Netflix is making another global bet on Indonesian animation. The platform has licensed Garuda: Dare to Dream, an animated family feature that arrives on October 15, 2026 across most major regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
A familiar local story, rebuilt
The film reimagines Garuda di Dadaku, Indonesia’s 2009 live-action football hit that also produced a 2011 sequel. This version keeps the football premise but introduces a new central character and a fantasy layer. Putra, a 13-year-old with asthma, wants to play for Indonesia’s national team. After a rough trial at the Sanca Perkasa Soccer School, he meets Gaga, a glowing Garuda spirit who gives him a mystical jersey that transforms his speed, power and skill.
Keanu Azka voices Putra, with Kristo Immanuel as Gaga. The supporting cast includes Quinn Salman, Bimasena, Ibnu Jamil, Revalina S. Temat, Zee JKT48, Sal Priadi, Ringgo Agus Rahman and Oki Rengga.
The production story is part of the pitch
Director Ronny Gani has animation experience across Marvel and Lucasfilm/ILM, and producer Shanty Harmayn led the project for BASE Entertainment in collaboration with KAWI Animation. It is BASE’s first animated feature.
- More than three years in development
- Around 550 animators from 17 studios across Indonesia
- No AI used for any of the film’s visuals
The no-AI note is not throwaway detail. As generative tools spread through animation pipelines, a public commitment to human craft can become a differentiator for both talent and family audiences.
Festival proof and calendar timing
The film opened in Indonesian cinemas on June 11, 2026, aligned with school holidays and the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It then competed for the Golden Goblet Award in animation at the 2026 Shanghai International Film Festival and won the Gryphon Award for Best Film in the Elements +6 competition at Giffoni Film Festival, alongside the LETE Special Award.
Netflix’s October 15 window lands around the UK half-term and extends football attention after the World Cup. It follows last Christmas’ pickup of Indonesian title Panji Tengkorak, part of a steady push into non-English animated films.
What it means for media planners
For streaming and brand teams, this is a useful test of whether a homegrown title with festival validation can translate into cross-border family viewing. The value proposition is not just the film; it is the package: known local IP, a 550-animator production footprint, awards, and a release date placed against school breaks.
The immediate indicator will be early demand in Indonesia and family-heavy markets, and whether Netflix uses the film to cluster more Southeast Asian animation on the service.
Source: What’s on Netflix
