'Ejen Ali''s creator is fighting for Malaysia's animation future
WHEN Muhammad Usamah Zaid Yasin talks about the making of Ejen Ali , the Malaysian animated spy series about a schoolboy recruited into a secret intelligence agency, he doesn’t begin with a stroke of genius. He begins with a burger stall.
Muhammad Usamah Zaid Yasin, the creator behind Malaysia's popular animated spy series Ejen Ali, shares how his studio turned a quirky burger stall concept into a successful cartoon empire. Back in 2013, Usamah and his partners at WAU Animation brainstormed ideas over lunch, with a colleague joking about a burger stall operator being a spy.
This casual suggestion eventually shaped Agent Bakar, a supporting character in the series. The lead character, Ali, along with his gadgets and supporting cast, evolved through numerous discussions, sketches, and revisions. For Usamah, creativity is a collective effort rather than the work of a single genius. Over two decades in the animation industry, he has gone from working at Les Copaque Production to founding WAU Animation and bringing Ejen Ali to life, expanding it into feature films and a commercial brand.
Despite facing challenges like a ransomware attack and financial struggles, Usamah emphasizes that building a creative studio requires more than just imagination; it demands managing people, financing projects, and navigating between productions. The success of Ejen Ali relied on a compelling story and relatable characters, with Ali himself evolving through multiple iterations.
Initially a clumsy character with an elastic weapon, Ali later became a disciplined young agent with a yo-yo, reflecting Usamah's attention to detail and his belief in the importance of honest feedback from fellow artists.
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