Plus, animation captures that blend of eerie and funny in a way live action never could. Think about it: Western myths like Dracula or Norse gods became pop icons through movies, comics, and cartoons. Why shouldn’t Malaysian urban legends get the same playful treatment?
That’s the balance we wanted — spooky, yes, but also hilarious, nostalgic, and full of heart.
Meet Kisah Bawah Tanah and What It's About
Here’s the exciting part: Kisah Bawah Tanah is the first and only Malaysian cartoon that puts Southeast Asian ghosts at the centre of the story.
And instead of making them just villains lurking in the shadows, we made them… well, kind of like us.
At its core, Tales Down Below follows Zack and Sam — two teenage skeletons (yes, skeletons) who just want to play video games, read comics, and live a chill life. The problem? They’re stuck working at Tok Mart, a magical convenience store owned by an old-school zombie boss who’s more obsessed with money than with employee rights.
Tok Mart isn’t ordinary either — it has an interdimensional portal that opens to countless worlds full of myths and creatures. So, of course, Zack and Sam get roped into “errands” that usually turn into dangerous, hilarious adventures.
They’re underpaid, overworked, and always in over their heads. But through it all, they’re just trying to figure out adulthood — making friends, falling in love, messing up, and starting over again.
It’s supernatural chaos meets coming-of-age comedy.
Standing on the Shoulders of Malaysian Animation Giants
We can’t talk about Kisah Bawah Tanah without acknowledging the path paved by other Malaysian cartoons. Shows like Upin & Ipin and Bola Kampung didn’t just entertain us; they proved that local animation could thrive, both here and abroad.
And then there’s Animasia Studio — one of Malaysia’s most influential animation powerhouses. They showed the world that Malaysian creativity has no borders. Honestly, without them setting the bar so high, we might not have had the confidence to even attempt something like this.
That’s why it means so much to us that Kisah Bawah Tanah is a collaboration between Animasia Studio, InnerVoices Productions, Spaceboy Studio, Hot Drop Films, and with consultation from Komet Production. It’s not just one team’s dream — it’s a collective effort to push Malaysian animation into new territory.
Why We Made Kisah Bawah Tanah
Here’s the heart of it: we didn’t set out to just make a ghost story.
We wanted to capture that specific moment in life when you’re too old to be a kid but not quite ready to be a real adult. You’ve left home, you’re chasing big dreams in a bigger town, but you’re still clinging to video games, comics, and late-night nonsense with your best friend.
That’s Zack and Sam in a nutshell. They’re us — awkward, hopeful, broke, and always convinced they’ve got it figured out (until life proves otherwise).
The show is about friendship being your lifeline when everything else is chaos. About failing spectacularly but laughing anyway. About trying to grow up, but still resisting the boring parts of adulthood.
And, of course, it’s about proving that our Malaysian urban legends and Southeast Asian folklore are just as fun, freaky, and entertaining as anything Hollywood has to offer.
Why It Matters Right Now
Let’s be honest: kids today probably know more about Slenderman than about the Orang Minyak. They’ll binge-watch Western monsters on Netflix but might not even know the legends from their own backyard.
That’s why we believe Kisah Bawah Tanah matters. By turning Malaysian urban legends into relatable, funny, and binge-worthy content, we’re keeping those stories alive. We’re passing them on in a form that Gen Z and even Gen Alpha can connect with.
And beyond Malaysia, it’s also a way to introduce the world to Southeast Asia’s supernatural heritage. Our stories deserve to sit at the same table as vampires, werewolves, and zombies — and now they can.
What’s Next for Kisah Bawah Tanah
The beauty of Tok Mart’s interdimensional portal is that it opens endless possibilities. We’re not stopping at the usual suspects.
Expect to see Zack and Sam stumble into encounters with the Penanggalan, the Orang Bunian, the Orang Minyak, and maybe even legends from outside Southeast Asia. We want to mash up myths, clash cultures, and see what ridiculous adventures come out of it.
And the best part? You can be part of it too.
🎬 Watch our latest video below:
👉 Want to keep up with all things Down Below? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our YouTube channel. We share episodes, behind-the-scenes chaos, questions and answer that you're seeking, and sneak peeks of what’s coming next.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, Kisah Bawah Tanah is our love letter to the stories we grew up with.
Yes, it’s about skeletons, zombies, and supernatural chaos. But really, it’s about friendship, growing up, and holding on to the legends that shaped who we are.
We’re proud to be the first Malaysian cartoon to put Southeast Asian ghosts front and centre. And we’re excited to prove that Malaysian urban legends aren’t just worth remembering — they’re worth laughing with, learning from, and celebrating on the world stage.
So, what’s your favourite legend? Drop it in the comments or share it with us online. Who knows — Zack and Sam might just bump into it in an upcoming episode.
Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s this: our stories deserve the spotlight.
