Some of the chase and fight scenes got my heart racing and holding my son tight.
The plot-twist also caught me by surprise! Being an action animated film, Ejen Ali has some of the best action sequences in all Malaysian film history, live action films included. It's someone who was molded into a baddie by circumstances and different ideology. No-drama, quite multi-layered and stayed away from the "I want to conquer the world" type.
The villain is also very refreshing to watch. He's also given a much deserved backstory that wasn't known until the film. I personally like how they play with the subtle expressions and monologues to show Ali's internal crisis - not something easily achieved especially in a kid's film. Ali is undoubtedly the star of the show, stealing the spotlight in every scene he's in. My 3 year old daughter kept referring to herself as the fierce Ejen Alicia and stayed in character until the next morning. Hasty apprentice that looks up to his mentor? Check. They are also very relatable: caring uncle with a hidden narrative? Check. The whole cast is diverse both in styles and characters, which is so fun to watch. The batik headscarf, 'gasing' (spinning top) as a weapon, a boomerang that looks like 'kerambit', the Mamak Maju song/dance - just to name a few. The multi-cultural Malaysia is not shoved directly to your face like a typical Ali-Muthu-Ah Wong trope, instead it's subtle and jives in so well with the whole theme. Fast forward to 2019, the much anticipated Ejen Ali: The Movie landed on the big screen and what a beautiful film it is, showcasing how much the local animation has become. 11 years later Ejen Ali was born and quickly gaining popularity and following, kids and adults alike. One of them went on and founded WAU Animation Sdn Bhd. I still remember how it was a compulsory piece in MMU promotional materials, showcases, and first year student orientations. It is a final year student project by a group of Film & Animation majors (my seniors) at Multimedia University, Cyberjaya (MMU). Back in 2005, a short 3D animation "Misi Mustahak" was the talk of the town due to its technological advancement and refreshing storyline.
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