5 Anime Whose Characters Have Used Indonesian, from Detective Conan to Nichijou

Kapanlagi.com - The relationship between anime and Indonesia is really unique; from the super large fanbase, active creative community, to funny moments when anime characters suddenly blurt out in Indonesian. Sometimes it's just one word, sometimes a complete sentence, but enough to make the local fans go wild.

This phenomenon arises because many Japanese creators are aware that Indonesia has a huge anime market, plus the story settings often relate to Southeast Asian countries. Here is a list of anime whose characters have used the Indonesian language, complete with synopses and airing information.

1. Jormungand

This anime tells the story of Kokona, an international arms dealer who leads a team of mercenaries from various countries. Because they often move around for transactions, it's not surprising to hear several foreign languages being used, including Indonesian in certain scenes involving the Asian region.

The story mixes action, politics, and dark business intrigues that create tension but are still exciting. Jormungand aired in 2012 with a total of 12 episodes for the first season and was followed by Jormungand: Perfect Order with an additional 12 episodes.

2. Detective Conan: The Fourteenth Target

Anime poster Detective Conan: The Fourteenth Target (Credit: IMDB)

In one of Conan's adventure films, namely The Fourteenth Target, there is a moment when a character speaks with an accent and vocabulary of Indonesian due to their job background. Even though it's just a brief moment, Indonesian fans immediately notice.

This film focuses on Conan and his team as they must solve a puzzle of a serial murder related to playing cards and Kogoro Mouri's past. Released in 1998, the film has a duration of about 100 minutes as part of the annual Detective Conan film series.

3. South Park (Anime Parody Segment)

Anime poster South Park (Credit: IMDB)

Although it is not a full anime, South Park once made a quite iconic anime parody, and within it, there is a character who suddenly speaks a sentence in Indonesian. The segment is hilarious and full of Japanese pop culture references, so it's no wonder many Indonesian fans went wild when that moment went viral.

Since this is part of the episode, there is no specific episode count, but the parody aired in one of the episodes from the 2000s and became a meme throughout the year.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin anime poster (Credit: IMDB)

In several parts of Gundam: The Origin, there are minor characters who use Indonesian to describe situations in the Asia-Pacific operational area. This anime is a prequel to the Mobile Suit Gundam series and explores the youth of Char Aznable, one of the most legendary characters in this franchise.

The story is full of political conflict, space wars, and intense family drama. The Origin was released in OVA format from 2015 to 2018 with a total of 6 long episodes.

5. Nichijou

Nichijou anime poster (Credit: IMDB)

Nichijou is an absurd comedy anime known for its random yet impactful humor. In several episodes, the character Yuko occasionally throws greetings in Indonesian such as "Good Morning", "Good Night", and "Goodbye" to her besties; Mio and Mai.

In fact, Yuko also mentioned her mother participating in Sepak Takraw sports with the neighbors. This anime aired in 2011 with a total of 26 episodes.

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