Ejen Ali: The Movie

Ejen Ali: The Movie (sometimes also subtitled MISSION: NEO) is a 2019 Malaysian Malay-language animated spy-fi action film. The film follows a 12-year old spy Agent, Ali, as he embraces his role in MATA, the secret agency, and uncover the secret technology which has threatened the fate of Cyberaya. But unknown to Ali, MATA has also created a new improved version of IRIS, the IRIS NEO, to use the Override at will. While the new device itself begin to use for all agents, Ali question his usefulness to MATA. He is approached by another mysterious person named Niki, who holds a personal connection between Ali. Risking his loyalty to MATA, Ejen Ali will now embarks his thrilling chase to unravel those mysterious links.

Based on the local TV animation series Ejen Ali, it is the first film from WAU Animation. It is directed by Usamah Zaid Yasin and co-written by Usamah himself, Faqihin Mohd Fazlin, Shafiq Isa, Nazmi Yatim and Hilman Muhamad.

The film is released simultaneously in 3 countries: Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei on 28 November 2019, in Indonesia on 1 January 2020, and in Vietnam for the ASEAN Film Week 2020.

It has received positive reviews from audiences and critics locally, with praise for its action sequences, storyline, character developments and emotional depth. It grossed over RM30 million in Malaysia, making it the highest-grossing Malaysian animated film of all time.

A sequel film is being planned.

Premise
During a mission to save Cyberaya's Mayor Dato' Othman, Ali discovers a secret project of M.A.T.A related to his I.R.I.S using his own once invention IRIS Atlas as being used as I.R.I.S Neo. He begins detesting himself and of his worth in MATA, when in turn of events crosses path with a rouge woman, Niki, who happened to be a friend of his deceased mother Aliya. Initially befriending her, he soon discovers her split that had related to Aliya's death; He learns of her late mother being a MATA member who also happened to create IRIS at first place, and that Niki believed her to be a tyrant because she joined hands with MATA and left her community of poor people of Fringe. Ali must battle her down and stop the mayhem before the city is compromised.

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

English dub

 * Steven Bones, as Ali
 * Ida Rahayu Yusoff as Comot
 * Anita Woo, as Niki
 * Denise Chan, as Alicia
 * Azman Zulkiply, as General Rama, Bakar & Viktor
 * Adila Shakir, as Aliya
 * Jay Sheldon, as Dato' Othman
 * Bryan Chong, as Bobby
 * Gavin Yap, as Fit & Andik
 * Ruben Kevin, as Vikram
 * Papi Zak, as Surya
 * Colin Chong, as Abang Bear

Production
The film costs RM6.5 million to produce, including promotion cost. 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. The average crews who produced this animated movie is between the ages of 25 and 28. The process of filmmaking took about one and a half years to be finished.

Soundtrack
The music score is composed by the lead composer, Azri Yunus, assisted by the assistant composer, Hakim Kamal. Azri Yunus stated that 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. The official soundtrack album of the film is released on 27 December 2019.

"Bukalah Matamu" is the first single released from the official soundtrack, released on YouTube and all streaming platforms on 20 September 2019. The song sends a message to people who have everything to open their eyes and improve themselves.

However, "Bukalah Matamu" went into a controversy where it was claimed that the song has a similarity with a song The Calling from foreign artists TheFatRat and Laura Brehm. The director, Usamah 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 references, such as Linkin Park and Daft Punk. When the crew realized that the song has similarities with "The Calling", they were surprised and immediately contacted TheFatRat to explain the situation, while offering them credit to the song and a bit of royalty from the film.

"Kita Jaga Kita" is the second single released from the official soundtrack. The lyrics of the songs comes from the perspective of the people of the fictional urban slum Pinggiran in Cyberaya. In March 2020, the single is used as the theme song for the national COVID-19 prevention campaign and Movement Control Order by the Malaysian Government through the #kitajagakita hashtag. On 31 August 2020, in celebration of the country's 63rd Independence Day, an official music video of the song is released, which is dedicated to all frontliners across Malaysia.

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

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 all countries, and stated that they had finalized the release with their selective countries and they won't be expanding to further international release. For the Indonesian market, the film is released in CGV, Kota Cinemas, Platinum Cineplex and Flix Indonesia on 1 January 2020.

In Vietnam, the film was screened in the country as representative of Malaysia in the ASEAN Film Week 2020. This is the only animated-featured film to join the event. The film was screened for free for the public 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. In Brazil, it was released on April 16, 2021, for representing Malaysia at Brazilian film festival.

On 14 February, its release in Uzbekistan was confirmed announced.

Subsequently, the film was also released on the local TV channels, and regional OTT platforms, like Astro-First, regional Netflix as well as Disney+ Hotstar for Malaysia only.

In India, this film was aired on March 24, 2024 on Hungama TV.

Sequel
After the great success achieved over time and awards for the film, its new sequel is being planned by the co-producers of WAU Animation, and a new storyline is being discussed.

Reception
Ejen Ali: The Movie has grossed over RM30 million in Malaysia. Originally, WAU Animation targeted RM20 million for the local market for this film, in which the film achieved in only 14 days of screening. It has surpassed another 2019 Malaysian animation film BoBoiBoy Movie 2 (RM30 million), making it the highest-grossing local Malaysian animated film of all time, until it was surpassed by Mechamato Movie in 2022, the highest-grossing Malaysian film in 2019 and the third highest-grossing Malaysian film of all time.