Behind Jumbo’s Success: The Power of Voice Acting

The Indonesian animated film Jumbo has captured the public’s attention. Having attracted more than 10 million viewers, Jumbo has overtaken KKN di Desa Penari to become Indonesia’s top-grossing film and the most commercially successful animated feature in Southeast Asia.

It’s not just the compelling storyline that’s turning heads—the voice cast behind the characters is also sparking curiosity. But the question is, why does this project use voice acting instead of dubbing?

This article takes a closer look at the reasons why this decision was made. You’ll discover how this creative choice made all the difference and maybe even find inspiration for your next project.

A Glimpse into Jumbo

Animated Film by Visinema Studio

More than just a movie, Jumbo represents a bold new chapter for Indonesian animation. As the very first full-length animated film produced by Visinema Studio, it carries the weight of big expectations. Fortunately, it delivers with style, heart, and a unique cultural touch that sets it apart.

A Passion Project by Ryan Adriandhy

Behind the scenes, the film is the brainchild of Ryan Adriandhy, an Indonesian actor and animator who also took the director’s seat. He didn’t work alone. In fact, nearly 400 creative professionals came together to bring this vision to life.

From early concept art to final touches, everything was carefully crafted over five years. As you watch, it’s easy to see how much heart went into making this film not only visually stunning but also rich in meaning.

The Story

Packed with charm and high-quality visual, Jumbo tells a story that resonates with both kids and grown-ups alike. You will be introduced to Don, a 10-year-old boy who is affectionately called "Jumbo" by his classmates, all due to his plump body. Unfortunately, the nickname isn’t affectionate. Instead, it turns him into a target of constant teasing, especially when he’s seen as a burden during baseball games.

But Don isn’t the type to give up easily. Deep inside, he holds on to a big dream: to stage a play inspired by a treasured fairytale book left by his late parents. To Don, the play isn’t just a performance—it’s a way to honor their memory. Sadly, that dream nearly crumbles when a bully steals the book.

Luckily, he’s not alone. Together with his two loyal friends, Nurman and Mae, Don decides to get the book back. The journey takes them to a deserted sugar mill—silent, mysterious, and brimming with hidden truths. Soon after, a little ghost girl named Meri shows up. She has no idea who she is or why she’s stuck in their world.

This mysterious encounter sparks a new mission: Don, Nurman, and Mae promise to help Meri find her family. In return, Meri offers to retrieve Don’s stolen book and make sure his play becomes a reality. It’s a deal that leads them into a magical adventure filled with riddles, surprises, and real danger.

5 Years of Creative Process

Given the depth of the story and the care behind its creation, it’s no surprise that Jumbo became an instant hit. Within just seven days of its release, the film drew over 1 million viewers.

Indeed, five years of hard work and countless creative decisions—research, collaboration, and production techniques—all played a role. And among those decisions, one that stands out, in particular, is the choice to use voice acting instead of dubbing. The question is “why?” Let’s take a closer look.

Why Jumbo Chose Voice Acting Over Dubbing

Not Just Another Dubbed Animation

If you’ve watched a lot of anime, you’re probably familiar with the dubbing process. First, the animation is completed in one language—say, Japanese. Then, to localize it, voice actors in another language record over the original.

That’s called dubbing. At first glance, many Jumbo viewers assumed the film followed that same pattern. Yet, the true method followed a very different path.

Voice First, Animation Later

According to director Ryan Adriandhy, Jumbo was never meant to be dubbed. Instead, the team recorded the voice performances first. Then, they animated the entire film based on those voice recordings. This method is called voice acting, and it’s widely used in Hollywood productions like Pixar or DreamWorks films.

Why go through all that effort? Because voice acting captures raw, genuine emotion. Instead of syncing voices to animation, the visuals were crafted to follow the voice work—bringing more energy and authenticity to the story.

Read more: Voice-over Localization vs. Dubbing: What's the Difference?

Carefully Selected Voice Cast

Ryan didn’t take any chances when it came to choosing his cast. He handpicked voice actors who weren’t just talented but also great at acting. He knew that the emotion behind each voice would drive the entire film.

Even more impressively, for the children’s roles (which make up most of the cast), they chose actual children as voice actors—not adults pretending to sound like kids, but real kids with real voices.

The Challenges Behind Jumbo’s Voice Acting

Creating an animation like Jumbo isn’t as simple as recording a few lines in front of a mic. Curious about what went on BTS?

Waiting for the Storyboard to Take Shape

Before the voice acting could begin, the team had to wait until the storyboard was fully completed. This visual guide, complete with thumbnails, helps the voice director and cast understand each scene’s tone and rhythm. Without it, even the best voice talents might struggle to grasp the emotional flow of the film.

Choosing the Right Voices with the Right Skills

One of the biggest challenges in Jumbo’s voice acting process was finding actors who didn’t just sound right but could truly perform. Acting through voice alone requires a different level of skill. Actors had to fully inhabit their roles, using vocal tone, feeling, and nuanced timing to bring each character to life.

What made the selection process even trickier? Many of the characters are children. Instead of using adults who imitate kids’ voices, the team cast real children to keep things authentic. They even had to find kids who could sing, since Jumbo contains several musical moments.

Voice Actor and Character Table

Directing Voices, Not Just Dialogues

Working with children is a fun but truly unique experience. Some children have had acting experience, while others were about to step into acting for the first time. This is why the voice director—along with many other key contributors—was essential, not only in guiding their delivery but in keeping the sessions both fun and focused.

What Jumbo Teaches Us About Voice Acting

For those of you working on creative projects, be it films, animated shorts, commercials, or even podcasts, there’s a lot to learn from the approach used in Jumbo’s voice acting process:

Acting You Don’t See, But Feel

When most individuals hear the term "acting," they see a person acting on stage or in front of a camera. However, there is another form of storytelling that exists only through sound: voice acting. Just because you don’t see the actor’s face, doesn’t mean the performance is any less demanding.

In fact, voice acting can be even more challenging. You don’t get the help of facial expressions or body language to sell a scene. Everything must be conveyed through tone, pacing, and emotion. Your voice becomes the only tool to breathe life into a character.

In Jumbo, this was taken seriously. Every actor was encouraged to physically act out their scenes behind the mic. If the script called for a character to leap from a chair in panic, the actor would actually jump from a chair during the recording.

Matching Vocal Style to Genre

In storytelling, the tone of voice must reflect the world you’re trying to build. A lighthearted adventure like Jumbo calls for energetic, expressive tones, while a serious documentary might demand something calm and grounded.

Tips

• Define your genre clearly: Before casting, write a few words that describe the emotional tone of your project.
• Do vocal testing with visuals: Try syncing voice samples with rough animation or visuals to see if they harmonize well.

Emotional Authenticity

Authenticity in voice acting hits differently. When a voice actor genuinely feels the emotion they are portraying—be it excitement, sadness, etc.—it is especially important for stories centered on empathy and growth, like Jumbo, which explores bullying, friendship, and self-esteem. Genuine emotional delivery helped the audience connect with Don and his friends, not just as characters, but as reflections of real-life struggles.

Tips

• Create a comfortable recording environment, because emotional performances often require vulnerability.
• Use method-acting techniques: Ask actors to recall a personal memory similar to the scene they’re performing.

Public Figures as Co-Storytellers, Not Just Stars

One of Jumbo’s smartest strategies was choosing well-known voices who resonate personally with the story. Angga Yunanda, Bunga Citra Lestari, and Ariel NOAH aren’t just popular figures; they became part of the storytelling fabric.

What makes this strategy powerful is the way they engaged with the audience. These voice actors didn’t promote the film like typical brand ambassadors. Instead, they shared real behind-the-scenes moments, from voice challenges to raw recording sessions, and even joined virtual watch parties.

They spoke not as celebrities endorsing a product, but as genuine fans of the story. This grassroots approach created a sense of community ownership. It made Jumbo feel like a shared experience, not just a studio-driven release.

Conclusion

The success of Jumbo shows how intentional voice performance can elevate a story far beyond expectations. Choosing to focus on voice acting instead of dubbing allowed the authors to infuse real emotion, more interesting characterization, and greater rapport with the audience.

Ready to bring your animated stories to life with powerful voice acting? Explore how Digital Trans Asia can help you create authentic and emotionally resonant voice performances for your next project. Visit https://digital-trans.asia/ to learn more about our voice-over and dubbing services. Have a project in mind? Contact us today to get started!

Read more: Top 12 Anime Voice Actors in English Dubs You'll Love