Malaysia Close To Securing Japanese Animation Collaboration -- FINAS CEO

PUTRAJAYA, May 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is close to securing a collaboration with a Japanese animation studio for an outsourcing project involving local animation production companies, with discussions currently at an advanced stage, said National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib.

He said the Japanese side had already identified a Malaysian company for the collaboration, citing the country’s growing capabilities in 3D animation production at international standards.

"There is an animation project from Japan and we know that the Japanese industry rarely or never outsources their jobs outside Japan. Alhamdulillah, there will be one project for cinema release on animation through the Film In Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), which we will secure next week," he said at the Communications Ministry’s monthly assembly here today.

Among those in attendance were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and his deputy Teo Nie Ching, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and deputy editor-in-chief Mohd Shukri Ishak.

Azmir Saifuddin said FINAS noted that the development reflected the capability of Malaysia's 3D animation industry, which has now reached international standards.

"I think our 3D animation has already risen to the international standard. So I think that's why they chose Malaysia because we are quite advanced in terms of 3D animation.

"I think (we are) almost there. They have chosen a Malaysian company because the process takes some time, as it is not easy to get the right company to do at that kind of level," he said.

He said the collaboration involved close engagement between the Japanese studio and the Malaysian production house, including discussions on production incentives offered by both countries.

"If I am not mistaken, on the Japanese side they are getting their government rebate and on the Malaysian side there is the FINAS incentive," he said,

He said details on the project could not be disclosed at this stage, pending clearance from the Japanese studio, especially regarding outsourcing arrangements.

In another development, Azmir Saifuddin said the local creative industry continues to show positive growth as the box-office collection of local films last year reached RM240 million, the highest in the history of the country's film industry.

He said that this year alone, between five to six local films screened managed to record earnings exceeding RM10 million, including the films 'Tarung' and 'Libang Libur'.

"Last year as well, FINAS together with the industry successfully achieved an investment of RM1 billion for the next three years," he said.

He said Malaysia is now increasingly solid as an international filming hub, especially for the production of the largest reality programme format in Southeast Asia.

In the animation sector, he said Malaysia continues to be one of the main leaders in the region and is ahead of several neighbouring ASEAN countries, supported by the FIMI incentive.

In terms of governance, Azmir Saifuddin also said FINAS successfully obtained a Clean Audit Certificate for its financial statements for five consecutive years.

He added that in the past two years, FINAS has successfully increased its revenue and added to the organisation's reserves after receiving an audit reprimand in 2022.

-- BERNAMA