Ejen Ali: The Movie

Ejen Ali: The Movie is a 2019 Malaysian computer-animated spy-fi action film. The film follows teenage agent spy Ali as he has to uncover a mystery technology that threatens the city of Cyberaya, and risking loyalty to his secret agency MATA.

Ejen Ali The Movie
Official theatrical poster
Directed by	Usamah Zaid Yasin
Written by	Usamah Zaid Yasin Shafiq Isa Fuad Md Din
Based on	Ejen Ali by Usamah Zaid Yasin
Starring	Ida Rahayu Yusoff Nabilah Rais Azman Zulkiply Noorhayati Maslini Omar Shafiq Isa Salina Salmee Mohd Ali Abu Shafian Abd Hamid Ahmad Sufian Mazilan Megat Zahrin Megat Hisham Altimet
Music by	Azri Yunus Hakim Kamal
Edited by	Andi Abdul Ghani Reuben Singham
Production company	WAU Animation
Distributed by	Primeworks Studios
Release date	28 November 2019 (2019-11-28) (Malaysia)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	Malaysia
Language	Malay
Budget	RM6.5 million[1]
Box office	RM30.05 million

It is the first film made by WAU Animation, based on their TV animation series, Ejen Ali. It is directed by Usamah Zaid Yasin and co-written by Usamah himself, Shafiq Isa and Fuad Md Din.[2]

It is released simultaneously in 3 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei on 28 November 2019, and in Indonesia on 1 January 2020.

Background

Ali is a 12-year-old boy who becomes an agent at MATA (Meta Advance Tactical Agency), a secret agency protecting the city of Cyberaya[lower-alpha 1]. This all happens after he accidentally activates a gadget named IRIS (Infinity Retinal Intelligent System). IRIS is a device created by MATA, it can receive sensor from Ali and perform complex actions, such as: predict movement, hack into any server, crack password and X-Ray Vision. IRIS is powered by Ali's energy, and Ali is the only one who can use IRIS now because it is synchronised with him. So he is trained as an agent. Together with his uncle Bakar and other young agents, they cooperate in MATA missions.

Synopsis

Ejen Ali is embracing his role as a MATA spy and the only master of IRIS now. But unknown to Ali, MATA is developing a new improved version of IRIS, the IRIS Neo. When IRIS Neo starts being used for all agents, Ali begins to question his position in MATA. He is approached by a mysterious person named Niki who claims to know about his late mother. Risking his loyalty to MATA, Ejen Ali will now embark on a thrilling chase to unravel those mysterious links. What awaits in the end?[3]

Cast

• Ida Rahayu Yusoff as Ali & Comot
• Nabilah Rais as Niki
• Noorhayati Maslini Omar as Alicia
• Shafiq Isa as Bakar
• Azman Zulkiply as General Rama
• Salina Salmee Mohd Ali as Aliya
• Abu Shafian Abd Hamid as Dato' Othman
• Ahmad Sufian Mazilan as Bobby
• Megat Zahrin Megat Hisham as Fit
• Azuan Wanji as Vikram
• Altimet as Andik
• Amir Mustaqim as Surya
• Fadhli Shafian as Abang Bear

Production

The film costs RM6.5 million including promotion cost.[4] The filmmaking team consists of a total of 80 local animation designers and graphic artists. The production of this film uses high-quality digital technology.[2] The average crews who produce this animated movie is between the ages of 25 and 28.[5] The process of filmmaking took about one and a half years to be finished.

Soundtrack

Ejen Ali The Movie (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by Azri Yunus, Hakim Kamal and Altimet
Released	December 27, 2019
Recorded	2019
Genre	Score
Length	71:20
Label	Monkey Bone

"Bukalah Matamu"
Single by Aisyah Aziz & Bunga
Released	20 September 2019
Recorded	2019
Genre	Pop Hip Hop EDM
Length	4:19
Label	Monkey Bone
Songwriter(s)	Azri Yunus Bunga Usamah Zaid Yasin WAU Animation TheFatRat (Christian Friedrich Johannes Büttner)
Producer(s)	WAU Animation

"Kita Jaga Kita"
Single by Altimet, Cuurley & Malik Abdullah
Released	25 October 2019
Recorded	2019
Genre	Pop Hip Hop EDM
Length	3:41
Label	Monkey Bone
Songwriter(s)	Cuurley Altimet Bo Amir Iqram
Producer(s)	WAU Animation

The music score was composed by Azri Yunus, the lead composer, assisted by the assistant composer, Hakim Kamal. Azri Yunus said the difference of the music score in the series with this film is they wanted to put more ecstatic value by putting in more emotional feelings to make audiences in the cinemas attached.[6] The official music score of the film was released on 27 December 2019.

"Bukalah Matamu" is the first released single from the official soundtrack album of Ejen Ali: The Movie, released on YouTube and all streaming platforms on 20 September 2019.[7] The song sends a message to people who have everything to open their eyes and improve themselves. In the movie, the lyrics of this song as if is intended to Dato' Othman, the arrogant mayor of Cyberaya.

However, "Bukalah Matamu" got into a controversy where it was claimed that the song has a similarity with a song from TheFatRat and Laura Brehm, The Calling. The director, Usamah Zaid Yasin, has explained that they have no intention to imitate the song as claimed by most people. They made the song by making a few group bands as the reference such as Linkin Park and Daft Punk. When they realized that the song has similarities with The Calling, they were surprised and immediately contacted TheFatRat to explain the situation and offer them credit to the song and a bit of royalty from the film.[8]

"Kita Jaga Kita" is the second released single from the official soundtrack album.[9] Initially, they approached Altimet only for voice acting. But when they tried their luck by asking Altimet to make a song, he agreed to do so. The lyrics of the songs comes from the perspective of the people of the urban slum Pinggiran.

Track listing:

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kita Berjumpa Akhirnya"	9:43
2.	"Pengganas. Cepat! Cepat! Cepat!"	3:00
3.	"Kamu Patut Berasa Bangga"	1:50
4.	"Siapa Nak Makan Satay?"	1:12
5.	"Ali's Lullaby (Music Box)"	2:22
6.	"Cyberaya"	0:25
7.	"HQ M.A.T.A"	1:11
8.	"Kejar Abang Bear!"	2:26
9.	"Pengenalan"	2:08
10.	"Wira Pinggiran (Flashback Niki)"	2:23
11.	"Menara Beta"	3:11
12.	"Aku Tahu Jalannya"	2:25
13.	"Kau Macam Aliya"	2:59
14.	"Cari Dia Sampai Dapat (Kita Jaga Kita)" (performed by Altimet, Cuurley and Malik Abdullah)	2:18
15.	"Kejar Dia!"	2:59
16.	"Perangkap"	4:10
17.	"Cerita Sebenar"	4:54
18.	"Buka Mata"	2:19
19.	"Serangan Kasar"	2:46
20.	"Mau Pigi Mana? (Mamak Maju)"	0:46
21.	"Dikawal & Terkawal (Overide Mode)"	2:37
22.	"Akan Sentiasa Dengan Kamu"	5:39
23.	"Hilang Tiada Ganti - Tamat" (performed by Ida Rahayu Yusoff)	3:12
24.	"Mamak Maju (Music Compile)"	1:42
25.	"Mama (Ada Di Hatimu Selalu)" (performed by Ida Rahayu Yusoff)	2:51
Total length:		71:20

Release

WAU Animation announced this film project when they released their first teaser trailer for this movie on 7 August 2018.[10] The second teaser trailer is released on 29 March 2019.[11] The first official trailer was premiered on 1 August 2019[12] while the second official trailer was premiered on 9 October 2019.[13]

On 2 October 2019, WAU Animation had officially released the official theatrical poster of the film, which also revealed the release date for Malaysian cinemas. It was released in 146 cinemas in Malaysia, 8 in Singapore and 7 in Brunei. There was also a possibility of it being screened in 50 countries but Ahmad Izham Omar, CEO of Primeworks Studios ultimately denied of releasing the movie further in countries, and stated that they had released the movies till they were allowed to do so, and they've finally 'limited' the movie release to their friendly neighbours.[14] For the Indonesian market, the film is released in CGV, Kota Cinemas, Platinum Cineplex and Flix Indonesia on 1 January 2020.

In Vietnam, Ejen Ali The Movie was screened in the country as the representative of Malaysia joining the ASEAN Film Week 2020. This is the only animated-featured movie to join the event.[15] [16][17]The movie was screened for free for Vietnamese citizens in 3 major cities holding the event, including the capital Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh city. The first screening session of the movie in Vietnam was on July 21, 2020 in the National Cinema Center in Hanoi.

Reception

Days of screening	Cumulative sales
1 day (28 November)	RM 1.86 million (US$452,894)[18]
3 days (30 November)	RM 6.4 million (US$1.56 million)[19]
7 days (4 December)	RM 13 million (US$3.17 million)[20]
14 days (11 December)	RM 20 million (US$4.87 million)[21]
21 days (18 December)	RM 25 million (US$6.09 million)[22]
30 days (27 December)	RM 28.5 million (US$6.94 million)[23]
43 days (9 January)	RM 30 million (US$7.36 million)[24]
77 days (12 February)	RM 30.05 million (US$7.38 million)[25]

WAU Animation targeted RM20 million for the local market for this movie,[26] which is achieved in only 14 days of screening. Ejen Ali: The Movie has surpassed BoBoiBoy Movie 2 after 43 days to be the highest-grossing Malaysian animated film, the highest-grossing Malaysian film in 2019 and the third highest-grossing Malaysian film of all time by collecting RM 30 million.[27]

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref(s)
2020	24th Cartoons on the Bay Pulcinella Awards	Best Animated Feature Film	Ejen Ali: The Movie[28]	Nominated	[29]
2021	31st Malaysia Film Festival	Best Animated Film	Ejen Ali: The Movie	Pending	[30]

Notes

1. A fiction city based on the city of Cyberjaya, almost halfway between Kuala Lumpur and its international airport.

References

1. Altimet terbit lagu tema Ejen Ali The Movie" Berita Harian. 24 March 2019. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
2. "Selami lebih mendalam dunia Ejen Ali" Harian Metro. 11 July 2019. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
3. "Ejen Ali: The Movie (2019) - Plot Summary - IMDb" IMDb. Retrieved on 3 October 2019.
4. " Altimet terbit lagu tema Ejen Ali The Movie" Berita Harian. 24 March 2019. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
5. "Ejen Ali The Movie sasar kutipan RM20 juta" Berita Harian. 20 November 2019. Retrieved on 29 November 2019.
6. "Misi: The Making Of Ejen Ali The Movie" YouTube. 25 November 2019. Retrieved on 29 November 2019.
7. "Bukalah Matamu - Aisyah Aziz, Bunga Lyrics Video (Ejen Ali The Movie OST)" YouTube. 20 September 2019. Retrieved on 20 September 2019.
8. Lagu Tema Ejen Ali The Movie didakwa ciplak lagu TheFatRat, ini penjelasan pengarah. Gempak. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019
9. "Kita Jaga Kita - Altimet x Cuurley x Malik Abdullah Lyrics Video (Ejen Ali The Movie OST)" YouTube. 25 October 2019. Retrieved on 26 October 2019.
10. "Ejen Ali : The Movie (Teaser Trailer)" YouTube. 7 August 2018. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
11. "Ejen Ali The Movie - Official Teaser Trailer" YouTube. 29 March 2019. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
12. "Ejen Ali The Movie - Official Trailer #1" YouTube. 1 August 2019. Retrieved on 1 August 2019.
13. "Ejen Ali The Movie - Official Trailer #2 | Di pawagam 28 November 2019" YouTube. 9 October 2019. Retrieved on 21 November 2019.
14. "#Showbiz: An updated spy kid" New Straits Times. 26 July 2019. Retrieved on 31 July 2019.
15. "ASEAN Film Week 2020 to take place in three major cities" Nhan Dan Online
16. "Malaysian animation hit 'Ejen Ali' to be screened at Asean Film Week 2020" The Star Online
17. "" Vietnamese movie kicks off ASEAN Film Week 2020" Vietnam Plus/Vietnam News Agency
18. "(RM1.86 JUTA DALAM 1 HARI) Terima kasih Ejen! ❤ #EjenAliTheMovie berjaya mendapatkan kutipan pembukaan Tertinggi Bagi Filem Animasi Tempatan sebanyak RM1.86 JUTA di Malaysia, Brunei dan Singapura!" Facebook. 29 November 2019. Retrieved on 29 November 2019.
19. "Ejen Ali The Movie kutip RM6.4 juta tiga hari" Berita Harian. 2 December 2019. Retrieved on 2 December 2019.
20. "(RM13 JUTA DALAM 1 MINGGU) Terima kasih Ejen! ❤😭 #EjenAliTheMovie berjaya mendapatkan kutipan sebanyak RM13 JUTA di Malaysia, Brunei dan Singapura sepanjang minggu pembukaan! Terima kasih atas sokongan anda Ejen-ejen! Naisu! 🎉🎉🎉" Facebook. 04 December 2019. Retrieved on 04 December 2019.
21. "(RM20 JUTA DALAM 2 MINGGU) Lebih 1.7 JUTA penonton telah menonton #EjenAliTheMovie di pawagam sekitar Malaysia, Brunei dan Singapura! Terima kasih Ejen! 🎉🎉🎉 Misi kami tidak mungkin akan berjaya tanpa sokongan anda! 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻" Facebook. 12 December 2019. Retrieved on 12 December 2019.
22. "(RM25 JUTA DALAM 3 MINGGU) Lebih 2 JUTA Ejen telah menonton #EjenAliTheMovie di pawagam sekitar Malaysia, Brunei dan Singapura! Terima kasih atas sokongan padu anda, Ejen! 🎉🎉🎉 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻" Facebook. 19 December 2019. Retrieved on 19 December 2019.
23. "(RM28.5 JUTA DALAM 30 HARI) Lebih 2.3 JUTA penonton untuk #EjenAliTheMovie! Terima kasih Ejen! 🎉🎉🎉 Jangan ketinggalan! Tamatkan tahun 2019 anda dengan salah satu filem animasi Top 3 di Malaysia! Jumpa di pawagam! 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻" Facebook. 28 December 2019. Retrieved on 28 December 2019.
24. "❗ RM30 JUTA DALAM 6 MINGGU❗ Sebuah permulaan yang hebat untuk tahun 2020! Terima kasih Ejen kerana menjayakan misi ini! 😍🎉🎉🎉. 🤜🏻💥🤛🏻" Facebook. 10 January 2020. Retrieved on 10 January 2020.
25. "Kutipan akhir #EjenAliTheMovie yang diumumkan oleh Finas: RM30,054,301.53 Dalam masa 11 minggu (77 hari) tayangan di pawagam Malaysia (28 Nov 2019 hingga 12 Feb 2020)" Twitter. 9 March 2020. Retrieved on 9 March 2020.
26. "Sasaran RM20 juta untuk Ejen Ali The Movie" Harian Metro. 24 March 2019. Retrieved on 24 July 2019.
27. "'Ejen Ali' reaches historic milestone of RM30m in just six weeks". Malay Mail. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
28. http://www.cartoonsbay.rai.it/en/movie/ejen-ali-the-movie-2/
29. https://www.therakyatpost.com/2020/07/18/ejen-ali-the-movie-flying-high-to-represent-malaysia-on-a-global-level/
30. https://www.bharian.com.my/hiburan/lain-lain/2020/01/647341/67-filem-rebut-32-kategori-ffm31

External links

• Ejen Ali: The Movie on IMDb