When we think about anime or animation series, Japan often comes to mind, as it is renowned for producing some of the best in the world. Therefore, it's a significant achievement when a foreign animation series, particularly one from Malaysia, gets the opportunity to be broadcasted in Japan.
Photo via Antaranews.com
On September 12, Harian Metro reported that the Malaysian animation series, Mechamato, is set to make its debut in Japan on October 6. This marks a major milestone for the series, especially considering that Mechamato had previously won the Anime Fan Award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2023.
Faiz Zainal Aabidin, Monsta's marketing director, expressed his excitement about this achievement, noting its importance for the company. He said, "It opens up a new avenue for Monsta. The Japanese market is notoriously challenging to enter, especially for international animation, and it's even tougher for a Southeast Asian country like Malaysia."
He also highlighted a crucial criterion for broadcasting international programs on Japanese TV, explaining, "One of the criteria for broadcasting international programs on Japanese TV is that the series need to have their own culture and tradition so that they can spread knowledge to the audience."
In addition to its TV broadcast, Mechamato will also be accessible on various online platforms, including Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu, dAnimeStore, J:Com, FOD, and the Bandai Channel. Tokyo MX Mall will even offer FGURA Mechamato toys through mail orders.
This achievement is undeniably fantastic news, and it is hoped that it will serve as inspiration for other animation companies in Malaysia to reach for similar international recognition.
