Animated Film 'MERAH PUTIH: ONE FOR ALL', The More Viral It Gets, The More People Are Curious to Watch?

Kapanlagi.com - It cannot be denied that the animated film MERAH PUTIH: ONE FOR ALL is currently a hot topic on social media because it is considered unworthy of being screened in theaters. Not only netizens, but filmmakers like director Hanung Bramantyo have also joined in to criticize the film produced by Perfiki Kreasindo, which reportedly has a budget of up to Rp 6.7 billion.

KapanLagi.com had the opportunity to interview Victor Adiluhung Abednego, Head of Visual Communication Design Study Program at BINUS University, about his opinion on MERAH PUTIH: ONE FOR ALL. One of the questions asked was about the opinion that the backlash and criticism received by this film is a form of marketing strategy to attract people to watch it. Victor did not deny this and also expressed his agreement with that opinion.

"Do you know the film AXRAX? Urban cult. It's so epic that many people watched it. Or the film, just ask. Now the question is like this. The creator wants their work to be widely viewed, or to create something great? We need to ask the creator. Is their goal to make money, or is their goal to create art? If it's to make money, it's easy," said Victor when contacted on Monday (11/8/2025).

FYI, AZRAX is a film produced and starred by Gatot Brajamusti about a human trafficking syndicate and the tragic story of Indonesian migrant workers that aired in 2013.

1. Makes People Curious?

Victor even knows about the statement from the creators of MERAH PUTIH: ONE FOR ALL regarding the virality of the film they made on social media. From this alone, it can indeed be utilized as indirect marketing.

"Basically, it’s viral. I can see this from their statement, from their official page, from MERAH PUTIH itself. They say that the more it is talked about, the more people will watch it. Yes, indeed. People will become more curious about viral news," said Victor.

2. Question the Original Purpose of the Creators in Making the Film

(credit: Perfiki Kreasindo)

However, back to the point. Victor still wants to know what the main purpose of the creators behind the film MERAH PUTIH: ONE FOR ALL really is. Are they truly artists or just in it for profit?

"But the real question is, what is the purpose of making this film? If the people behind it are truly animators, or truly artists, who have feelings and aspirations in telling a story, storytelling, then actually the profit or the number of viewers is just an additional bonus," he said.

3. Mention the Success of JUMBO

Victor then mentioned Rian Adriyandhi, the figure behind the success of the phenomenal Indonesian animated film, JUMBO, which has just been crowned as the most-watched Indonesian film in cinemas of all time. Victor said that Rian initially did not expect his film to be a hit.

"Rian Adriyandhi in cinema never targeted even 1 million viewers. Now the reality is 10 million. Because their initial goal was to tell what was in the mind of the brother or the writer. So whether the more it is talked about, the more people will watch, yes, it could be," Victor concluded.

If KLovers are curious, don't you want to watch MERAH PUTIH: ONE FOR ALL which will be released starting August 14, 2025, in theaters later?

(kpl/gtr/pit)