Rant
Lately I seem lot drama about "Racist" in writing of Boboiboy, Amato and even Upin&Ipin. And I want to talk about that
I saw a post claiming that the Studio like Monsta is racist when writing dark skin character or Indian character in the show
The post mostly point out about how character like Gopal dan Jarjit is written as "dumb". The post also talk about how the studio is sexim for not paying attention to female character.
Okay I dont watch Mechamato BUT I do LOVE Boboiboy. So let's focus on that since they both come from same studio. I ADMIT that Monsta wasn't really good in writing but calling them racist and sexist? That's harsh claim for it
Okay first need to understand that all this 3 cartoons is from Malaysia. A country that take pride for being multirace but also have internal racist mindset in everyone in mind. But again they never engrounage any act of it. So a cartoons show to have racist elemen for KIDS? Nu uh. No.
Monsta biggest problem is the writing. Sometimes the lore is over the place. Sometimes they forget their own character devoplement. Sometimes they force their writing. Oh and the shitty as nostalgia bait. But I cant tell that they not MEAN to be racist or sexist. They just simple TOO focus about their main character. Basicly not jist Indian/dark skin character didnt get much of attention but all the character who is NOT the main character aka the beloved Oyen Boy, BoBoiBoy. Funny enough Monsta actually aware they obses with their main character and joke alot about Boboiboy is not "suitable" being side character in PapaPipi movie that soon will be out.
But talking about the claim of the character being ONLY dumb? For just being a comedic relieve character? First of all no. As much as Monsta kinda shitty in writing they still have Gopal writing down decently
Yes, Gopal is comedic relife character. Yes, he can be stupid sometimes. BUT he more than that
Gopal is not dumb. He is different type of smart. While yes not very good with academic mostly because he not intrested in school. He's different type of smart. Something I would call "Bisnes Smart". Gopal for everything he is actually good with bisnes. That MF make money using photos of someone else and even other Alien SpaceShip. Yes he kinda shitty for that but for him to do all that and it work? Bisnes smart relay on someone way of talking to appeare confident and trust worthy. And we just gonna forget that he become a lawyer?
Gopal character layer with him being a gray character with his own trait. He do something right in wrong way sometimes. Like he basicly talk his way to free Yaya and Ying for basicly stealing. Like Yaya and Ying actually was in the wrong for taking what's not theirs. But Gopal able to twist the situasion to make it like they are the victim of the situasion. Gopal also a jerk most of the series but again he still remain friend. He still be there for BoBoiBoy.
And add everything up. Gopal is good at analyzing. During Boboibot arc of the series, Gopal able to think a way for BoBoiBoy to get elementals power water by absorbing of how calm Boboiboy is when Papas Zola massage Boboiboy and remembering how Boboiboy power sometimes connected to Boboiboy own strong emotion just like how Boboiboy get his fire power.
Another example is when Kaizo arc come. During battle between Gopal, Yaya and Ying with Lahap. Reminder that Lahap have power where he can turn himself to anything. Similiar to Gopal power but different. Gopal able to turn other object molecule to another molecule turning the object to another object. While Lahap able to turn himself into another meterial but eating the meterial. Gopal able to see that and able to beat Lahap by making eating vegtaable.
Adding more. Gopal is the most realistic character in the show who actually mostly act like real person. Not everyone is perfectly kind in real life and Gopal show the ugly side of us im most perfect way for us to feel realatable to his character. He obese with Special Ais Coklat Tok Aba, hate school, didnt allowed Boboiboy and Fang to fight in class because he was on class duty that day, get excited when hearing school will be close because of alien attack, enjoy video game more than other people and hate study. Much more. While he is meant to be comedic relieve character he still have layer to his character. Even the new season is force his writing in new season.
Enough about Gopal. How about talk a little about Jarjit? Okay I dont remember much about him but I do remember that he still actually a kid character. Same goes with Upin Ipin in the show. It not meant to serius in any case as it show about kid being kid and sometimes try to put life lesson in the show about something at school, sosial life, culture and religion.
Unlike Boboiboy, Upin Ipin focus more of life of kid in Malaysia. The show are meant to have Indiaan, Chinese and Malay being friend and play togather without knowledging their race. The show talk alot about working togather and live in harmony. They able to play togather and respecting each other religion and belive. I remember episode that focus on other race celebration like Chinese people celebration like Chinese new year and Bulan hantu, they also talk about Deevapali. So for them to promote racist in the show? Nu uh. Or sexist? Like firefighter episode where Fizi saying something like "women cannot be firefighter" and immediately get corrected by the show by showing one of the firefighter in that episode is indeed a women.
As for Jarjit character. He also different type of smart. Like any other kid he enjoy school for sake of being with his friend. He not much in academic but not bad either.
Jarjit is creative smart. For a kid he was drawn for Pantun. His mind able to come up with so many rhythm of words. He enjoy that the most show how good he is with wording dispite him being a Indian. (For those who dont know Pantun is one of Malay peotry style) So yeah he so smart to come up lots of pantun. Sure he not that good but for kid standard? He is amazing to even have love for pantun in such young age.
So yeah the animation studio is not racist or sexist they just have bad writing that lead people think it's something wrong.
